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Steve Arloff

Maria Lettberg (piano): Europolis (Oehms Classics)

Music that should be better known and will reward the listener on every hearing [SA]

Peter Moore (trombone): Shift (Chandos)

Peter Moore has built on his astonishing debut and his world renown is well deserved [SA]

Rieti: Complete Piano Solo & Duo Works Volume 3 (Grand Piano)

This effervescent music leaves one feeling energised [SA]

Ukraine SOMMCD0701

Ukraine – A piano portrait (SOMM Recordings)

A disc that should gain wide recognition [SA]

Say: Violin Concerto No.2, chamber works (Naxos)

The music of this refreshingly different composer holds one firmly in its grip [SA]

Melita: Maltese Piano Music (Grand Piano)

Lovers of piano music are in for a treat with the many discoveries this disc affords [SA]

Tebe Boga Hvalim – We Praise Thee, O God (DUX)

The Varslavia Ensemble showcases the voice as an instrument for a magical experience [SA]

Shostakovich sym8 BISSACD1483

Shostakovich: Symphony 8 (BIS)

An interesting and highly individual performance worth hearing. [SA]

Lukaszewski Musica Profana 4 DUX

Łukaszewski: Musica Profana 4 (DUX)

The perfect introduction to a composer who not only writes beautiful music but also tugs on the heartstrings [SA]

Hevel Wachowski Dux

Hevel: Polish piano works of the 20th and 21st centuries (Dux)

Wachowski’s excellent selection of works makes for a disc I shall be enjoying for a long time to come [SA]

Smaldone: What no one else sees… (New Focus Recordings)

Music with a strong spirit of innovation and spontaneity [SA]

Chiaroscuro Blue Griffin

Chiaroscuro (Blue Griffin Records)

A fascinating programme, capable of weaving a magic all of its own [SA]

Debussy StringQuartetsandSonatas Hyperion.jpg

Debussy: String Quartets and Sonatas (Hyperion)

Combines the wonderful world of Debussy with the superb playing of the Nash Ensemble [SA]

Can Çakmur (piano): Schubert+ Volume 4 (BIS)

Luminous and insightful, supple and fluid playing, crisp and clear sound [SA]

Orion Weiss ARCIII First Hand

Arc III: Brahms and Schubert piano works (First Hand Records)

The way Orion Weiss plays reflects his love of the works he has chosen [SA]

FrenchTrios HC23045

French Piano Trios (Hänssler Classic)

The obvious enjoyment in playing together here results in committed performances that delight the ear [SA]

Trio Contrasti: Epochs & Cultures in Dialogue (Oehms Classics)

Interesting repertoire, excellent playing [SA]

Exile Alpha1110

Exile (Alpha Classics)

The playing by both soloists and Camerata Bern is faultless [SA]

Kaleidoscope GP944

Kaleidoscope – Contemporary Piano Music by Female Composers (Grand Piano)

This is a disc to savour through repeated hearings [SA]

Ukrainian Preludes: Silvansky, Gozenpud & Yakhnina (Hänssler Classic)

Once heard, these works are difficult to ignore; this is an altogether magnificent disc [SA]

Pipkov v2 TOCC0744

Pipkov: Complete Piano Music Vol 2 (Toccata Classics)

I have eagerly awaited Volume 2 and am thrilled to have it now as it certainly doesn’t disappoint [SA]

Bardanashvili Piano Music TYXArt TXA23182

Bardanashvili: Complete Piano Music (TYXart)

A perfect introduction to the music of this fascinating composer [SA]

Gruodis: Piano music (Toccata)

There is much to discover from the ‘Father of Lithuanian Music’ [SA]

Magi TOCC0741

Ester Mägi: Complete Songs for Female Voice (Toccata Classics)

We are unlikely ever to come across a finer exemplar of this music [SA]