Czerny: Sonatas for Solo Piano Vol 3 (Nimbus)
A superb addition to Martin Jones’s marvellous one-man attempt to record everything unjustly neglected [Byz]
Bartók: Piano Concertos 1-3 (Elatus)
Peerless performances, alert, alive, astounding [DM]
Woyrsch: Symphonies (cpo)
First and last symphonic efforts from Woyrsch which again show his very limited gift for melody [EJW]
Jonas Kaufmann: Magische Töne (Sony)
Kaufmann might sound like a tourist in this survey of Hungarian operetta, but it is an enjoyable indulgence [ST]
Akiho: Beneath Lighted Coffers (Reference Recordings)
Two brilliant ear-opening works that show what steel pans are capable of [PRJ]
Mozart: Symphonies (Warner Classics)
Luxuriant, emotionally stirring renditions of Mozart’s final six symphonies [DF]
Bridge: Piano Music – Volume 3 (SOMM Recordings)
(Déjà Review) A worthy part of what is a major, important project in British recorded music [JF][RB]
Bach: Keyboard Concertos (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Life-enhancing fun, and breathtakingly and movingly beautiful [DC]
Telemann: Matthäus Passion (Christophorus)
(Déjà Review) A creditable, persuasive yet less than perfect recording of Telemann’s 1730 Matthew Passion [MS]
Schmid: Chamber Music (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Perhaps Schmid is due a revival for its melodic fluency and formal coherency, if slightly lacking in invention and adventure. Worth a listen though [GD]
Biber & Aufschnaiter: Choral Music (Accent)
Superb performances of three musical treasures from Austria’s musical heritage [JV]
Rosa Franziska Maier (guitar) Scenes of Reverie (Genuin)
A seductive programme skilfully executed [ZT]
Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 and 4 (Deutsche Grammophon)
Exuberant, big-boned, Romantic readings, far from the light classicality of other interpreters [RMo]
Chee & Ballard: Indigenous American Piano Music (Navona Records)
One of the most original piano albums I’ve heard this year: engaging, cantabile works, beautifully played. [ACG]
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust (Challenge Classics)
(Déjà Review) A stunningly vivid live recording of what must have been an electrifying evening at the Concertgebouw [DC]
Beach: Piano Works Vol. 3 (Guild)
(Déjà Review) One of the very best piano recordings I’ve heard [DM]
Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: Complete String Quartets (cpo)
An unusually comprehensive and rewarding set of Mendelssohn string quartets [SB]
Steiger: String quartets (Kairos)
Political music that turns its gaze inward [DHa]
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Pristine Audio)
A classic Barber returns to the catalogue in better sound than ever [ST]
Bruckner: Symphony No.9 (Hänssler Profil)
A swift, driven, thrilling and cohesive live performance of Schaller’s completion of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony [RMo]
Organ Music from the Low Countries (Ricercar)
Foccroulle pairs a thorough knowledge of the 17C organ landscape with an engaging style of playing [JV]
Saxophobia: Celebrating the Sax Craze of the 1920s (Chandos)
Hugely entertaining, backed up by phenomenal technique and rigorous research [NB]
Garrop: Piano Concerto (Cedille)
An impressive recording of a dramatic, modern yet approachable piano concerto [EJW]
Beamish: House of Wonders (Delphian)
A rare glimpse of the personal inspiration behind works by and for one of our leading composers [GH]
