Review
Jascha Heifetz (violin) Walton & Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Violin Concertos (Naxos Historical)
One of the greatest historical bargains that I’ve heard for a long time [BW]
Zelenka: Officium defunctorium & Requiem (Accent)
Everything about this is top notch [DC]
Chopin in Vienna: (Azure Sky)
Chopin’s early successes and a rarity in this well-played recital [RCh]
Bellini: (Oxford University Press)
Powered by the latest scholarship, a readable and illuminating overview of the career of Vincenzo Bellini [DHa]
Beethoven: Symphonies 1 & 2 (High Definition Tape Transfers)
Brilliant, driven performances from an orchestra and conductor in top form, in extraordinarily good sound for its vintage [RMo]
Coleridge-Taylor & Dvořák: Violin Concertos (Canary Classics)
A taut, decisive and first-class Coleridge-Taylor Concerto coupled with a very effective Dvořák [JW]
Stravinsky: Pétrouchka & Le Sacre du Printemps (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Stop press: crusty old cynic declares recording to be ‘near definitive’ [DC]
Weinberg: Cello Sonatas (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Emotional Soviet solo cello [BR]
Pärt: Complete Symphonies (Chandos)
Compelling music of surprising variety from a composer many listeners will think they know [WH]
Kauder: Chamber Music Volume 1 (Toccata Classics)
The string sonatas of an intriguing Viennese figure [JW]
Alexander Malofeev (piano) – Forgotten Melodies (Sony Classical)
Bravura playing of a brilliantly constructed programme compromised by claustrophobic sound [NB]
Puccini: Tosca (Naxos)
This latest version of the perennial favourite is dramatically convincing, if not always quite adequate vocally [DJa]
Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics)
A really impressive, beautifully balanced partnership resulting in a memorable account of Sibelius’ wonderful concerto paired with a superb Lemminkäinen Suite [RMo]
Strauss: Salome & Elektra (Pristine Audio)
Straussian excellence from seven decades ago silences any of the more recent competition [MP]
Garro & Guerrero: Choral Music (Delphian)
A fine celebration of Portuguese polyphony [DC]
Dallapiccola: Orchestral Works Vol 1 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Superb performances and recordings of works from an important decade in Dallapiccola’s composing life [HC]
Bonis: Orchestral Works (cpo)
Pretty, but ultimately rather shallow music, not a patch on her chamber works [DJB]
Cilea & Longo: Chamber Music (Tactus)
Unusual light shone on two composers not known for chamber composition [JW]
JL Adams: Horizon (ABC Classics)
John Luther Adams continues to amaze in his first work since his move to Australia [DHa]
Vivaldi: Gloria; Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate (Forgotten Records)
(Déjà Review) Deeply satisfying [GF]
Walton: String Quartets (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m sure I will return to it often [MC]
Albares. Latin American Trumpet Concertos (Onyx)
Three contrasting works allow Flores to demonstrate his considerable talents [DJB]
Dzenītis: Symphonies No.1-2 (Skani)
Wide-open spaces rising to crests of belligerence [RB]
Bruckner: Mass No.1, Psalm 146 (High Definition Tape Transfers)
Two major choral works, magnificently recorded [WK]
