Hellstenius Public Behaviour BIS 2665 SACD

Hellstenius: Public Behaviour (BIS)

Two riveting and provocative vocal works which muse upon modes of communication in modern life. Virtuosic and entertaining [RHa]

Britten Spring Symph Rattle LSO Live LSO0830

Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem, Young Person’s Guide (LSO Live)

A successful and enjoyable Britten anthology [JQ]

Martinu Symphs 3 and 5 Fagen Naxos 8.553350

Martinů: Symphonies Nos 3 & 5 (Naxos)

A good introduction to the symphonies [JF]

Adam La Filleule des Fees Mogrelia Marco Polo 8.223734-35

Adam: La Filleule des fées – ballet (Marco Polo)

(Déjà Review) Uplifting and quite delightful, containing charming melodies [RW]

arnold companion

A Malcolm Arnold Musical Companion (Malcolm Arnold Society)

A companion to hold your hand through the works of an utter professional [RB]

faure ravel merckel forgotten

Henry Merckel (violin) French Chamber Works (Forgotten Records)

Classic chamber recordings from the inimitable violinist Henry Merckel and his ensembles [JW]

cowie kreutzer metier

Cowie: The Kreutzer Effect (Métier)

A stimulating exploration of the Kreutzer Quartet’s talents [JF]

bruckner symphony fontec

Bruckner: Symphony 4 (Fontec)

Here we go again … best avoided [RMo]

shostakovich quartets signum

Shostakovich: String Quartets (Signum Classics)

The Carduccis’ Shostakovich: control and catharsis [NC]

delman archives oak grove

Jacqueline Delman (soprano) More from my archives (Oak Grove)

A valuable documentation of Delman’s versatility, musically, repertoire-wise and linguistically [GF]

rodrigo orchestral naxos

Rodrigo: Orchestral Works v4 (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Amongst the most atmospheric and delicious works that I have experienced in some time [KS]

mendelssohn octet delos

Mendelssohn: Octet & Sextet (Delos)

(Déjà Review) A real winner in terms of repertoire, performance, interpretation, sound quality and sheer enjoyment [MC]

wagner knappertsbusch gotterdammerung

Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Pristine Audio)

The culmination of a great Ring cycle has a place among the best: scintillating singing, playing and conducting [RMo]

Bertin: Fausto (Bru Zane)

The first-ever Faust opera based on Goethe – and from a feminine perspective [PCG]

Bruckner: From the Archives, Volume 1 (SOMM Ariadne)

The auspicious launch of what promises to be a Bruckner series of uncommon interest [JQ]

Tchaikovsky, Korngold: String Sextets (Hyperion)

Two delightful string sextets, expertly played [SB]

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]

kabelac chamber capriccio

Kabeláč: Complete Chamber Music (Capriccio)

An important set from a composer who had much to say, and said it without any compromise [HC]

Piston: Symphony No. 4, Capriccio, Three New England Sketches (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A must-buy featuring some truly outstanding 20th century American music [NH]

Mozart: Arias, Symphony No. 38 (Opus Arte)

(Déjà Review) Excellent performances of these great works [PSh]

Bach JS: Sonatas and Partitas (BIS)

Dazzling virtuosity, sometimes at the expense of the music [ZT]

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]

bruckner symphony hanssler

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]

Sacred Treasures of Venice (Hyperion)

A fine young male choir in known and little-known repertoire [GH]