milstein works by brahms and beethoven naxos

Nathan Milstein (violin): Works by Brahms and Beethoven (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Aristocratic playing and transfers that sound extremely well [JW]

Strohl: Orchestral Music (La Boîte à Pépites)

Very interesting and worthwhile music in excellent performances [JQ]

Haydn: Symphonies 94, 95, 98 & 99 (RCA)

Virtuosic performances of Haydn full of wit, zest and the exuberance of life [PH]

Bach: The Art of the Fugue (Aparté)

An interesting take on this contrapuntal masterpiece – but the sound engineering is peculiar [RMo]

Tebe Boga Hvalim – We Praise Thee, O God (DUX)

The Varslavia Ensemble showcases the voice as an instrument for a magical experience [SA]

Blanche Marchesi (soprano): Complete Recordings (Marston Records)

A glimpse back into a Golden Age of singing [PH]

Arthur Catterall (violin) Mozart, Brahms and Franck (Biddulph)

Concertmaster-soloist Arthur Catterall in historically valuable late acoustic recordings [JW]

Beethoven: Symphony No.9 (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Not just recommended but absolutely essential to any civilised person [SH]

Bainton & Boughton: Symphonies (Dutton)

(Déjà Review) Resplendently carried off [RB]

boito nerone dynamic

Boito: Nerone (Dynamic)

A valiant effort all-around but the cast is largely disappointing in vocal accomplishment [MP]

JS Bach: The Art of Fugue (Linn)

Bach’s last work goes well on a viol consort [SB]

WF Bach, CPE Bach & Benda: The Age of Extremes (Arcana)

An impressive collection with Il Pomo d’Oro giving first class performances [MC]

Gurney: Songs Vol 2 (Naxos)

Admirers of Gurney’s music and of English song in general should hasten to acquire this important release [JQ]

Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Vol 2 (Rubicon)

An outstanding account of Tchaikovsky’s superb, if neglected, Third Quartet [RWe]

Langgaard: The Early Recordings (Danacord)

Danish Radio’s role in the Langgaard rediscovery is made explicit in this significant release [JW]

Beethoven, Bartók & Brahms: Perspectives 2 (Avie)

(Déjà Review) Sequels rarely live up to the promise of the original, but here is an exception [CC]

Wanda Landowska (harpsichord): Harpsichord Music and Dances of Ancient Poland (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Wilful but utterly stimulating [GF]

Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius – Survey Pt 2

by John Quinn

Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius – Survey Pt 1

by John Quinn

Regeneration CDE84684

Two Violas • Regeneration (Meridian)

Another well-constructed and well-played recital in Mallinson and Weisner’s series [WK]

scheherazade danacord

Scheherazade: Rimsky-Korsakov & Bortkiewicz (Danacord)

These two works are ideal companions and Hirose is fervent in her brilliant playing of them [RCh]

Mravinsky helsinki JACL7

Evgeny Mravinsky (conductor) Mravinsky in Helsinki (Janus Classics)

A headless Shostakovich symphony makes for a dispiriting experience [DHa]

Parisian paris 8579161

A Parisian in Paris: Contemporary Works for Guitar (Naxos)

An entertaining conspectus of contemporary guitar music from the French capital, all well played and recorded [GPu]

Sauer piano C5511

Sauer & Ansorge: Piano Concertos (Capriccio)

Two German contemporaries and their very different approaches to the piano concerto [JW]