djb
David Barker
Alexandre Tharaud (piano) Mémoire (Erato)
Balm in a troubled world [DJB]
Prokofiev, Villa-Lobos & Poulenc (Fuga Libera)
Three delightful Neo-classical gems [DJB]
History of the Russian Piano Trio Vol 9 (Naxos)
The curiosity value far exceeds the musical quality [DJB]
Corelli: Concerti Grossi (Pentatone)
An ideal mix of grace and energy, and a quite exceptional Fourth Concerto [DJB]
CPE Bach: Cello Concertos (Channel Classics)
Propulsive readings that could have been leavened with a little more emotion [DJB]
Beethoven Extended: Symphonies 5 & 7 (Harmonia Mundi)
An experiment in performing these great works which doesn’t produce obvious benefits [DJB]
Beethoven: Symphonies 5, 6 & 7 (Harmonia Mundi)
Some good things here but a Pastoral I wish I’d not heard [DJB]
Bach: Cantatas Vol. 54 (JS Bach-Stiftung)
How can I have missed the first 53 volumes of this series? [DJB]
Skog: Chamber Works (Brilliant Classics)
Gentle and pleasant works that need a little more variety [DJB]
Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin and Concertante Works (Atma Classique)
Interesting for the extra Tombeau movements, but otherwise not competitive [DJB]
Orff: Carmina Burana (Pentatone)
An individual vision that doesn’t quite come off [DJB]
Borrett: Interlude, Rebellion, Then (Signum Classics)
Lyrical works that follow in the long tradition of British string music [DJB]
John Williams: Spotlight (Prospero Classical)
An enjoyable selection of lesser-known Williams, showcasing his versatility [DJB]
Respighi: Quartetto Dorico, Piano Quintet, Doppio Quartet (Brilliant Classics)
A good sampling of Respighi’s chamber music, but don’t expect Roman fireworks [DJB]
Reimagining the Classics: Carmina Burana
by David Barker
Martinů: Symphonies (Deutsche Grammophon)
A Martinů symphony cycle for the ages [DJB]
The Leipzig Collegium Musicum Volume 1: Music Before Bach (Pentatone)
An interesting start to a potentially valuable series [DJB]
Lopatnikoff & Juon: Piano Trios (Naxos)
The Lopatnikoff is quite a discovery [DJB]
JS Bach: The Bach Project: Violin Concertos (Paschen Records)
A delightful hour spent in the company of JSB [DJB]
Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (Harmonia Mundi)
Some highs and some lows make this a not entirely successful performance [DJB]
In Plain Sight: Piano works by women composers (Rubicon Classics)
A delightful surprise [DJB]
Poulenc: Music for Two Pianos (Divine Art)
One for the Poulenc or two piano enthusiast [DJB]
CPE Bach: Berlin Symphonies (BIS)
Splendid performances of these sparkling works [DJB]
Heise: Complete String Quartets (Dacapo)
I was totally unprepared for how good these six quartets are [DJB]
