ROBERT & CLARA SCHUMANN / JOHANNES BRAHMS
Benjamin Grosvenor - Schumann & Brahms Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 7/Apr/2023 ] "All in all, this is an album that reaffirms Grosvenor's status as one of the most accomplished pianists around." Gramophone Editor's Choice April 2023 |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Poetic Tone Pictures, Op.85 Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) [ Sony Classical / CD - released 11/Nov/2022 ] "Andsnes is the first big name to champion the Poetic Tone Pictures. We need more highprofile pianists on major labels to show the same initiative and introduce their fans to piano music beyond the safe, predictable and over-recorded." Gramophone |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Madrigali, Libri Quinto & Sesto Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 5/May/2023 ] those who have thought of Gesualdo as a one-trick pony ('Moro lasso' and all that …) now have more than six hours' evidence to the contrary." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Early Music |
WILLIAM BOLCOM
Bolcom: The complete rags Marc-André Hamelin (piano) [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 3/Jun/2022 ] 'Bolcom is lucky in having such a musician to provide him with these authoritative accounts of his music.' Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Piano |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: String Quintets K.515 & 516 Quatuor Ébène, with Antoine Tamestit (viola) [ Erato / CD - released 17/Mar/2023 ] "While it's always dangerous to nominate an outright 'winner' in this inexhaustible music, the Ébène are second to none in colour and vitality, and unrivalled in their lyrical tenderness. For me they become a new benchmark." Gramophone Award Finalist |
EDWARD ELGAR / ERNEST BLOCH
Elgar (arr. Tertis) - Viola Concerto / Bloch: Suite for Viola and Orchestra Timothy Ridout (viola) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 13/Jan/2023 ] "Ridout is a strong, personable player whose deft handling of the Scherzo and heartfelt playing of the Adagio make the concerto's central episodes exceptionally memorable." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Concerto |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Schwanengesang Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] "one enjoys Schuen's fresh, beautifully contoured baritone, deployed with breath control that allows him to sail into long vocal lines with an illuminating sense of long-term musical direction, plus telling articulation of text." Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Concertos pour piano -Melodies Cédric Tiberghien, Stéphane Degout, Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 20/May/2022 ] Les Siècles continue their successful series of Ravel recordings on period instruments under François-Xavier Roth, with Cédric Tiberghien at the piano and baritone Stéphane Degout. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / FELIX MENDELSSOHN / J. S. BACH
Beethoven / Mendelssohn / Bach: Prism IV Danish String Quartet [ ECM New Series / CD - released 3/Jun/2022 ] "..the DSQ make compelling storytellers." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Chamber |
LUDWIG DASER
Daser: Polyphonic Masses Huelgas-Ensemble (early music ensemble) Paul Van Nevel [ Deutche Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 6/Oct/2023 ] "this larger ensemble creates a rich, wellbalanced sound which at times I found attractively wistful...I'm already looking forward to the next volume." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Early Music |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / HERBERT HOWELLS / FREDERICK DELIUS / SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Music for Strings John Wilson, Sinfonia Of London [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] "I expect it has been said before, but the Sinfonia of London belongs in the Formula 1 class of orchestras, and in this repertoire sits in pole position." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral |
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
Szymanowski: Piano Works Krystian Zimerman (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 14/Oct/2022 ] "Zimerman has all the quick-wittedness and nimbleness called for, not to mention power and agility." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Piano |
LULLY / HANDEL / VIVALDI / VINCI / PORPORA / SARRO / HASSE / etc
Michael Spyres - Contra-Tenor Michael Spyres (tenor) / Il Pomo d'Oro, Francesco Corti [ Warner / Erato / CD - released 21/Apr/2023 ] "Michael Spyres's now famous range coupled with his superb sense of drama and glorious technique singles him out - once again - as one of the finest opera singers before us today. " Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Voice & Ensemble |
HENRI DUPARC
Complete Songs of Duparc Malcolm Martineau (piano), Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor), Huw Montague Rendall (baritone), William Thomas (bass) [ Signum / CD - released 20/May/2022 ] "There's a terrific and consistently persuasive grandeur and sweep in much of Martineau's playing…This is a fine and fascinating addition to his discography" - Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Song |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Tutta Sola Rachel Podger (violin) [ Channel Classics / CD - released 28/Oct/2022 ] "Throughout, Podger is a perfect guide, her intonation unfailing and her musicianship and violinistic personality illuminating this intriguing music at every moment." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Instrumental |
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 / Vocalise / The Isle of the Dead Sinfonia of London, John Wilson (conductor) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/Dec/2022 ] "I have never heard Rachmaninov's imaginative scoring here [in The Isle of the Dead] brought out so vividly, allowing us to appreciate the powerful pictorial imagination of the composer." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral |
WILLIAM BYRD
