Weber
Michael Spyres (tenor): In The Shadows (Erato)
An interesting and enterprising recital but a question mark over the suitability of the voice for some of the material [PT]
Günther Groissböck (bass) I live alone in my heaven (Gramola)
A profile of the singer Günther Groissböck – no revelations, but there’s always the voice [ST]
Christine Brewer (soprano) Great Operatic Arias (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Chandos’s faith in Brewer has been justified, completely and utterly [CC]
Pierre Monteux (conductor): Live (SOMM Recordings)
A handsome tribute to ‘Le Maître’ sixty years after his death [JQ]
Boult and the BBC Symphony – The Pre-war Recordings Vol. 2 (Pristine Audio)
A sequence of overtures demonstrates the versatility and virtuosity of Boult’s pre-war BBC Symphony [JW]
Beethoven: Symphony No 3; Schubert: Symphony No 9 (ICA Classics)
Boult in spirited form in his twilight years: no let-up in authority from the doyen of British conductors [JW]
Thomas Quasthoff (bass- baritone) Evening Star (Deutsche Grammophon)
A cunningly devised programme ideally showcasing Quasthoff’s vocal versatility and dramatic gifts [RMo]
475 Jahre Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden (Profil)
Many first-class performances to celebrate the 475th anniversary of the Staatskapelle Dresden [MC]
Michael Spyres (tenor) In The Shadows (Erato)
I enjoyed some unhackneyed repertoire and the marvellous singing [GF]
Chopin: Piano Sonata 3 (Warner Classics)
Arrau’s Chopin enjoys something of classic status, and here are two perfect examples of why this is so [CC]
Weber: Oberon (RCA)
Weber’s magical score is lovingly presented on this fine set [MP]
Weber: Der Freischütz (Deutsche Grammophon)
One might go hunting for a more complete version of this opera, but this one does the trick in most respects [MP]
Artur Rodziński (conductor): The Complete Columbia Album Collection (Sony Classical)
Sony’s second Rodziński box fills a significant gap from his Cleveland years [JH]
Phases (Musica Solis)
Impeccably performed easy-listening entertainment in the best sense of those words, but the playing time could have been more generous [GF]
Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) Complete Acoustic & Selected Electric Recordings (APR)
A wonderful completion of APR’s series exploring Backhaus’ exciting early recording career [RCh]
The Paris Opera 1900-1960 (Malibran Music)
Ten very well-filled discs documenting six glorious decades at the Paris Opera [RMo]
Otto Klemperer (conductor): The Remastered Edition (Warner Classics)
Klemperer consolidated; his full Warner legacy in best-yet transfers [JW]
Weber: Oberon (Philips)
(Déjà Review) Playing and singing beautifully tailored to the score; an endless kaleidoscope of subtle colours [MC]
Romantic Clarinet Quintets (Musical Concepts)
A warmly textured and rubato-conscious performance from an experienced clarinettist and chamber colleagues [JW]
Weber: The Clarinet as Prima Donna (Evil Penguin)
Thoroughly musical, but rather plain, sober and lacking in panache [PBW]
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