Review
Rachmaninov: Symphony No 3 (Fuga Libera)
The symphony is here given the best possible advocacy and Ravel’s nightmarish La Valse makes the perfect pendant [RMo]
Vaughan Williams: The Complete String Quartets (cpo)
Generous and intelligent coupling, but the performances are not competitive [NB]
Karajan Conducts French Music (Pristine Audio)
Familiar recordings, probably skippable [SV]
HOLST 150 (SOMM Recordings)
A worthy 150th anniversary tribute to Gustav Holst [JQ]
Norwegian Heartland (Simax Classics)
(Déjà Review) Intense enjoyment if you are prepared to try something a little out of the normal run [JP]
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 4 & 7 (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) As a coupling of the symphonies, this disc is unbeatable [TP]
Gerhard: Don Quixote, Alegrías, Pedrelliana (Chandos)
Attractive music, well presented [SB]
Liszt: Piano Sonata, Études de concert (Hänssler Classic)
Brilliant Liszt performances breathe new life into great staples of the repertoire [RBe]
Langlais: Organ Music Vol. 2 (Brilliant Classics)
Performances that capture the spirit of the music as well as any [SG]
Taneyev: Violin Sonata, Piano Quintet (Naxos)
A stunning quintet balanced by a forgettable sonata, both superbly performed [NB]
Adolf Busch: Orchestral Works Volume 1 (Toccata Classics)
More valuable premiere recordings [JW]
Prokofiev: Symphony-Concerto, Sonata for Cello, Sonata for Cello and Piano (BIS)
Useful programme, fine execution [RWe]
Addison: Film Music (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) One of the very best of Chandos’s British film music series [IL]
Bach: The Well-tempered Clavier Book II (Erato)
(Déjà Review) The set deserves the strongest recommendation, unless one prefers the piano [BW]
Pitfield: String Chamber Music (Divine Art)
Warm and understanding performances [WK]
Johannes Obermeier (piano): Brilliants (Genuin)
A début that very much lives up to its name [RCh]
Loughlin: Piano and Chamber Music (Toccata Classics)
A Liverpudlian composer’s musical and geographical wanderings [JW]
Lortzing: Overtures, Concert Pieces, Ballet Music (cpo)
A well-filled introduction to the world of a skillful, once-popular composer [GH]
Haydn: 16 Early Keyboard Sonatas (Da Vinci Classics)
Consummate understanding of what makes these early works tick [DMD]
Richard Galliano (accordion): Around Gershwin (Pentatone)
This imaginative and varied programme proves emphatically that Richard Galliano still sits safely on his throne as the King of the Accordion [GF]
Weill: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Add this one to your collection soon [KS]
Erica Morini (violin): Vol 3, Beethoven (Doremi)
(Déjà Review) Long may this worthy retrieval continue [JW]
Koechlin: The Jungle Book (RCA)
A most welcome reissue for an essential recording of Koechlin’s complete Jungle Book settings [PCG]
Pejačević & Röntgen-Maier: Piano trios (Da Vinci Classics)
Two very fine and underappreciated trios in outstanding performances [DJB]
