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Gary Higginson
Watkins: Orchestral Music (Hallé CD)
Magnificent performances of approachable, brilliant and enjoyable works recently commissioned by this famous orchestra [GH]
Clavis et Chorda: 14th and 15th Century Music for String Keyboard Instruments (Dynamic)
The earliest keyboard works played on rare reconstructed instruments opening a door into a little-known sound world [GH]
Theodorakis: Orchestral Works (Genuin)
A rare chance to become acquainted with one of the most fascinating, if controversial, of Greek composers [GH]
D Matthews: Orchestral Works (SOMM)
First recordings of three fascinating, recent works by perhaps the UK’s leading symphonic composer [GH]
Farrenc: Piano Trios (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Well-crafted and top-quality and certainly worth getting to know [GH]
Bartók: Orchestral Works, Dances (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) A good addition to your Bartók collection – some performances will be difficult to improve on [GH]
Dessy: String Quartets and Quintet (Cypres)
First recordings of some of the unique output by this enigmatic and mysterious composer [GH]
Malipiero: Symphonies 3 and 4 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A huge journey of adventure – a very good place to start [GH]
Pitfield: Orchestral Music (Toccata Classics)
More evidence of the continuing rehabilitation of this ‘Modest Man of Music’, an imaginative and skilful composer [GH]
Hildegard: Celestial Harmonie (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) The sheer beauty and simplicity of the music can stand alone [GH]
Binchois: Loyal Souvenir (Ricercar)
Binchois’s sacred and secular output side by side in colourful, sensitive readings [GH]
Farrenc, Firsova & Bonis: Chamber Music (cpo)
A fascinating grouping of fine, rarely heard works which deserve to be better known [GH]
W Mundy: Vox patris caelestis (Linn)
An insightful performance of the underrated music of a fascinating late-Tudor composer [GH]
Finzi: Orchestral Works (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) For anyone new to Finzi this disc is an ideal place to start [GH]
Byrd: Consort Songs (Hyperion Helios)
(Déjà Review) The whole disc is absolutely delightful [GH]
Le Beau: Chamber Music and Songs (Oehms Classics)
Discover more about a woman described as Germany’s first great female composer [GH]
Henry VIII On Tour: Music from Tudor Royal Progresses (Delphian)
An entertaining hour with a wide range of Tudor music in strong, committed performances [GH]
Heavenly Light: Eton Choirbook Reconstructions (CRD)
Superbly reconstructed motets brilliantly brought to life [GH]
Balbullus: Liber ymnorum (Naxos)
Chants from over a thousand years ago in an atmospheric, enriching performance [GH]
Ch’amor mi prese – Sacred and Secular Love in Medieval Italy (Tactus)
Music from the age of Boccaccio, performed colourfully, with sensitivity and imagination [GH]
Delectatio Angeli: Music of love, longing and lament (Hyperion)
I enjoyed practically everything that this disc offered with the Dufay being the star [GH]
Faenza. An imaginary Codex (Challenge Classics)
A new way of looking at this mystifying manuscript, in scholarly yet virtuoso performances [GH]
Machaut: A Lover’s Death (Hyperion)
The Orlando consort end their exploration of Machaut’s complete works in purely vocal renditions [GH]
Folksongs • Tour du Monde (Anima Nostra)
A unique musical romp around the world [GH]
