Author: Laurence Slater
Symbiosis – Tribute to Bill Evans (Pentatone)
An ambitious and rewarding tribute to a jazz legend. [DHa]
Organ music from Scandinavia (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Superlative performance, interesting and inspired programming [DC]
Showtime – 25 years of BBC Concert Orchestra (Dutton)
You might well find this mix irresistible whether as a guilty pleasure or a delight without any guilt at all [RB]
Brahms: Symphonies 3 & 4 (Pristine Audio)
Across the passage of time these recordings retain their pleasures and satisfactions [RB]
Widor: Piano Music (Danacord)
Beyond the Toccata: Widor’s Piano Secrets [JF]
Gruber: Orchestral Music (Capriccio)
Definitive performances of works by the Viennese iconoclast [PRJ]
Bruckner: Symphony No 7 (Pristine Audio)
Despite its improved sound, except as a historic document this remains superfluous in the light of competitive recordings from Karajan himself [RMo]
Kahn and Others: Songs (Delphian)
The songs of Robert Kahn represent a major discovery [JQ]
Sainsbury & Wood: Violin Concertos (Dutton Epoch)
(Déjà Review) Two strong works written in captivating romantic idioms that while not identical have more in common than you might expect [RB]
Spohr: Violin Concertante 1 & 2 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A fine and satisfying recording of music which, if hardly outstanding, has strong merits [JPJ]
Respighi Hindermith & Schmitt: Orchestral Music (Onyx)
(Déjà Review) For those seeking exotic and erotic thrills this can hardly fail [IL]
Pergolesi: Sacred Works (Archiv Produktion)
(Déjà Review) Subtle and beautiful … most sensitively accompanied by Abbado [GH]
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Decca)
Lim’s Carnegie Hall Goldbergs failed to engage me at all [DJB]
McCormack: Chamber music (Kairos)
Unignorable instrumental works from a leading composer [DHa]
Mahler: Symphony No 1 (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
An erratic, unsettling account of a symphony which needs steadier, more coherent governance [RMo]
Leonkoro Quartet play Berg, Schulholff & Webern (Alpha Classics)
Leonkoro Quartet impress in works of Berg, Webern and Schulhoff [LW]
Schoenberg: Orchestral Music (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
An outstanding Schoenberg set from the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko [MBe]
Strauss: Elektra (Chandos)
Wonderful orchestral playing but variable singing [SB]
Gildemann: Chamber Music (Kairos)
Eerily atmospheric and meticulously designed, Ms Gildemann’s distinctive pieces uncannily evoke their titles [RHa]
Franck: Symphony in D minor (HDTT)
Treat yourself to an old favourite in a ripe, vibrant new transfer [PH]
Hasse: Cantatas Vol 1 (Brilliant Classics)
(Déjà Review) Outstanding performances of some heretofore lost gems for voices lovingly coupled with instrumental works that are sure to please [KS]
Herrmann: Hangover Square & Citizen Kane (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) A most rewarding and desirable issue [BBr][RB]
Garro: Choral Music (Hyperion)
Cupertinos capture our attention in excellent performances of the music of a neglected composer [DHa]
Schumann: Piano Music (Signum Classics)
A mixed bag of Schumann [RMas]
