Déjà Reviews

Re-published reviews from the archive

Bach Family: Chamber music for two flutes (Nimbus Records)

(Déjà Review) Fine playing all round by a well matched and collegial ensemble [KS]

Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5 (ICA Classics)

(Déjà Review) Anyone with an interest in Munch and his magnificent Boston band will find this DVD fascinating [TP]

Beethoven: Works for Cello & Piano (Challenge Classics)

(Déjà Review) Guaranteed to provide long-term enjoyment [DCL]

Brian: Orchestral Music, Vol 1 (Toccata Classics)

(Déjà Review) Will be one of my discs of the year without doubt [NB]

balakirev driver hyperion

Balakirev: Piano Works (Hyperion)

A pianist of exceptional skill and promise [DM]

bellini norma decca

Bellini: Norma (Decca)

Admirable in many regards [DBe]

Alkan PianoDuos Toccata

Alkan: Complete Piano Duos and Duets (Toccata Classics)

(Déjà Review) Imposing, complex and astounding [Byz]

Bach Clavier-Ubung Oehms

Bach: Clavier-Übung Part II (Oehms Classics)

(Déjà Review) A splendid mix of the structure of Bach and the exuberance of the French romantic organ [JFL]

brahmsjoachim hungariandances nimbus

Brahms arr. Joachim: Hungarian Dances (Nimbus)

(Déjà Review) Surprises of this kind can’t come along too often [JW]

italianclarinetsuites naxos

Italian Clarinet Suites (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Interesting music from largely unfamiliar names [GPu]

The 18th Century American Overture (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A recording that generates a contented smile [JS]

John Williams (guitar): The Beginning of a Legend Volume 1 (IDIS)

(Déjà Review) An important historical recording [ZT]

Toldra, Casals & Montsalvatge: Music for String Orchestra (Nimbus)

(Déjà Review) An original and completely unhackneyed collection of Catalan music for string orchestra [RB]

Verdi: La traviata (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) An excellent bargain which competes with the very best versions on record [DBe]

Tippett ritual NI5217

Tippett: Ritual Dances & Sosostris’s Aria (Nimbus)

The first and brilliant fruit of Nimbus’s joint project with the 84 year old composer [RB]

Munch WHRA6027

Charles Munch (conductor) A Treasury of French Music (West Hill Radio Archives)

There’s something here even for those with an extensive collection of Munch’s recordings [JW]

Tcherepnin SymphoniesandPianoConcertos BIS

Tcherepnin: The Symphonies and Piano Concertos (BIS)

(Déjà Review) A fascinating and sometimes very engaging insight into the unfamiliar world of Alexander Tcherepnin [RB]

Verdi Traviata icaclassics

Verdi: La traviata (ICA Classics)

(Déjà Review) An enormously subtle creation enshrined for posterity [RMo]

pierremonteeux westhill

Pierre Monteux in Boston (West Hill Archives)

(Déjà Review) Authoritative, finely played, well recorded and transferred [JW]

strauss_ isadellacasa

Strauss: Four Last Songs (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A magnificent souvenir of perhaps the greatest Strauss soprano ever [RMo]

Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Opus Arte)

(Déjà Review) This live recording has a great deal to offer [GF]

Vaughan Williams: String Quartets, Phantasy Quintet (Nimbus Records)

(Déjà Review) A popular grouping of RVW’s chamber works played with emotional fervour [RB]

R Strauss: Elektra (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) A sensible and impressive performance with no significant weak links [DH]

Rózsa: Three Hungarian Sketches & Cello Rhapsody (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Committed, idiomatic and sharply attuned to the composer’s sensibilities [JW]