Hina Spani (soprano) Complete Recordings (Marston)
The complete recorded output of a great but neglected soprano – with a fine bonus [RMo]
Sergio Fiorentino (piano) Early Live and Unissued Takes (Rhine)
A live concerto flanked by other rare material shows the breadth of Fiorentino’s talent [JW]
Sir Adrian Boult: BBC SO Pre-war Vol. 1 (Pristine)
An very fine release of Boult’s early recordings of Bach and Viennese masters [GT]
Yvonne Lefébure (piano) Inédits 5 (Solstice)
The final Solstice salute to a great piano stylist [JW]
Glass: Mad Rush (IBS)
No Glass recital is likely to ever match that of Vikingur Ólafsson, but this one is a good one nevertheless [DJB]
Musikalische Perlen (Ars Production)
A delectable recital of music off the beaten track [GF]
Handel: Theodora (Erato)
An extrovert reading of Theodora but one short of consolation [JW]
Reed: String Quartets (MPR)
Attractive music, English through and through [SG]
Prokofiev: Symphony & Suites (RCA)
Bland interpretations further compromised by compressed digital sound – stick to classic, vintage accounts [RMo]
Martinů: Cello Sonatas (Pentatone)
A warmly sympathetic duo rates highly in Martinů Cello Sonatas [JW]
Verdi: Aïda (Pristine)
Pristine illuminates afresh a vintage account of a perennial favourite, always very listenable but now even better [RMo]
McClelland: Where The Shadow Glides (Naxos)
A splendid collection of music inspired by poetry [BMC]
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (BIS)
A wholly successful compilation of deeply melancholy and Romantic melodies for those with a sweet tooth [RMo]
Sivelöv: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5 (Naxos)
Stimulating and imaginative scores, painted in vivid colour [SG]
Vikingur Ólafsson (piano) From Afar (DG)
A very personal programme which has divided opinions, but does have much to commend it [DJB]
Joan Sutherland (soprano) Personal Choices (Alto)
Stellar singing but scanty recording information and some tracks are in poor sound [RMo]
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana (CSO Resound)
The orchestral playing and the choral contributions are impressive; the final scene is as spine-chilling as ever [GF]
Jacob Lateiner (piano) Lost Art Of (Parnassus)
More live Lateiner; a pianist of probity, directness and high gifts [JW]
Thomas Jensen (conductor) Legacy Vol 14 (Danacord)
New and adventurous repertoire from Thomas Jensen’s broadcasts [JW]
Piano Music From Vienna (Gramola)
A vivid evocation of the opulence and spirit of Vienna [RCh]
Martin, Vladigerov & Turina: Trios (Avi-Music)
Very intelligent programming, and very fine performances [DJB]
Carulli: Rediscovered (Dynamic)
Will challenge entrenched attitudes toward the solo music of Ferdinando Carulli [ZT]
The Bright Day is Done (Claves)
A day full of music, never a bad thing [RCh]
Brahms: Symphonies (Channel)
A variable Brahms cycle, let down by inconsistent conducting decisions and an unfortunate lack of contextual information in the booklet [ST]
 |
 |
Featured Naxos review |
 |
 |
 |
 |
