Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Opus Arte)
A superior reissue of Peter Hall’s other superlative Britten production from Glyndebourne [PCG]
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (Brilliant Classics)
A pleasing compilation of some of Tchaikovsky’s most beguiling string music featuring two premieres [RMo]
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) The Complete Acoustic and Selected Electric Recordings (APR)
Backhaus’s earliest recordings reappear, in largely pre-existing restorations, to renewed triumph [JW]
Campra: Messe de Requiem, Rameau: In convertendo, Mondonville: In exitu Israel (Erato)
All three works have been recorded before, but this disc is a good competition [JV]
Bach, MacMillan: Motets & Sacred Songs (Signum Classics)
A very rewarding disc [JQ]
Ravel: Sonatas & Trio (Erato)
(Déjà Review) A winning combination of youth and musical insight; a treat indeed [CC]
Mills R: Concertos for Strings (ABC Classics)
(Déjà Review) Superb performances of these fine, though still too little known, works [HC]
Cavalli: Il Xerse (Dynamic)
A welcome release, but with one important shortcoming [MP]
Smyth: Der Wald (Resonus)
The first recording of Ethel Smyth’s Der Wald is severely underwhelming [JW]
Mahler: Symphony No.2 (Philharmonia Records)
Not the most “dangerous” or consistently inspired interpretation but so much of it exhibits elegance, beauty and restraint [RMo]
Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage (cpo)
A generous collection of Liszt’s piano works, superbly performed, in acceptable sound [RWe]
Infinite Voyage (Alpha Classics)
A fine send off for the Emerson Quartet at the top of their game [DMD]
Shura Cherkassky (piano) Complete Recordings (APR)
Astonishing playing from a giant of the piano world [RCh]
Grieg: Piano Concerto & Peer Gynt (Deutsch Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) This issue is going to be very hard to beat and it brings the bonus of the less familiar music [GPJ]
Doráti: Orchestral Works (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Two harmonically astringent potently imaginative works coupled with a bright and light-on-the-toes serenade [RB]
Liszt: Salon and Stage (Prima Facie)
This wonderful recital shows the amazing breadth of Liszt’s response to the composers who wrote for stages both grand and intimate [RCh]
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (Decca)
More than justifies the hype surrounding this young violinist [DMD]
Jazz Violin Concertos (Gramola)
A jazzy trio of violin concertos performed by the dashing Benjamin Schmid [JW]
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Pristine Audio)
A palpable improvement over the remastering of the original mono recording and a fine performance in itself [RMo]
Tubin: Kratt (Alpha Classics)
An excellent survey of Polish and Estonian music in virtuoso performances by Estonia’s Festival Orchestra [GT]
Brescianello: Opus 1 Libro Secondo (Signum Classics)
Brescianello’s chamber music I have heard confirms his qualities. I am looking forward to the next volumes [JV]
Brahms: Lieder Vol. 6 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) An altogether splendid offering from artists who know and love this music [TB]
Cozzolani: Messa Paschale (Musica Omnia)
(Déjà Review) Confirms the beauty and emotionality of this unknown composer [KM]
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No 1 (Cedille)
Superb Shostakovich coupled with a contemporary concerto that challenges convention [NB]
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