Editor's Choice: November 2024 | The best new classical recordings
Friday, November 1, 2024
This month we highlight outstanding recordings from François-Xavier Poizat, Gautier Capuçon, Hanni Liang, The Tallis Scholars and more
In every issue of Gramophone, Editor Martin Cullingford chooses 12 albums (10 new releases, plus one video and one archive recommendation) as his Editor's Choice. Below, you will find the albums selected as Editor's Choice in the November 2024 issue, beginning with the Recording of the Month.
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Recording of the month
Ravel ‘The Complete Works with Piano’
François-Xavier Poizat pf et al
Aparté
2025 is Ravel’s 150th anniversary, and ahead of that François-Xavier Poizat brings us a triumphant set of his complete works involving piano – whether solo, chamber, concertos or vocal works.
Bruckner Symphony No 7
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski
Platoon
A ‘deeply considered and unusually persuasive’ performance of Bruckner’s 7th, writes Christian Hoskins – and Vladimir Jurowski’s first Bruckner in the catalogue.
Elgar. Walton Cello Concertos
Gautier Capuçon vc London Symphony Orchestra / Antonio Pappano
Erato
Richly emotional playing from Gautier Capuçon and beautiful support from the LSO in these two great cello works.
Dvořák ‘Complete Works for Violin and Piano’
Jiří Vodička vn David Mareček pf
Supraphon
Jiří Vodička and David Mareček bring together all Dvořák’s violin and piano works, exploring them with style, and revealing wonderful musicality throughout.
CPE Bach Sechs Sonaten für Clavier mit veränderten Reprisen
Tom Beghin clav
Evil Penguin
A fascinating research project into CPE Bach’s music by Tom Beghin and most importantly a wonderful listening experience, not least for the vibrant sound of the clavichord.
Brahms Piano Sonata No 1 Schubert Wanderer Fantasy
Alexandre Kantorow pf
BIS
Alexandre Kantorow completes his Brahms’s piano sonatas survey, and what a conclusion – drama and delicacy draw equal power and passion from this extraordinary virtuoso.
Listen to Alexandre Kantorow on the Gramophone Classical Music Podcast
‘Voices’
Hanni Liang pf
Delphian
Pianist Hanni Liang’s programme unites Ethel Smyth’s music with four fascinating women composer voices of today, introducing this largely unfamiliar repertoire with absolute conviction and interpretative brilliance.
Listen to Hanni Liang on the Gramophone Classical Music Podcast
Fayrfax Four Antiphons
The Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell
The Tallis Scholars truly excel here in these major works from early 16th-century England by Robert Fayrfax, Peter Phillips drawing out the colours and textures in glorious style.
‘Contemplation’
Huw Montague Rendall bar Opéra Orchestre Normandie Rouen / Ben Glassberg
Erato
This superb debut album from an already admired baritone, Huw Montague Rendall, reveals through composers from Mozart to Britten a great gift for characterisation.
Listen to Huw Montague Rendall on the Gramophone Classical Music Podcast
Rameau Les Boréades
Sols; Orfeo Orchestra / György Vashegyi
Erato
Rameau’s Les Boréades receives a marvellous new recording from György Vashegyi and the Orfeo Orchestra, complete with a line-up of superb soloists led by Sabine Devieilhe and Reinoud Van Mechelen.
DVD/blu-ray
J Strauss II Die Fledermaus
Sols; Bavarian State Opera / Vladimir Jurowski
BSO Recordings
Vladimir Jurowski’s second appearance this month, this time with Die Fledermaus, the Bavarian State Opera adding to its Award-winning label with another triumph.
Read the review ● Buy on Presto Music
Reissue/archive
Busoni. Liszt ‘The 1950s SPA Recordings’
Alfred Brendel pf
APR
Alfred Brendel’s early recording of Busoni’s Fantasia contrappuntistica was previously available only on a rare LP. We can at last hear this revelatory recording thanks to APR.
