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Tony Haywood
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, with acerbic Czech brass playing, the difficult language easily rolling off the tongue, and the conductor and cast obviously totally inside the piece. It deserves success [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]
Bizet: Carmen (Opus Arte)
An altogether outstanding record of a thrilling event [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]
Schumann & Brahms: Chamber Music (Naxos Historical)
(Déjà Review) A real feeling here of spontaneity and depth of expression [TH]
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Naïve)
(Déjà Review) So many details teased out by Alessandrini make this new version very compelling indeed [TH]
Chopin: Reminiscences (Linn)
(Déjà Review) It depends on whether you’re a fan of Pizarro, or his personal selection [TH]
Beethoven: Overtures (Elatus)
(Déjà Review) There’s some great music here, so go and treat yourself [TH]
Monteverdi: Madrigali amorosi (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi)
(Déjà Review) I can’t think of any better disc at budget price with which to get to know these marvellous works [TH]
Beethoven, Mendelssohn: Violin Concerti (Philips)
(Déjà Review) Will irritate as many as it will thrill [TH]
Delibes: Coppelia (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Nagano has such an infectious way with this score that makes it very hard to resist [TH]
Dvořák: Symphony No 9, Serenade for Strings (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) Anyone who is more interested in genuine music-making rather than state-of–the-art sound will not be disappointed [TH]
Casken: Darting the Skiff (NMC)
(Déjà Review) Truly inventive and stimulating music [TH]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Morrison Music Trust)
(Déjà Review) With the frisson of live recording and none of the drawbacks, this set can confidently be recommended on all counts [TH]
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 2 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Impressively powerful; a coupling that is stimulating and generous [TH]
Grieg: Peer Gynt (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) A hugely enjoyable selection, and an ear-opener for those who only know the familiar suites [TH]
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Ravel & Carter (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Aimard positively revels in complexities, eating up fistfuls of notes and spitting them out with ease [TH]
Debussy: Preludes I & II (Onyx)
(Déjà Review) A subtle and experienced advocate in the piano music of his homeland [TH]
Allegri: Miserere (Coro)
(Déjà Review) Those famous tumbling high Cs in the Allegri are piercing in their exaltation – tonal splendour and vocal blend a joy throughout [TH]
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