March 2023
A Bird Came Down the Walk (BIS)
(Déjà Review) One of those rare recital recordings that actually plays best as a recital [PSh]
Miładowski and Chopin: Known and Unknown Romantics (Dux)
Unknown but attractive piano music by Miładowski but not my top choice for the Chopin [RCh]
Franck: Trois pièces pour grand orgue (RecArt)
Powerful, exciting, dramatic and sometimes introspective music played on a remarkable organ [JF]
Schubert: Piano Sonatas (Hyperion)
Aesthetically wholly coherent and technically excellent accounts of the first complete and penultimate of Schubert’s sonatas that do not oust my favourites [RMo]
Villa-Lobos: Complete Works for Solo Guitar (Proprius)
New light on old gems [ZT]
Wellesz: Chamber Music (Toccata Classics)
Fine performances of rare chamber music by an unfashionable composer whose music has much to communicate [GH]
Ysaÿe: Légende norvégienne (Simax)
A raft of previously unrecorded works – or adaptations – by Ysaÿe [JW]
Mahler: Symphony 1 (Audite)
(Déjà Review) Simply indispensable [TD]
The Stuyvesant String Quartet (Bridge)
(Déjà Review) A worthy salute to a fine quartet [JW]
Gál: Works for viola & piano (RecArt)
An ideal balance of humour, warmth, lyricism and introspection in these appealing works [JF]
Brodsky Quartet – Golden Oldies (Chandos)
A highly diverting selection of lighter pieces to celebrate the Brodsky Quartet’s fifty-year anniversary [RMo]
The Nannette Streicher Fortepiano (Gramola)
A fresh perspective of solo piano music during the Vienna Classic period [DF]
Schubert: “Death and the Maiden” Symphony (High Definition Tape Transfers)
Enthusiastic but flawed performances by student orchestras [NB]
Chasins: Complete Music for Solo Piano (Toccata Classics)
Numerous premiere recordings in an Abram Chasins twofer [JW]
Weinberg: Chamber Symphonies 1 & 4 (Alto)
A fine re-issue of music by one of the 20th century’s most important symphonic composers [GT]
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues (Naxos)
A delicacy and deftness of touch in the playing, allied with a natural sense of line and phrasing which can be both compelling and moving [CT]
Dvořák: Serenades (Warner Classics)
A heart-warming disc of the Dvořák serenades, played and recorded beautifully [JP]
Shostakovich: Symphony 10 (Fuga Libera)
A fine, live performance of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony by a top-class Russian orchestra [GT]
van Helmont: Leçons de Ténèbres (Ricercar)
Van Helmont’s Leçons fully deserve to be recorded, and Scherzi Musicali has done a great job of performing them [JV]
Schubert: Piano Trios (Ondine)
Ideal performances of great works – and a fitting memorial to Lars Vogt [RMo]
Bonds: Choral Works (Avie Records)
Music of Protest and Pride fervently performed [NB]
Holst: Choral Works (SOMM Recordings)
An excellent and very welcome disc of Holst’s choral music [JQ]
Copland: Symphonies (RCA)
A welcome return to the catalogue of this valuable version of Copland’s early symphonies [SB]
Strauss R: Vier letzte Lieder (Decca)
For every Richard Strauss fan this CD is an absolute must [IL]
