Exceptional new recordings of Ravel’s Piano Concertos, Sibelius’ Seventh Symphony, Messiaen’s Twenty Regards on the Child Jesus and more
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Fraying Piano concertos. songs
Cedric Tiberghien pf Stephane Degout bar The Centuries / François-Xavier Roth
Harmonia Mundi
An album which marvelously reveals the originality of Ravel; a richly colored pianism, interpreted on a beautiful Pleyel from 1892, finds an echo in the period playing of the Centuries and the melodies of Stéphane Degout.
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Sibelius Symphony No. 7
finnish radio Symphony Orchestra / Nicolas Collon
Undine
A Sibelius program prepared with deep thought, a powerful reading of the final symphony that fits perfectly with the two accompanying suites.
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Coleridge-Taylor Chamber work
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
Chando
Three works written by 18-year-old Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, barely heard until recent years, but splendidly championed by the ever-exploratory Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
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‘Alter ego’
David Orlowsky CL David Bergmuller lute
Warner Classics
An unexpected – and surprisingly seductive – album that blends the voices of the clarinet and the lute with extraordinary success, in a way that is as mysterious as it is captivating.
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Bolcom The complete rags
Marc-Andre Hamelin pf
Hyperion
An utterly triumphant – and utterly authoritative – roundup of William Bolcom’s rags, performances filled to the brim with all the character these glorious plays demand.
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Messiaen Twenty Looks at the Child Jesus
Bertrand Chamayou pf
Erato
A deeply spiritual journey through deeply spiritual work, a very personal project by our recent Recording of the Year-winning pianist, which you can read more about in the July issue.
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Champion Missa of Sancta Maria Magdalena
Cappella Pratensis / Stratton Bull
Classics Challenge
A fascinating exploration of the practice of performance and the role of improvisation in early music, but above all, the resulting recording is breathtakingly beautiful.
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Josquin ‘So much you love…’
Doulce Mémoire / Denis Raisin Dadre
Ricercar
The atmosphere and the sound universe created by Doulce Mémoire’s gloriously presented interpretations of Josquin’s songs instantly transport us to a time far from our own.
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‘Battle Cry – She Speaks’
Helen Charston me Toby Carr theorbo
Delphian
Helen Charlston has crafted a superb program of old and new music that plays perfectly to her strengths, greatly enhanced by the report shared with theorbo player Toby Carr.
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Podcast: Helen Charlston on her first solo album, “Battle Cry: She Speaks”
‘Sentences’
Heloise Werner coax
Delphian
One of the most imaginative talents of today’s young generation of singers and songwriters, Héloïse Werner’s debut solo album explores language through vocal virtuosity, humor and heartfelt music.
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See also: Watch an exclusive video of Héloïse Werner’s new album
DVD/Blu-Ray
Monteverdi The ritorno of Ulisse in patria
soils; Accademia Bizantina / Ottavio Dantone
Dynamic
Since Florence last year, Monteverdi’s opera has been brought to life by director Robert Carsen and an impressive cast.
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Reissue/archive
“The Art of Duo Piano Playing”
Pierre Luboshutz, Genia Nemenoff pfs
Marston
The piano partnership of Pierre Luboshutz and Genia Nemenoff presented with all the care and attention to detail that collectors of Marston label releases have come to expect.
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