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Nick Barnard
Shostakovich: Symphonies No 6 & 9 (Challenge Classics)
Two of Shostakovich’s most subversive symphonies, brilliantly played and sharply characterised [NB]
Saxophobia: Celebrating the Sax Craze of the 1920s (Chandos)
Hugely entertaining, backed up by phenomenal technique and rigorous research [NB]
Senfter: Symphonies 1 & 9 (Capriccio)
Defiantly personal scores rooted in the traditions of Germanic music [NB]
Constantin Silvestri (conductor): A Bournemouth Love Affair (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) Heartfelt exuberance, sensitivity and quicksilver fleetness [NB]
Conversations à Trois: Trio Boccherini (BIS)
Scintillating performances of compelling music, especially the Cras [NB]
de Hartmann: Esther (Pentatone)
De Hartmann’s most ambitious work in a triumphal first recording [NB]
Barber: Vanessa (National Symphony Orchestra)
Very well performed and beautifully presented recording of Barber’s Romantic opera [NB]
Danish Violin Concertos Vol. 4 (Danacord)
(Déjà Review) Flaws but credit to Kai Laursen and his prophet-in-the-wilderness role of promoting so much music that he clearly cared passionately about [NB]
Guarnieri: Pedro Malazarte, A Serra do Rola-Moça, Cuatro Poemas de Macunaíma (Naxos)
Accomplished and idiomatic performances [NB]
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Pletnev: Rachmaniana (Euroarts)
Serviceable Symphonic Dances and an unexciting suite of piano-piece orchestrations [NB]
Antheil: Carnegie Hall Concert of 1927 (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) A must-hear disc for anyone with any kind of passing interest in the development of 20th Century music [NB]
Halvorsen: Orchestral Works, Vol 3 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Utterly beguiling [NB]
Nikolay Medvedev (piano) – Fusions (SOMM Recordings)
This well-played programme perhaps unintentionally reveals Kapustin’s limitations [NB]
Büttner: Symphonies 3 & 4 (Capriccio)
Two substantial symphonies presented in the best possible light [NB]
Howells: Partsongs (SOMM Recordings)
A valuable collection of first recordings reveal Howells the skilled miniaturist [NB]
Nielsen: The Ultimate Solo Piano Music Collection (OUR Recordings)
The most extensive survey to date justifies itself mainly by the excellence of the playing [NB]
Rangström: Kronbruden (Sterling)
A curious conflation of rural folktale and Symbolist myth in a compelling, convincing performance [NB]
Glazunov: String Quartets No.1-3 (Naxos)
Tippett Quartet on great form in delightful, impressive works [NB]
Aplvor, Swain and Finzi: Clarinet Concertos (SOMM Recordings)
Beguiling clarinet playing showcases two fine works and one masterpiece [NB]
Elgar from the Archives Vol 3: The Kingdom & Enigma Variations (SOMM)
Valuable additions to the catalogue which expand our appreciation of composer and conductor [NB]
Rutter: Gloria, Magnificat & Te Deum (Naxos)
I cannot imagine anyone who engages with John Rutter’s music being anything but delighted with this disc [NB]
Alexander Malofeev (piano) – Forgotten Melodies (Sony Classical)
Bravura playing of a brilliantly constructed programme compromised by claustrophobic sound [NB]
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition. Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
A routine Pictures coupled with a crude Symphonie Fantastique [NB]
Dvořák: Symphonies No.7-9; Janáček: Taras Bulba (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
Performances that rarely justify their re-release or price point [NB]
