Mussorgsky: Sorochintsï Fair & Salammbô Suite (Naxos)
A completely convincing account of a rarely performed opera in a new orchestration for chamber orchestra [MP]
Musica Instrumentalis Imperialis – Festive Sonatas from Imperial Vienna (cpo)
Impressive playing of natural trumpets [JV]
A monk’s life (Hyperion)
The Brabant Ensemble chart a pathway to the monastic way of life to memorable effect [PH]
Schoenberg: Unheard Recordings (Pristine Audio)
An important archive release [JQ]
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Conifer Classics)
A beautifully performed and recorded account in which everything is done right [RMo]
Golden Thread – The Art of Piano Transcription (Acis Productions)
An interesting collection of transcriptions let down by lacklustre playing [RCh]
J S Bach: Organ Works (Danacord)
(Déjà Review) I find these performances sure and faultless [GH]
Gershwin: Orchestral works (Apex)
(Déjà Review) There may well be superior recordings of each piece, but as a whole it would be difficult to best this album [PG]
Taylor: Orchestral Music Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
A fine survey of Matthew Taylor’s recent orchestral output [HC]
Kverndokk: A Desperate Light, Orchestral Works (LAWO Classics)
Imaginative sources of inspiration enable Kverndokk to compose engaging and accessible narrative music for this CD [KT]
Ernest Ansermet (conductor): Fauré Requiem, Orchestral Suites (Pristine Audio)
Historical recordings in excellent remastered sound that belies its considerable age [GF]
The Berliner Philharmoniker and Seiji Ozawa (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
A great orchestra pays its tribute to a much loved conductor [PHa]
Building Castles – New Music for New Audiences (Delphian)
A varied and thoroughly enjoyable showcase of Scottish musical talent [WH]
Kaleidoscope – Contemporary Piano Music by Female Composers from Around the World (Grand Piano)
A varied collection of piano pieces by contemporary female composers, performed with passion and brilliance [GH]
Volans: String Quartets Nos 1, 2 & 6 (Black Box)
(Déjà Review) The instrumental combinations and sonorities make for compelling listening [TB]
Xenakis: Works for Large Orchestra, Vol 3 (Timpani)
(Déjà Review) The constants that characterise him are the hallmark of a great composer. One can also hear the torment, the contradictory side of the creative impulse [TH]
Sartorius & Stadlmayr: Sacred Works (Musikmuseum)
Music from Innsbruck around 1600 performed by an excellent group of singers and players [JV]
Enna: Violin Concerto & Symphony (Dacapo)
Well-crafted and attractive music written in a conservative manner, beautifully played [NB]
YULE (2L)
Not a ‘sing-along’ album, but richly suffused with the spirit of Yule [DC]
Vivaldi: Violin Sonata (Snakewood)
The discovery of this piece is as exciting as the piece itself and the way it is performed [JV]
So Fragile, So Blue (National Symphony Orchestra)
From Canadian waterways to a sub-orbital space flight, nature’s fragility is explored by the irrepressible William Shatner [JW]
Bruckner: Symphony 8 (Pristine Audio)
A wild, driven performance which oozes personality and conviction, now cleaned up to an unprecedentedly high standard [RMo]
Baines & Moeran: Piano Music (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) Essential listening for all enthusiasts of British piano music [JF]
Beethoven: Piano Concertos (Deutsche Grammphon)
(Déjà Review) Lang Lang’s sparkling playing and considerable insights make for joyous listening [MC]
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