The Best Reissues & Archive Releases of 2017
Gramophone
Friday, December 8, 2017
Here are Editor Martin Cullingford's selections, by issue, of the finest reissues and archive releases of 2017
January
JS Bach Complete Works
Zuzana Růžičková hpd
(Erato)
A significant set celebrating this fine harpsichordist’s survey of Bach’s solo keyboard music.
February
Diamond. Harris. Hill Symphonies
Boston SO / Koussevitzky
(Pristine Audio)
Koussevitzky conducting the premiere of Harris’s Symphony No 5: ‘an important release’, writes Rob Cowan.
March
William Kapell
Marston
Killed in a plane crash aged 31, Kapell’s discography is relatively small: these broadcasts and concerts, many of them first releases, are valuable additions.
April
‘From Melba to Sutherland’
Eloquence
80 singers in all: a great celebration of a country’s contribution to the art of opera.
May
Michael Gielen Edition, Vol 4
SWR Music
‘Even more revelatory than the first three volumes’, suggests Rob Cowan of the latest instalment in this Michael Gielen series.
June
Beethoven Complete String Quartets
Takács Qt
Decca
I attended some of these sessions and can still recall the forensic care and commitment the Takács brought to these works.
July
Rachmaninov ‘The Edison Recordings’
Sergey Rachmaninov pf
Naxos
A valuable glimpse into the sound world and artistry of one of history’s greatest pianists.
August
JS Bach Brandenburg Concertos
Newstone
Heritage
A significant set, Harry Newstone’s early stereo Brandenburg Concertos get a deserved re-release.
September
Gundula Janowitz ‘The Last Recital’
First Hand
The soprano’s final recital, nine years after she officially retired from the stage: a moving recording of a remarkable occasion.
Awards 2017 Issue
Mozart Symphonies Nos 39 & 40
Staatskapelle Dresden / Otmar Suitner
Berlin Classics
Suitner’s fine archive Mozart is, as Rob Cowan writes, well worth investigating.
October
Rachmaninov Preludes
Moura Lympany pf
Decca Eloquence
Quite a historic event – the first recording of all of Rachmaninov's Preludes, made by Moura Lympany in 1941-2.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
November
Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Wilhelm Kempff pf
APR
APR once again shines in its commitment to making past legends a living part of today’s catalogue.
December
Purcell The Fairy Queen
Soloists; Boyd Neel Orchestra / Anthony Lewis
Decca Eloquence
The Fairy Queen’s first recording, reissued.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
