January 2023

Smyth cello SRCD412

20th C British Cello Sonatas (Lyrita)

Handy and Hughes stride forth in their latest volume of British cello sonatas
[JW]

Hedges kingston 8574324

Hedges: Kingston Sketches (Naxos)

Another enjoyable reissue in the Naxos series of British light music [PCG]

Mahler Symphony No5 Recursive RC5956731-D

Mahler: Symphony No 5 (Recursive)

This group quite surpasses its amateur status: a very good account of a demanding score [RWe]

Bach Abel Society Les Ombres Mirare MIR584

Bach-Abel Society (Mirare)

A very entertaining disc, which gives a good impression of what may have been performed at the Bach-Abel concerts [JV]

Krommer clarinet brilliant 95040

Krommer: Clarinet works (Brilliant)

The Quartet comes off better than the Quintet [SV]

paul bowles eos RCA 09026636852

Bowles: Orchestral and Vocal Music (RCA)

Writer and composer Paul Bowles restored on disc [JW]

mattheson boris goudenow CPO 555502-2

Mattheson: Boris Goudenow (CPO)

A long hidden operatic version of Boris Godunov gets its first recording with a respectable cast of young performers [MP]

Corelli Concerti Grossi-Murphy Alto ALC1473

Corelli: Concerti Grossi (Alto)

Vital, elegant, discreetly period accounts of some delightful music [RMo]

Enescu Unknown Vol-2 Toccata TOCC0647

Enescu: The Unknown Enescu Vol. 2 (Toccata)

Restored Enescu reveals his versatility and variety in fine performances [JW]

Brahms and Berg: Violin Concertos (Ondine)

Masterly performances of two major concertos by a violinist at the height of his powers with superb and sympathetic orchestral playing in support [SB]

Lefebure inedits SOCD398

Yvonne Lefébure (piano) Inédits 5 (Solstice)

The final Solstice salute to a great piano stylist [JW]

Boult prewar PASC670

Sir Adrian Boult: BBC SO Pre-war Vol. 1 (Pristine)

An very fine release of Boult’s early recordings of Bach and Viennese masters [GT]

Fiorentino unissued early RH026

Sergio Fiorentino (piano) Early Live and Unissued Takes (Rhine)

A live concerto flanked by other rare material shows the breadth of Fiorentino’s talent [JW]

Humour and Classical Music: Mozart & Beethoven

by David Barker

Spani complete 52077

Hina Spani (soprano) Complete Recordings (Marston)

The complete recorded output of a great but neglected soprano – with a fine bonus [RMo]

Arnold orchestral CHAN20152

Arnold: Orchestral Works (Chandos)

A superb overview of Arnold’s music from light to dark with a definitive concerto performance [NB]

Machaut remede BHCD1012

Machaut: Remede de fortune (Blue Heron)

A rare chance to understand Machaut’s magnum opus in a wonderfully presented and performed version [GH]

Ravel piano Marshev DACOCD904

Ravel: Piano Music Vol. 2 (Danacord)

The second of three volumes, of great interest to all Ravelians [JF]

Nancarrow: Complete studies for player piano (MDG)

Surely the definitive version of these intruiging and influential studies ]SB]

Prokofiev: Symphony & Suites (RCA)

Bland interpretations further compromised by compressed digital sound – stick to classic, vintage accounts [RMo]

Reed: String Quartets (MPR)

Attractive music, English through and through [SG]

Handel: Theodora (Erato)

An extrovert reading of Theodora but one short of consolation [JW]

Musikalische Perlen (Ars Production)

A delectable recital of music off the beaten track [GF]

Glass: Mad Rush (IBS)

No Glass recital is likely to ever match that of Vikingur Ólafsson, but this one is a good one nevertheless [DJB]