Classical Reviews
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John Wilson completes his cycle of Rachmaninoff symphonies
16th May 2025
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
9th May 2025
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
2nd May 2025
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
25th Apr 2025
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
18th Apr 2025
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
11th Apr 2025
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
4th Apr 2025
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
28th Mar 2025
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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Eugene Ormandy in Stereo
27th Mar 2025
Our guest-contributor Rob Cowan delves into a mammoth collection of Columbia Masterworks recordings which the Hungarian-born American conductor made in Philadelphia between the early 1960s and early 1980s.
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Verdi's original version of Simon Boccanegra from Sir Mark Elder and Opera Rara
21st Mar 2025
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
14th Mar 2025
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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Play It Again, Steve - Minimalism and more from Steve Reich
11th Mar 2025
Our guest-contributor Rob Cowan explores a new collection on Nonesuch (released this coming Friday), representing six decades of Reich’s compositions and celebrating his forty-year relationship with the label.
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Stephen Hough plays Stephen Hough
7th Mar 2025
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
28th Feb 2025
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.
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Timothy Ridout goes solo
21st Feb 2025
The British violist displays a bullet-proof technique and vast tonal palette allied to formidable musical intelligence in a programme of unaccompanied works by Telemann, JS Bach, Britten and Shaw.
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Telemann - Bach - Britten - Shaw
Timothy Ridout (viola)
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Caprices from María Dueñas
14th Feb 2025
The violinist presents a sparkling double album of caprices - a dazzling rendition of Paganini's famous set of twenty-four is complemented by works by Cervelló, Ortiz, Saint-Saëns and others.
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Lieder from Fatma Said and friends
7th Feb 2025
The Egyptian soprano is joined by pianists Malcolm Martineau and Joseph Middleton (and an array of special guests including clarinettist Sabine Meyer and rising young baritone Huw Montague Rendall) for a programme of favourite Lieder by Schubert, Brahms, Robert Schumann and the Mendelssohn siblings.
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Terra Mater from Christina Pluhar and L'Arpeggiata
31st Jan 2025
The experimental early music ensemble is joined by Swedish mezzo (and climate-change activist) Malena Ernman for an eclectic programme celebrating Mother Earth, taking in pictorial Baroque sonatas, English folksongs and dances, early Italian opera and a soupçon of jazz...
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Simon Rattle conducts Mahler's Seventh Symphony
24th Jan 2025
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and their Chief Conductor continue their survey of Mahler’s symphonies with this live recording of the Seventh Symphony, replete with characterful, vivid woodwind playing and gloriously majestic contributions from the trumpets.
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Seong-Jin Cho in Ravel's complete solo piano works
17th Jan 2025
Seong-Jin Cho has established himself firmly as a musician and pianist who uses his fluid technique to express a carefully chosen repertoire, placing the voice of the composer as the focus of his playing. His latest release proves to be a deft and subtle exploration of Ravel.
