Brief notes

This month’s selection includes The Planets, a Passion and a pop-tastic harp

Borodin • Vassallo • Vella Orchestral Works

Malta Philharmonic Orchestra/sergey Smbatyan Navona Records NV6393

For something new, there’s Malta and Rebbieha, two short orchestral works by Maltese composers Vassallo and Joseph Vella that are respectively sunny and dramatic. The Borodin Second Symphony tends to drag, particularly in the third movement. (JP) ★★★

Bruckner

Symphony No. 4 (1874 version) Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne/ François-xavier Roth Myrios MYR032 Roth chooses the Fourth’s lessperformed original version. Missing in action is the famous ‘hunting horn’ Scherzo: its predecessor is less cohesive and exciting. The first movement trades the grandeur of Wand or Böhm for an unexpected impulsiveness. (SW) ★★★★

Grieg • Maier • Röntgen

String Quartets

The Zilliacus Quartet dbproductions DBCD207

String quartets from three close friends, all rich in melody and quartet interplay. There’s a beguiling folkish lilt to the second movement of Grieg’s quartet; elsewhere, we are in familiar mid-romantic territory. Songful chamber music played with warmth and precision. (SW) ★★★★★

Holst The Planets

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Daniel Harding BR Klassik 900208 This live recording from February 2022 captures the BRSO’S first performance of Holst’s astrological epic in over 30 years. It’s thrilling stuff, all tightly marshalled by Harding, though at times that control holds back the work’s surging energy. But it’s a small criticism. (CS) ★★★★

Mendelssohn

String Quartets in E flat major Consone Quartet Linn Records CKD716 The Consone musicians, skilled specialists in period performance, present two Mendelssohn quartets in E flat on gut strings. Yet for all its warmth and delicacy, the muted gut denies the works their sheen and sparkle, as if the lights have been dimmed. (CS) ★★★

Mozart • Widmann

Clarinet Quintets

Hagen Quartett; Jörg Widmann (clarinet) Myrios MYR031

The clarinet’s cool, refined tones blend with warm, pliable strings to irresistible effect in Mozart’s joyful Quintet, K581 and Widmann’s substantial, singlemovement response – a complex and uneasy composition, given its premiere recording by supremely talented musicians. (CS) ★★★★★

Puccini Messa di Gloria etc

Charles Castronovo (tenor) et al Harmonia Mundi HMM905367 Oscillating between benign and highspirited in character, Puccini’s 1880 mass comes with moments that would not sound out of place in a Verdi opera. Don’t expect to plunge the emotional depths; do enjoy a very likeable, melodious work, performed here with winning panache. ( JP) ★★★★

Regamey • Schoenberg

Chamber Works

Nicolas Altstaedt (cello); Ilya Gringolts (violin) et al Alpha Classics ALPHA948 The latest in cellist Altstaedt’s Lockenhaus Festival series showcases works by Schoenberg and little-known Swiss-polish composer Constantin Regamey.

The Schoenberg is tortured and dramatic, yet cohesive and purposeful – while the virtuosic Regamey has a gripping, rhythmic drive. (CS) ★★★★

Sancan Piano Concerto etc Jean-efflam Bavouzet (piano); BBC Philharmonic Chandos CHAN20154 Reminding one a little of Ravel or even Khachaturian, the 1957 Piano Concerto is the major work on an album devoted to a composer who remains largely unknown in his native France. The other works, including the exquisite Sonatine for Flute and Piano, also reveal what a deft craftsman he was. (JP) ★★★★

Neil Tòmas Smith

Stop Motion Music

Carla Rees (flute), Esther Swift (harp) et al Dark Inventions DI2301

The very nature of ‘stop motion’ is that it takes a lot of time and concentration to get to the end result. The same very much goes for this experience, which is, at its best, meditative (Stop Motion Music I-IV ). At its worst (Manual, Scaffold for Simon), I’m afraid it’s just a little bit tedious. (MB) ★★

Correspondances

Works by Enescu, Ravel, C Scott Cristian Sandrin (piano)

