Beethoven

Quartet playing of exceptional beauty, homogeneity and musicality [RMo]

Szigeti’s final, catastrophic sessions for Mercury [JW]

Virtuosic pianism somewhat undermined by reticent accompaniment and an unnatural recorded balance [RMo]

Fresh, enjoyable Mancunian versions [TP]

A good performance of the concerto, fatally undermined by completely unsuitable cadenzas [JQ]

(Déjà Review) A welcome addition to Guild’s Fritz Busch series [BBr]

(Déjà Review) Another historical package that really sweeps the board [GFe]

A rewarding version of Beethoven’s only oratorio [SB]

A variably attractive Beethoven cycle from two eloquent Czech musicians [JW]

A welcome restoration of the recordings of a largely overlooked German conductor [JW]

Solstice’s au revoir to a great artist [SG]

by David Barker

A decent performance but no text for the narration is a hindrance [SB]

The Grøndahl legacy series reaches volume 7 with a question mark or two [JW]

Previously unreleased Nelson Freire recordings enrich the catalogue [JW]

An interesting document, but only the Emperor adds significantly to the discography [SV]

by David Barker

An very fine release of Boult’s early recordings of Bach and Viennese masters [GT]

The final Solstice salute to a great piano stylist [JW]

More live Lateiner; a pianist of probity, directness and high gifts [JW]

Gina Bachauer’s powerful Mercury legacy, collated in its entirety for the first time in a single box [JW]

Late Casals in imperfect recordings, attractively remastered and presented [JW]

A welcome to a neglected conductor from the early electrical recording period in Berlin [GT]

Rosand’s first Vox recordings are restored for a new generation [JW]