Apr 9, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
If you would like a one-word review, that word is “tremendous”. These great Symphonies (both premiered by Sir Adrian Boult) – respectively written either side of World War Two – have found in Sir Antonio a charismatic and insightful interpreter, not afraid to take-off...
Apr 2, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
Originally published on February 24 Notwithstanding Hyperion’s herculean efforts on behalf of Robert Simpson’s music (including recording all Eleven Symphonies, Vernon Handley conducting the first ten, Matthew Taylor the Eleventh), this centenary offering from Lyrita...
Mar 27, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
Following the very recommendable Onyx 4210 (Suite No.1 and Concerto for Orchestra), Thomas Dausgaard and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra now give us a vivid and graphic account of the complete Miraculous Mandarin Pantomime Ballet score (in its day, the 1920s, a...
Mar 24, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
This impressive release, superbly recorded, includes Berg’s Seven Early Songs, impressionistic and expressive gems, sung voluptuously by Susanna Phillips – Richard Strauss-ravishing in fact – and how sensitive and accommodating the SFS and MTT are to her. German texts...
Mar 21, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
The short-lived Russian pianist and composer Alexey Stanchinsky (1888-1914) was playing in public by age six and was highly regarded in all the musical activities he undertook; he had some distinguished tutors, too. Sadly, Stanchinsky became “unstable”, and his death...
Mar 20, 2021 | Outstanding [category w.e.f. January 2021], Recording Reviews
Magical delights, whether listening with mother courtesy of Fauré, boating or looking back to antiquity with Debussy, taking it easy with Stravinsky, crashing about while relishing the coruscating wit and tender sentiment of pithy Poulenc, or surveying a fairy garden...