Lortzing: Der Waffenschmied (Capriccio)
By and large, a worthy reading of Der Waffenschmied, and it is good to see a brand-new recording of the work [GF]
R Schumann: Piano Works (Hänssler Classic)
Gerhard Oppitz excels in Schumann works he has lived with his whole career [MC]
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A very clever idea to package Prokofiev’s two major film scores together [IL]
Bruch: Violin Concerto 1 (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Quite the finest performance of the Bruch concerto I have ever heard [CF]
Verdi: Aïda (Pristine Audio)
A superlative transfer of an Aida which should be in every serious opera collection [PSt]
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Beulah)
A largely unsung Das Lied gleams like old gold in Beulah’s new issue [DMD]
Widor: Organ Symphonies 9 & 10 (Solstice)
A satisfying, inspiring and moving recital [JF]
Fitelberg: String Quartets (Acte Préalable)
Two striking and almost forgotten string quartets from a short-lived émigré Pole [JW]
Carl Schuricht (conductor) (Forgotten Records)
Absolutely lovely live performances which must be heard through a veil of crumbly mono sound [RMo]
Hofer: Psalms (Christophorus)
This disc suggests that the oeuvre of Hofer deserves to be thoroughly explored [JV]
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) A most impressive album [IL]
Fritz Busch (conductor) (Guild)
(Déjà Review) A welcome addition to Guild’s Fritz Busch series [BBr]
Vaughan Williams: Chamber Works (Resonus)
Attractive rarities, including an unstoppable performance of the Old 104th Fantasia [EJW]
Sutermeister: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
First recordings of impressive song cycles, authoritatively performed [NB]
Janáček, Brahms, Bartók: Violin Sonatas (Alpha)
A varied program by performers who are clearly at one about the music [LP]
Mozart in Milan (Arcana)
An engaging new performance of Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, plus works to set it in context [DF]
Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 2 (Dacapo)
These glowing performances testify that Holmboe is a leading figure in twentieth-century music [GH]
Camilla Nylund (soprano) The Great American Songbook (Naxos)
Fine selections from The Great American Songbook [BMC]
Raff: Cello Concerti (Tudor)
(Déjà Review) Fine performances of lyrical, romantic works [PCW]
Beethoven: Missa solemnis (Testament)
(Déjà Review) Another historical package that really sweeps the board [GFe]
Christian Ferras (violin): à la mémoire d’un ange (Rhine Classics)
A violinist who represented the very best attributes of the Franco-Belgian School [SG]
Mozart: Requiem (Rondeau)
A vivacious, thoroughly enjoyable, smaller-scale “period” account of Mozart’s inspired but incomplete liturgical masterpiece [RMo]
Raff: Chamber Music Vol. 3 (MDG)
Joachim Raff’s chamber music is finally getting its due [LP]
Emil Reesen (conductor) The Art of (Danacord)
Reesen conducts miscellaneous lighter material including the first Danish orchestral records [JW]