mz

Mark Zimmer

Beethoven: String Quartets Vol 1 (Chandos)

A very promising beginning to the Doric’s Beethoven cycle, marked by excellent engineering, superb emotion, and precise attention to detail [MZ]

Beethoven Harp String Quartet Chiaroscuro BIS2668SACD

Beethoven: String Quartets Opp 74 & 130 (BIS)

A very fine recording of the Harp Quartet, although the outer movements of the Op130 quartet are lacking in power and thus take the disc down a notch [MZ]

Mozart: Don Juan (Narodowy Institut Fryderyka Chopin)

A fine performance of an oddball Bizet curiosity, but Mozart’s orchestration and vocal variety are sorely missed [MZ]

Rachmaninov trio CC72920

Rachmaninov: The Return (Challenge Classics)

One of Rachmaninov’s less famous works gets a highly emotional rendering on this debut disc [MZ]

Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Prospero)

A vibrant and enthusiastic rendering [MZ]

Ries Chamber Nash Hyperion CDA68380

Ries: Piano Trio & Sextets (Hyperion)

The fine recording and engineering on this disc are applied to rather drab and workmanlike performances [MZ]

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Pristine Audio)

Pristine delivers this classic Barbiere in an airy and better-balanced revision, free of hiss and noise [MZ]