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The recordings

Recording of the month

‘Mozart in London’ 

The Mozartists / Ian Page 

Signum 

A wonderful exploration of the musical life of London during Mozart’s visit as an eight year old, all beautifully and engagingly performed by Ian Page and his Mozartists. A true delight! 

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Mahler Symphony No 5 

Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra / Adam Fischer 

AVI Music 

This Mahler cycle is shaping up to be very fine indeed; this Fifth has all the hallmarks we’ve already witnessed from Adam Fischer of brilliant music-making.  

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Pettersson Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra / Christian Lindberg 

BIS 

These two Allan Pettersson symphonies are given powerful advocacy, the urgency of the Seventh palpable, the music, as Guy Rickards puts it, in the musicians’ blood. 

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Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3. ‘Corelli’ Variations 

Boris Giltburg pf Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Carlos Miguel Prieto 

Naxos 

A fiendish but fabulous piano concerto performed with a glorious blend of technical prowess and lyricism.  

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Audio Editor Andrew Everard writes: 'The ability of Naxos to keep producing high-quality hi-resolution recordings at bargain prices is something of a wonder, and this recording of ‘Rach 3’ by Giltburg and the RSNO is no disappointment. Opting for the 96kHz/24bit Qobuz download fills out the timbre of the soloist’s instrument, while placing it more persuasively out in front of the orchestra in a crisply-defined soundstage, while the closer focus of the Corelli Variations (recorded in a different venue) is also entirely fitting, the hi-res version again giving enhanced insight into both instrument and performance. This may be a ‘budget’ recording, but there’s nothing less than demonstration-quality sound here.'

Dohnányi Chamber Works 

The Nash Ensemble 

Hyperion 

A superb set of Dohnányi’s chamber music from The Nash Ensemble, which Andrew Farach-Colton rightly suggests should both win over discoverers, and please aficionados of his music. 

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‘Stephen Hough’s Dream Album’ 

Stephen Hough pf 

Hyperion 

A personal programme – both in terms of content, but also delivery – which charms, engages and fascinates, and highlights again just what a gifted and rounded musician Stephen Hough is. 

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‘The Dufay Spectacle’ 

Gothic Voices 

Linn 

Voices and instruments alike swiftly entice the listener with their excellence and evocative atmosphere, Gothic Voices magnificently transporting us to their 15th-century sound world.

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‘Chimère’ 

Sandrine Piau sop Susan Manoff pf

Alpha 

Brilliantly and compellingly communicative as ever, Sandrine Piau’s latest recital draws on an eclectic series of songs, and again benefits from a wonderful rapport with Susan Manoff.

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‘A Rose Magnificat’ 

Gabrieli Consort / Paul McCreesh 

Signum 

This album contains some deeply moving singing, of music both ancient and modern – a well-crafted journey leading to the exquisitely performed contemporary title track from Matthew Martin.  

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‘Siface’ 

‘L’amor castrato’ 

Filippo Mineccia counterten Nereydas / Javier Ulises Illán 

Glossa 

A cleverly compiled programme delves into the life of 17th-century castrato Siface, but it’s the singing from Filippo Mineccia which makes this so enjoyable. 

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DVD/blu-ray

Donizetti Il borgomastro di Saardam 

Sols; Donizetti Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Roberto Rizzi Brignoli  

Dynamic 

‘Great fun,’ says Richard Lawrence, offering his nod of approval to this Donizetti rarity from Bergamo’s Festival devoted to the music of the composer.  

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Reissue/archive

‘Norma Fisher at the BBC, Vol 1’ 

Norma Fisher pf 

Sonetto Classics 

Acclaimed today as a teacher, it’s now possible to hear on record Norma Fisher’s great gifts as a performer.

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