Willem Mengelberg (conductor) Mahler & Strauss (The Willem Mengelberg Society)
Performances of great historical and musical interest in superb transfers [PSt]
Tiomkin: Red River (Marco Polo)
(Déjà Review) Marco Polo have done a wonderful service in ensuring that such a brilliant score has been fully restored and recorded [SA]
Hommage à Evgueni Svetlanov (Naïve)
(Déjà Review) Eloquent testimony to Svetlanov’s stature as a conductor [CC]
M Haydn: String Quartets (cpo)
Six delightful and Instructive quartets by Michael Haydn [DF]
Sibelius & Prokofiev: Violin Concerti (Decca)
Terrific performances of two key works in the violin concerto repertoire [JQ]
Nathan Milstein (violin) The American Columbia Solo Recordings Vol. 1 (Pristine Audio)
Splendid transfers of Milstein’s 1930s baroque repertory [JW]
Paris est une fête (Fuga Libera)
Let’s party! [RMay]
Leo Sowerby (University of Illinois Press)
This first class study is an absorbing read and well worth tracking down [SG]
Gebel: Johannes Passion (cpo)
(Déjà Review) A totally forgotten Passion from 18th century Germany – a splendid work, moving and enthralling [JV]
Mozart: Divertimenti (Apex)
(Déjà Review) The playing in all of these pieces is a delight [GPJ]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Kashchey the Immortal (Philips)
A decent representation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely staged opera [MP]
Mahler: Symphony No 3 (BIS)
A sonic feast allows a persuasive vision of Mahler’s Third Symphony to shine forth [EJW]
Kuula: Complete Solo Songs, Vol 1 (Toccata Classics)
One already looks forward to the second volume [WK]
Huber: Piano Quintets Nos 1 & 2 (cpo)
Two sides of Huber’s chamber music – strict contrapuntalism and playful rhapsody [JW]
Larsson: Concert Overture No 2 & Sinfonietta (Phono Suecia)
(Déjà Review) Good examples of Larsson’s early and late styles [RB]
Vivaldi: Chamber Music for Oboe (Signum Classics)
This a release to savour and the leading candidate for both my baroque and chamber record of the year [MC]
Elgar: Mot d’amour. Works for violin & piano (BIS)
A variably successful disc [JW]
Mozart & R Strauss: Lieder (Erato)
A worthwhile disc, even if I am equivocal about some of the singing [PT]
Yuja Wang (piano) The Vienna Recital (C Major)
Yuja Wang displays her virtuosity and versatility [LW]
HOLST 150 (SOMM Recordings)
Another fine anthology of historic live performances to mark an important anniversary [NB]
Beethoven: Symphony No 9 (Naxos)
A splendid achievement that transcends occasional lapses of orchestral technique and sonic limitations [JQ]
CPE Bach: Trio Sonatas (cpo)
Unjustly neglected music in good performances [JV]
Schurmann: Orchestral Works (Chandos)
An appealing entry point into Schurmann’s eclectic neo-Romanticism [NC]
Ysaÿe: Rêves – Violin Concerto & Poème concertant (Avie)
With these Ysaÿe recordings, one senses that Philippe Graffin has embarked on a labour of love [MC]
