Presto

grieg peer gynt sony

Grieg: Peer Gynt (Sony Classical)

(Déjà Review) A hugely enjoyable selection, and an ear-opener for those who only know the familiar suites [TH]

VW hymnal 75605512492

A Vaughan Williams Hymnal (Conifer Classics)

A beautifully performed programme of Vaughan Williams’ hymns with exemplary attention to detail [MSt]

Piston Symphony 6 Slatkin RCA 60798

Piston: Symphony 6 (RCA)

Three well-chosen works by this fine American composer [SB]

Copland: Orchestral Works (Sony Classical)

An all-sorts mixture including some very moving recordings from six decades ago [RB]

Ives St Louis Slatkin RCA 09026-61222-2

Ives: Symphony 3, Three Places in New England (RCA)

A satisfying recital that is strong on earnest and shining integrity [RB]

holst planets rca

Holst: The Planets (RCA)

A typically virtuosic recording from a great American partnership [RMo]

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Bruckner: Symphony 3 (RCA)

As fine a performance of the 1889 version of Bruckner’s Third Symphony as you could wish from a great partnership [RMo]

Eileen Farrell Sings Verdi Presto Sony MHK62358

Eileen Farrell (soprano) Sings Verdi (Sony Classical)

Stunning singing from a great dramatic soprano who might have done more but chose otherwise [RMo]

beethoven trios casals sony

Beethoven: Piano Trios (Sony Classical)

A terrific Ghost Trio, less impressive E flat major Trio [PBW]

Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)

(Déjà Review) Truly inspired performances of masterful music [PJL]

Shostakovich, Kabalevsky: Cello Concerti (Sony)

One of our greatest cellists in a revelatory performance from his younger days [WH]

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Schubert: String Quintet (RCA)

A fine performance even if it does not quite displace my established favourites [RMo]

Frederica von Stade Song Recital Sony78516

Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) Song Recital (Sony Classical)

(Déjà Review) One of the most sheerly beautiful and instantly recognisable mezzos of the last fifty years [RMo]

Bartók: Chamber Works (Decca)

A stunning CD – fantastic performances of strongly contrasting works [PBW]

wagner orchestral kubelik deutsche grammophon

Wagner: Orchestral Music (Deutsche Grammophon)

Classic Kubelík, wonderful Wagner [LD]

ameau platee conifer

Rameau: Platée & Dardanus Suites (Conifer Classics)

Selections from Rameau return to the catalogue in style [JW]

Mahler Songs von Stade Sony78517

Mahler: Songs (Sony Classical)

Lovers of great Lieder singing should have this in their collection [RMo]

bruckner philips jochum

Bruckner: Symphony 5 (Philips)

(Déjà Review) A classic recording rightly restored to the catalogue in good sound and an example of Jochum’s Bruckner at its best [TD]

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Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Sony Classical)

A reissue of an imperishable “classic of the gramophone” – the greatest music of its genre in the best of 60s stereo sound [RMo]

Alkan piano RCA09026633102

Alkan & Liszt: Piano Works (RCA)

Utterly commanding – refuses to let you do anything other than flinch, succumb, brave it out and celebrate [RB]

Copland symphonies Slatkin RCA 09026682922

Copland: Symphonies (RCA)

A welcome return to the catalogue of this valuable version of Copland’s early symphonies [SB]

bernstein prelude sony

Bernstein: Orchestral Works (Sony Classical)

Essential, authentic listening for admirers of Leonard Bernstein [JQ]

Handel: Water & Fireworks Music (Archiv Produktion)

(Déjà Review) An example that big can be beautiful too! [GFe]

Dvorak sym6 SBK60295

Dvořák: Symphony 6 (Sony)

An affectionately played trio of works by Dvořák at his most typically exuberant [RMo]