jf

John France

USA Huangci Alpha

Made in USA: Gershwin, Beach & Barber (Alpha Classics)

This fine, well-judged recital explores familiar and less well-known works [JF]

Rimsky-Korsakov & Bortkiewicz: Scheherazade (Danacord)

Enchanted music with appeal to lovers of fairy tales of all ages [JF]

sweet city signum

That Sweet City (Signum Classics)

Two wonderful evocations of English pastoral and bucolic themes [JF]

Vaughan Williams: Royal Throne of Kings (Albion Records)

An essential investment for all RVW enthusiasts [JF]

VW Christmas ALBCD050

Vaughan Williams: An Oxford Christmas (Albion Records)

Favourite carols in new guises and hidden gems, in an enjoyable account [JF]

VW carols ALBCD064

Carols from Herefordshire (Albion Records)

An ideal Christmas present for enthusiasts of RVW’s folksong transcriptions [JF]

Music for Stage and Screen (Albion Records)

A valuable contribution to the recorded legacy of British music [JF]

Finger Prints (EM Records)

Played with love and enthusiasm, but never with condescension [JF]

A Christmas Fantasia Albion ALBCD063

A Christmas Fantasia (Albion Records)

Rare repertoire and a few old favourites for good measure [JF]

highways byways divine art

Highways and Byways, Rarities for Recorder (Divine Art)

A wonderful treasure chest of rare, interesting music [JF]

Copland: Music for solo piano (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) The playing complements the vivacity, complexity and depth of this fine music [JF]

romance reverie albion

Romance and Reverie: Holst and His Contemporaries (Albion Records)

An enticing selection of rarities and imaginative arrangements [JF]

husum 2023 danacord

Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum – 2023 Festival (Danacord)

Uniformly excellent performance of a wide range of pianistic rarities [JF] [JF]

Schubert: Moments musicaux, Drei Klavierstücke (Danacord)

Absorbing and moving performances [JF]

Prokofiev: Piano Concerti (Danacord)

(Déjà Review) This fine addition to the discography could well be your first choice [JF]

Thomas Pitfield • His Friends & Contemporaries (Divine Art)

A rewarding exploration [JF]

Pitfield: String Chamber Music (Divine Art)

Performances with brilliance, technical competence and a sympathetic understanding [JF]

Schoenberg Faure Pelleas et Melisande Alpha 1058

Schoenberg & Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande (Alpha Classics)

Two wonderfully contrasting explorations of Maeterlinck’s play [JF]

Berkeley: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Lyrita)

(Déjà Review) Great to have this landmark recording issued on CD [JF]

herz piano concertos hyperion

Herz: Piano Concertos (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) Once again thanks to Hyperion for introducing us to this lovely, interesting and well-wrought music [JF]

Bloch: America, Suite hébraïque (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) America is fantastic, gorgeous, exciting and brilliant, fun, tuneful and moving [JF]

Ravel soustrot DACOCD982

Ravel: Orchestral works (Danacord)

A wonderful primer to Ravel’s orchestrations [JF]

Nystroem: Sinfonia del Mare (Musica Sveciae)

(Déjà Review) Sea music portrayed in a great fusion of romanticism and modernism [JF]

Louis Glass: Piano Works Volume 2 (Danacord)

Many pleasing moments for the engaged listener [JF]