Alphons Diepenbrock: The Life, Times and Music of a Dutch Romantic Composer (Toccata Press)
A rewarding read [SG]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Capriccio)
Poschner’s well-directed Complete Versions series continues [RMo]
Boughton: Of Delights and Passions (EM Records)
Expressive directness and frolicsome invention in a series of Boughton disc premieres [JW]
Peacock Pie (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) A delightful release which is a joy from first to last [HC]
Rêverie – Polish Cello Miniatures (Dux)
First recordings of works that deserved to stay buried [DJB]
Bruckner: Symphony 6 (LSO Live)
Controversial and underwhelming Bruckner from Rattle [LD]
A Beethoven Odyssey Vol. 7 (MSR Classics)
Brawn turns out thoroughly impressive accounts of these last three very challenging sonatas [RC]
Voyages (Signum Classics)
A fascinating journey through Baudelaire’s and Goethe’s poetic landscapes [GF]
Haydn: String Quartets (Hyperion)
Versions for hard-core period instrument enthusiasts [RMo]
Ida Presti & Alexandre Lagoya (guitars) Vol. 2 (Doremi)
A second souvenir of the art of this guitar duo, with special emphasis on the youthful brilliance of Ida Presti [JW]
Ataúlfo Argenta (conductor) (EMI Classics)
(Déjà Review) Lisztians need to hear Argenta’s Faust; his El Amor Brujo is perhaps the best ever [RB]
Biber: Sonatas (Accent)
The sonatas are fabulous, but the trumpet duos do rather drag on [DJB]
Mozart: Symphonies 39-41 (BR Klassik)
Masterful, ideally executed and engineered recordings of Mozart’s three greatest symphonies [RMo]
Stamitz: Violin Concertos (cpo)
Lively performances of little-known compositions from the end of the Baroque period [CRo]
Cage: Choral Works (Ondine)
An interesting corner of John Cage’s output expertly performed by a choir and conductor who really understand and enjoy working in the idiom [MS]
R Strauss: Tone Poems (Signum Classics)
Some marvellous Strauss tone poems that mark the beginning of Rouvali’s stewardship of the Philharmonia [ST]
Schubert: Eine Winterreise (Naxos)
Musically excellent and dramatically intriguing re-imagining of Schubert’s story [RWe]
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Recorded just a week after 9/11, this stunning performance heralds a new era for Rattle in Berlin [CT]
Puts: The City (Naxos)
Three substantial and very fine orchestral works; the Marimba Concerto is a joy [DJB]
Beethoven: Piano Trios (Sony Classical)
A terrific Ghost Trio, less impressive E flat major Trio [PBW]
Lalo & Casals: Cello Concertos (Sony Classical)
My high expectations were exceeded by Jan Vogler’s compelling performances [MC]