Barber
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Tchaikovsky & Barber: Violin Concertos
RecommendedJohan Dalene (violin), Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Blendulf
Dalene’s freshness, vitality and interpretative charisma [in the Tchaikovsky] swept me along…If anything, the Barber is finer still, perhaps the closest anyone has yet come (at least on disc)... —
Awards:
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Record Review, 25th January 2020
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2020, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2020, Concerto Choice
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Diapason d’Or, April 2020, Découverte
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2020
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New. Barber: Vanessa
Nicole Heaston (Vanessa), J'Nai Bridges (Erika), Matthew Polenzani (Anatol), Susan Graham (The Old Baroness), Thomas Hampson (The Old Doctor), National Symphony Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda
This new live Kennedy Center recording hits the mark. Noseda draws playing of real lustre from the National Symphony Orchestra. He is alert, too, to the score's unease...The more compelling... —
Awards:
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Record Review, 30th May 2026, Record of the Week
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2026, Opera Choice
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As on his 2005 Ives collection, the Canadian baritone Gerald Finley is golden in tone, persuasive in phrasing, and unfailingly responsive to the sound and sense of the words. Julius Drake once... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2007, Choral & Song Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, January 2008, Disc of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2008, Winner - Solo Vocal
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The persistent ‘Baroque specialist’ label hardly sums up this distinguished French soprano. With her distinctively radiant, secure tone and cut-crystal upper range, her repertoire has always... —
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, April 2018
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2018, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, September 2018, Choral & Song Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2018
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2018, Winner - Mélodie
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Diapason d’Or, June 2018, Nouveauté
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[In the Coleridge-Taylor Impromptu] Kanneh-Mason’s controlled phrasing and shimmering tone is exquisite. —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2026, Critics' Choice 2021
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2021, Editor's Choice
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Presto Editor's Choice, July 2021
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Barber, Walton and Korngold: Violin Concertos
RecommendedJames Ehnes (violin)
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey
It's an inspired coupling, as well as a generous one, to have these three high-romantic concertos together. James Ehnes gives superb performances, bringing out their full emotional thrust without... —
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Grammy Awards, 50th Awards (2007), Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
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Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 & Barber: Adagio for Strings
RecommendedPittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
Honeck’s Shostakovich sounds magnificent. From intense pianissimos to the shrieking upper register and full bass thwack of a grand peroration – which Honeck takes surprisingly at face value... —
Awards:
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Grammy Awards, 60th Awards (2017), Best Orchestral Performance
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Grammy Awards, 60th Awards (2017), Best Engineered Album, Classical
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American Polyphony
RecommendedDavid Allsopp (countertenor), Christopher Lowrey (countertenor) & Robert Millett (percussion)
Polyphony, Stephen Layton
This is the finest performance of Barber's Agnus Dei I've heard by any choir, live or on record…a wonderful recital, not to be missed. —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 6th July 2015
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BBC Music Magazine, August 2015, Disc of the month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2015
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Special offer. Barber: Orchestral Works Volume 1
RecommendedRoyal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop
Under Marin Alsop's sensitive guidance, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has found the heartbeat of this music. —
Awards:
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Building a Library, June 2006, Budget Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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For Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
RecommendedBenjamin Appl (baritone), James Baillieu (piano)
Benjamin Appl’s singing is thoughtful and enjoyable.The voice sometimes uncannily recalls that of his guru...Appl and his artistic partners deserve huge credit for making this imaginative, moving... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 23rd May 2025
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2025, Vocal Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2025, Special Project
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