jw
Jonathan Woolf
Beethoven &; Fauré: Violin Sonatas (Pristine Audio)
(Déjà Review) This release goes a long way to cementing the Sammons discography [JW]
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Beethoven: Symphony No.8 (SOMM Recordings)
Beecham full of flair but with somewhat foggy sonics in live Royal Festival Hall broadcasts [JW]
Sanromá: The Complete Boston ‘Pops’ Recordings (APR)
The formidable concerto achievements of Jesús María Sanromá in an irresistible 2-for-1 release [JW]
Mozart: Piano Concertos 22 & 27 (Maestro Editions)
A Mozartian 90th birthday to Peter Frankl, live from Cleveland, and full of sensitive musicianship [JW]
Overtures from the British Isles Volume 3 (Chandos)
A third volume focuses on mid-century overtures, with three world premiere recordings [JW]
Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Erato)
(Déjà Review) Cut from intimate cloth, preferring incremental, dextrous playing, exuding tenderness and relaxation [JW]
Soirées Internationales – Cello Music (Avie)
(Déjà Review) This Parisian journey can be warmly welcomed [JW]
Renée Chemet (violin): The Victor Recordings (Biddulph)
Another dose of the charming, characterful and decidedly old-fashioned stylist, Renée Chemet [JW]
Antheil: Violin Concerto, Valentine Waltzes (Antal Doráti Society)
A historic Antheil premiere in very fallible sound coupled with his only solo piano recordings [JW]
Korngold: Chamber Works (Cedille)
Beautifully modulated performances of the quartets and beyond [JW]
Hungarian Music for Cello and Piano (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A winning recital [JW]
The Launy Grøndahl Legacy, Volume 11 (Danacord)
The final Grøndahl Legacy disc from Danacord embraces radio opera as well as the restaurant band pleasures of his rare 1923 Pathés [JW]
Elgar: Premiere Recordings Remastered (SOMM Ariadne)
Elgarian discographic firsts from the immediate post-war period, with competing Enigma Variations [JW]
Renée Chemet (violin): The HMV Recordings (Biddulph)
The ‘French Kreisler’ Renée Chemet proves a characterful, idiosyncratic and anachronistic stylist [JW]
Novák: Piano Concerto, Orchestral suites (cpo)
Another recording of Novák’s youthful Piano Concerto coupled with two ballet pantomimes [JW]
Gibbs: Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo (First Hand Records)
A little-known East Anglian with a flair for synthesising violin sonatas, played with energy and finesse [JW]
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Pentatone)
A disappointing, generalized survey of what should be infectious music-making [JW]
Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor) The Complete Acoustics 1910-18
Characterful examples of Beecham’s first recordings performed by his zestful orchestra [JW]
Piotr Anderszewski at Carnegie Hall (Erato)
(Déjà Review) Something of a mixed bag for me [JW]
Martinů: Violin Concertos 1 & 2 (Supraphon)
Another top-class exploration of Martinů’s Violin Concertos [JW]
Weinberg: String Quartets Vol. 2 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Weinberg managed with assurance and complete appreciation [JW]
Swain: Music for Violin and Piano (Dutton)
Traditionalism served with a dose of acerbity [JW]
Purcell: Hail! Bright Cecilia (Château de Versailles)
A misconceived performance of a great Purcell ode [JW]
Bowen: Music for organ, viola, violin and harp (Dutton)
Four musicians explore York Bowen’s more recherché compositions in some style [JW]
