Our collection of 25 further reviews has old favourites and dazzling debuts
Artyomov The Way to Olympus USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra/timur Mynbayev, et al Divine Art dda 25171
Vyacheslav Artyomov’s one-movement symphony is the atmospheric centrepiece of this disc – the layering of sounds is hypnotic and the effect is powerful. (FP) ★★★★
JS Bach • Adès • Chopin
Piano Works
Ashley Fripp (piano)
Willowhayne Records WHR053
The young pianist’s Bach sparkles with finely-wrought phrasing and articulation while the Adès paraphrase is an exciting revelation. His Chopin breathes and dances, but the recorded sound lets him down a little. (OC) ★★★
JS Bach Organ Works
David Goode (organ)
Signum SIGCD808
Goode powers ahead with his Bach series on the organ of Trinity College, Cambridge. Vol. 8 contains a thrilling performance of the great ‘Wedge’ Prelude and Fugue, BWV 548. (OC) ★★★★★
JS Bach Violin Concertos, etc Daniel Lozakovich (violin), et al DG 479 9372
The 17-year-old violinist delivers a performance way beyond his years in what is an uncompromising debut album, and a radiant recording. (MB) ★★★★★
Bartók Violin Concertos Benjamin Schmid (violin), et al Gramola 99138
Schmid plays with an intensity and sweetness that illuminates both the darker textures and lyrical beauty of Bartók’s two violin concertos. Rich orchestral accompaniment, too. (RF) ★★★★
Beethoven Piano Sonatas, etc Rodolfo Leone (piano)
Gramola 99160
If you win the
Int’l Beethoven Competition, it’s pretty much inevitable that the great composer will feature on your debut disc. 2017 winner Leone plays with style here. (RF) ★★★★
Fauré Barcarolles, Nocturnes, Impromptus
Jean-claude Pennetier (piano) Mirare MIR 356
The latest instalment of the French pianist’s Fauré series is enjoyable. If Pennetier’s playing is sometimes too matterof-fact for this beautiful music, that straightforward approach can also prove illuminating. (RF) ★★★
Carlotta Ferrari Organ Works Carson Cooman (organ)
Divine Art dda 25178
The concept behind this set of organ works is its best feature: a set of compositions inspired by five women from history. Cinematic soundscapes and clever interpretations. (FP) ★★★
Robin Holloway Trios
Rest Ensemble
Sheva Contemporary SH 208
Holloway paints an engaging picture with this pair of trios and a sonata; the storybook-like trio for clarinet, viola and piano, is the charming highlight. (MB) ★★★
Ives Piano Sonata No.2 Daniel Brylewski (piano) DUX DUX 1313
Ives’s pianistic tribute to the philosophy of transcendentalism sees him at his most sparklingly inventive. The sonata’s various moods and colours are vividly realised by Daniel Brylewski. (JP) ★★★★ Mahler Symphony No. 4
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Daniele Gatti
RCO RCO 18004
Recorded live in Nov 2017, this is a beautifully detailed, sweeping performance. Soprano Julia Kleiter is superb in the final movement. (OC) ★★★★
John Mcleod Piano Works Murray Mclachlan (piano)
Metier MSV 77207
A comprehensive live record of five decades of Mcleod piano works which Mclachlan takes in his stride. Not without its challenges, for both listener and performer. (MB) ★★★
John Powell Choral Works Philharmonia Orchestra and Voices/ José Serebrier, et al
5 Cat Studios FCS001
A notable composer of film scores, this recording proves Powell could make himself very at home in the concert hall. A Prussian Requiem is an accomplished centrepiece. (MB) ★★★★
Takemitsu Piano Works
Lukas Huisman (piano)
Piano Classics PCL10147
This disc takes us from the Japanese composer’s 1948 Romance to the Rain
Tree Sketch II of 1992. Lukas Huisman is a fine Takemitsu pianist, playing with admirable clarity. (RF) ★★★★
Wenchen Qin Orchestral Works ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/gottfried Rabl
Kairos KAI0015032
Featuring taped sounds of nature from across the world, The Nature’s Dialogue is the highlight of this atmospheric, if quite demanding, disc. (JP) ★★★★
Paul and Pauline Viardot Six Pieces; Six Morceaux, etc Wolfgang Manz (piano), et al Naxos 8.573749
Music by mother and son Viardots is programmed to lovely effect here. There’s virtuosity in Paul’s Introduction et Caprice, and lyricism in Pauline’s Six Morceaux. (RF) ★★★★
Tengyue Zhang Works by JS Bach, Castelnuovo-tesdesco, et al Tengyue Zhang (guitar)
Naxos 8.573905
This debut recital disc features works spread over four centuries, some written for the guitar, others heard in transcription. Zhang is one to watch. ( JP) ★★★★
At the Heart of the 20th Century Works by Martin, Dutilleux, et al Fabrice Ferez (oboe), et al
Claves 50-1810
French and Swiss works from 1930-56 imbued with the angst and despair that defined the period. Passionate solo and duo performances. (MB) ★★★
Bye-bye Berlin
Marion Rampal (vocals), et al Harmonia Mundi HMM 902295
The seductive voice of Marion Rampal and an ensemble of superb musicians present a thrilling programme of subversive Brechtinspired songs and music from 1920s Germany. (OC) ★★★★
Diversity Works by Walton, et al European Brass Ensemble
Genuin GEN 18608
A dynamic disc, featuring works for brass ensemble from 1688 to 2017. From familiar regal, traditional tunes to wild jazzinspired world premieres, the segues are seamless and ingenious. (FP) ★★★★
Elégie Rachmaninov, a Heart in Exile
Lucy Parham (piano);
Henry Goodman (narrator)
Deux-elles DXL 1178
Narrated snapshots of Rachmaninov’s life based on letters, diaries and contemporary accounts are interspersed with Parham’s soulful playing. Henry Goodman captivates. (OC) ★★★★
Even Such Is Time
Choral Works by Finzi,
Walton and Howells, et al
Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge Regent REGCD511
A lot of thought has gone into this programme of English choral works. Occasionally the singers, especially the tenors, sound a little stretched. (JP) ★★★
Hipster Zombies from Mars
Piano Works by Nicholas Vines Ryan Macevoy Mccullough (piano) Navona Records NV6173
With a title like this, it’s hard to ignore. Inspired by a science fiction novel about humans colonising a red planet, the concept is wacky but well-delivered. (FP) ★★★
Saint Louis Classics
Choral works by Vaughan Williams, et al
Saint Louis Chamber Chorus Regent REGCD505
Vibrato-heavy, full-frontal choral assaults on composers from Gibbons to the present won’t suit all tastes. Premiere recording of Chilcott’s Silver Swan is welcome. ( JP) ★★
With Love From Russia Works by Borodin, Glinka, et al
Hans Eijsackers, Henk Neven, et al
Onyx ONYX4193
A set of 19th-century Russian works arranged for baritone, cello and piano. Sensitive cello playing throughout. The recording could be a little cleaner. (FP) ★★★ Michael Beek (MB), Oliver Condy (OC),
Rebecca Franks (RF), Freya Parr (FP),
Jeremy Pound (JP)