This month’s shorter reviews see symphonies, songs and American splendour

JS Bach Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas Tomás Cotik (violin)

Centaur CRC 3755-56

With a Baroque bow and a modern violin, Cotik scales Bach’s solo mountain with skill. His intricate yet soulful take is assured without ever being showy. (MB) ★★★★

JS Bach Toccatas, BWV 910-916 Masaaki Suzuki (harpsichord) BIS-2221

Leading Bach authority Masaaki Suzuki plays the composer’s early toccatas, bringing us a free, characterful and thoughtful set of interpretations, with a real lightness of touch. (FP) ★★★★

Beethoven

Piano Sonatas, Opp. 109-111 Maurizio Pollini (piano)

DG 483 8250

There are many other pianists I’d turn to for this repertoire. Pollini’s performance somehow lacks substance, and the poor live sound quality doesn’t help. Not one I’ll return to. (OC) ★★

Bernstein Songfest, plus works by Copland and Gershwin

Wolf Trap Opera et al

Naxos 8.559859

Striking musicianship in this feast of American splendour. Bernstein’s 12-part Songfest might dominate, but it’s Gershwin’s original arrangement of An American in Paris which truly thrills. (MB) ★★★★

Bernstein Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 Arctic Philharmonic et al BIS-2298 Bernstein’s first two symphonies are high-octane displays of orchestral virtuosity, played here with clarity and strength. I only wish both were played with more vibrancy and freedom: they feel a little on the safe side. (FP) ★★★

Brahms Songs and Lieder

Simon Wallfisch (baritone), Edward Rushton (piano) Resonus RES10258 Wallfisch and Rushton’s considered, understated performances well serve Brahms’s exquisitely tender, often anguished songs. Much of this is tear-jerking stuff. (OC) ★★★★★

Bruckner Symphony No. 4 Bavarian Radio Symphony/jansons BR Klassik 900187

Bruckner’s hunting horns herald an atmospheric and perfectly paced live performance from the late Mariss Jansons and his Bavarian Radio forces. Highly recommended. (JP) ★★★★★

JL & JP Duport The Paris Sonatas Guillermo Turina (cello), Manuel Minguillon (lute, guitar) COBRA 0073 An enjoyable introduction to the Duport brothers who, though writing in the late-18th century, hark back to the Baroque era. Theirs is a simple charm, conveyed with style here. (JP) ★★★★

Enescu • Mendelssohn Octets Gringolts Quartet, Meta4 BIS BIS-2447

Both Mendelssohn and Enescu octets are contrapuntal masterpieces. Here’s a fascinating chance to compare and contrast them, thanks to these light and well-articulated performances. (OC) ★★★★

Michael Fine Chamber Works Fei Xei (basson), Robert Walters (cor anglais), Anton Rist (clarinet) et al Evidence 390245

There’s a sense of measured expression in these works for woodwind and string quartet, taking us from playfulness to introspection; music for the human condition. (MB) ★★★

Gould Symphonettes Nos 2-4 ORF Vienna Radio Symphony/fagen Naxos 8.559869

If this doesn’t put you in a good mood, nothing will. Gould’s symphonettes are sunny, rowdy, with just a touch of attitude and full of terpsichorean flair. In short, a hugely enjoyable listen. ( JP) ★★★★

Edward Gregson

Music of the Angels etc

London Brass Chandos CHAN20127

This magnificent album sweeps through Gregson’s career of writing for symphonic brass, with a plethora of colours and stylistic influences. Glittering sound production to boot. (FP) ★★★★

Guillemain Sonatas etc

Alana Youssefian (violin), Le Bienaimé Avie AV2412

Louis XV’S court is brought to ravishing life with this set of Rococo sonatas and trio symphonies by the virtuoso violinist-composer Louis-gabriel Guillemain. Giltedged performances. (MB) ★★★★

Liszt Organ Works, Vol. 1 Zuzana Ferjencikova (organ) MDG 9062140

Ferjencikova explores the glorious colours of Fribourg’s Aloys Mooser organ – an instrument Liszt knew well. At times, though, the playing can sound a little too deliberate. ( JP) ★★★

Penderecki Horn Concerto, Violin Concerto No. 1 etc

Lpo/krzysztof Penderecki

LPO-0116 mins

Recorded live under Penderecki’s baton, this disc is a terrific tribute to the great composer. With moments of shimmering subtleties and immense, piercing walls of sound, this is an utterly electric listen. (FP) ★★★★

Sibelius • Tjeknavorian

Violin Concertos

Emmanuel Tjeknavorian (violin) et al Berlin Classics 0301424BC Iranian-armenian composer Loris Tjeknavorian’s eastwest Violin Concerto is a well-wrought piece and splendidly showcased by his son, Emmanuel. The Sibelius is alternately soulful and full of drama. (OC) ★★★★

Ian Venables Songs

Mary Bevan (soprano), Allan Clayton (tenor) et al Signum Classics SIGCD617 A highly reflective, mournful set of songs and cycles interpreted with dramatic flair by Bevan and Clayton. Venables’s intuitive vocal writing is fraught with emotion. (FP) ★★★★

Zelenka Missa 1724

Collegium 1704/Václav Luks et al Accent ACC24363

Czech composer

Jan Dismas Zelenka was a direct contemporary of Bach – and there are flashes of harmonic and textural brilliance here to rival the German genius. Lively, light-footed performances. (OC) ★★★★

Zemlinsky Sinfonietta ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Capriccio C5377

A superb programme of orchestral and vocal Zemlinsky, often revealing the composer in fraught mood. The playing combines passion with richness. (JP) ★★★★

Aspects of America

Works by Piston, Gould & Hanson Oregon Symphony

Pentatone PTC 5186 763

This imaginatively programmed trio of Pulitzer Prizewinning works makes for a nicely varied listen, performed with plenty of oomph, too. (JP) ★★★★

Live from New York, It’s Sybarite5 Works by William Brittelle et al Bright Shiny Things BTSC-0131 The US string quartet’s collaborative spirit comes to the fore in this lively melting pot of performances featuring great guest artists and inspired modern works. (MB) ★★★★

New England Trios Works by Bernstein, Piston, Perera et al Joel Pitchon (violin), Marie-volcy Pelletier (cello), Yu-mei Wei (piano) BRIDGE 9530 This compelling set of four trios by three Harvard-educated composers includes early Bernstein and a pair of previously unrecorded works by Walter Piston. Energetic, engaging accounts. (MB) ★★★★

Paradise Lost Ravel, Debussy et al Anna Prohaska (soprano), Julius Drake (piano) Alpha Classics ALPHA 581 Eve finds her voice as Prohaska and Drake navigate Eden’s bright spots and murkier corners. A heady selection of songs to intoxicate the senses; vivid storytelling and musicality. (MB) ★★★★★

Slavic Soul Works by Glière, Shostakovich & Afanasyev Oberton String Octet Ars Produktion ARS38305 The recorded sound is close here, which sometimes muffles the textures, but there is much to relish, including Glière’s sumptuous, folk-inspired Octet and the youthful Shostakovich Two Pieces for String Octet. (OC) ★★★

Treasures from the New World Chamber Works by Beach, Oswald & Nobre Coull Quartet et al Somm SOMMCD0609 Charming lateromantic piano quintets by Beach and Oswald, which doff their caps to the European Romantic traditions. Such works could use a more colourful interpretation. (FP) ★★★ Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB), Oliver Condy (OC), Freya Parr (FP), Jeremy Pound (JP)