Beethoven

Marvellous performances in significantly improved sound [PSt]

A handsome tribute to ‘Le Maître’ sixty years after his death [JQ]

(Déjà Review) Quatuor Mosaïques are an astonishing ensemble who deserve the utmost praise for these magnificent performances [MC]

Bolet at his sparkling best back in the catalogue [RCh]

(Déjà Review) Harshly recorded, but for some Toscanini enthusiasts it is the greatest of his preserved Ninths [CH]

Finally, volume 2 appears and it’s well worth the wait [JW]

A collection of Stokowski’s live performances from the end of his career is inevitably something of a mixed bag [PCG]

Beethoven’s genius emerges triumphantly – which is exactly as Mahler intended [NB]

A significant discographical addition [SG]

Boult in spirited form in his twilight years: no let-up in authority from the doyen of British conductors [JW]

Highly enjoyable playing by two pioneers of American pianism [RCh]

A great artist’s important legacy restored, including first recordings of Beethoven, Bach and Vaughan Williams [JW]

Piano quatre mains at its best [DC]

A lively introduction to this music written with humour, erudition and enthusiasm [DMD]

A refreshing and compelling pairing of two piano concertos [WH]

One of the finest orchestral discs to have come my way for a very long time [JQ]

Some welcome additions to the pianist’s discography [SG]

Expect to be surprised, moved and possibly irritated [CC]

Fischer balances the suavely light and the resiliently heroic [MG]

Many first-class performances to celebrate the 475th anniversary of the Staatskapelle Dresden [MC]

Overall, this is an unsatisfying and disappointing CD [PBW]

Not distinguished or consistent enough to rank alongside the best cycles [JQ]

An attractive programme of rare items from Szigeti’s discography [JW]

A very promising beginning to the Doric’s Beethoven cycle, marked by excellent engineering, superb emotion, and precise attention to detail [MZ]