Editor’s Choice recordings – February 2015
Gramophone
Monday, January 26, 2015
Editor Martin Cullingford introduces his 12 favourite recordings from the February issue
No 1
JS Bach English Suites Nos 1, 3 & 5
Piotr Anderszewski pf
(Warner Classics)
'There’s a beautifully controlled thoughtfulness, lines explored with illuminating delicacy and a complete confidence in the interpretation. A Bach piano disc to set among the best of recent years.' Read review
No 2
JS Bach Orchestral Suites
Academy of Ancient Music / Richard Egarr hpd
(AAM Records)
'Another fine addition to the AAM’s young in-house label, and what better way than this to showcase the ensemble’s delightfully engaging spirit of collegiality?' Read review
No 3
Vaughan Williams Pastoral Symphony
Hallé Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder
(Hallé)
'Continuing to excel in works that feel made for them, Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé offer a richly textured traversal through some of RVW’s most elegiac music.' Read review
No 4
Mozart Serenade No 11. Divertimentos
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Wind Soloists
(Linn)
'These performances wonderfully capture the charm of these Mozart chamber works, each instrument oozing a delightfully unforced sense of personality.' Read review
No 5
Penderecki Chamber Works, Vol 1
Marek Szlezer pf et al
(Dux)
'Mostly recent works, these chamber pieces offer an intense and captivating distilled insight into Penderecki’s compositional voice.' Read review
No 6
Chopin Etudes
Zlata Chochieva pf
(Piano Classics)
'The young Russian pianist follows her 2013 Rachmaninov disc with a wonderful set of Chopin’s Etudes, maintaining a beautifully entrancing tone throughout the pieces’ challenges and changes.' Read review
No 7
Mozart Keyboard Music, Vol 7
Kristian Bezuidenhout fp
(Harmonia Mundi)
'Hearing Mozart’s sonatas played so brilliantly by Bezuidenhout on a fortepiano leaves rich scope for unexpected discoveries; a superb addition to the series.' Read review
No 8
‘The Salzburg Recital’
Grigory Sokolov pf
(DG)
'An aversion to the studio makes recordings of Sokolov rare indeed – an extra reason to welcome this live recital from 2008, proof if any were needed of why the pianist is this month’s Icon.' Read review
No 9
‘Au Sainct nau’
Ensemble Clément Janequin / Dominique Visse
(Alpha)
'In defence of highlighting this Christmas disc now, it’s only just Epiphany as I write; anyway, this entertaining feast of music-making will bring much delight whatever the season.' Read review
No 10
Veracini Adriano in Siria
Soloists; Europa Galante / Fabio Biondi
(Fra Bernardo)
'Veracini was best known as a violinist and composer for that instrument. The dramatic contrasts and theatrical arias make this opera well worth hearing too.' Read review
DVD/blu-ray
Mahler Symphony No 9
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly
(Accentus)
'A moving, powerful Mahler Ninth from one of today’s leading conductor/ensemble relationships.' Read review
Reissue/archive
John Shirley-Quirk ‘English Song’
(Heritage)
'Beautifully eloquent story-telling from the fondly remembered British bass-baritone.'