nb

Nick Barnard

romance reverie albion

Romance and Reverie: Holst and his contemporaries (Albion Records)

Well played but unevenly programmed [NB]

Broughton Oboe Concerto String Theory Naxos 8.559958

Broughton: And on the Sixth Day & String Theory (Naxos)

A pair of impressive and enjoyable scores authoritatively performed [NB]

Franchetti Wolf-Ferrari Symphs Naxos 8.574271

Franchetti and Wolf-Ferrari: Symphony & Sinfonia da camera (Naxos)

Music of promise, well performed [NB]

vaughan williams quartets cpo

Vaughan Williams: The Complete String Quartets (cpo)

Generous and intelligent coupling, but the performances are not competitive [NB]

Taneyev: Violin Sonata, Piano Quintet (Naxos)

A stunning quintet balanced by a forgettable sonata, both superbly performed [NB]

Santoro syms 8574572

Santoro: Symphonies Nos 4 & 6 (Naxos)

An absorbing fusion of Nationalism and contemporary influences, impressively performed [NB]

Bliss brass CHSA5344

Bliss: Works for Brass Band (Chandos)

A fine overview of Bliss’ endlessly impressive and engaging music [NB]

Holst150 somm 50302

HOLST 150 (SOMM Recordings)

Another fine anthology of historic live performances to mark an important anniversary [NB]

Kodály, Dohnányi & Novák: Organ Works (Naxos)

Wonderful playing and recording of some fairly modest music – with one notable exception [NB]

Finger Prints (EM Records)

Entertaining music played with affection and skill [NB]

Mignone: Concertos and Concertinos (Naxos)

Attractive and interesting works here receive idiomatic and exciting performances [NB]

Dvorak Symphs 7 8 9 Bychkov Pentatone PTC51872162

Dvořák: Symphonies Nos 7-9 & Overtures (Pentatone)

Very well played and recorded but lacking individuality and character [NB]

Stravinsky: Symphonies Vol 1 (BIS)

Poised and polished performances show these scores in an unusual light [NB]

Coates Orchestral Works v4 Wilson Chandos CHAN20292

Coates: Orchestral Works Vol 4 (Chandos)

Attractive and uplifting music played with perfect panache [NB]

Beethoven mahler C5484

Beethoven: The Mahler Re-Orchestrations (Capriccio)

Beethoven’s genius emerges triumphantly – which is exactly as Mahler intended [NB]

Bruckner: Symphony No.4 (Profil)

A predictably fine performance of a rarer edition of this symphony [NB]

Foss: Symphony No 1, Renaissance Concerto (Naxos)

A very enjoyable and well-played survey of an under-represented composer although the sound is not ideal [NB]

Fernández: Symphonies Nos 1 and 2 (Naxos)

Another impressive Latin-American composer, presented in compelling performances [NB]

Schulhoff, Debussy, Janáček, Antheil: Violin Sonatas (Genuin)

A wonderfully intelligent, interesting programme, superbly performed [NB]

hungarian trios bis

Hungarian String Trios (BIS)

Fascinating repertoire stunningly performed [NB]

Bridge Cello CHSA5346

Bridge, Frances-Hoad & Walton: Cello Concertos (Chandos)

A well-planned and brilliantly played programme but the recording lacks bite [NB]

Belle époque – clarinet & orchestra recital (Pentatone)

Exceptionally fine playing and recording compromised by unbalanced programme and poor documentation [NB]

Gordon: Mythologies and Mad Songs (Orchid Classics)

Challenging but absorbing contemporary music superbly performed [NB]

Roussel Violin Sonatas-Naxos 8574577

Roussel: Violin Sonatas and String Trio (Naxos)

Very stylishly played accounts of Roussel’s impressive chamber works [NB]