djb
David Barker
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]
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: 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: Symphony of the Returning Light (Naxos)
Two very fine contemporary works which place a high value on melody and rhythm [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]
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]
Poulenc: Cello Sonata & Works for Piano (Onyx)
Regardless of where you are on your Poulenc journey, it is a recording you should hear [DJB]
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 Perspectives (Pentatone)
An intelligent combination of Respighi-related works, given good performances [DJB]
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]
Cabinet of Curiosities (Warner Classics)
Such an odd mix of music, but somehow it works [DJB]
Oswald: Orchestral Music (Naxos)
So much enjoyment to be gained from these three contrasting works [DJB]





































