Franco Belgian Album Et'cetera KTC1791

Music for Violin & Piano: The Franco-Belgian Album (Et’cetera)

An interesting programme compromised by effortful violin playing [NB]

Donna Voce v2 Women of Legends Music & Arts MA1309

Donna Voce Vol 2: Women of Legend (Music & Arts)

Passionate performances of two important cycles that should be heard more often; and a contemporary work awaits posterity’s verdict [RCh]

Dolce Kenneth Tse Crystal Records CD784

Dolce: Music for Saxophone and Piano (Crystal Records)

Drama, dance and delight from a masterful saxophonist [JW]

Sommerro Borders 2L 173SABD SACDBD A

Sommerro: Borders (2L)

Three lyrical and entertaining pieces from a talented Norwegian composer [KT]

Dvorak Symph 9 Bartok Conc for Orch Reiner Gramola 92002

Dvořák: Symphony No 9 & Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra (Gramola)

Great performances re-released as a slightly odd coupling [MBu]

Kilar Film Music Marco Polo 8.225153

Kilar: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Marco Polo)

(Déjà Review) Played with commitment and passion [GH]

Tubin Symphs N Jarvi BIS 1402-04

Tubin: The Symphonies (BIS)

(Déjà Review) An epic pilgrimage of the spirit [RB]

berlioz argenta gramola

Ataúlfo Argenta (conductor) Berlioz & Rodrigo (Gramola)

Two contrasting, classic recordings from 1957 by a sadly short-lived conductor [RMo]

alla polacca polskie radio

Alla Polacca! (Polskie Radio)

Polish rarities from Józef Elsner and his pupils given spirited performances [RCh]

sublimation harmonia mundi

Sublimation (Harmonia Mundi)

A wealth of beautiful melodies and fascinating rhythms, played with technical acuity and sensitivity [GF]

gipps orchestral chandos

Gipps: Orchestral Works Volume 3 (Chandos)

A further opportunity to get to know her fine music [PH]

brahms toscanini pristine audio

Toscanini – The 1948 Brahms Cycle Vol. 3 (Pristine Audio)

It’s swings and roundabouts between this and the Philharmonia cycle [SV]

fiorentino saga rhine

Sergio Fiorentino (piano) The Complete SAGA Album Collection (Rhine Classics)

Fiorentino’s complete Saga recordings of 1958-60 heard in excellent remasterings [JW]

Beethoven: String Quartet, op. 131

by Alan George

Shostakovich: String Quartet 5

by Alan George

Shostakovich: String Quartet 4

by Alan George

amorous cavendish etcetera

Amorous in Music (Et’cetera)

(Déjà Review) Plenty of variety here and quite some historical frisson as well [JW]

vine piano tall poppies

Vine: The Piano Music 1990-2006 (Tall Poppies)

(Déjà Review) An impressive, irreversible strength to the works on this disc [DC]

Busoni: Fantasia Contrappuntistica, Sonatinas, Bach transcriptions (Chandos)

Busoni’s great Fantasia in its two piano version is the climax of this rewarding disc [SB]

Trio Contrasti: Epochs & Cultures in Dialogue (Oehms Classics)

Interesting repertoire, excellent playing [SA]

Opus V: Keyboard works by Mozart and J C Bach (Ars Produktion)

One of the best recordings of Mozart’s concertos [JV]

Smetana: Má vlast and other Symphonic Works (Supraphon)

Smetana’s dynamism brought out by a conductor of clarity and subtlety [JW]

Schubert: Symphony No 9 (BR Klassik)

Bernstein advocates will surely want this meritorious recording [MC]

Sorcellerie: Works for piano duo (Alpha Classics)

There’s plenty of magic in the playing here [RCh]