Britten
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols (Harmonia Mundi)
This is a Christmas disc for the connoisseur, I think, and it is strongly recommended as such [JQ]
Love from a Stranger – Four British Film Scores (NMC)
This is an extraordinary album – outstanding readings, a detailed recording set in a generously broad acoustic [DW]
News of Great Joy: Christmas from St John’s College, Oxford (Resonus)
An enjoyable, thoughtfully prepared Christmas album [JQ]
The Memory Garden – Guitar Music from England (Deux-Elles)
A great programme of solo guitar music by English composers, played with a special sensitivity and depth [KT]
Huw Montague Rendall (baritone): Contemplation (Erato)
Superb, sensuous, subtle singing from a highly gifted British lyric baritone [RMo]
Awakenings (Avi-Music)
The most exciting vocal recital disc I’ve heard in a long while [JQ]
Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas (Hallé)
The first recording of Britten’s complete balletic masterpiece in over 30 years [EJW]
Britten: Billy Budd (Orfeo)
An interesting Billy Budd, but not a library choice [ST]
Huw Montague Rendall (baritone): Contemplation (Erato)
A debut recital that every lover of great singing should treasure [GF]
Britten: Blest Cecila – Choral Works Vol 1 (Coro)
(Déjà Review) Fecundity of original ideas [GH]
Leopold Stokowski (conductor) BBC Legends Recordings 1963-74 (ICA Classics)
A collection of Stokowski’s live performances from the end of his career is inevitably something of a mixed bag [PCG]
Cantabile: Anthems for Viola (Delphian)
Two fine artists in a fascinating and wide-ranging programme [WH]
Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem (LSO Live)
Three superb Britten readings, including possibly the finest Spring Symphony on disc [GPJ]
Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) James’ story in Britten’s setting emerges magnificently [CC]
Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem, Young Person’s Guide (LSO Live)
A successful and enjoyable Britten anthology [JQ]
Britten: Violin Concerto (Orfeo)
An eloquent performance of the main work with an interesting early work to complement it [SB]
Sandrine Piau (soprano) Reflet (Alpha Classics)
An attractive programme of French orchestral songs that will provide much enjoyment, but there are better versions of the well-known songs [PT]
Britten: Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, Nocturne, Phaedra (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Overall a superlative disc, with flawless and very characterful performances [EML]
Clarke, Britten & Bowen: British Music for Viola and Piano (Claves)
An international version of some very British works [SB]
Path to the Moon Works for cello & piano (Chandos)
Three sonatas and a raft of transcribed songs offer fruitful material for the Chandos pairing [JW]
The Monarch’s Music (CRD)
A timely and enjoyable celebration of music for royal occasions [WH]
Britten: Albert Herring (Decca)
A touchstone recording which is hard to beat for its general excellence and superbly detailed sound [MP]
Noel Coward and Friends: A Most Marvellous Party (Signum Classics)
What an absolutely splendid party! Darling, I couldn’t have liked it more [PT]
Bella Adamova (contralto) There is home (Supraphon)
A superb recital of art songs, all of which perfectly suit her crystal-clear voice [SA]
 |
 |
Featured Naxos review |
 |
 |
 |
 |
