This month, we present to you exceptional new albums from the Concert des Nations and Jordi Savall, Michael Collins and Stephen Hough, Marc-André Hamelin, Francesca Aspromonte, Jeanine De Bique and The Hermes Experiment
Registration of the month
Beethoven ‘Revolution, Vol 2’ Symphonies Nos. 6 to 9
The Concert of Nations / Jordi Savall
Alia Vox
It is a thrilling, physical, deeply musical and invigorating set of performances of Beethoven’s symphonies, and a triumphant second half of conductor Jordi Savall’s complete cycle.
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Breathe. Schoenberg. R.Strauss “Nocturnal Metamorphoses”
Appassionato / Mathieu Herzog
naive
Extraordinary sound of the strings here from the ensemble of the former member of the Ébène Quartet.
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Brahms Clarinet Sonatas
Michael Collins CL Stephen Hough pf
BIS
The third recording of Brahms Clarinet Sonatas by Michael Collins – see the January issue for its reasons to return to the works – and a very beautifully performed one too.
Read the review
Weinberg “Light in the Darkness”
Linus Roth vn et al
evil penguin
Linus Roth’s invaluable contribution to Weinberg’s discography is here completed with another fine album, encompassing most of the works involving the violin that he had not previously recorded.
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CPE Bach Sonatas & Rondos
Marc-Andre Hamelin pf
Hyperion
The music of the “Bach dynasty maverick,” as critic Michelle Assay puts it, beautifully enlivened by a master pianist in both the reflective and rhythmically joyful pieces.
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Liszt ‘Vol 1: Death and Transfiguration’
Kenneth Hamilton pf
At first glance
Kenneth Hamilton offers a richly rewarding and brilliantly acted Liszt Inquiry, clearly deeply thoughtful, and in addition recorded on a fabulous sounding piano.
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‘Maria & Maddalena’
Francesca Aspromonte coax I Barocchisti / Diego Fasolis
pentatone
Music exploring the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, communicated with irresistible engagement, in a superb Baroque recital.
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‘Song’
The Hermes experience
Delphian
An album of bewitching songs, sometimes moving and disarming, the group’s unique line-up (harp, clarinet, soprano, double bass) giving them all, despite their diversity, an intimate and shared sound universe.
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Branch Acanthus and Cephissus
The Ambassadors – The Great Stables / Alexis Kossenko
Erato
An ‘exciting triumph’ writes critic David Vickers, due as much to the perfection of the main cast as to the impeccable instrumental playing from start to finish.
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‘Mirrors’
Jeanine DeBique coax Concerto Cologne / Luca Quintavalle
Berlin classics
A glorious showcase for Jeanine De Bique, whose rich, characterful voice displays breathtaking precision in passages of thrilling virtuosity, and poignant grace in the slower pieces.
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DVD/Blu-Ray
mozart Die Zauberflote
soils; Royal Opera / Julia Jones
Opus Arte
A chance to see the 2003 Royal Opera House production of David McVicar – previously released under Colin Davis – with different forces, conducted by Julia Jones.
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Reissue/archive
“The Many Loves of Antonin Dvořák”
Various artists
supraphon
Well-known classics and little-known gems by Dvořák, expertly drawn from Supraphon’s superb catalog of the composer’s music. As Rob Cowan says: “a terrific set”.
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