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Stephen Barber

Isabelle O’Connell (piano): Cocteau (Divine Art Records)

A cleverly designed concept album featuring Les Six and friends [SB]

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Reich: Sextets (Colin Currie Records)

Two works from Reich’s best period and two later ones, superbly performed [SB]

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Grieg: Violin Sonatas (Pristine Audio)

Classic Menuhin in these delightful sonatas [SB]

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Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Quintets (Naxos)

Refreshing and enjoyable piano quintets in an accessible idiom [SB]

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Thomas: Sol (Nimbus)

A composer with a distinctive and beguiling voice [SB]

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Liadov: Piano Works (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)

Pleasant piano miniatures very much influenced by Chopin [SB]

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Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1 & Piano Quintet op. 29 (cpo)

Ginastera’s impressive chamber music and well-played Ravel [SB]

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Strauss: Elektra (Chandos)

Wonderful orchestral playing but variable singing [SB]

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Martin: Chamber Music (MDG)

Some of Frank Martin’s most important chamber works [SB]

Shostakovich: Piano Trios; Roslavets: Piano Trio No.4 (Naxos)

Shostakovich’s trios are good but Roslavets is a real discovery [SB]

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Brahms: Late Piano Works (Warner Classics)

I had not expected to be so impressed by this recital [SB]

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Ravel: Orchestral Works & Operas (Naxos)

A comprehensive collection in generally good performances, but without most of the texts [SB]

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Weill: The Seven Deadly Sins (BIS)

Excellent performances, sung in English, so particularly interesting [SB]

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Beethoven: Piano Sonatas op.109-111 (Chandos)

A wonderful new version of Beethoven’s last sonatas, and a fitting swan song for Imogen Cooper [SB]

Aedis CR107

Missa Aedis Christi (Convivium Records)

A worthwhile collection of new choral music [SB]

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Dusapin: 7 études, Piano Works No.1 (Genuin)

Dusapin’s études are not a match for other recent piano studies [SB]

Russian Ballet Suites (Hyperion)

Andrey Gugnin makes these piano versions really exciting [SB]

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Ruders: Six Symphonies (Bridge)

This impressive symphony cycle is now complete [SB]

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Bass Clarinet Concertos of the 21st century (Toccata)

The bass clarinet turns out to be a very viable concerto soloist [SB]

voice beloved pentatone

Martin, Messiaen & Daniel-Lesur: Religious choral works (Pentatone)

Superb performances of religious works in the French tradition [SB]

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Cutler: Sonata for Broken Fingers (NMC)

An interesting work which does not quite come off [SB]

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Bach: New Brandenburg Concertos (Berlin Classics)

These New Brandenburg Concertos, based on organ trio sonatas, make a delightful programme [SB]

Milhaud: Salade, Le pauvre matelot (DUX)

Two Milhaud rarities, one of them a first recording, but no texts [SB]

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Bach: Organ music transcribed by Busoni (La Dolce Volta)

A fine collection of Busoni’s piano versions of Bach organ works [SB]