sb
Stephen Barber
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]
Bach: Organ music transcribed by Busoni (La Dolce Volta)
A fine collection of Busoni’s piano versions of Bach organ works [SB]
Ustvolskaya: Symphonies (BIS)
All five symphonies of the enigmatic Russian composer, in scrupulous performances [SB]
Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas (Et’cetera)
An excellent new version of Prokofiev’s much-recorded sonatas [SB]
Mason: Lux Aeterna (Ulysses Arts)
Interesting survey of the recent work of an unfamiliar but rewarding composer [SB]
Piazzolla: María de Buenos Aires (Brilliant Classics)
A fine, vigorous performance, but what a shame there are no texts [SB]
Firsova and Smirnov: Love and Loss (OUR Recordings)
Moving works from this husband and wife team [SB]
Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher (Brilliant Classics)
An attractive viola concerto with an unusual coupling [SB]
Bartók: Violin Sonatas Szymanowski: Mythes (BIS)
An outstanding version of this imaginative programme [SB]
Gubaidulina: Orchestral Music (Naxos)
I remain puzzled by Gubaidulina’s work [SB]
Lerner & Loewe: My fair lady (Chandos)
A quality production which is warmly welcomed [SB]
The best of Martin Jones: Discover Erich Korngold (Nimbus)
A useful selection of Korngold’s piano music [SB]
Lindberg & Aho: Clarinet Concertos (Signum Classics)
Two modern classics in excellent performances [SB]
Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Humoresque (Camerata)
Another fine Schumann recital by this Italian pianist [SB]
Music from the Peterhouse partbooks (Naxos)
Music from the Peterhouse partbooks [SB]
Mozart: Complete Divertimenti and Serenades for Winds (Brilliant Classics)
A comprehensive collection, well played [SB]
Schumann & Bruckner: Forgotten symphonies (Alia Vox)
Two non-canonical symphonies in carefully prepared performances [SB]
Rautavaara: Complete Piano Works (Piano Classics)
Rautavaara writes idiomatically and well for the piano [SB]
Price: Concertos (Naxos)
A convenient gathering of all Price’s concertos [SB]
Silvestrov: Violin Concerto, Symphony No.8 (Naxos)
These first recordings are to be welcomed [SB]
Saariaho: Complete Works for Piano and Harpsichord (Ondine)
Odds and ends for Saariaho completists [SB]
Chopin: Piano music (Decca)
A rewarding recital, if you can take to the first Ballade [SB]
Monteverdi: Messa per Maria Salute (CPO)
A convincing reconstruction, but no texts [SB]
