Donizetti: Maria de Rudenz (Warner Fonit)
Coarse at times, but often exciting, as one would expect a bleeding nun to be [MP]
Adam: La Filleule des fées – ballet (Marco Polo)
(Déjà Review) Uplifting and quite delightful, containing charming melodies [RW]
Martinů: Symphonies Nos 3 & 5 (Naxos)
A good introduction to the symphonies [JF]
Jacqueline Delman (soprano) More from my archives (Oak Grove)
A valuable documentation of Delman’s versatility, musically, repertoire-wise and linguistically [GF]
Shostakovich: String Quartets (Signum Classics)
The Carduccis’ Shostakovich: control and catharsis [NC]
Bruckner: Symphony 4 (Fontec)
Here we go again … best avoided [RMo]
Cowie: The Kreutzer Effect (Métier)
A stimulating exploration of the Kreutzer Quartet’s talents [JF]
Henry Merckel (violin) French Chamber Works (Forgotten Records)
Classic chamber recordings from the inimitable violinist Henry Merckel and his ensembles [JW]
A Malcolm Arnold Musical Companion (Malcolm Arnold Society)
A companion to hold your hand through the works of an utter professional [RB]
Mendelssohn: Octet & Sextet (Delos)
(Déjà Review) A real winner in terms of repertoire, performance, interpretation, sound quality and sheer enjoyment [MC]
Rodrigo: Orchestral Works v4 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Amongst the most atmospheric and delicious works that I have experienced in some time [KS]
Kabeláč: Complete Chamber Music (Capriccio)
An important set from a composer who had much to say, and said it without any compromise [HC]
Elisabeth Schumann (soprano): Elisabeth Schumann’s Swan Song (Parnassus)
Late recordings, issued in their entirety for the first time, do not show the much loved soprano at her best [PT]
Tchaikovsky, Korngold: String Sextets (Hyperion)
Two delightful string sextets, expertly played [SB]
Bruckner: From the Archives, Volume 1 (SOMM Ariadne)
The auspicious launch of what promises to be a Bruckner series of uncommon interest [JQ]
Bertin: Fausto (Bru Zane)
The first-ever Faust opera based on Goethe – and from a feminine perspective [PCG]
Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Pristine Audio)
The culmination of a great Ring cycle has a place among the best: scintillating singing, playing and conducting [RMo]
Mozart: Arias, Symphony No. 38 (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) Excellent performances of these great works [PSh]
Piston: Symphony No. 4, Capriccio, Three New England Sketches (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A must-buy featuring some truly outstanding 20th century American music [NH]
Tarkiainen: Midnight Sun Variations (Ondine)
A fine survey of Tarkiainen’s recent work, and a great introduction to her attractive sound world [HC]
Seither: Lauschgut. Works for (Inside) Piano (Kairos)
Seither’s piano oeuvre is conceptually consistent and superbly executed here, but it’s patently not for everyone [RH]
Sacred Treasures of Venice (Hyperion)
A fine young male choir in known and little-known repertoire [GH]
Bruckner: Symphony No 4 (Profil)
A magnificent account of the last version of Bruckner’s most approachable symphony, beautifully played in ideal recorded sound [RMo]
Beethoven: String Quartets Vol 1 (Chandos)
A very promising beginning to the Doric’s Beethoven cycle, marked by excellent engineering, superb emotion, and precise attention to detail [MZ]
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