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Stephen Barber
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]
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]
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]
Henselt: Complete Piano Études (Naxos)
An auspicious debut with these intriguing études [SB]
Schumann: Novelletten & Nachstücke (Piano Classics)
Commendable versions of two of Schumann’s lesser-known piano cycles [SB]
Saariaho: Adriana Mater (Deutsche Grammophon)
A powerful opera in a good performance but with inadequate presentation [SB]
Heavenly Light – Eton Choirbook Reconstructions I (CRD)
These reconstructions of works surviving only in fragments from the Eton choirbook are gorgeous and dazzling [SB]
Shostakovich: Film Music Edition (Capriccio)
A generous selection of Shostakovich’s copious but uneven production of film music [SB]





































