Zimerman, Schubert Sonatas D959 and D960
Music review: Krystian Zimerman, Schubert Sonatas D959 D960 These are very interesting interpretations of the last two Schubert sonatas. Zimerman has always been what I'd...
Nelsons, Shostakovich Symphonies 4 & 11
First the good news: This Shostakovich album by Nelsons is better recorded than the previous releases in this set (symphonies 5, 8, 9 and...
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.
Codebreaker (James McCarthy) & Ode to a Nightingale (Will Todd)
This is a major new addition. Codebreaker is a 55-minute piece for choir, orchestra and soprano, composed by British composer James McCarthy and premiered...
Beethoven, Complete Piano Concertos, Lisiecki / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
There were times that I found the changes of tempo distracting, as in the Second Concerto which needed more energy and less thinking...
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....
Szymanowski First Violin Concerto
Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto can be described as sumptuous, lush, exotic. It is said that the composer himself was inspired by the Polish poet...
Review: Salonen, Cello Concerto, Yo-Yo Ma, LA Philharmonic
Review - Esa-Pekka Salonen, Cello Concerto / Yo-Yo Ma (cello) / Salonen (conductor) / LA Philharmonic / Sony Classical“I imagined the solo cello line...
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...