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]

Gunther Groissbock I live alone in my heaven Gramola 20005

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]

brewer arias chandos

Christine Brewer (soprano) Great Operatic Arias (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) Chandos’s faith in Brewer has been justified, completely and utterly [CC]

Weber’s Der Freischütz

A survey by Ralph Moore

Pierre Monteux (conductor): Live (SOMM Recordings)

A handsome tribute to ‘Le Maître’ sixty years after his death [JQ]

boult bbc pristine

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]

spyres shadows erato

Michael Spyres (tenor) In The Shadows (Erato)

I enjoyed some unhackneyed repertoire and the marvellous singing [GF]

chopin arrau warner

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 09026685052

Weber: Oberon (RCA)

Weber’s magical score is lovingly presented on this fine set [MP]

Weber freischutz 4775611

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

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]

Backhaus acoustic APR7317

Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) Complete Acoustic & Selected Electric Recordings (APR)

A wonderful completion of APR’s series exploring Backhaus’ exciting early recording career [RCh]

LOpera de Paris Malibran CDRG215

The Paris Opera 1900-1960 (Malibran Music)

Ten very well-filled discs documenting six glorious decades at the Paris Opera [RMo]

strauss horn chandos

Weber, Schumann, Strauss: Horn concerti (Chandos)

A delightful collection [SB]

klemperer warner remastered

Otto Klemperer (conductor): The Remastered Edition (Warner Classics)

Klemperer consolidated; his full Warner legacy in best-yet transfers [JW]

weber oberon philips

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

Romantic Clarinet Quintets (Musical Concepts)

A warmly textured and rubato-conscious performance from an experienced clarinettist and chamber colleagues [JW]

Weber clarinet EPRC0053

Weber: The Clarinet as Prima Donna (Evil Penguin)

Thoroughly musical, but rather plain, sober and lacking in panache [PBW]