With exceptional new recordings of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Vivaldi’s Estro Armonico, the Complete Symphonies by Sibelius, String Quintets by Mendelssohn and more
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J.S. Bach Passion according to Saint Matthew
soils; Pygmalion / Raphael Pichon
Harmonia Mundi
This Bach recording Passion according to Saint Matthew has extraordinary impact – rich with remarkable vocals that convey intense humanity and a superb sense of rhythm and drama, all beautifully recorded.
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Abrahamsen Schnee
Lapland Chamber Orchestra / John Storgårds
Dacapo
Abrahamsen’s world of sound Schnee – ‘snow’ – is seductive in its balance of mysterious fragility and strength, and masterfully performed and recorded here.
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Gershvin. Rachmaninoff Rhapsodies
Martin James Bartlett pf London Philharmonic Orchestra / Joshua Weilerstein
Warner Classics
Martin James Bartlett makes a superb statement with a game of joy and virtuosity.
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Nielsen. Sibelius Violin concertos
Johan Dalene vn Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / John Storgårds
BIS
Violinist Johan Dalene impresses even more with interpretations of two great concertos that are among the best.
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Vivaldi The Estro Armonico J.S. Bach Concertos after L’estro armonico
Concerto Italiano / Rinaldo Alessandrini
naive
“I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a Vivaldi album so much,” writes Charlotte Gardner: find out for yourself!
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Sibelius Complete symphonies
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä
Decca
It is an extraordinary debut from a remarkable young conductor; Klaus Mäkelä offers us an absolutely fascinating journey through the symphonies of Sibelius.
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Mendelssohn String quintets
Doric Quartet with Timothee Ridout Virginia
Chando
The Doric Quartet regularly impresses, their collegial sense of shared vision evident in drama and delicacy; This Chandos set of Mendelssohn quintets is as beautiful as we hoped and expected.
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Bruhn ‘Cantatas & Organ Works, Vol 1’
Yale Institute of Sacred Music / Masaaki Suzuki
BIS
Masaaki Suzuki – always a brilliant guide to us in great musical figures – introduces us here to the lesser known Nicolaus Bruhns, and it’s an invitation worth accepting.
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Rachmaninoff ‘Dissonance’
Asmik Grigorian coax Lukas Geniusas pf
Alpha
From the opening bars of each song, Asmik Grigorian brings passion, personality and drama to these Rachmaninoff gems, matched at every step by the superb pianism of Lukas Geniušas.
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Handel ‘Duality’
Emoke Barath coax Artaserse / Philippe Jaroussky
Erato
A fabulous contemporary soprano pays homage to two stars of Handel’s time and thus offers a magnificent program of arias, bewitching with its theatricality and virtuosity.
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DVD/Blu-Ray
Offenbach Hoffmann’s Tales
soils; Hamburg State Opera; Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra / Kent Nagano
EuroArts
Richard Bratby recommends a The Tales of Hoffmann which offers great music and something to ponder too.
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Reissue/archive
R.Strauss Salome – excs. lieder
Jessye Norman coax London Philharmonic Orchestra / Klaus Tennstedt
PLO
“Jessye Norman, at her magnificent peak,” writes Hugo Shirley, and as one of the finest sopranos ever recorded, that’s all the recommendation you need to hear.
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