Scott: Orchestral Works Vol. 3 (Toccata Classics)
Derek Scott encountered in a third disc of his music; tone poems, fantasies and darker music [JW]
van der Pals: String Quartets Vol 1 (cpo)
A late-romantic cat’s-cradle of tenderness caught in a viscous tonal velour [RB]
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Erato)
(Déjà Review) An amazingly dramatic, rock and roll rendition of the Four Seasons [KM]
Wolf: String Quartets (Hänssler Classic)
(Déjà Review) The Fine Arts Quartet enters into Wolf’s tormented world with total empathy [CH]
Mon amant de Saint-Jean (Alpha Classics)
A fascinating out-of-the-ordinary trip of nostalgia [GF]
Medtner in England (SOMM Recordings)
An appealing programme for Medtner collectors and newcomers alike [DC]
Guðmundsson: The Gospel of Mary
A slow-moving meditative work based on an unorthodox gospel
Bach: Organ Works Vol. 12 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Weinberger succeeds in conveying the personalities of these pieces [TB]
Bortkiewicz: Symphonies (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Exultant, yearning, gloomy, sincere, passionate, nostalgic Slavonic music [RB]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti (Deutsche Grammophon)
A fine contribution to the Rachmaninoff 150 celebrations [JQ]
Grosz: Achtung, Aufnahme!! (Channel Classics)
Werner Herbers’s swansong with his Ebony Band: more previously unrecorded Weimar delights [JW]
Hummel: Concertos & Septet (Alto)
Hummel’s music doesn’t aim for profundity, but its elegance, grace and intelligence are well-served in this reissue [GPu]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 6, Te Deum (Testament)
An alpha performance of the Te Deum, but an omega one of the symphony [LD]
Strauss: Works for Cello (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Isserlis’s truly heartfelt performance expresses the Don’s humour, gravity, irony and pathos with marvellous subtlety [SF]
Britten: Albert Herring (Opus Arte)
An unmatchable and irreplaceable video makes a welcome return to the catalogues [PCG]
Louis Kaufman (violin): Violin Sonatas (Biddulph)
A stylish release featuring a quartet of sonatas played by the sumptuous tonalist Louis Kaufman [JW]
Spontini: La Vestale (Bru Zane)
Far from ideal, but on balance the best of the French versions and its appeal is enhanced by excellent sound and conducting [RMo]
Laura Strickling (soprano): 40@40 (Bright Shiny Things)
An attractive collection of newly written songs – and volume two is to follow [GF]
Forqueray: Jupiter (Signum Classics)
(Déjà Review) The arrangements are interesting, the music delightful and melodically satisfying [KM]
Haydn: 6 London Symphonies (Philips)
(Déjà Review) There is a sense that the musicians are really listening to one another, obtaining a chamber-music-like delicacy [CH]
British Piano Concertos (Lyrita)
Five-star performances and recordings of second tier works [NB]
Featured Naxos review |