February 2023

hofer psalms christophorus

Hofer: Psalms (Christophorus)

This disc suggests that the oeuvre of Hofer deserves to be thoroughly explored [JV]

brahms schumann schuricht

Carl Schuricht (conductor) (Forgotten Records)

Absolutely lovely live performances which must be heard through a veil of crumbly mono sound [RMo]

fitelberg quartets acte prealable

Fitelberg: String Quartets (Acte Préalable)

Two striking and almost forgotten string quartets from a short-lived émigré Pole [JW]

widor organ solstice

Widor: Organ Symphonies 9 & 10 (Solstice)

A satisfying, inspiring and moving recital [JF]

The Boy and the Magic – L’enfant et les sortilèges

A commentary by Len Mullenger, illustrated and with sound samples

mahler beinum beulah

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Beulah)

A largely unsung Das Lied gleams like old gold in Beulah’s new issue [DMD]

Verdi: Aïda (Pristine Audio)

A superlative transfer of an Aida which should be in every serious opera collection [PSt]

A guide to the best recordings of Gluck’s operas

by Ralph Moore

busch guild mendelssohn

Fritz Busch (conductor) (Guild)

(Déjà Review) A welcome addition to Guild’s Fritz Busch series [BBr]

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) A most impressive album [IL]

Camilla Nylund (soprano) The Great American Songbook (Naxos)

Fine selections from The Great American Songbook [BMC]

Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 2 (Dacapo)

These glowing performances testify that Holmboe is a leading figure in twentieth-century music [GH]

Mozart in Milan (Arcana)

An engaging new performance of Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, plus works to set it in context [DF]

Janáček, Brahms, Bartók: Violin Sonatas (Alpha)

A varied program by performers who are clearly at one about the music [LP]

Sutermeister: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)

First recordings of impressive song cycles, authoritatively performed [NB]

Vaughan Williams: Chamber Works (Resonus)

Attractive rarities, including an unstoppable performance of the Old 104th Fantasia [EJW]

beethoven solemnis testament mozart

Beethoven: Missa solemnis (Testament)

(Déjà Review) Another historical package that really sweeps the board [GFe]

Raff: Cello Concerti (Tudor)

(Déjà Review) Fine performances of lyrical, romantic works [PCW]

Marina Rebeka (soprano) Voyage (Prima Classic)

An attractive programme of songs by French composers [MC]

Rubbra: The Jade Mountain (Chandos)

Rubbra’s overlooked songs recorded in sympathetic performances [JW]

Emil Reesen (conductor) The Art of (Danacord)

Reesen conducts miscellaneous lighter material including the first Danish orchestral records [JW]

Raff: Chamber Music Vol. 3 (MDG)

Joachim Raff’s chamber music is finally getting its due [LP]

Mozart: Requiem (Rondeau)

A vivacious, thoroughly enjoyable, smaller-scale “period” account of Mozart’s inspired but incomplete liturgical masterpiece [RMo]

Ferras (violin): à la mémoire d’un ange (Rhine Classics)

A violinist who represented the very best attributes of the Franco-Belgian School [SG]