Classical Reviews
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Orchestral Works by Grażyna Bacewicz
Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra continue their survey of the orchestral works by the Polish composer, including Symphony No. 2, the Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto with soloist Peter Donohoe.
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Biber's 1681 sonatas from Rachel Podger and Bojan Čičić
Two sparkling performances of the Bohemian violinist-composer's most demanding and virtuosic sonatas, the 1681 Sonatae Violino Solo, come along at once!
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Gilbert & Sullivan's Utopia, Limited from Scottish Opera
The duo's penultimate collaboration - a satire on British imperialism and nineteenth-century corporate law - comes up as fresh as paint in a sparkling new recording conducted by Derek Clark, with a cast headed by Neal Davies as King Paramount and Ellie Laugharne as his Cambridge-educated daughter Zara.
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Gilbert & Sullivan: Utopia, Limited Or the Flowers of Progress
Neal Davies (King Paramount), Ellie Laugharne (Princess Zara), Yvonne Howard (Lady Sophy), William Morgan (Captain Fitzbattleaxe), Richard Suart (Scaphio), Arthur Bruce (Phantis) The Orchestra of Scottish Opera & Chorus, Derek Clark
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Russian cello sonatas from Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and Martin Helmchen
The German wife-and-husband duo present a magnificent double album of six cello sonatas from Russian and Soviet composers, composed between the 1890s and 1970s.
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Furtwängler from Neeme Järvi
At the helm of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Järvi family patriarch makes a convincing case for the German conductor's shapeshifting Symphony No. 2, completed in Switzerland shortly after he fled Nazi Germany in 1945.
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Klaus Mäkelä conducts Berlioz and Ravel
The Finnish conductor and the Orchestre de Paris present an incredibly colourful and terrifying reading of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique alongside a riotously chaotic account of Ravel's La valse.
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Britten from Edward Gardner and the LPO
The London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner perform two Britten premieres, alongside a profoundly moving account of the Sinfonia da Requiem - available exclusively on Presto Music until 20th June.
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For Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Together with his regular recital-partner James Baillieu, Benjamin Appl celebrates the centenary of his mentor's birth with a beautifully-crafted recital charting the various stages of his life - including music which was written 'For Dieter' and world premiere recordings of pieces by family-members.
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For Dieter
Benjamin Appl (baritone), James Baillieu (piano)
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John Wilson completes his cycle of Rachmaninoff symphonies
John Wilson and Sinfonia of London present the third and final album in their survey of Rachmaninoff’s symphonies, offering a dramatic reading of the early Symphony No. 1 (notoriously a disaster at its first performance in 1895) alongside an exquisite account of the Symphonic Dances.
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Yevgeny Sudbin plays Scriabin
Yevgeny Sudbin returns to the music of Scriabin in a new album of nicely selected solo piano works which demonstrate the variety of the composer's writing, and the pianist's open and incisive approach to understanding and expressing each piece on its own terms.
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Simon Rattle conducts Janáček's Jenůfa
Continuing their survey of Janáček's operas, Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra bring out the tenderness present throughout much of the score, alongside exceptional performances by Agneta Eichenholz, Nicky Spence, Aleš Briscein, and Katarina Karnéus.
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Janáček: Jenůfa
Agneta Eichenholz (Jenůfa), Katarina Karnéus (Kostelnička), Aleš Briscein (Laca), Nicky Spence (Števa), Jan Martiník (Starek, the Foreman/Mayor), Carole Wilson (Grandmother Buryjovka) London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle
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Cello Fantasies from Zlatomir Fung and Richard Fu
The American cellist makes his début with an album of six gorgeous opera-fantasies, including two world premieres and showing that the genre is alive and well.
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Fantasies
Zlatomir Fung (cello), Richard Fu (piano)
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Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer from Edward Gardner in Oslo
With Gerald Finley as an eloquent Dutchman and Lise Davidsen firing on all cylinders as the sea-captain's daughter whose love redeems him, this new live recording of Wagner's early opera emerges as a serious contender in a crowded field.
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Liszt from Leif Ove Andsnes
The Norwegian pianist explores the reflective and portentous sides of Liszt, combining a little-known and overtly religious work for piano, choir and soloists with transfixing interpretations of some of his best-known and most beloved solo pieces.
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Brahms quartets from Krystian Zimerman and friends
The pianist joins violinist Maria Nowak, violist Katarzyna Budnik and cellist Yuya Okamoto in earnest yet refined accounts of Brahms's Piano Quartets Nos. 2 and 3.
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Shostakovich Concertos and Symphonies from Andris Nelsons
For the fiftieth anniversary of Shostakovich's death, Deutsche Grammophon have gathered together all fifteen of the composer's symphonies performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and their music director, alongside new recordings of all six concertos and the opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District.
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Verdi's original version of Simon Boccanegra from Sir Mark Elder and Opera Rara
The 1857 incarnation of Verdi's political thriller is brought vividly to life, with outstanding playing from The Hallé and a terrific, committed young cast headed by Argentinian baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara (making his recording-debut in the title-role).
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Ravel Fragments from Bertrand Chamayou
Pianist Bertrand Chamayou presents a selection of homages to, and transcriptions of, Ravel's music to mark the composer's 150th birthday.
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Stephen Hough plays Stephen Hough
Sir Stephen Hough's latest release is a composer-pianist album for the 21st century, offering a colourful and virtuosic celebration of the past which encapsulates the eclecticism that is a strong feature of his musicianship and passion for life.
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John Wilson and Sinfonia of London perform works by William Walton
A characterful collection of works including a suite from Troilus and Cressida alongside the overture Portsmouth Point and a dazzling account of the Violin Concerto performed by the orchestra's leader, Charlie Lovell-Jones.
