rb

Rob Barnett

rubinstein cello northern flowers

Rubinstein: Cello Concertos (Northern Flowers)

Engagingly unfamiliar works from the last two centuries each presented with conviction [RB]

Weinberg: String Quartets (Alto)

Early accounts of two introspective quartets and of two often upbeat orchestral works [RB]

L Glass: Symphony No. 4 (cpo)

Raiskin makes this work sing [RB]

Bloch: Orchestral Works (Alto)

Often eloquently introspective but rising to anger and vigour [RB]

Clara Rockmore’s Lost Theremin Album (Bridge)

An affectionate tribute and mostly a pleasure that these recordings been set free [RB]

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Harrison: Chamber Works (Resonus)

Chamber music pastures tilled by a little-known British melodist [RB]

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Corfield Godfrey: The Nightingale and the Rose (Prima Facie)

Admiringly appraised … a contemporary ‘take’ on romantic and lush impressionism [RB]

The Twentieth Anniversary of the ARC Ensemble

by Rob Barnett

smith brindle guitar naxos

Smith Brindle: Works for Solo Guitar Vol. 1 (Naxos)

Offers more than a servant’s entrance to this disregarded composer’s heritage [RB]

Elfman & Hailstork: Concertos (Naxos)

Two attractive recent American concertos in excellent performances [RB]

Mills B: Portraits (Claudio)

Water-coloured emotions; attractively gentle, outwardly modest music [RB]

Copland: Orchestral Works (Sony Classical)

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

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Stevens: Chasing Shadows (Divine Art)

Variegated moods: lyricism and awkward edges [RB]

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Mills B: Orchestral Works Vol. 8 (Claudio)

Stocked with sighs, shimmers and sadness … more Radagast than Mithrandir [RB]

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

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

moorland symphonies butterworth lyrita

Moorland Symphonies (Lyrita)

Does extremely well in introducing the reader to the man and his music [RB]

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Trandafilovski: Polychromy (Métier)

Tartly balanced on the edge of the void [RB]

Kvandal: String Quartets (LAWO Classics)

Norwegian variety from a less regarded composer [RB]

Creston: Piano Music (Toccata Classics)

Savage … touchingly melodic, melting and romantically inclined [RB]

Nordheim: The Tempest (Lawo Classics)

Speaks directly and pleasurably to the composer’s creative impulse [RB]

Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright (BIS)

Music that fascinates but has no place for ingratiation or meeting the general listener half-way [RB]

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Novák: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 (Naxos)

Dewy-eyed, romantic and uncloyingly amorous [RB]

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Manchester Beethoven Studies (Manchester University Press)

A variegated ocean of writing by and for the worlds of deep dive enthusiasts and academics [RB]

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Caine: Agent Orange (Winter & Winter)

Ceaseless change … incessant steps to embrace the heart [RB]