Byrd: Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets (1611) The Sixteen, Fretwork, Harry Christophers [ Coro / 2 CD - released 7/Oct/2022 ] "This is a landmark release finally addressing one of the most obvious oversights in Byrd's recorded catalogue. It's an exquisite album of unparalleled beauty that will bear repeated listening long past the anniversary year" Gramophone Award Finalist |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot (Complete Opera) Sondra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann, Ermonela Jaho, Michele Pertusi / Orchestra e Coro dell'Accadmia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 10/Mar/2023 ] "A Turandot for the ages? This recording holds its own against venerable competition and, in the original Alfano completion, is unique." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Opera |
MONSIGNY / EDELMANN / J.C. BACH / GLUCK
Rivales Sandrine Piau (soprano) / Véronique Gens (soprano), Le Concert de la Loge, Julien Chauvin [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 8/Apr/2022 ] 'Le Concert de la Loge provides support that is virile and tender, as appropriate. And the two singers are magnificent.' Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Voice & Ensemble |
J. S. BACH
Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 7 Orgelbüchlein, Bwv 599-644 (with Choir) Benjamin Alard (harpsichord & clavichord), Ensemble Vocal Bergamasque, Marine Fribourg, Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 14/Oct/2022 ] 'The effect, both individually and collectively, is stunning.' Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Instrumental |
RUED LANGGAARD
Langgaard: Symphony No. 1 - Cliffside Pastorals Berliner Philharmoniker, Sakari Oramo [ Da Capo SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Sep/2015 ] "The Berlin players offer stamina and assurance, vital in those multilayered accompaniments and sudden jump-cuts" Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral |
GABRIEL FAURE
Fauré: The Complete Songs Cyrille Dubois (tenor), Tristan Raes (piano) [ Aparte / 3 CD - released 20/May/2022 ] "He is a stylish, cultured performer and is as fine an advocate for Fauré's mélodies as any of the best. Recommended for those who love indulging in French song at its finest." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Song |
CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: The Symphonies Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD - released 12/May/2023 ] "These are quite marvellous - and in the case of the Fourth Symphony, incendiary - performances" Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral (Symphonies 4 & 5) |
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Schoenberg: String Quartets Nos 1 & 3 Gringolts Quartet [ BIS SACD / CD - released 1/Apr/2022 ] "Like the other release in this series, this is an essential purchase. As before this BIS SACD is beautifully recorded by Swiss Radio, well presented and with scholarly notes. Very highly recommended." MusicWeb recommended June 2022 |
JOHN CAGE
Cage: Choral Works Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava (conductor) [ Ondine / CD - released 19/Aug/2022 ] "one is unsurprised by the unconventionality but taken aback by the richness and variety of the final musical result. It must be said as well that the singers sound as though they are enjoying themselves enormously." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 |
BOHUSLAV MARTINU / HANS KRASA / VIKTOR KALABIS
Martinů, Krása & Kalabis: Harpsichord Concertos Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord) / Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra / Alexander Liebreich [ Hyperion / CD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] "An unalloyed joy from first chord to last...The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra's accompaniment is sensitive and ideal, and Esfahani plays like an angel." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Concerto |
BELA BARTOK / GYORGY- LIGETI / SANDOR VERESS / PETER EOTVOS
Bartók/Ligeti/Veress/Eötvös - Solos Nurit Stark (violin/viola) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Jun/2022 ] "quite a journey, one that's profoundly representative of the Hungarian musical psyche in the 20th century and which is served by a musician whose talents certainly qualify her for the job of performing it." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 |
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Robert le Diable (complete opera) John Osborn, Nicolas Courjal, Amina Edris, Erin Morley, Nico Darmanin / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine; Marc Minkowsk [ Bru Zane CDs + Book / 3 CD/Book - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "It all adds up to a formidable re-evaluation of a seminal if neglected work, as well as being a remarkable achievement in its own right." Gramophone Recording of the Month Awards Issue 2022 |
SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT
Tippett: Midsummer Marriage (complete opera) Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Ashley Riches, Toby Spence / London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, Edward Gardner [ LPO / 3 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "Gardner's is more than warmly recommended as both reminder of and entrée to Tippett's achievement." Gramophone Awards 2023 WINNER - Opera |
LOTTA WENNÄKOSKI
Wennäkoski: Sigla / Sedecim / Flounce Sivan Magen (harp) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Collon [ Ondine / CD - released 10/Feb/2023 ] "This is music that knows exactly where it is going and is happy to bring its audience along with it." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 - Contemporary |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Cantates Pour Le Prix de Rome Véronique Gens, Vannina Santoni, Clarisse Dalles, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire [ BIS SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 6/May/2022 ] "a delicious surprise..what is beyond doubt in the three cantatas and handful of elaborated choruses presented here is his supremely affecting way with the voice above and beyond his already considerable orchestral skills." Gramophone Award Finalist |