Brief notes

Our collection of 25 further reviews includes songs, symphonies and sonatas

Bernstein Piano Works

Michele Tozzetti (piano)

Piano Classics PLC10174

It’s a rare treat to hear Bernstein’s miniatures and solo piano works on disc – abrasive at times while also colourful and cinematic. The necessary soft touch is tactfully delivered here. (FP) ★★★

Braunfels Orchestral Works Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-pfalz/gregor Buhl Capriccio C5354

Wonderfully colourful playing of Braunfels’s masterpiece Variations on a theme by Berlioz, which sounds rather like Strauss on heat. (OC) ★★★★

Castelnuovo-tedesco

Works for Cello & Piano

Enrico Dindo (cello), Alessandro Marangoni (piano) Naxos 8.573881 Chamber gems by the Italian composer who emigrated to LA. The lyrical Sonatina, composed there in 1946, receives a premiere recording here and is a delight among many. (MB) ★★★★

Cowell • Prokofiev Piano Works Wilhem Latchoumia (piano)

La Dolce Vita LDV 54

Prokofiev Cinderella piano cycles are interspersed with short, dissonant works by ★enry Cowell. The combination is a little jarring, but the Cowell pieces really caught my ear. Visceral, evocative and exciting. (FP) ★★★

Duruflé • Fauré Requiem Masses Choir of the Church of St Andrew and St Paul ATMA Classique ACD2 2779 Conductor Jeansébastien Vallée clearly likes his slow tempos. Far too slow for many, I fear, as these two much-loved Requiems trudge and sludge along without coming much to life. ( JP) ★★

Debussy • Ravel String Quartets Tinalley String Quartet Decca 481 6906 The Tinalleys demonstrate impressive dynamic shadings in the first movement of the Debussy and fantastic rhythmic alertness in the Ravel’s second. The recorded sound is close and crisp. (OC) ★★★★

Enescu Works for Violin & Piano Duo Bruggen-plank Genuin GEN 19642 This ride through the world of Enescu, from the youthful Violin Sonata of 1899 to the 1940 Impressions d’enfance is captivating in both repertoire and performance. (MB) ★★★★

Fauré Nocturnes

Eric Le Sage (piano)

Alpha Classics Alpha 414

Where Chopin spun bittersweet melodies in his Nocturnes, Fauré turned to moodier introspection for his 13 pieces in the genre. Eric Le Sage is a sophisticated guide, inviting the listener to pay close attention to this rewarding music. (RF) ★★★★

Fazil Say Troy Sonata

Fazil Say (piano)

Warner Classics 9029550465

Say’s works blend jazz, Rachmaninov and Eastern European music. The homage to Troy has wonderful moments but tends to ramble. ★ead to The Moving Mansion for more concise ideas. (OC) ★★★

Fennessy

Panoptican, Piano Trio etc

Psappha et al NMC D244

Irish composer Fennessy’s debut disc is impressive. The hypnotic Panoptican is the standout, with cimbalom and chamber strings rippling their way into your very conscience. (MB) ★★★★

Howells Chamber Works Dante Quartet; Gould Piano Trio Naxos 8.573913

Three works by Howells as a comparative youngster give glimpses of the distinctive soundworld of his later years. Superlative performances. ( JP) ★★★★★

Kalabis Complete Piano Works

Ivo Kahánek (piano)

Supraphon SU 4259-2

In turns mysterious, skittish and even a little jazzy, the piano works of this 20th-century Czech composer are well worth getting familiar with. Enjoyable playing, if a little lacking in contrast. (JP) ★★★

Levina

Piano Sonatas Nos 1 and 2 etc Maria Letterberg (piano), Yury Revich (violin) et al Capriccio C5356

Maria Letterberg continues her fruitful exploration of music by the Soviet composer. This second volume turns to the two piano sonatas as well as duo works. It’s a varied bunch. (RF) ★★★

Martin Songs

Martina Janková (soprano), Tomas Kral (baritone) et al Supraphon SU 42352

With 52 songs, this is an all-you-can-eat Martin buffet. A breather between similar-tasting courses would be welcome, but these are good performances of not-often heard music. (RF) ★★★

Rachmaninov • Shostakovich • Tchaikovsky Chamber Works Orava Quartet DG 481 6876

An enjoyable debut from this Australian ensemble. If their sound is sometimes too slick for the bleaker reaches of Shostakovich, they bring silkiness to Rachmaninov and poise to Tchaikovsky. Natty socks on the cover, too. (RF) ★★★

Szymanowski • Zemlinsky Orchestral Works

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra et al Accentus ACC30470 Searing playing from soloist Elina Vähälä is matched by the Polish orchestra. Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony is performed with impressive intensity. (RF) ★★★★

Weiner Toldi – Symphonic Poem Budapest Symphony Orchestra

Naxos 8.573847

A symphonic poem in the lateromantic tradition – lushly scored and full of drama. Some moments remind one of the similarly folk-inspired style of Kodály. (JP) ★★★★

Widor Organ Symphonies Christian Schmitt (organ)

CPO 777 706-2

These performances of five of Widor’s symphonies on the Cavaillé-coll at St Ouen, Rouen, are a treat. Some movements could ratchet up the excitement a little more. (OC) ★★★★

American Recorder Concertos Works by Sierra, Stucky et al Danish National Symphony et al

OUR Recordings 8.226912

A beautiful display of surprisingly rich modern recorder repertoire. Petri delivers dynamic concertos with crystal-clear tone and perfectly-judged spikiness and lyricism. (FP) ★★★★

Bach to the Future

Organ Works by JS Bach

Olivier Latry (organ) La Dolce Vita LDV69 Released just before the dreadful fire, this is a superb Gothic take on Bach played on Notre Dame’s ultra-romantic Cavaillé-coll organ. The Passacaglia benefits from a terrific extended crescendo. (OC) ★★★★★

Desires Works by Brumel; Dove; Palestrina et al ORA Singers

Harmonia Mundi HMM 905316

In usual fashion for ORA, this is a programme of works from across the centuries, with two new commissions. The upper lines soar majestically and the tone is pure throughout. (FP) ★★★★

Pianette

Piano Works by Bruno Sanfilippo Bruno Sanfilippo (piano) ad21 ad121 This is a charming collection of dreamlike piano solos. The likes of Empty Circus pivot between darkness and light, sweetness and sorrow. Cinematic. (MB) ★★★

Revolution

Works by Mozart, Bach et al Janoska Ensemble DG 725 9326 Dazzling and often witty arrangements of music from Mozart to Mccartney are played with gusto and joie de vivre. You’d have to be churlish in the extreme not to enjoy the ride. (JP) ★★★★

Songs of Renewal

Works by Dove, Todd, Weir et al Bath Camerata/benjamin Goodson Somm Celeste SOMMCD 0195

Will Todd’s thrilling title work is a real showstopper for the versatile and virtuosic Bath choir; it’s just one of two commissions recorded for the first time for this delightful disc. (MB) ★★★★

Symphonic Dances Works by Copland, Ravel & Stravinsky

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Recursive Classics RC2061415

With music as thrillingly fast and furious as the music on this album, precision and delicacy is essential. Despite some zip and fire, coordination and pitch slips. (FP) ★★

Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB),

Oliver Condy (OC), Rebecca Franks (RF),

Freya Parr (FP), Jeremy Pound ( JP)