Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - September 2019
Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin is first among equals this month, thanks to an irresistible recital of Grieg and Mendelssohn miniatures despatched with what Martin Cullingford describes as ‘creative and poetic pianism’ and 'a perfect balance between spontaneity and control'.
Three superb (and very different) choirs get a mention in despatches: the Latvian Radio Choir for their idiomatic accounts of two Tchaikovsky works, the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge with a ‘lovingly performed’ all-Finzi programme, and the Ensemble Gilles Binchois with two anonymous fourteenth-century masses.
Recording of the Month
'Once in a while a piano recording comes along that really plucks at the heart-strings. Denis Kozhukhin's compilation of miniatures by Mendelssohn and Grieg is one such...He brings to the table a perfect balance between spontaneity and control, teamed with infinite variety of touch and timbre. Every phrase is imbued with sensitivity and luminous beauty.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Editor's Choices
'A Mahler Fourth as insightful and as individual as we have come to expect from this source. Vladimir Jurowski brings real attention to detail...Texturally, harmonically and in terms of characterisation (never over-egged), he achieves a wondrous clarity and transparency... Excellent playing throughout from the LPO.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2
Haochen Zhang (piano), Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dima Slobodeniouk
'Do we really need another Tchaikovsky First Concerto on disc? Well, the answer in this instance is an enthusiastic ‘yes’: listening to his way with this old warhorse left me in no doubt that here is an artist of rare talent...The Prokofiev, which precedes it, will do nothing to lessen the growing popularity of this extraordinary work.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'This is so delicious that it's tempting simply to suggest that you go and buy it. But of course I'll elaborate...A debut disc – the result of success at the York Early Music Competition – from a young Baroque ensemble possessed of all the flair, creative rapport and passion required to make the music of this era such a thrilling listen.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Zwiegespräche: Holliger & Kurtág
Heinz Holliger (oboe/cor anglais/piano), Marie-Lise Schüpbach (cor anglais/oboe), Ernesto Molinari (bass clarinet/contrabass clarinet), Sarah Wegener (soprano), Philippe Jaccottet (speaker)
'This disc celebrates the 80th birthday of Heinz Holliger, and although it explores his interpretative gifts as a performer rather than his full range as a composer, its focus on the dialogues between his own music and that of György Kurtág makes for a beautifully rounded double portrait.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'Like his erstwhile teacher Ivan Moravec, Bartoš accepts and internalises Janáček's intimate, conversational sound world for what it is, while imbuing the composer's often stark textures with a fullness of tonal body and shimmering translucence...An excellently engineered and highly satisfying release that no Janáček lover should miss.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'What a beautifully crafted disc this is - not just in its quality (and it really is Trinity at their absolute best) but also in its shape and programming...Uplifting, moving, poignant, triumphant – this gloriously, lovingly performed recital of Finzi’s music fully reflects the breadth of the composer’s masterly skill at writing for choir.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom & Nine Sacred Choruses
Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Kļava
'The atmosphere and context – music as extraordinary religious expression – is magisterially conveyed here by a choir on top form, with sound engineering that captures them perfectly...In addition the choir's diction is superb: I do not ever remember hearing the long text of the Creed so clearly articulated.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'The voices and players of Ensemble Gilles Binchois take us back to the fourteenth century with performances of engaging character, charm and conviction...Characterised by gentle, reedy countertenors and bright, light tenors, this ensemble have lots of vocal personality; they keep phrases buoyant while generally avoiding an acceleration towards those delightfully angular Ars Nova cadences.'
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
DVD/Blu-ray of the Month
'This film records François-Xavier Roth's first concert as principal guest conductor of the LSO, after some years working together on mostly new music, and it has proved a fine augur of both original, French-accented programming and performances that take nothing for granted...Roth has the repertoire of French dance down to a T.'
Available Format: Blu-ray + DVD Video
Reissue/Archive
'I hadn't dreamed that he had been the first ever to record Gaspard...Unsurprisingly the sound is monochrome by modern standards, but that may be as much to do with the instrument used; and once you're attuned to Doyen's flamboyant but super-agile manner, you may find this more satisfying than many a more exhibitionist modern account.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
