Cherubini: Les Abencérages (Bru Zane)
This first studio recording of Cherubini’s Les Abencérages is especially valuable [MC]
Edwin Fischer (piano): Concert in Strasbourg, 1953 (Maestro Editions)
Edwin Fischer’s elevated live Mozart performances in imperfect sound [JW]
German: Symphony 2 (Naxos)
A worthy re-issue of one of the finest pre-Elgarian British symphonies [GH]
The Galant David Rizzio (Olde Focus Recordings)
An interesting contribution to our knowledge of the music scene in 18th-century England and the history of Scottish traditional music [JV]
Mahler: Symphony 7 (Deutsche Grammophon)
A Mahler 7 to be ranked with the finest but carrying an extra magic only “live” performance can bring [MB]
Gerhswin: Rhapsody in Blue (Forgotten Records)
An enjoyable exploration of Gershwin’s many facets with some rarities [RCh]
Jörg Demus (piano): The Bach Recordings on Westminster (Eloquence)
The cultured art of Jörg Demus in Bach [JW]
Parallel Voices (Edizioni Bongiovanni)
A wide-ranging, highly individual, often wayward collection of observations from one of opera’s great characters [RMo]
The Unknown Enescu Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
More rare Enescu on a rewarding disc [SB]
A & B Marcello: Cantatas (Elegia Classics)
I am very impressed by Lucia Cortese’s performances of these cantatas [JV]
Bartók: Piano Concertos (Sony)
(Déjà Review) Marvellously subtle and polished … delightfully witty [TH]
Beethoven: Symphony 3 (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) One of the essential Beethoven recordings [CH]
Shostakovich: Symphonies 12 & 15 (Chandos)
Well played and well engineered but lacking character [NB]
Amadeus Quartet (Alto)
Deeply felt and beautifully played, flawless intonation and ensemble, but inferior balance and sound [RMo]
Visions Illuminées (Signum Classics)
Mary Bevan spreads her golden tones over the whole programme [GF]
Bristow & Fry: Symphonies (Bridge)
Early American romanticism – golden-age verve rather than dutiful museum revival [RB]
Wennäkoski: Sigla, Flounce, Sedecim (Ondine)
Brilliantly imagined, often beautiful works in splendid, committed performances [HC]
A Bird Came Down the Walk (BIS)
(Déjà Review) One of those rare recital recordings that actually plays best as a recital [PSh]
JC Bach: Complete Opera Overtures (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Anthony Halstead’s marvellous players have caused me to spend several hours exploring this and related repertoire [DBi]
Ysaÿe: Légende norvégienne (Simax)
A raft of previously unrecorded works – or adaptations – by Ysaÿe [JW]
Wellesz: Chamber Music (Toccata Classics)
Fine performances of rare chamber music by an unfashionable composer whose music has much to communicate [GH]