Orchestral Suites from Russian Operas (Guild)
Fills in the discographic gaps with lovely repertoire [SV]
Pierre Monteux in Boston (West Hill Archives)
(Déjà Review) Authoritative, finely played, well recorded and transferred [JW]
Strauss: Four Last Songs (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A magnificent souvenir of perhaps the greatest Strauss soprano ever [RMo]
Kuhnau: Complete Sacred Works (CPO)
If you are keen on period vocal music and J.S. Bach’s cantatas then you should certainly consider acquiring this set [DC]
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) This live recording has a great deal to offer [GF]
Vaughan Williams: String Quartets, Phantasy Quintet (Nimbus Records)
(Déjà Review) A popular grouping of RVW’s chamber works played with emotional fervour [RB]
Shostakovich: Piano Trios; Roslavets: Piano Trio No.4 (Naxos)
Shostakovich’s trios are good but Roslavets is a real discovery [SB]
Wurmser: À la lueur du timbre (Hortus)
Wurmser’s miniatures explore impressionism when they venture out of a light salon mood [RCh]
Puccini: La fanciulla del West (Walhall)
Tebaldi’s best Minnie, well-partnered, too – but in mono [RMo]
Büttner: Symphonies No.3-4 (Capriccio)
A neglected composer, most well-served in a splendiferous recording [EJW]
R Strauss: Elektra (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A sensible and impressive performance with no significant weak links [DH]
Rózsa: Three Hungarian Sketches & Cello Rhapsody (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Committed, idiomatic and sharply attuned to the composer’s sensibilities [JW]
Chaminade: Piano Trios & Morceaux (Da Vinci Classics)
Chaminade’s trios should be better known, and this recording is a perfect way to rectify that [DJB]
Biarent: Works for Cello & Piano (Pavane)
Biarent’s Cello Sonata is one of the finest composed in Belgium in the early 20th century [HC]
Shostakovich: Symphony No 2 & 5 (Chandos)
An interesting Shostakovich coupling from John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic [DHa]
Vivaldi: Il Bajazet (Naxos)
Naxos offers a real performance with warmth and life which compensates for some blemishes among the voices [MP]
Pacini: Il convitato di pietra (Naxos)
A different take on a well-known story is accompanied by a Pacini’s sure composition and an enjoyable first public performance [RJF]
Giardini: 6 Sonate per violino e continuo (Tactus)
Excellent performances of virtuosic sonatas [JV]
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring & Petrushka suite (Alto)
Voluptuous, elemental … an orchestra caught in headlong flight [RB]
Brahms: Late Piano Works (Warner Classics)
I had not expected to be so impressed by this recital [SB]
Vaughan Williams: Rise, Heart (Albion Records)
A deeply moving exploration of Vaughan Williams’s more intimate side [JF]
Alexander Gibson (conductor) (High Definition Tape Transfers)
A trio of early records by Alexander Gibson from the vaults [PH]
Monteverdi: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Signum Classics)
(Déjà Review) In a word: magnificent [JS]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) I put the disc on expecting ‘decent’, but it’s spectacular [BR]
