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Philip Harrison
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (Cleveland Orchestra)
A considered, measured and ultimately satisfying account of the Symphonie fantastique from a legendary orchestra [PH]
Machaut: A lover’s death (Hyperion)
Achieved is the glorious work: The Orlando Consort sign off from Machaut [PH]
Machaut: The Fount of Grace (Hyperion)
The penultimate release in The Orlando Consort’s Machaut Edition explores more highlights of this master of the Middle Ages [PH]
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 6 & 9 (Signum Classics)
Two of Shostakovich’s most perplexing works in good live performances [PH]
de Machaut: Remède de Fortune (Hyperion)
A spin on the wheel of fortune with The Orlando Consort [PH]
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben & Mahler: Rückert-Lieder (Pentatone)
An interesting Strauss/Mahler coupling from early in 2024 which slipped through the reviewers’ net [PH]
Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (London Philharmonic Orchestra)
Step into a magical forest and the transcendent realm of Tippett’s Midsummer Marriage [PH]
Dvořák: Legends & Slavonic Rhapsodies (Pentatone)
Dvořák cultivates the native accent in impressive performances [PH]
A monk’s life (Hyperion)
The Brabant Ensemble chart a pathway to the monastic way of life to memorable effect [PH]
The Berliner Philharmoniker and Seiji Ozawa (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
A great orchestra pays its tribute to a much loved conductor [PH]
Franck: Symphony and Fauré: Pélleas et Mélisande (Deutsche Grammophon)
A look back at favourites from France in Barenboim’s Berlin return [PH]
Williams: Orchestral Works (Resonus)
Excellent performances of two classics and a discovery: a perfect opportunity to get to know this composer [PH]
Young: Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror (Warner Classics)
A brand-new score for a creepy classic silent movie that really pulls out all the stops [PH]
Tippett: Piano Concerto & Symphony No 2 (LPO)
British works you should know from a conductor establishing a reputation as a master of the genre [PH]
Waley-Cohen: Spell Book (NMC)
Double, double toil and trouble – a witches’ brew from Freya Waley-Cohen [PH]
Fazil Say (piano): Oiseaux tristes (Warner Classics)
Artistry and insight from Say [PH]
Mahler: Symphony No 7 (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)
Acclaim for Mahler in Hamburg [PH]
Destinées (Alpha Classics)
An exploration of music by ten women composers from the age of Louis XIV and Louis XV [PH]
Claire Huangci (piano): Made in USA (Alpha Classics)
Claire Huangci impresses in her American showcase [PH]
The Kurt Weill Album (Deutsche Grammophon)
An impressive recording debut from Joana Mallwitz [PH]