Mozart: Piano Concerti Nos 1-4 (Chandos)
Performances to encourage an investigation of Mozart’s rarely played apprenticeship to the piano concerto trade [MG]
Mahler: Symphony No 8 (Sony Classical)
A fine live account which despite a few quibbles sustains interest throughout its taut execution [RMo]
Lauter! (Solaire)
A welcome addition to the Smyth discography [DC]
Unplayed Stories … in 40 Fingers (Hyperion)
Dazzling playing in these highly appealing rarities [RCh]
Boccherini: Cello Sonatas (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A fine release of rare and interesting repertoire that will appeal to lovers of the cello [MC]
All is Bright (Avie)
(Déjà Review) A seasonal gift for a musical friend but you may be tempted to keep it instead as a treat for yourself [JQ]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 3 & 4 (Fineline)
Excellent performances from the young Nikolai Lugansky [WH]
Pilgrimage: The Musical Journey of Kryštof Harant (Supraphon)
A unique coming together of Czech and Turkish renaissance music [GH]
Raff: Die Eifersüchtigen (Naxos)
A delightful and musically substantial premier recording [MP]
Mischa Elman (violin): Complete HMV Recordings (Biddulph)
Elman in glowing pre-war Concerto recordings in London [JW]
Schubert: Octets (Decca)
A beautifully engineered recording which simply exudes the joy of music-making [RMo]
Widor & Lalo: Cello Concertos (Solaire)
The Widor concerto is quite a discovery [DC]
Auric: Phèdre, Le Peintre et son modèle (Timpani)
(Déjà Review) Lovely music bound to please those already enthralled by Markevitch, Stravinsky and Bliss [RB]
Beethoven: Piano Works (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Schnabel’s “Diabelli” set interpretative and intellectual standards which are a daunting challenge to all that followed [CH]
Benjamin Appl (baritone) The Christmas Album (Alpha Classics)
This disc will certainly be my favourite Yuletide companion for years to come [GF]
Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Chandos)
Cool, restrained and beautifully played in Nordic style [RMo]
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 (Amchara Classical)
Well conceived and beautifully played performances from South America [NB]
R Strauss: Tag und nacht (Supraphon)
A disc of Strauss songs that’s fine, but unremarkable in light of the competition [ST]
Rutter: Brass at Christmas (Naxos)
This album is a gem from start to finish and will make many listeners’ Christmases merry [KT]
Busch: Chamber Music (Lyrita)
Lyrical and traditional but invigorating chamber works [JW]
Alkan: Organ Works Vol 1 (Toccata Classics)
Works of stature and originality [PCW]
Chopin: Études – (Transc. Godowsky) (Warner Classics)
Starts with brief, polite applause and finishes with rapturous cheering, something I would have been actively joining in [TH]
Dvořák: Symphonies Nos 7-9 (Pentatone)
Strong Dvořák performances for the Year of Czech Music, but they’re expensive in light of the competition [ST]
Fauré: The Complete Works (Erato)
Erato marks the centenary of Fauré’s death with a big box that mines his discography in all its richness [JW]
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Featured Naxos review |
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