From the Last Week

I am very impressed by Lucia Cortese’s performances of these cantatas [JV]

More rare Enescu on a rewarding disc [SB]

A wide-ranging, highly individual, often wayward collection of observations from one of opera’s great characters [RMo]

In the mood to be soothed rather than provoked or stirred …. [RB]

The cultured art of Jörg Demus in Bach [JW]

An enjoyable exploration of Gershwin’s many facets with some rarities [RCh]

by David Barker

(Déjà Review) One of the essential Beethoven recordings [CH]

(Déjà Review) Marvellously subtle and polished … delightfully witty [TH]

A Polish-Jewish chamber programme focusing on the 1930s [JW]

Brilliantly imagined, often beautiful works in splendid, committed performances [HC]

Early American romanticism – golden-age verve rather than dutiful museum revival [RB]

Mary Bevan spreads her golden tones over the whole programme [GF]

Deeply felt and beautifully played, flawless intonation and ensemble, but inferior balance and sound [RMo]

Well played and well engineered but lacking character [NB]

(Déjà Review) Anthony Halstead’s marvellous players have caused me to spend several hours exploring this and related repertoire [DBi]

(Déjà Review) One of those rare recital recordings that actually plays best as a recital [PSh]

Unknown but attractive piano music by Miładowski but not my top choice for the Chopin [RCh]

Powerful, exciting, dramatic and sometimes introspective music played on a remarkable organ [JF]

Aesthetically wholly coherent and technically excellent accounts of the first complete and penultimate of Schubert’s sonatas that do not oust my favourites [RMo]

New light on old gems [ZT]

Fine performances of rare chamber music by an unfashionable composer whose music has much to communicate [GH]

A raft of previously unrecorded works – or adaptations – by Ysaÿe [JW]

(Déjà Review) Simply indispensable [TD]

(Déjà Review) A worthy salute to a fine quartet [JW]

An ideal balance of humour, warmth, lyricism and introspection in these appealing works [JF]

A highly diverting selection of lighter pieces to celebrate the Brodsky Quartet’s fifty-year anniversary [RMo]

A fresh perspective of solo piano music during the Vienna Classic period [DF]

Enthusiastic but flawed performances by student orchestras [NB]

Numerous premiere recordings in an Abram Chasins twofer [JW]

A fine re-issue of music by one of the 20th century’s most important symphonic composers [GT]

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]

A heart-warming disc of the Dvořák serenades, played and recorded beautifully [JP]

A fine, live performance of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony by a top-class Russian orchestra [GT]

Van Helmont’s Leçons fully deserve to be recorded, and Scherzi Musicali has done a great job of performing them [JV]

Ideal performances of great works – and a fitting memorial to Lars Vogt [RMo]

Music of Protest and Pride fervently performed [NB]

An excellent and very welcome disc of Holst’s choral music [JQ]

A welcome return to the catalogue of this valuable version of Copland’s early symphonies [SB]

For every Richard Strauss fan this CD is an absolute must [IL]