Bruckner Symphony 8 – Jansons, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
"Bruckner's Eighth Symphony is the zenith of symphonic writing." — Sergiu Celibidache
Is this the best symphony ever written? Quite possibly: even if it is...
Bruckner – Symphony 9 with completed finale (completion Gerd Schaller 2018), Schaller
Review – Bruckner Symphony 9 with completed finale (Schaller completion 2018) / Philharmonie Festiva, Gerd Schaller (conductor) / Hänssler ClassicGerd Schaller has recorded completions of...
Barenboim, Brahms, The Symphonies
This is Brahms as it should be. Bold, grand, shamelessly romantic. Of course, Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin have given us first-rate symphony cycles...
Stanisław Skrowaczewski
Underrated. Skrowaczewski was an underrated conductor in his lifetime. Yes the press would review the CDs he would release on smaller record labels but...
Suzuki, Beethoven “Missa Solemnis”
The expectations run high when there is a new Suzuki release with his Bach Collegium Japan. It is really hard to find a weak...
Rachmaninov Piano Concertos 2 and 3, Buniatishvili / Jarvi
These are heartfelt, brilliant performances of the two warhorses. The playing here is not lightweight but rather brooding, revealing the dark colours of Rachmaninov's music. Both orchestra and pianist perform the concertos impeccably.
Lindberg, Pettersson Symphony 5 & 7
The 16 symphonies of Allan Pettersson have often been described as music of pain, anguish, and sadness. They are unlike those of any other...
Mahler Symphony 3 – Haitink & Bavarian RSO
This is an exceptional Mahler 3rd. Having compared a dozen CDs before writing this review, I can attest it displaces a lot of the...
Review: Beethoven Symphony 7, Kirill Petrenko/Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Review - Beethoven Symphony 7, Berliner Philharmoniker / Kirill Petrenko (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)It's always a pleasure to see new releases from the once-renowned Berlin...
Schubert Symphonies – Günter Wand
This is one of the most all-round satisfactory (digital) cycles of the Schubert symphonies. Gunter Wand has been called a master of the core German...