Review
Film Fantasia: Emily Sun (ABC Classics)
The Oscar goes to Elena Kats-Chernin’s attractive and entertaining new concerto [NB]
Santoro: Complete Piano Sonatas (Naxos)
A telling survey of Santoro’s musical progress over half a century [HC]
Henry VIII On Tour: Music from Tudor Royal Progresses (Delphian)
An entertaining hour with a wide range of Tudor music in strong, committed performances [GH]
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (Orfeo)
Hardly a Pagliacci to stir the blood; there is much better to be had in terms of both singing and sound [RMo]
Schubert: Voyage (Berlin Classics)
Two brilliant performers, one very strange disc – Schubert transformed or transmogrified? [GPJ]
Sohal: String Quartets (Toccata Classics)
Sohal_StringQuartets_ToccataClassics [DHa]
Debussy’s Corner (Cyprès)
(Déjà Review) A well planned, superbly played programme that is a pure joy from start to finish [HC]
Fagerlund: Chamber and Orchestral Works (BIS)
Yet another superb addition to Fagerlund’s discography and a must for any follower of this composer [HC]
Strauss: Salome (Chandos)
A thoroughly disappointing recording, poorly sung, indifferently conducted and afflicted by problems in the recorded balance [RMo]
Hahn: Le Dieu Bleu (B Records)
An interesting premiere recording of a ballet not seen for over a century [MP]
Stone, Salt & Sky: Duos for violin and cello (Delphian)
Very well played, adventurously programmed and well recorded [GPu]
Stjernebru: Nordic choral music (2L Records)
Had enough of contemporary Nordic choral music? Well, think again… [DC]
Rorem: Choral Works (Resonus)
Highly accomplished performances of music that is polished and refined [JQ]
Bach: Keyboard Concertos (Warner Classics)
Wonderful Bach from Beatrice Rana accompanied by some highly skilled, like-minded, Dutch string players [PH]
JC Bach & CPE Bach: Orchestral Music (Harmonia Mundi)
(Déjà Review) A real success here, then, from all angles [CC]
Maria Lettberg (piano): Europolis (Oehms Classics)
Music that should be better known and will reward the listener on every hearing [SA]
Dring: Complete Works for Oboe (Chandos)
A disc of unexpected delights – delicious music played with wit and elegance [NB]
Elgar: Symphony No.1 (NDR Radiophilharmonie)
Another great take on Elgar’s First from a top German orchestra and their outgoing chief [PH]
Puccini: Tosca (Pristine Audio)
Much here is vivid and compelling, especially with Pristine’s enhanced sound, but for me de Sabata prevails [RMo]
The Last Castrato. Arias for Velluti (Château de Versailles)
Mostly unheard gems by less familiar composers of the Bel canto era [MP]
Contemporary Choral Works (Regent)
An enjoyable and stimulating album of recent church music [JQ]
17th and 18th Century Organ Toccatas, Sonatas and Canzonas (Da Vinci Classics)
Bellatti is a skilful guide through the Ligurian organ landscape [JV]
Bruckner: Symphony No.5 (Elatus)
(Déjà Review) Bruckner would surely have been pleased with the passionate commitment shown here [TB]
Philippe Quint (violin) Milestones (Pentatone)
An enterprising programme of premieres [LW]
