djb

David Barker

bonis orchestralworks cpo

Bonis: Orchestral Works (cpo)

Pretty, but ultimately rather shallow music, not a patch on her chamber works [DJB]

Albares. Latin American Trumpet Concertos (Onyx)

Three contrasting works allow Flores to demonstrate his considerable talents [DJB]

Biber: Harmonia artificioso-ariosa (Accent)

The scordatura tuning takes some time to adjust to, but Biber’s wonderful invention makes it well worth the effort [DJB]

Piazzolla: Tiempo del Angel (Fuga Libera)

(Déjà Review) Unless you have a complete aversion to the accordion and/or the tango, this is wonderful [DJB]

Lavinia Meijer (harp): Unfolding Lines (Sony Classical)

Beautifully played, soothing and gentle, but don’t listen while using heavy machinery or driving a vehicle [DJB]

Bach: Goldberg Variations (Animal Music)

A combination that seems so unlikely, but it works very well [DJB]

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Bach: Goldberg Variations (Decca)

Lim’s Carnegie Hall Goldbergs failed to engage me at all [DJB]

Martines: Complete Keyboard Works (Signum Classics)

This acquaintance of Haydn and Mozart deserves her time in the spotlight [DJB]

Glazunov StringQuartets Naxos

Glazunov: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Naxos)

A fine way to investigate this little-known corner of Glazunov’s output; the Third is a real discovery [DJB]

winger orchestral naxos

Winger: Symphony of the Returning Light (Naxos)

Two very fine contemporary works which place a high value on melody and rhythm [DJB]

Glass: Etudes No.1-10 (Navona Records)

A little too percussive for my liking [DJB]

Brambach: Complete Piano Quartets & Piano Sextet (cpo)

Brambach receives his first recordings with these well-crafted works [DJB]

Chaminade: Piano Trios & Morceaux (Da Vinci Classics)

Chaminade’s trios should be better known, and this recording is a perfect way to rectify that [DJB]

TommyMesa 1767 azica

Tommy Mesa (cello): 17(67) (Azica)

A beautiful sounding instrument, beautifully played, but a programme that lacks contrast [DJB]

Mendelssohn: Symphony No 2 ‘Lobgesang’ (BIS)

Suzuki finds Lobgesang as hard a nut to crack as those who have tried before him [DJB]

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Martucci: (Da Vinci Classics)

A mixed bag, but the Quintet has definite merits [DJB]

Poulenc: Cello Sonata & Works for Piano (Onyx)

Regardless of where you are on your Poulenc journey, it is a recording you should hear [DJB]

GoldbergVariations Bach Navona

Bach: Goldberg Variations (Navona)

A new Goldberg arrangement for strings, hamstrung by slow tempos [DJB]

Beethoven: String Quartets 7 & 8 (BIS)

Beethoven at the limits, occasionally exhausting, but always compelling [DJB]

Italian respighi PTC5187419

Italian Perspectives (Pentatone)

An intelligent combination of Respighi-related works, given good performances [DJB]

Kirnberger SInfonias hansslerclassic

Kirnberger: Sinfonias (Hänssler Classic)

Galant-era symphonies from a student of Bach; pleasant company, but no more [DJB]

Sacred Music in Thuringia (Da Vinci Classics)

Convincing demonstration of the depth of talent of Baroque Thuringian composers [DJB]

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Cabinet of Curiosities (Warner Classics)

Such an odd mix of music, but somehow it works [DJB]

oswald orchestralworks naxos

Oswald: Orchestral Music (Naxos)

So much enjoyment to be gained from these three contrasting works [DJB]