Editor's Choices include a trio of orchestral works which testify to the late John McCabe's 'sterling qualities as a composer' from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Woods on Signum, Mitsuko Uchida's 'superbly realised' accounts of the last three Beethoven piano sonatas on Decca, and 'intimate and reverential' Finzi from the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge under Steven Grahl on Hyperion.
Recording of the Month
Giordano: Marina
Eleonora Buratto (Marina), Freddie De Tommaso (Giorgio), Nicholas Mogg (Daniele), Mihai Damian (Lambro), Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali, Coro del Teatro Petruzzelli di Bari, Vincenzo Milletarì
'I doubt that even Giordano himself invested more care, and more artistic self-belief, in Marina. If he had been able to hear this recording, he might have changed his mind.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Editor's Choices
'All three of these modern Danish composers were new to me; each of them makes an arresting and distinctive response to the concerto genre which has revived and proliferated with remarkable vigour in the 21st century.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
John McCabe: Symphonies 2 & 3 and Cello Concerto
Raphael Wallfisch (cello), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Woods
'This timely new collection will hopefully draw attention again to [McCabe's] sterling qualities as a composer. No praise can be too high for these splendid performances.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Schnittke: Complete Works For Two Violins
Vadim Gluzman (violin), Friedemann Eichhorn, Evgeny Sinaiski, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Valentin Uryupin
'The Saarbrücken-based DRP play with finesse and power for Valentin Uryupin in the three orchestral works, and the recording is notable for its clarity and warmth. In sum, then, a significant entry in Schnittke's discography.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto VI
Sergio Azzolini (bassoon), L'Onda Armonica
'Azzolini's achievement here is outstanding, even by the high standards of this cycle, which now stands head and shoulders above the competition as the prime recommendation for this ever-inventive music.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Beethoven: The Last Three Piano Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110 & 111
Mitsuko Uchida (piano)
'This is the kind of music-making that can hold you rapt across the span of all three sonatas in a single sitting.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Poulenc: Music For Two Pianos
Antony Gray (piano), Rob Hao (piano), Helen Miles (soprano), Alise Silina (accordion)
'Gray and Hao are manifestly in the zone, beautifully recorded by the way, relishing every quirky twist and turn that the Gallic charmer presents them.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Solitude with Schubert
George Xiaoyuan Fu (piano), Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo)
'It takes a particular kind of imagination to approach Schubert's world without either embalming it in reverence or dressing it up in novelty. Happily, Fu strikes that balance.'
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Finzi: Requiem da camera & Other Choral Works
Hilary Cronin (soprano), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Florian Störtz (bass-baritone), Augustine Cox, Thomas Simpson (organ), The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Steven Grahl
'The choral singing throughout remains intimate and reverential. A wonderful achievement, beautifully recorded and most strongly recommended.'
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri
Lina Johnson (soprano - Peri), Marianne Beate Kielland (mezzo), Kieran Carrel (tenor), Ferran Mitjans (tenor), Johanna Rosa Falkinger (soprano), Manuel Walser (baritone), Le Concert des Nations, La Capella Nacional de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
'This superbly recorded new version from Jordi Savall gives both Gardiner and Harnoncourt a run for their money.'
Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
Reissue/Archive Issue of the Month
The Art of Samuil Feinberg
Samuil Feinberg (piano)
'In sum, a fairly remarkable collection, most of the Bach absolutely indispensable and sounding excellent, while the rest sounds serviceable and is always stimulating to listen to.'
Available format: 15 CDs
