Author: Laurence Slater
Karl Richter (conductor): The Complete Teldec & Ducretet-Thomson Recordings (Warner)
Exquisite musicianship: Baroque and Classical repertoire by a radical reformer [DF]
Her Symphonic Voice: Live in Concert (Albany)
A thoroughly enjoyable and varied program of works by a quartet of composers spanning 120 years. [ACG]
Frederick Ashton’s La fille mal gardée (Opus Arte)
Perhaps not quite perfect, but still a delight [RMay]
Elgar: Violin Concerto (Rubicon)
Love, passion, heartbreak and reconciliation – everything you want from Elgar at his best [DC]
CPE Bach: The Hamburg Symphonies (Brilliant Classics)
(Déjà Review) If you do not know these extraordinary works then this as good a place as any to start [GH]
Brian: Symphonies 11 and 15 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) It’s very good [BBr]
Schnittke: Discoveries (Toccata Classics)
(Déjà Review) Five different works from throughout Schnittke’s career performed with vigour and insight by committed musicians [MS]
Witt: Orchestral Music (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) The Naxos tradition of bringing the obscure to light has paid off in this recording [JPJ]
Potter: Piano Works (Naxos)
Potter’s piano voice: competent, clear, engaging [JF]
Couperin: Complete Unmeasured Preludes (DLM Editions)
Levaillant’s adventurously languid style sometimes sounds improvised as Couperin intended, giving us something both old and new [SGa]
John Tilbury (piano): Domestic and archive recordings (Another Timbre)
John Tilbury’s last recordings make a compelling box set. [DHa]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Pristine Audio)
While far from perfect, this is a strangely compelling version with much that is worth hearing [MP]
Elina Garanca – Habanera (Deutsche Grammophon)
There are a few records every year where everything is right. This is one of them [GF]
Rachmaninov and Stravinsky played on two pianos (SOMM)
(Déjà Review) The pianism is superb [BBr]
History of the Russian Piano Trio Vol 9 (Naxos)
The curiosity value far exceeds the musical quality [DJB]
Trevor Bača: Stirrings Still (ECM)
A thrilling realisation of Samuel Beckett’s last prose work. [DHa]
Liszt: Complete Piano Music Vol.70 – Marches (Naxos)
Another superb release in the ongoing Naxos series, showcasing a very neglected corner of Liszt’s output, magnificently played throughout [JWe]
Fauré: Sonatas for Violin and Piano – Transcriptions (Alpha Classics)
Leong and Fournel show Gallic sensibility [LW]
Arnold Rosé (violin): Concerto and Solo Recordings (Biddulph)
The brio and panache, and occasional limitations, of a great violinist (and Mahler’s brother-in-law) [JW]
Bach: Cello Suites played on guitar (IBS Classical)
Interesting, but there are significantly better recordings available [ZT]
Victor de Sabata: New York Broadcasts 1951 (Pristine Audio)
A rare souvenir of a hugely under-recorded conductor in the company of two legendary artists, rendered into acceptable sound [RMo]
Songs by Gibbons and others (Orchid Classics)
A most enjoyable and stimulating album [JQ]
Piazzolla: Café 1930 (Supraphon)
Czech duo capture the spirit of Piazzolla [LW]
Leighton: Symphony No 1 and Piano Concerto No 3 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Well done Chandos – I waited for 36 years and you have not disappointed me! [JF]
