This is “Record of the Month” as was (if tagged as that). Having taken on board some wise counsel as to how best this bit of the Column should be presented, going forward I will now be mentioning those releases reviewed in any one month that have inspired me, all as equals, and for November it’s a ‘Lucky Seven’ collection.
So, Peter Donohoe (on a roll at present for various labels) started his Haydn survey for Signum in a very accomplished way, http://www.colinscolumn.com/released-today-november-4-peter-donohoe-records-haydn-keyboard-works-volume-one-for-signum/, Barry Douglas continued his Chandos Schubert series in fine style, http://www.colinscolumn.com/barry-douglas-records-volume-6-of-schubert-works-for-solo-piano-for-chandos/, and Krystian Zimerman’s DG Szymanowski is something of a revelation, http://www.colinscolumn.com/krystian-zimerman-records-piano-works-by-karol-szymanowski-for-deutsche-grammophon/.
Letting loose the orchestral big guns, the latest of John Nelson’s Berlioz tapings for Warner scored high on artistry if a bit less for recorded sound, http://www.colinscolumn.com/john-nelson-records-berlioz-les-nuits-dete-with-michael-spyres-and-harold-in-italy-with-timothy-ridout-for-erato/, while James MacMillan’s Christmas Oratorio proved to be inspired and inspiring, a feather in the London Philharmonic’s cap, http://www.colinscolumn.com/released-today-november-4-the-london-philharmonic-orchestra-issues-james-macmillans-christmas-oratorio-conducted-by-mark-elder/, Christian Thielemann’s latest Bruckner for Sony from Vienna, Symphony Five, was also notable, http://www.colinscolumn.com/christian-thielemann-the-vienna-philharmonic-record-bruckners-fifth-symphony-for-sony-classical/, and Jakub Hrůša’s Brahms & Dvořák Symphonies for Tudor elicited a very particular allure, http://www.colinscolumn.com/jakub-hrusa-bamberger-symphoniker-record-symphonies-by-brahms-no-2-dvorak-no-7-for-tudor/.
Several ‘apples of my eye’ (ears) then in this regular and continuing post that is now the ‘same but different’.