Author: Laurence Slater
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Vänskä has made me hear this pieces anew [LM]
Whitacre: Choral works (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Whitacre has a priceless ability to communicate strongly and effectively [JQ]
Rachmaninov: Orchestral works (High Definition Tape Transfers)
Vital, energised performances of two great pianistic and choral showpieces in spectacular surround sound [RMo]
Bach: Chamber music for oboe (Accent)
A delight from start to finish [JV]
Shostakovich: Complete symphonies (Capriccio)
One of the leading cycles, in a fine-sounding stereo incarnation [RWe]
Martin Cousin (piano): Fantasies (Convivium Records)
A fascinating recital exploring the scope of the fantasia genre [DHa]
Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)
By general consensus, the essential Norma recording, now in a superior transfer [RWe]
Korngold: Symphony in F sharp (Supertrain Records)
Korngold plays his Symphony in a previously unreleased piano version [JW]
Cavalli Statira (Opus 111)
(Déjà Review) A dramatically vivid performance of the Neapolitan version of Cavalli’s opera [RH]
Chopin: Piano works (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) These performances are among the best on the market [PG]
Boito: Nerone (Dynamic)
A fine presentation of Boito’s unjustly neglected opera [WK]
Takemitsu and Messiaen: Piano works (Stradivarius)
Beautiful music, well-played but presented in a slightly odd order [MBu]
Massenet: Le mage (Bru Zane)
This revival of a rare Massenet opera is compromised by a lack of melodic memorability and some less than ingratiating singing [rmo]
Landmarks from Dawn of Electrical Recording (Pristine Audio)
A centenary salute to the early months of the revolutionary electrical recording process [jw]
Jackson: The Christmas Story (Delphian)
A compelling and innovative musical treatment of a well-loved story [WH]
Mozart: Orchestral Works (Gramola)
Turkovic’s performances compare favourably, and the mix of genres clarifies the distinctiveness of the symphony [MG]
Foulds: A World Requiem (Chandos)
Déjà Review) Ventures like this give one hope for the future of recorded music [PCW]
Purcell: Songs (Hyperion Helios)
(Déjà Review) Hard to imagine this music better interpreted [bw]
Sheehan: Ukrainian War Requiem (Capella Records)
A beautiful, deeply moving work that will forever help commemorate the Russian attack on Ukraine three years ago [GF]
Webber: Mandolin Sonatas (Da Vinci Classics)
Sparkling performances of a fine set of mandolin sonatas [JV]
