Déjà Reviews

Re-published reviews from the archive

Les Chemins d’Amour (CD Accord)

(Déjà Review) It would be difficult to imagine a better duo partnership for this music [CH]

Beethoven elise MIR9972

Beethoven: Lettre à Elise (Mirare)

One of the most charming piano recitals that I have come across in years [KS]

Britten bridge 855720

Britten: Orchestral works (Naxos)

Another spectacular and poetic Britten collection ex-Collins courtesy of Naxos [EM]

Bach Keyboard Works Vol9 Martins Labor LAB7025-2

Bach: Keyboard Works (Labor Records)

(Déjà Review) Some will think these exceptional recordings are the best Bach-on-the-piano ever, others will hate them [PSh]

Schubert Winterreise Mertens Mathot Challenge CC72152

Schubert: Die Winterreise (Challenge Classics)

(Déjà Review) A fresh, personable and individual reading that shows these well-known songs in part in a new light [GF]

puccini turandot lombard

Puccini: Turandot (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) The pleasure that Caballé’s beautiful tone and imaginative approach gives is enormous [JS]

studer legacy claves

Michael Studer (piano) The Legacy (Claves)

(Déjà Review) Buy it for the Bach, and become enthralled by the rest [DC]

Mussorgsky: Symphonic Transcriptions by Stokowski (Deutsche Grammophon)

(Déjà Review) A fine new recording of Stokowski’s vividly orchestrated responses to Mussorgsky’s music [CT]

Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Music (SOMM)

(Déjà Review) All credit to Bebbington and Somm for opening this stimulating door [RB]

Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5 (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) A revelation of what can still be revealed by dedicated musicians [RB]

Allegri: Miserere (Coro)

(Déjà Review) Those famous tumbling high Cs in the Allegri are piercing in their exaltation – tonal splendour and vocal blend a joy throughout [TH]

Prospice Songs Meridian DUOCD89026

Prospice (Meridian Records)

A recording which has somehow failed to attract much notice but proves to be a complete revelation [LF]

Walton choral 8555793

Walton: Choral works (Naxos)

Some very fine music in absolutely top class performances which are accorded recorded sound of comparable excellence [JQ]

Chinoiserie Lin BISCD1110

Chinoiserie (BIS)

A veritable treasure trove of delights [CC]

Mahler sym7 DG4716232

Mahler: Symphony 7 (Deutsche Grammophon)

A Mahler 7 to be ranked with the finest but carrying an extra magic only “live” performance can bring [MB]

bartok bronfman sony

Bartók: Piano Concertos (Sony)

(Déjà Review) Marvellously subtle and polished … delightfully witty [TH]

beethoven klemperer warner eroica

Beethoven: Symphony 3 (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) One of the essential Beethoven recordings [CH]

A Bird Came Down the Walk (BIS)

(Déjà Review) One of those rare recital recordings that actually plays best as a recital [PSh]

JC Bach: Complete Opera Overtures (cpo)

(Déjà Review) Anthony Halstead’s marvellous players have caused me to spend several hours exploring this and related repertoire [DBi]

The Stuyvesant String Quartet (Bridge)

(Déjà Review) A worthy salute to a fine quartet [JW]

Mahler: Symphony 1 (Audite)

(Déjà Review) Simply indispensable [TD]

Dvorak mackerras 2435740045

Dvořák: Serenades (Warner Classics)

A heart-warming disc of the Dvořák serenades, played and recorded beautifully [JP]

Shostakovich preludes 855474546

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues (Naxos)

A delicacy and deftness of touch in the playing, allied with a natural sense of line and phrasing which can be both compelling and moving [CT]

Howells Orchestral Vol2 Hickox Chandos CHAN9557

Howells: Orchestral Works (Chandos)

Rare works in very fine performances, and a superb warm recording [HC]