Review
Maria Kliegel (cello) Anniversary Edition (Naxos)
A fine cellist – expression, technical mastery, character all there – but a shame that this is a collection of excerpts [RB]
Mozart: Symphonies (Genuin)
The outer movements of Symphony 41 are splendid; elsewhere Klumpp’s Mozart can be a shade relentless [MG]
Schubert: Schwanengesang (Pentatone)
The final instalment of Bostridge’s Schubert trilogy is a partnership of equals, voice and piano coming together to create something very special [ST]
Aaron Rosand (violin) The First Recordings (Biddulph)
Rosand’s first Vox recordings are restored for a new generation [JW]
Balakirev: Orchestral Works (MDG)
Attractive but undemanding scores performed with care and well recorded [NB]
Rastrelli Effect (Solo Musica)
Pleasant, with many different styles, but little to arouse much excitement [DJB]
Tomasi: Complete Violin Works (Naxos)
I have nothing but praise for this splendid disc [SG]
Adams: Sila (Cantaloupe)
Almost impossible to evaluate, but this has opened my eyes, ears and mind to something quite new [WH]
The Splendour of Florence (Linn)
In this annual release, Gothic Voices will not disappoint, even if other ensembles often cover the same musical territory [GH]
Jascha Heifetz: The Heifetz Collection Vol 35 (RCA-BMG)
Vivid and admirable shorter pieces but a Mendelssohn that has a heart of jagged tin [RB]
Beethoven & Mozart: Piano Transcriptions (BIS)
Sensational pianism, inspiration, and exuberant pianism in every track [MM]
Rauchenecker: Symphony No 1 (CPO)
Forgotten works by a forgotten composer may not be masterpieces but certainly worth a listen [NB]
Telemann: Suites (Dux)
Stylish and refined recordings of Telemann orchestral works in French and Polish character [CRo]
Sir Adrian Boult: Decca Legacy Vol. 1 (Eloquence)
The mono VW cycle offers the spine of Eloquence’s handsome Boult box [JW]
Aguilera: Organ Music (Brilliant)
Another fine contribution to the Brilliant Classics keyboard music catalogue [JV]
Montgeroult: Etudes (BIS)
Superb performances and recording of piano studies which should rank alongside the very best [GH]
Bruckner Spectrum (Berlin)
A compelling and superbly performed programme [WH]
van Dieren: Piano (Piano Classics)
Challenging, but satisfying [SG]
Verdi: French Rarities (Dynamic)
One new Verdi discovery combined with some previously released material, all neatly performed [MP]
Pfitzner: Das Christ-Elflein (Orfeo)
Probably the most recommendable of the three recordings of Pfitzner’s Christmas tear-jerker despite its drawbacks [PCG]
Illustrazioni (Stradivarius)
A fine recording explores the renewal and variety of Italian twentieth-century piano repertoire [JW]
Still: Summerland (Naxos)
Idiomatic performances from a mother and daughter combination [WK]
Mayer: Symphonies Nos 3 and 7 (CPO)
Two little-known symphonies prove to be interesting but not essential listening [NB]
Bruckner: Symphony No 4 (Capriccio)
Bruckner’s ‘Romantic’ Symphony in its original version from Poschner is solely for Brucknerian aficionados [GT]
