April 2023

Debussy: Préludes (Hallé)

(Déjà Review) Racy little things, full of fun [BBr]

Lutosławski: Opera Omnia 01 (CD Accord)

(Déjà Review) These performance are terrific and very committed [GH]

Stojowski sym C5464

Stojowski: Symphony (Capriccio)

Two very attractive late Romantic works in excellent performances well recorded [NB]

Bruckner symp4 MYR032

Bruckner: Symphony 4 (Myrios Classics)

A crisp, clean realisation of the specific soundworld of Bruckner’s music, culminating in a finale of epic power [RMo]

Sinigaglia Qtsvol2 8574495

Sinigaglia: Works for String Quartet Vol 2 (Naxos)

Generously light-hearted and romantically ripe works [JW]

Mozart sonatas V8049

Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas (Naïve)

A rewarding album, worth every penny of its asking price [SG]

Rossini italiana GCD921132

Rossini: L’italiana in Algeri (Glossa)

A very attractive recording with a lot of good singing, not least from the superb Vasilisa Berzhanskaya [GF]

Armenia gems CDR90000209

Gems From Armenia (Cedille)

While limited in atmospheric variety, there is plenty of quality in both the music and the performances [DJB]

Rachmaninov pcs AV2192

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 (Avie)

A fine achievement [JQ]

massenet thais decca

Massenet: Thaïs (Decca)

Fleming is entirely convincing as a flirtatious and seductive courtesan for whom even a monk might risk his soul [RMay]

Raff Chamber Music Vol3 MDG30722732

Raff: Chamber Music (MDG)

Attractive if not profound music superbly played [NB]

Turina Piano Trios IBS192022

Turina: Piano Trios (IBS Classical)

This music deserves to be better known outside Spain [GH]

Ligeti String Quartets Quatuor Diotima Pentatone PTC5187061

Ligeti: String Quartets (Pentatone)

Hats off! A Recording of the Year! [DMD]

Mahler Songs von Stade Sony78517

Mahler: Songs (Sony Classical)

Lovers of great Lieder singing should have this in their collection [RMo]

Bach Tears of-Babylon Papastefanou First Hand FHR141

Bach: Tears From Babylon (First Hand Records)

Enchanting and personal Bach playing [RCh]

bruckner symphonies blomstedt accentus

Bruckner: Symphonies 1-9 (Accentus Music)

An important and impressive contribution to the Bruckner discography [JQ]

Scriabin Piano Sonatas Glemser Naxos 8.555368

Scriabin: Piano Sonatas Vol. 2 (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) The 1889 sonata makes this disc a mandatory acquisition for Scriabin completists, and worth hearing for the other works [SJ]

Bach St Matthew Passion Klemperer Warner 2435675382

Bach: St Matthew Passion (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) One of the great recordings of the century – the Bach tradition represented by Klemperer has much to tell us about this music [TB]

strauss lieder choir rondeau

R Strauss: Letzte Lieder (Rondeau Production)

Strauss songs transfigured in breathtakingly beautiful performances [NB]

mozart piano concertos challenge kim

Mozart: Piano Concertos 24 & 25 (Challenge Classics)

Period-style performances of poise and panache on a modern piano [RMo]

stojowski piano acte prealable

Stojowski: Piano Works Vol. 1 (Acte Préalable)

An exciting and entertaining start to a series I have hoped for, for a long time [RCh]

mahler erde walter beulah

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Beluah)

Despite its fame a misfire from all involved [DMD]

rieti piano grand piano

Rieti: Complete Piano Works Vol. 1 (Grand Piano)

I look forward to more of this outstanding composer [SA]

d'ambrosio concertos soupir

d’Ambrosio: Violin Concertos (Soupir Editions)

Rather underwhelming performances of rare repertoire [JW]