Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, Carnival Overture; Smetana: The Bartered Bride Overture (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Ebullient and powerful and the finale sweeping but not overdone, and with tremendous inner rhythm [JW]
Tůma: Motets, Dixit Dominus & Sinfonia (Aparté)
Andreas Scholl’s fine performances should help in promoting Tůma’s music [JV]
Ruby Hughes (soprano): End of My Days (BIS)
An outstanding recital; elegantly conceived, ideally recorded and beautifully performed [RHa]
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (C Major)
Vocal riches in a depressingly hyperactive production that is devoid of amusement [MP]
Handel: Theodora (Alpha Classics)
A splendidly cohesive musically-rewarding example of integrated casting and performance [JW]
Liszt-Beethoven: Complete Symphonies Vol 3 (Dynamic)
Vigorous and purposeful performances with an eye for detail [RCh]
Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie (Harmonia Mundi)
A top-notch Turangalîla from Toronto; stellar sonics, too [DM]
Quatuor Kandinsky: French Piano Quartets (Erato)
(Déjà Review) A sultry recording of surgingly romantic music given the hot-blooded approach [RB]
Chopin: Reminiscences (Linn)
(Déjà Review) It depends on whether you’re a fan of Pizarro, or his personal selection [TH]
Ymaginacions – Mass upon John Dunstable’s square (Paraty)
A Lady Mass by a leading early Tudor composer in an exciting, unique performance [GH]
Beethoven: String quartets (Biddulph)
Two late acoustics from the Léner Quartet offer opportunities for contrast with their 1930s remakes [JW]
Łukaszewski: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Dux)
Two impressive choral symphonies by this important Polish composer [SB]
Weber: Der Freischütz (Deutsche Grammophon)
One might go hunting for a more complete version of this opera, but this one does the trick in most respects [MP]
Stölzel: Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld (cpo)
Hearing this very fine performance makes it easy to understand why Bach esteemed Stölzel’s Passion oratorio [JQ]
Handel & Ferrandini: Choral works (Passacaille)
Convincing performances of two very different masterpieces [JV]
Browne: Music from the Eton Choirbook (Gimell)
Near perfect music from the late fifteenth century sung in glorious style [JF]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 (RCA)
Harnoncourt’s remarkable vision of this great symphonic master [TB]
Noskowski & Żeleński: Violin Sonatas (Naxos)
A couple of fine late romantic sonatas [RCh]
Bloch, Bruch & Dohnányi: Works for Cello & Orchestra (Claves)
Imaginatively programmed and superbly performed [DC]
Berg, Shostakovich & Ligeti: String Quartets (Hänssler Classic)
Despite splendid playing, the Minetti Quartet faces fierce competition [MC]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Decca)
The last instalment of the Decca ‘Ring’ enhanced by remastering in magnificent sound [JQ]
Joseph Szigeti (violin) Bach, Brahms & Vaughan Williams (Biddulph)
Humble pie time for a reviewer [JW]
Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel (RCA)
Christa Ludwig’s amazing Witch is the crowning achievement of this still essential recording [MP]
Tveitt: A Hundred Hardanger Tunes Suites Nos 2 & 5 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Between Engeset and the RSNO, this music is coaxed into shape without effort or artificiality. Highly recommended [GH]
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