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Tony Haywood
Mussorgsky: Songs (Warner Classics)
Christoff is delightfully over the top, hugely enjoyable and making more straight-laced versions sound boring [TH]
Dances of our Time (BIS)
(Déjà Review) A modern counterpart to the ‘orchestral lollipops’ discs we all used to love, and is equally enjoyable on those terms [TH]
Mendelssohn: Complete Piano Trios (MDG)
(Déjà Review) The enjoyment of lovely music in lovely performances [TH]
Beethoven: String Quartets Vol. 6 (ASV)
(Déjà Review) The Lindsays show a deep understanding of this music and a maturity that has grown with the years [TH]
Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Enormous presence and clarity; no serious collector will want to be without this set [TH]
Schnittke: Concerti Grossi Nos 1 & 5 (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) A real feeling of being the definitive article [TH]
Turnage: Greek (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Whether uncomfortable or not this remains essential listening for lovers of contemporary music theatre [TH]
Ligeti: Ligeti Project Vol 1-3 (Teldec)
(Déjà Review) A beguiling combination of clarity and sheer weirdness. Whether a Ligeti fan or not, heartily recommended – a rare sonic experience! [TH]
MacMillan: The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, Tuireadh and The Exorcism of Rio Sumpul (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Lovers of the approachable face of contemporary music should snap this up [TH]
Xenakis: Works for Large Orchestra, Vol 3 (Timpani)
(Déjà Review) The constants that characterise him are the hallmark of a great composer. One can also hear the torment, the contradictory side of the creative impulse [TH]
Chopin: Études – (Transc. Godowsky) (Warner Classics)
Starts with brief, polite applause and finishes with rapturous cheering, something I would have been actively joining in [TH]
Cikada String Quartet: Saariaho, Cage, Maderna (ECM)
(Déjà Review) Bold and innovative music logically programmed [TH]
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos 1-5 (Hyperion)
A credit to this brave and enterprising label. Go on, treat yourself – you won’t regret it [TH]
Brahms: Piano Concerto 1 (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Rest assured you will get musicianship of a thrilling order [TH]
Sibelius: Tone Poems (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Vänskä is keeping up to the incredibly high standards he has set himself [TH]
Mozart: Piano music (Nonesuch)
(Déjà Review) If you fancy wallowing in a well programmed, superbly recorded concert hall-style recital, you really will enjoy this [TH]
Martinů: Double Concerto (Apex)
Some sound issues, but on a purely artistic level these are pretty compelling performances [TH]
Debussy & Mozart: Songs (ECM)
(Déjà Review) Banse’s subtle, dark-toned soprano is ideal for this material [TH]
Janáček: The Makropulos Case (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) This has an unmistakably authentic feel about it [TH]
Beethoven: Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 4 (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Another success … carry on collecting with pleasure [TH]
Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov: Piano Trios (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Playing of great intelligence, intellectual rigour and keen spontaneity [TH]
Satie: Piano Works (RCA)
(Déjà Review) Remarkably subtle, giving due weight where required without missing any sense of fun [TH]
Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos 1-10 (Naxos)
Enormous presence and clarity … a great deal to enjoy … no serious collector will want to be without this set [TH]