Déjà Reviews
Re-published reviews from the archive
Barber: Concertos (RCA)
Seventy-nine minutes’ worth of pure musical pleasure [GPJ]
Beethoven & Brahms: Symphonies (RCO Live)
One of the finest orchestral discs to have come my way for a very long time [JQ]
Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande and Five Orchestral Pieces (ABC Classics)
(Déjà Review) A magnificent disc showing both the route that Schoenberg did not take, and, triumphantly, the one that he did [DBi]
Sibelius: Complete Symphonies and Selected Orchestral Works (EMI Classics)
(Déjà Review) One of the greatest symphonic cycles under a conductor who shows a deep understanding and profound identification with it [CH]
20th Century Works for Flute and Orchestra (Centaur)
(Déjà Review) A delightful anthology … tunefulness and brevity [HC]
Debussy & Mozart: Songs (ECM)
(Déjà Review) Banse’s subtle, dark-toned soprano is ideal for this material [TH]
Auric: Beauty and the Beast (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A most desirable release recommended to film buffs and anyone with interest in 20th Century French music [HC]
Bach: Piano Transcriptions Volume 5 (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Milne’s playing also reflects his love of this demanding yet rewarding repertoire [TB]
Sibelius: Rondo of the Waves (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Exalted performance values and rare vintage Sibelius [RB]
Pärt: Passio (St John Passion) (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Spotless intonation, and a clear sense of the rhythmic ebb and flow, world class [KS]
Sculthorpe: Music for Cello (Tall Poppies)
If you don’t know Sculthorpe, you should and this disc would provide an ideal introduction [NHo]
Schubert: Mayrhofer Lieder Vol 2 (Naxos)
Intimacy in music encapsulated on a small circle of plastic – remarkable and breathtaking [SA]
Poulenc: Stabat Mater and Litanies à la Vierge Noire (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) A moving, compelling document regarding some of this unique composer’s finest music [GPJ]
Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba Suite and The Pines of Rome (Reference Recordings)
(Déjà Review) The exotic Respighi – contrasts the little known with the very well known. Recommended [AB]
Meulemans: Orchestral Works (Phaedra)
Well-crafted and superbly scored works in which Meulemans’ orchestral flair and mastery are clearly displayed [HC]
Offenbach: La Belle Hélène (Regis)
Not for nothing has this Offenbach been counted among the five all-time great recordings of French opera [CH]
Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Flute Concerto (Hallé)
(Déjà Review) Brilliant performances of brilliant music, in other words a great buy [NHo]
Martinů: String Quartets No. 4, 5, 7 (Naxos )
(Déjà Review) Czech dances never seem to be far away … rollicking and suspense-laden [GH]
Mahler: Symphony No 10 (Delos)
(Déjà Review) We will never know what Mahler 10 would have been like, but I’m sure it would not have sounded like this [TD]
Enescu: Piano Quintet, Quartet No 2 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Yet another jewel in the Naxos crown [KS]
Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 6 (Hänssler Classic)
Expect to be surprised, moved and possibly irritated [CC]
Dello Joio, Creston & Bloch (Centaur)
Likely to win new friends for all three composers [RB]
Janáček: The Makropulos Case (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) This has an unmistakably authentic feel about it [TH]
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1-15 (Brilliant Classics)
(Déjà Review) As a way to experience one of the greatest symphonic cycles of the 20th century this has to be an essential purchase at this price [DBi]
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