Boris Giltburg leads the pack this month, with his collection of Rachmaninov's Études-Tableaux & Moments Musicaux on Naxos; the Russian-born Israeli pianist is no stranger to the Gramophone Choices pages, having previously been singled out for his 2013 recital of Liszt, Grieg and Rachmaninov on Orchid Classics and a disc of the Prokofiev War Sonatas the year before on the same label.
Among the honourable mentions are Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony & Scythian Suite from the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under Tugan Sokhiev (our Disc of the Week in early March) and a starry 2014 Forza del Destino from Bayerische Staatsoper, with three of the principals (Anja Harteros, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier) from Warner Classics's award-winning Aida.
Recording of the Month
Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux & Moments Musicaux
Boris Giltburg (piano)
'[Boris Giltburg] is that genuine rarity: a pianist whose Rachmaninov is entirely idiomatic yet intensely personal in a way that yields fresh perspectives on this well traversed repertory...His originality stems from a convergence of heart and mind, served by immaculate technique and motivated by a deep and abiding love for one of the 20th century’s greatest composer-pianists.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Editor's Choices
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 & Scythian Suite
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tugan Sokhiev
'This much sought-after maestro takes the first movement broadly enough to lend credence to what might seem mere ideological posturing...There are a few tank-like manoeuvres en route...but everything works in context.'
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Schoenberg, Berg & Webern: Complete Works for String Quartet
Diotima Quartet
'Quatuor Diotima couldn’t play an affected, emotionally over-ripened note if they tried. Their vision of Second Viennese School aesthetics views the backdrop of Romanticism – Brahms, Wagner, Mahler et al – as a starting-shot rather than a point of reference to be dwelt over too obsessively.'
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Franck: Piano Quintet & Debussy: String Quartet
Marc-André Hamelin (piano), Takács Quartet
'When the seasoned artistry of the Takács Quartet blends with the thoughtful brilliance of Marc-André Hamelin, a rare alchemy occurs...To Debussy’s luminous and under-appreciated String Quartet of 1893 the Takács bring all their intelligence, skill, taste and virtuosity.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Testament: JS Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
Rachel Barton Pine (violin)
'There is a surprisingly striking contrast between its crystalline voicing, clear articulation and warm tone that makes the listener feel that it is concerned with the plain and simple beauty of the music as much as with the genius of its counterpoint and relationships between movements.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Neglected Works for Piano
Bengt Forsberg (piano)
'Forsberg has long been a master programme planner...This is no exception...With a recording as fine as the pianism, this is a terrific disc, heartily recommended.'
Available Formats: CD, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Machaut: Messe de Nostre Dame
Graindelavoix, Bjorn Schmelzer
'A new recording of Machaut’s Mass is always an event, and this one is compelling and provocative in equal measure: compelling, because of the beauty of the voices and the evident care that has been lavished on so many details; provocative, because so many of those details will surprise, startle and perhaps infuriate.'
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Satie: Socrate
Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Reinbert de Leeuw (piano)
'Throughout their album, Barbara Hannigan and Reinbert de Leeuw maintain a very noticeable consistency of mood, atmosphere and colour. The coolly detached house style of Winter & Winter has been respected but an aesthetic decision has clearly been taken to represent Satie as a creative lone wolf.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Zelenka: Missa Divi Zaveri & Litaniae de Sancto Xaverio
Collegium 1704, Collegium Vocale 1704, Vaclav Luks
'Collegium 1704’s blithe performance conveys a radiant mood in the opening strains of ‘Kyrie eleison’...Hana Blažíková’s limpid singing produces a gorgeous dialogue with a violin and oboe d’amore in ‘Benedictus’.'
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
DVD/Bluray of the Month
Also available on blu-ray.
Re-issue of the Month
Sir Malcolm Arnold: The Complete Conifer Recordings
Various artists
'A welcome return to the catalogue for this survey of Arnold’s orchestral music.'
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
