Review
Carolyn Enger (piano) American Ethos (Métier)
A curious selection of works to celebrate 250 years of American Independence [PRJ]
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 (Philharmonia Records)
Rouvali puts his mark on this symphony in a splendidly daring and arresting manner [RMo]
The Romantic Piano Concerto: Reger & Strauss (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Absolutely outstanding [RBe]
Menuhin conducts Prokofiev (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) An excellent document of Menuhin’s conducting prowess [OL]
Shostakovich: Suite for Variety Orchestra No 1 (Spivakov Sound)
A short and sweet recent release from the conductor/violinist’s personal label [NC]
Mahler: Symphonies 1 to 9 (Pentatone)
A very mixed bag; several symphonies are superb, especially in terms of orchestral playing and sound engineering, but several fall short [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Tudor)
(Déjà Review) Not to be missed [DM]
Mozart: Arias for Tenor (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) No one wanting an all-Mozart recital can possibly go wrong with this issue [GF]
Grieg: Violin Sonatas (Pristine Audio)
Classic Menuhin in these delightful sonatas [SB]
The Sound of Adventure (Prospero Classical)
A thoroughly enjoyable selection of less often heard film music [DJB]
Ries: Concert Overtures (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Strong performances of music that is soft-toned in colour yet engaging to the ear [RW]
Albert Coates conducts 20th Century music (Pristine Audio)
Dynamic, dramatic, speedy but unexpectedly noble Albert Coates in action [JW]
Baroque + Forth. Baroque masterpieces transcribed for solo piano (Azure Sky)
A thoughtful collection of baroque piano transcriptions that ventures beyond the familiar [RCh]
Feldman: For Bunita Marcus, Palais de Mari (True Blanking)
Compelling live performances of Feldman piano works by a doyen of the field [DHa]
Kashperova: Piano Concerto, Symphony (Capriccio)
Premiere recordings of two fine works by a little-known Russian pianist-composer who taught Stravinsky [GH]
Mozart: Symphonies No.39-41 (Berlin Classics)
(Déjà Review) Suitner’s handling of these scores is fleet and vigorous [SV]
Madetoja: Complete Works for Strings and Piano (Alba)
Interesting, but his orchestral music is far better [DJB]
Elgar: From the Archives, Vol 3 (SOMM Ariadne)
Compelling live Elgar from Sir Adrian Boult in SOMM’s essential archive series [DHa]
Jack Brymer (clarinet) (Nimbus)
A valuable twofer reissues a Jack Brymer recording from 1973 and presents a previously unissued one from nearly twenty years later [JW]
Schubert: Irrlichter (BIS)
An intrinsically beautiful voice delivers as fine a Schubert recital as we have heard in many a year [RMo]
Vivaldi: L’Olimpiade (1734) (cpo)
One of Vivaldi’s best operas receives a recording which succeeds in most regards [MP]
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (C Major)
(Déjà Review) A great success overall and this DVD needs watching just once before you go out and buy the whole thing [DBi]
Piazzolla: Sinfonía Buenos Aires (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Freshness, spontaneity matched by committed, idiomatic playing [DM]
Fiddlers Three – Music from Charles II’s ‘Private Musick’ (Barn Cottage Records)
An exciting recording given an exemplary production [JV]
