This farewell to Recording Highlights for 2022 includes music by John Adams from Zürich and Paavo Järvi, first-class in every respect, http://www.colinscolumn.com/paavo-jarvi-tonhalle-orchester-zurich-record-music-by-john-adams-for-alpha-classics/. Equally distinguished is Hans Rott’s only Symphony from Bamberg, a very revealing performance, and the Bruckner piece with it is quite a find, http://www.colinscolumn.com/jakub-hrusa-bamberger-symphoniker-record-hans-rotts-symphony-in-e-plus-mahlers-blumine-and-bruckners-symphonisches-praludium-for-deutsche-grammophon/. Perhaps a couple of Martinů Symphonies conducted by Roger Norrington came as a surprise, yet he proves to be a commanding interpreter of this distinctive repertoire, http://www.colinscolumn.com/swr-classic-releases-roger-norrington-conducting-martinus-fifth-sixth-symphonies/, just as Rumon Gamba, Michael Collins and the BBC Philharmonic make hay with some choice scores of Malcolm Arnold, http://www.colinscolumn.com/bbc-philharmonic-michael-collins-and-rumon-gamba-record-music-by-malcolm-arnold-for-chandos-including-the-padstow-lifeboat/.
A mention for two releases that didn’t quite make the ‘Outstanding’ category, for I wouldn’t want to be without Rattle’s Bavarian Radio Mahler Nine for the final two movements, http://www.colinscolumn.com/br-klassik-releases-simon-rattle-conducting-mahlers-ninth-symphony-with-the-bavarian-radio-symphony-orchestra/, or Rouvali’s Sibelius for a vibrant and intoxicating Pohjola’s Daughter, http://www.colinscolumn.com/santtu-matias-rouvali-the-gothenburg-symphony-orchestra-record-sibelius-3-5-and-pohjolas-daughter-for-alpha-classics/.
Finally, for December, and 2022, it’s a pleasure to welcome back André Previn’s LSO version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker – wonderful music conducted and played with appreciation and sounding superb in its latest pressing, http://www.colinscolumn.com/warner-classics-reissues-andre-previns-lso-recording-of-tchaikovskys-the-nutcracker/.
Give me a (new) month, January 2023, and I hope to return with another selection of releases that I hold dear.