Review
House of Wonder: Sally Beamish Celebrates 70 Years (Delphian)
A fondly compiled, superbly performed 70th birthday celebration of Sally Beamish [PC]
Schubert: Songs (Harmonia Mundi)
A very pleasing third instalment of this Schubert project – interesting and beautifully performed [DJa]
Salieri: Il mondo alla rovescia (Dynamic)
(Déjà Review) A fascinating work in a pleasing debut recording [GPu]
Wagner: Operatic Excerpts (Naxos Historical)
(Déjà Review) Reference pointers to incandescent live performances which, incredibly, take the drama and even the sound to a higher level [DH]
Roman: Swedish Mass (Nilento Records)
The best possible performance of Roman’s Swedish Mass [JV]
Schnittke: Violin Sonatas (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) It’s hard to imagine more idiomatic, lively, sensitive and generally persuasive performances [MS]
Schubert: Symphonies 4 & 5 (Forgotten Records)
(Déjà Review) I don’t think I’ve heard a finer Schubert 4 [CH]
Busoni: Works for Piano (Nimbus Records)
A dazzling treat of piano playing finally sees the light of day [RCh]
Janua (Psalmus)
A fascinating juxtaposition of a musical East-meets-West in 15th century Europe, ended tragically [GH]
Talbot: Sunstone (Divine Arts)
Anyone who cares about contemporary choral music should hear this wonderful score [JQ]
Bon: Sei sonate per il cembalo (Tactus)
These performances of Bon’s little-known sonatas are rather unsatisfying [JV]
Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin and Concertante Works (Atma Classique)
Interesting for the extra Tombeau movements, but otherwise not competitive [DJB]
Portsmouth Cathedral Choir: A Year at Portsmouth (Regent)
Portsmouth Cathedral Choir shines through seasons [JF]
Grieg: Complete Lyric pieces, Album Leaves (Nimbus)
An excellent complete recording of these lovely miniatures [SB]
Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) Consistently satisfying performances that reveal Rachmaninov’s music to the listener faithfully and without unnecessary ostentation [JQ][RB]
Schmitt: La Tragédie de Salomé & Le Palais hanté (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) An auspicious and impressive debut for this new performing team [NB]
Vaughan Williams: Riders to the Sea (EMI Classics)
RVW’s dark, atmospheric Irish tragedy and two works lamenting and celebrating the power of love [RMo]
Mozart: Arias (Deutsche Grammophon)
One of the most thrilling bass recitals that has come my way [GF]
Poulenc: Voyage à Paris (Hyperion Helios)
Lott is husky and lovely in her upper register and with controlled abandon where necessary [Byz]
Parry & Elgar: Choral works (Signum Classics)
Committed performances of interesting and rare choral works [NB]
Fusions: Kapustin, Gershwin & Wild (SOMM)
Jazz‑charged virtuosity meets classical brilliance [JF]
Ravel: The Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 2 (Avie)
Buy this for Larderet, rather than the two new adaptations, or the ‘Complete’ tag [SGa]
Riley: The Holy Liftoff (Sono Luminus)
Minimalism at its most profound; a beautiful, spiritual listening experience [ACG]
Mitropoulos conducts Mahler (Music and Arts)
(Déjà Review) An important and challenging set that deserves a place in any self-respecting Mahler collection [JQ]
