Editor's Choice: November 2023 | The best new classical recordings
Friday, November 3, 2023
Music by Offenbach, Brahms, Mahler, Ravel, Beethoven and Italian Renaissance composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi is featured on this month's Editor's Choice recordings
In every issue of Gramophone, Editor Martin Cullingford chooses 12 albums (10 new releases, plus one DVD/blu-ray and one archive recommendation) as his Editor's Choice. Below, you will find the albums selected as Editor's Choice in the November 2023 issue, beginning with the Recording of the Month.
We've included links to the album reviews in Gramophone's Reviews Database, a digital archive of all of our reviews from 1983 to today. To find out more about subscribing to Gramophone and the Reviews Database, please visit: magsubscriptions.com
Recording of the month
Offenbach Le princesse de Trébizonde
Sols; Opera Rara Chorus; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Paul Daniel
Opera Rara
Offenbach’s opéra-bouffe brought wonderfully to life by an expert cast, conductor and players; another triumph for Opera Rara, the superb champion of lesser-known works.
Brahms Double Concerto
Christian Tetzlaff vn Tanja Tetzlaff vc Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Paavo Järvi
Ondine
A wonderfully played album, dedicated to Lars Vogt by friends and collaborators.
Mahler Symphony No 1
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Semyon Bychkov
Pentatone
A highlight in an ongoing Mahler series from Semyon Bychkov, one beautifully played by the Czech Philharmonic, ever-alert to the music’s inner themes and voices.
Ravel Daphnis et Chloé
Sinfonia of London / John Wilson
Chandos
Can John Wilson do no wrong? From the initial and exhaustive study of the score, to the fine studio sound, this is hugely impressive recording from a stunning ensemble and conductor.
Respighi Roman Trilogy
Orchestra Nazionale Sinfonica della RAI / Robert Treviño
Ondine
This is an immensely enjoyable recording of Respighi’s ‘Roman Trilogy’, Robert Treviño capturing every element of the work’s intensity and atmosphere.
Weinberg Concertinos
Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich / Daniel Grossmann
Onyx
A powerful performance from the Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich under Daniel Grossmann of Weinberg; a significant addition to the composer’s catalogue.
Beethoven Piano Trios, Vol 2
Sitkovetsky Trio
BIS
Two Beethoven trios brilliantly presented by the Sitkovetsky Trio: an excellent interpretation of an earlier work in the genre, and a tender, poetic performance of the magnificent Archduke.
‘Hommage’
Sergio Tiempo pf and guests
Avanti
When Sergio Tiempo’s guests here include Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire, you know you are in for a rather special album of collaborative music-making.
Daser Missa Pater noster
Cinquecento
Hyperion
An album of Ludwig Daser’s music won this year’s Early Award, and here’s a brilliant way to continue the journey of discovery into the composer’s work, with Cinquecento on excellent form.
Luzzaschi Il concerto segreto
La Néréide
Ricercar
This is superb singing from La Néréide, a young ensemble of three wonderfully matched artists, who bring a haunting beauty to the music of Italian Renaissance composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi.
DVD/blu-ray
Schreker Der Schatzgräber
Sols; Deutsche Oper Berlin / Marc Albrecht
Naxos
A huge success in the 1920s, Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber (‘The Treasure Seeker’) was hardly heard again until more recent times, and gets superlative advocacy here.
Reissue/archive
Shura Cherkassky - The Complete 78rpm Recordings 1923-1950
Shura Cherkassky pf
APR
The complete 78s of Shura Cherkassky, showcasing his early era, and another generous contribution from APR to our understanding of historic piano recordings.
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