Author: Stan Szpakowicz
Strauss: Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben (Gramola)
On the evidence of flabby playing and murky sound, the conductor should stick to Bruckner [RMo]
Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On (Signum Classics)
In times of war and unrest, this album from the masterly King’s Singers gives hope [GF]
Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux (Piano Classics)
A superb new version of Messiaen’s great piano cycle [SB]
Fritz Kreisler (violin): Violin Concertos (Pristine Audio)
The legendary Fritz Kreisler comes up pristinely in new transfers of his concerto recordings [PH]
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Antal Doráti Centenary Society)
A powerful live performance that also has some troubling aspects [WH]
Kaleidoskop Europa: Tänze für Klaviertrio (Gramola)
A delightful anthology of European dances, familiar and forgotten [GPu]
Dufay: Mass for Saint Anthony Abbot; Binchois: Motets (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Often searingly beautiful, often surprisingly inventive, and always brilliantly performed [EML]
Mahler: Symphony No.3 (Farao Classics)
(Déjà Review) Mehta knows how to handle large forces, but is less successful in conveying the music’s symphonic direction and flow [TB]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Opera Rara)
This must now become first choice for the original version [RMo]
Folios of Light – Contemporary Japanese Piano Music (Azure Sky)
A recital of spiritual and serene Japanese piano music [PH]
Bernard Haitink (conductor): Portrait Volume II (BR Klassik)
A marvellous testament to Haitink’s longstanding work with one of his great orchestral partners [ST]
Say: Violin Concerto No.2, chamber works (Naxos)
The music of this refreshingly different composer holds one firmly in its grip [SA]
Lovro von Matačić (conductor) (Supraphon)
A tribute to a great and versatile conductor containing some superb and some less successful performances [RMo]
Fatma Said (soprano) Lieder (Warner Classics)
This wonderful disc of Lieder for soprano and different forces held me spellbound [PT]
Bells for Stokowski (Reference Recordings)
(Déjà Review) There’s something for everyone, and very attractively played too [JW]
The French Connection (Et’cetera)
(Déjà Review) There is nothing here that does not delight the ear [KS]
Sæverud & Toch: Symphonies (Antal Doráti Society)
New symphonies from the 1950s, live in Minneapolis in Doráti-led performances [JW]
Americanos (Lindoro)
An engaging album of mostly unfamiliar music, well played and recorded [GPu]
Shostakovich: Symphonies 4-6 (Decca)
Compellingly truthful performances of a triptych of Shostakovich symphonies [AG]
Puccini: Tosca (Deutsche Grammophon)
The best Tosca released in the past half-century [GF]
Samsara – Schumann & Fauré (Alpha Classics)
An absorbing and enterprising programme, impeccably performed by a stellar partnership [RMo]
Telemann: Gulliver’s Travels (Christophorus)
Telemann as a master of counterpoint [JV]
Medtner: Goethe Lieder (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Works of the most eloquent melodic and lyric faculty superbly presented [RB]
Rameau: Castor et Pollux (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A good place to start if you do not know Rameau’s fascinating operas [RH]
 |
 |
 |
Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
 |
 |
 |
 |
