Alchemy (Music by Jalbert, Stucky & Vine), Jupiter String Quartet & Bernadette Harvey
Music Review: Alchemy / Jupiter String Quartet / Bernadette Harvey (piano) / MarquisThis new release by Marquis features chamber works by three distinguished contemporary composers in excellent performances. The title, Alchemy, suggests a...
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 Bruckner’s 9th symphony no less than three...
Schubert Sonata & Impromptus, Khatia Buniatishvili
Review: Khatia Buniatishvili, Schubert Sonata D960 & Impromptus D899 / Sony ClassicalIf you like the art of piano interpretation this album is for you. As in her traversal of the Rachmaninov concertos...
Bruckner Symphony 9, Jansons, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Furtwangler, Jochum and Knappertsbusch knew how to mould these phrases and how to adjust tempo relations, making their performances unique. Jansons follows suit.
Mendelssohn, Piano Concertos – Brautigam, Kölner Akademie, Willens
Felix Mendelssohn, Piano Concertos Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) Die Kölner Akademie Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)BIS RecordsThese are fleet performances of Mendelssohn’s super-exciting, exuberant piano concertos. Brautigam is renowned for his recordings on...
Mahler Symphony 2 “Resurrection” – Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra
Mahler, Symphony 2 "Resurrection" Minnesota Orchestra Osmo Vänskä (conductor)Sasha CookeRuby HughesMinnesota ChoraleBIS RecordsWhen you hear the lower strings opening the symphony so fiercely and at breakneck speed in Vänskä's Resurrection you...
Best Classical Music Albums of 2018 (Top 5)
This has been a great year for classical music and I've found it really hard to select only 5 releases. Many of my favourite recordings didn't make the cut, not because...
Philip Glass, Symphony 11, Dennis Russell Davies
Philip Glass, Symphony 11Bruckner Orchester LinzDennis Russell Davies (conductor)Orange Mountain MusicPhilip Glass, the non-minimalist composerIn my review for the Ólafsson album of the Philip Glass Etudes, I noted how, in only...