mc

Michael Cookson

Mozart: Symphonies No. 34-36 (Hänssler Classic)

Played with sincerity, but the competition is fierce [MC]

Lalo: Complete Piano Trios (MDG)

(Déjà Review) This is a most beautiful and appealing release, guaranteed to please chamber music lovers [MC]

Mozart: Symphonies 39-41 (BR Klassik)

These performances do not quite achieve the vitality and focus of my benchmarks [MC]

Schubert, Mendelssohn, Beethoven: Fantasias for Piano  (Hänssler Classic)

A really promising solo debut album [MC]

Bruch Barber 4858415

Bruch & Barber: Violin Concertos (Deutsche Grammophon)

Esther Yoo’s performances of the Bruch and Barber concertos make this a highly desirable album [MC]

weber oberon philips

Weber: Oberon (Philips)

(Déjà Review) Playing and singing beautifully tailored to the score; an endless kaleidoscope of subtle colours [MC]

meyer clarinet french emi warner

Sabine Meyer (clarinet) French Works (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) An outstanding achievement [MC]

Debussy: Orchestral Works (Eloquence)

(Déjà Review) A delightful Debussy collection, excellently performed [MC]

Saint-Saens Chamber Nash Hyperion CDA67431-2

Saint-Saëns: Chamber Music (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) A wonderfully presented release that is clearly one of my records of the year [MC]

dvorak quintets mdg

Dvořák: Quintets (MDG)

(Déjà Review) Hugely impressive performances from first note to last [MC]

Arnold: Wind Chamber Music (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Sir Malcolm is in his element here and I was with him all the way [MC]

Stravinsky The Soldiers Tale Elder Hallé CDHLL7560

Stravinsky: The Soldier’s Tale (Hallé)

An extremely well-produced and stylish performance of The Soldier’s Tale [MC]

lalo casals cello sony

Lalo & Casals: Cello Concertos (Sony Classical)

My high expectations were exceeded by Jan Vogler’s compelling performances [MC]

Offenbach Robinson Crusoé Opera Rara ORB3

Offenbach: Robinson Crusoé (Opera Rara)

A splendid way to explore some of the composer’s lesser-known operettas [MC]

Berg Brahms Violin Concertos Tetzlaff Ondine ODE1410-2

Brahms and Berg: Violin Concertos (Ondine)

Christian Tetzlaff provides outstanding performances of the two concertos [MC]

Cherubini Les Abencérages Bru Zane BZ1050

Cherubini: Les Abencérages (Bru Zane)

This first studio recording of Cherubini’s Les Abencérages is especially valuable [MC]

valse saxon hanssler

La Valse (Hänssler Classic)

These wind orchestra arrangements could hardly be better played [MC]

A Tribute to Pauline Viardot (Aparté)

Viotti’s range and diction are to be admired [MC]

Schumann piano works Oppitz Hanssler HC22045

R Schumann: Piano Works (Hänssler Classic)

Gerhard Oppitz excels in Schumann works he has lived with his whole career [MC]

Marina Rebeka (soprano) Voyage (Prima Classic)

An attractive programme of songs by French composers [MC]

Schulhoff shapeshifter DE3566

Schulhoff: Shapeshifter (Delos)

Praiseworthy performances of fascinating repertoire [MC]

Jonathan Tetelman (tenor) Arias (Deutsche Grammophon)

Tetelman will win many new admirers with this outstanding debut album [MC]

Schulhoff: Piano Concerto (Hänssler)

Two of Schulhoff’s finest works, both well performed and recorded [MC]

Bach flute TTK0092

Bach: Flute Sonatas (TRPTK)

Aysha Wills is on pleasing form with this period-instrument recording of four of Bach’s flute sonatas [MC]