Antarctica AR043

Cristian Sandrin draws convincing parallels between the piano music of Enescu, Ravel and Scott. This is a brave new world, soon after Wagner has stretched the boundaries of tonality and Debussy has opened up new avenues of timbre and touch. (SW) ★★★★

Echoes

Works by JS Bach, Glass et al Orchestra of the Swan

Signum Cassics SIGCD732

Whether you cherry-pick or listen through, this third ‘mixtape’ album from the versatile Swans is occasionally transportive. Unusual choices aside – the Finzi finale is a bit of a downer – pieces by Frank Zappa, A Winged Victory for the Sullen and Portishead are highlights. (MB) ★★★

Love & Light Works by Hildegard, James Macmillan et al ising Silicon Valley et al Avie AV2602 This is impressive. A largely contemporary, contemplative and often complex programme is performed with exceptional poise by the girls’ choir and harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton. Sungji Hong’s mesmeric Lux Aeterna is the pick of several highlights.

( JP) ★★★★★

Man Up / Man Down Works by Robert Maggio, David Lang et al Constellation Men’s Ensemble

Sono Luminus DSL-92266

The a cappella delivery by this allmale vocal ensemble in its debut recording certainly resonates. The same goes for the messaging, which unpacks dialogues around masculinity. An important topic, though a little less than dynamic, musically. (MB) ★★★

Polish Romantic Symphonies Works by Mirecki, Wieniawski Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra DUX DUX1901

Franciszek Mirecki’s (1791-1862) operatic background informs his symphony’s forthright phrasing. There’s also plenty of skittering Mendelssohnian energy, making for a satisfying Romantic symphony. Wieniawski is a more familiar name – but this is Józef, Henryk’s brother, and this is the less distinguished work. (SW) ★★★

Pop Meets Classical Vol. 1 Works by JS Bach, Nirvana et al Alexander Boldachev (harp) Indésens IC001

An album that does what it says on the tin. Some of harpist Alexander Boldachev’s arrangements, such as Bach and Daft Punk, work nicely, while the likes of the Scorpions’ Winds of Change (complete with whistling) take some getting used to. (JP) ★★★

Secret Nights Songs by Beach, Chaminade, Saint-saëns et al

Sonja Leutwyler (mezzo-soprano) et al Solo Musica SM385

The violin is the voice’s sympathetic echo, while the piano marks the rhythm and pedal points. Chaminade’s yearning ‘Menuet’ and Lili Boulanger’s voiceless ‘Nocturne’ are French art song gems, while Schulhoff’s Three mood pictures add tangy 20th-century harmonies. (SW) ★★★

Stone, Salt and Sky Works by Maconchy, Sally Beamish et al

Gaia Duo Delphian DCD34263

The debut recording from this violin-andcello duo (Katrina Lee and Alice Allen) features a handful of premiere recordings, including the title work by Sally Beamish.

That piece is an evocative highlight: toe-tapping (quite literally) with a beautiful introspection. Gorgeous sound quality and playing throughout. (MB) ★★★★★

Sword in the Soul

Works by Francis Grier, Owain Park, David Bednall, Elgar

London Choral Sinfonia/michael Waldron et al Orchid Classics ORC100223 There’s an uncompromising intimacy to Francis Grier’s title work, a musical Passion play with top-class narration from wellknown actors Simon Callow and Samantha Bond. Additional choral items by Elgar, Finzi, David Bednall and Owain Park are replete with riches; very beautifully done.

(MB) ★★★★

Works for Cello and Piano

Works by Rachmaninov et al Reiner Ginzel (violoncello), Gitti Pirner (piano) Hänssler Classic HC23009

There is much to enjoy on this congenial album of 19th-century works, but with recorded blend weighted towards the cello, there’s a lack of pianistic coolness to balance out Reiner Ginzel’s generous vibrato. The cello also lacks true elegance where required. (CS) HHH Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB),

Jeremy Pound (JP), Charlotte Smith (CS),

Steve Wright (SW)