Ravel: Très Franc (TYXart)
A joyful recital of great music stunningly played and recorded [NB]
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (Naxos)
This version has much to commend it but it doesn’t displace existing recommendations [JQ]
Villa-Lobos: Symphony No 7 & Sinfonietta No 1 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Exotic, strange, colourful, yes, but also very satisfying [PSh]
Strauss I: Edition, Vol 3 (Marco Polo)
Déjà Review: this review was first published in April 2004 and the recording is still available. Johann…
Nordgren: A Letter to the Other Side (Alba)
Another fine addition to Nordgren’s discography [HC]
Mozart: The Great Symphonies 21-41 (Decca)
Classic accounts from a Mozart specialist, full of life and spirit [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony 7 (BR Klassik)
Inspirationally conducted, fantastically played and stunningly recorded, this demands the attention of all Mahler devotees [JQ]
Shostakovich: String Quartets 10-12 (Brilliant Classics)
A well-played, superb sounding set [PH]
Rupture: Works for Saxophone Quartet (Centrediscs)
A spectacular and colourful musical cavalcade [SG]
Midsummer Dreams: Mendelssohn & Beethoven (ARCO)
The strict HIP approach works better for the Mendelssohn than the Beethoven [DJB]
Vaughan Williams: The Poisoned Kiss (Chandos)
Undemanding delight, witty repartee, romantic enchantment [RB]
Schubert: 24 Lieder (Warner Classics)
Lieder recitals just don’t get much better than this [MC]
Beethoven: Symphonies Vol. 5 (SOMM)
Scharwenka’s fine arrangements of these sunny, playful symphonies are superbly played [TMS]
Mandora: The Lute of the Monasteries (Pan Classics)
An interesting survey of music for a little-known instrument [JV]
Prokofiev and Shor: Piano Concertos (Alpha Classics)
An interesting and attractive coupling [PH]
Parant: Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin (Brilliant Classics)
An entertaining disc of music from around the start of the decline of the French harpsichord tradition [GPu]
R Strauss: Arabella (Naxos)
A disappointing version of a disappointing work [SB]
Eleonora Buratto: Indomita (Pentatone)
A thrilling programme and a valuable calling card for the art of Eleonora Buratto [GF]
Charles Munch (conductor) Saint-Saëns ‘Organ’ Symphony etc (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Thrilling stuff [CH]
Scharwenka: Symphony in C minor (Sterling)
(Déjà Review) Resolute in character, with a slight Russian accent and the regal/pastoral tendencies of Dvořák [RB]
Respighi, Loevendie and Enescu: String Octets (Challenge Classics)
The Respighi is a delightful discovery, but I’m less convinced by the others [DJB]
Greene: Jephtha (Chandos)
Maurice Greene’s accomplished, perceptive early English oratorio on disc at last, in an excellent performance [JW]
Pettersson: Symphonies 7 and 10 (Antal Doráti Society)
Pioneering versions of this controversial Swedish composer [SB]
Malcolm Binns (piano) Homage to a great British pianist (CRQ Editions)
A tribute to Malcolm Binns with his complete recordings for World Record Club [PH]
