sb
Stephen Barber
Wellesz: Complete Symphonies & Works for Chamber Orchestra (cpo)
A comprehensive survey of the Austrian emigré composer [SB]
Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind; Vasks: String Quartet No.6 (Challenge Classics)
One much performed contemporary classic and one first recording make up this unusual programme [SB]
Mahler: Symphony No 4 (BR Klassik)
A fine version by Haitink of this most attractive of Mahler’s symphonies [SB]
Arriaga: Complete String Quartets (Cobra Records)
A superb recording of Arriaga’s masterly quartets [SB]
Grieg: Complete Lyric pieces, Album Leaves (Nimbus)
An excellent complete recording of these lovely miniatures [SB]
Saxophobia: Celebrating the saxophone craze of the 1920s (Chandos)
A fun disc for lovers of the saxophone or the 1920s [SB]
Vasks: 80th Anniversary Edition (Ondine)
Some key Vasks works reappear in excellent versions [SB]
Britten: Les Illuminations and other Works (Alpha Classics)
A very good Britten concert [SB]
Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: Complete String Quartets (cpo)
An unusually comprehensive and rewarding set of Mendelssohn string quartets [SB]
Jack Brymer (clarinet): Clarinet Recitals (Nimbus)
A memorable pair of recitals by a master clarinettist with a fine duo partner [SB]
Kancheli: Chamber music with orchestra (Naxos)
Works thoroughly characteristic of late Kancheli, convincingly performed [SB]
Halévy: La Juive (Naxos)
A warhorse in excellent performance but problematic production [SB]
Mozart: Horn Concertos (Chandos)
A fine new set of Mozart’s horn concertos [SB]
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No 3 (Decca)
Kanneh-Mason is a real ball of fire in the concerto [SB]
Chausson: Concert & Poème (Erato)
A charming, accomplished version of Chausson’s unusual chamber work [SB]
Liszt: Années de pèlerinage (complete) (Divine Art)
A complete set of the Années de pèlerinage in committed performances [SB]
Leon McCawley (piano): Recital (SOMM Recordings)
An excellent recital of major romantic period piano works [SB]
Golijov / Clyne: Perfectly Free (Challenge Classics)
Impressive and attractive recent cello concertos, superbly realised [SB]
Isabelle O’Connell (piano): Cocteau (Divine Art Records)
A cleverly designed concept album featuring Les Six and friends [SB]
Reich: Sextets (Colin Currie Records)
Two works from Reich’s best period and two later ones, superbly performed [SB]
Grieg: Violin Sonatas (Pristine Audio)
Classic Menuhin in these delightful sonatas [SB]
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Quintets (Naxos)
Refreshing and enjoyable piano quintets in an accessible idiom [SB]
Thomas: Sol (Nimbus)
A composer with a distinctive and beguiling voice [SB]
Liadov: Piano Works (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
Pleasant piano miniatures very much influenced by Chopin [SB]
