djb
David Barker
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]
Art Nouveau: French Chamber Music Around 1900 (harmonia mundi)
An intelligent choice of music, given outstanding performances and sound [DJB]
Woodland Songs (Platoon)
An intriguing programme with a startling performance of the Dvořák [DJB]
P Glass: Violin Concerto 1 (Platoon)
A fine performance of the concerto but the other works do not impress [DJB]
Colors of Bach (Sony Classical)
Re-imaginings of Bach’s immortal melodies in a modern idiom that provide many pleasures [DJB]
JS Bach: The Complete Violin Concertos (Analekta)
Middle-of-the-road performances that do not excite or enchant [DJB]
Onslow: String Quintets (Naxos/Challenge Classics)
Very different takes on these attractive works, neither entirely successful [DJB]
Ravel: Chamber Works (Onyx)
Performances that the composer would have greatly admired but … [DJB]
Kats-Chernin: Ancient Letters (ABC Classic)
Plenty to enjoy across a range of styles [DJB]
Glass: Complete Piano Etudes (InFiné)
Straight to the top of the list for the complete set [DJB]
Thieriot: Chamber Music Volume 4 (Toccata Classics)
Pleasant Brahms-influenced works, lacking much spark [DJB]
Glass: Portrait (Analekta)
(Déjà Review) An excellent sampler of the accessible Glass [DJB]
Melartin: Symphonies 5 & 6 (cpo)
Contrasting symphonies from a master deserving of more attention [DJB]
Schumann & Brahms: Piano Quintets (Virgin Classics)
I was entranced, enraptured and enthralled – you have to have this one [DJB]
Kaufmann: Orchestral works (MDG)
My admiration for Kaufmann’s music continues to grow [DJB]
Passages – French Cello Music (Bridge)
Dubin’s playing is outstanding, which makes the short runtime even more regrettable [DJB]
D Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas (Pentatone)
Very fine Scarlatti but where’s the rest? [DJB]
Spanish Piano Quartets (MarchVivo)
Substantial works get their time in the sun after more than 120 years; the Zurrón is a real discovery [DJB]
Pelēcis: Revelation (Megadisc)
(Déjà Review) A triumph of melody and rhythm over modernism – life-affirming [DJB]






































