Dvořák: Symphonies No.7-9; Janáček: Taras Bulba (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
Performances that rarely justify their re-release or price point [NB]
Higginson: Theme and Eight Variations for Solo Piano (Fand Music Press)
A very rewarding addition to the English piano repertoire [DJ]
Brahms: Symphonies No.3-4 (Pristine Audio)
Romantic, free-flowing accounts somewhat compromised by indifferent sound and playing [RMo]
de Hartmann: Esther (Pentatone)
The first recording of de Hartmann’s only opera, finely sung and played, in first-rate sound [EJW]
Donizetti: Maria Stuarda (C Major)
(Déjà Review) A distinguished cast in a strong production [RMK]
Easdale: Film Music (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) This present excellent CD must surely act as a catalyst for a deeper exploration of Easdale’s music [JF]
Martines: Complete Keyboard Works (Signum Classics)
This acquaintance of Haydn and Mozart deserves her time in the spotlight [DJB]
Puccini: Heroines (Pentatone)
An impressive, if not vocally perfect, recital from an experienced Puccini singer [DJa]
Shostakovich: Symphony No 2 & 5 (Chandos)
Storgårds’ more detached interpretative stance to both symphonies is valid and consistent but might be too cool for some tastes [RMo]
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila & Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade (SOMM Recordings)
A fabulous live performance of Scheherazade, caught on the wing [JQ]
Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne (Vanguard Classics)
One of the last century’s greatest recordings [RB]
Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor) Schubert, Wagner & Delius (SOMM)
The realisation of this current disc is everything the conductor’s admirers could wish for [JW]
Liadov: Piano Works (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
Pleasant piano miniatures very much influenced by Chopin [SB]
The Story of Janáček’s Jenůfa by Jiří Zahrádka (Moravské Zemské Muzeum)
A comprehensive, beautifully assembled and illustrated history of the genesis and first performances of one of the most performed operas in the world [JW]
Gustav Mahler: Symphony 1, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Pristine Audio)
A highly satisfying and logical pairing, well-remastered and showcasing both Boult’s and Thebom’s eminence in Mahler [RMo]
Rubbra: Crucifixus pro Nobis (Delphian)
Rubbra has been exceptionally well served by this disc [JQ]
Biber: Vesperae longiores ac breviores (Carus)
(Déjà Review) An excellent Biber collection supplemented by contemporaries … as well performed as it was well-conceived [MS]
Brahms: Symphonies 2 & 3 (BR Klassik)
(Déjà Review) Strong performances marked by rich tone and just-right choices of tempo and demeanour [KS]
Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1 & Piano Quintet op. 29 (cpo)
Ginastera’s impressive chamber music and well-played Ravel [SB]
Glazunov: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Naxos)
A fine way to investigate this little-known corner of Glazunov’s output; the Third is a real discovery [DJB]
Rheinberger: Early Piano Works (ARS Produktion)
Attractive early romantic miniatures that supplement Hanselmann’s complete Rheinberger piano edition [RCh]
Bizet: Carmen (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Two decent principal singers adrift in a sea of poor voices – a dispiriting issue [RMo]
Schoenberg: Orchestral Music (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
An outstanding Schoenberg set from the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko [MBe]
Strauss: Elektra (Chandos)
Wonderful orchestral playing but variable singing [SB]
