djb
David Barker
Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagione & La Follia (Alpha Classics)
An electrifying rendition of the Four Seasons to set alongside Fabio Biondi’s [DJB]
C P E Bach & Graun: Viola Concertos (cpo)
Fairly bland music that the performances don’t enliven [DJB]
J S Bach: The First Cantata Year Vol 1 (Hänssler Classic)
Given the quality of the existing cycles, this is a brave project but a very fine start [DJB]
Kraus: Overtures (cpo)
If you don’t know Kraus’s music, give this a try; if you do, enjoy these performances [DJB]
Bach: (RE)inventio (Divine Art)
An interesting exercise, with mostly winning results [DJB]
Philarmonica (Alpha Classics)
A potentially interesting programme, but it tended to all blend together [DJB]
Shostakovich & Arensky: Piano trios (DUX)
Performances that underplay the essential character of each work [DJB]
Jenkins: The Armed Man (Signum Classics)
An arrangement for smaller forces that still makes as much impact [DJB]
Andre Schoch (trumpet) Core (Es-Dur)
Readings that don’t match up with the best, and an ungenerous runtime [DJB]
Dans nos yeux – recital (Warner Classics)
Crossover, yes, but don’t let that deter you from some very enjoyable music [DJB]
Farrenc: Piano Trios, Cello Sonata (Brilliant Classics)
A good introduction to the chamber music of this underrated and under-recorded composer [DJB]
Glass: Signature (Analekta)
For the Glass waverers out there, this might be the disc that dispels doubts [DJB]
Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (Château de Versailles)
Too strident for my liking [DJB]
Spanish Impressions – Piano Trios (Reference Recordings)
An interesting program, with good if not outstanding performances [DJB]
Raff, Schreck, Jadassohn: Wind Serenades (cpo)
A delightful hour spent in the company of these three works [DJB]
Morricone: Cinema Rarities (Arcana)
Enjoyable arrangements of some of Morricone’s less well-known film music, but suffering from a lack of variety [DJB]
Bach: Goldberg Variations Reimagined (Channel Classics)
Goldberg meets Brandenburg in a very successful merger [DJB]
Ibert, Hartmann & Dvorák: Chamber Music (Farao Classics)
A perfect release to encourage newcomers to explore the genre further [DJB]