Gulda & Weill: Violin Concertos (Gramola)
Brilliant performances of unusual, even quirky, repertoire [NB]
JS Bach: English Suites (Brilliant Classics)
Rübsam brings a fresh and intoxicating musicality to these captivating scores [SG]
Nathan Milstein (violin): Works by Brahms and Beethoven (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Aristocratic playing and transfers that sound extremely well [JW]
Boccherini: Cello Sonatas (Hyperion Helios)
(Déjà Review) The players are clearly at home with these sonatas providing high expression combined with superb technique [MC]
Arthur Catterall (violin) Mozart, Brahms and Franck (Biddulph)
Concertmaster-soloist Arthur Catterall in historically valuable late acoustic recordings [JW]
Blanche Marchesi (soprano): Complete Recordings (Marston Records)
A glimpse back into a Golden Age of singing [PH]
Tebe Boga Hvalim – We Praise Thee, O God (DUX)
The Varslavia Ensemble showcases the voice as an instrument for a magical experience [SA]
Bach: The Art of the Fugue (Aparté)
An interesting take on this contrapuntal masterpiece – but the sound engineering is peculiar [RMo]
Haydn: Symphonies 94, 95, 98 & 99 (RCA)
Virtuosic performances of Haydn full of wit, zest and the exuberance of life [PH]
Strohl: Orchestral Music (La Boîte à Pépites)
Very interesting and worthwhile music in excellent performances [JQ]
Beethoven: Symphony No.9 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Not just recommended but absolutely essential to any civilised person [SH]
Langgaard: The Early Recordings (Danacord)
Danish Radio’s role in the Langgaard rediscovery is made explicit in this significant release [JW]
Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Vol 2 (Rubicon)
An outstanding account of Tchaikovsky’s superb, if neglected, Third Quartet [RWe]
Gurney: Songs Vol 2 (Naxos)
Admirers of Gurney’s music and of English song in general should hasten to acquire this important release [JQ]
WF Bach, CPE Bach & Benda: The Age of Extremes (Arcana)
An impressive collection with Il Pomo d’Oro giving first class performances [MC]
Boito: Nerone (Dynamic)
A valiant effort all-around but the cast is largely disappointing in vocal accomplishment [MP]
Wanda Landowska (harpsichord): Harpsichord Music and Dances of Ancient Poland (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Wilful but utterly stimulating [GF]
Beethoven, Bartók & Brahms: Perspectives 2 (Avie)
(Déjà Review) Sequels rarely live up to the promise of the original, but here is an exception [CC]
Mercadante: Flute Quartets Vol. 1 (Dynamic)
Nice music, good flutist, so-so strings [SV]
Sauer & Ansorge: Piano Concertos (Capriccio)
Two German contemporaries and their very different approaches to the piano concerto [JW]
A Parisian in Paris: Contemporary Works for Guitar (Naxos)
An entertaining conspectus of contemporary guitar music from the French capital, all well played and recorded [GPu]
Evgeny Mravinsky (conductor) Mravinsky in Helsinki (Janus Classics)
A headless Shostakovich symphony makes for a dispiriting experience [DHa]