Praetorius: Lutheran Mass for Christmas Morning (Archiv Produktion)
(Déjà Review) A refreshing antidote to all those unimaginative festive compilations [DM]
Berlioz: L’Enfance du Christ (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) A performance to love and to cherish [SV]
Wordsworth, Wilson & McGuire: Piano Works (Heritage)
Impressive performances all around [JF]
Sirventès – Chamber Music by Iranian female composers (New Focus)
Deserves to be heard by all who are interested in contemporary chamber music [GPu]
Mozart: Don Juan (Narodowy Institut Fryderyka Chopin)
A fine performance of an oddball Bizet curiosity, but Mozart’s orchestration and vocal variety are sorely missed [MZ]
Haydn: Late Symphonies, Vol 2 (Naxos)
Thrilling second instalment of Haydn’s ‘London’ Symphonies [DF]
Gnattali: Piano Music (Nimbus Records)
Brazilian music owes a lot to Radamés Gnattali and this is an excellent showcase of his piano music [RCh]
Agata-Maria Raatz (violin, voice) Echo of Bach (Solo Musica)
A strange, uneven but enjoyable disc lit up by the violinist’s own compositions [DMD]
Anne Sofie von Otter: Lieder and Mélodies (Archiv Produktion)
(Déjà Review) A most satisfying recital by major artists in repertoire which expands our understanding of the composers [TB]
Julens ljus (The Light of Christmas) (Proprius)
(Déjà Review) I suspect that many listeners will make attractive ‘finds’ among these 24 songs and the execution of them leaves little extra to be desired [GF]
Gibbs: String quartets (Convivium)
Dappled watercolours from a minor British chamber composer [JW]
Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin (Rubicon)
A fresh and stimulating alternative reading of Schubert’s masterwork that I urge readers to give a try [GF]
1723 Bach, Bertali, Biber, Corelli & Pisendel (Ramée)
A nice demonstration of the practice of ‘playing in the organ’ [JV]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos, Rhapsody (Channel Classics)
An individual, quite impressive view of these masterworks [RWe]
A Winter Breviary – Choral Works for Christmas (Resonus Classics)
A stimulating collection of new Christmas music, immaculately performed [JQ]
Kodály: Háry János Suite, Symphony (Naxos)
Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic continue to shine in Kodály [LW]
The Coronation of George II (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) A wonderful recording of superlative music in performances that surely cannot be bettered [JL]
Vaughan Williams: Music for Christmas (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Beautifully sensitive performances atmospherically recorded [RB]
Morricone: Cinema Rarities (Arcana)
Enjoyable arrangements of some of Morricone’s less well-known film music, but suffering from a lack of variety [DJB]
Shostakovich: Symphonies (Deutsche Grammophon)
A dismal coda to an otherwise admirable cycle; variable sonics, too [DM]
Respighi & Shostakovich: Violin Sonatas (Orchid Classics)
Intelligent and assured performances of two contrasting sonatas which prove to be mutually illuminating [GPu]
Biber: Twelve Sonatas (Accent)
Both the ensemble and the playing of the individual members are excellent and hard to surpass [JV]
A Winged Woman – choral music (Linn)
A superb and ambitious collection of choral music, with seven world premiere recordings [SW]
Thomas Jensen (conductor) Legacy Vol 19 (Danacord)
Broadcasts of Nielsen concertos from unfamiliar soloists head a variety-packed twofer [JW]
 |
 |
Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
 |
 |
 |
 |
