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Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor
Hallé, Kahchun Wong
'Kahchun Wong has been receiving rave reviews since beginning his tenure as Principal Conductor of the Hallé last year, and his second release on the orchestra's own label shows why. This compelling account of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony foregrounds the beauty of the Hallé's string sound, so if your preference in Bruckner is to be dominated by blazing brass then this may not be the recording for you, but I very much appreciated the woodwind and string details that come across as a result. Normally performed as just a three-movement work, a further attraction is the inclusion of Dr John Phillips's completion of the fourth movement (left unfinished by Bruckner), providing a fascinating conclusion to this mighty symphony.' (James Longstaffe)
Available Formats: 2 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Édouard Lalo: Le Roi d’Ys
Judith van Wanroij (Rozenn), Kate Aldrich (Margared), Cyrille Dubois (Mylio), Jérôme Boutillier (Karnak), Nicolas Courjal (Le Roi d’Ys), Christian Helmer (Saint Corentin/Jahel); Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, György Vashegyi
'Centring on a love-triangle involving two royal sisters in medieval Brittany, Lalo's once-popular opera packs a tremendous punch on this electrifying live recording, the Lohengrin-esque brass writing and massed choruses captured with impressive clarity and the Breton dances exuding a folksy charm. The principals all sound fully underneath the skin of their characters and entirely on top of Lalo's considerable vocal demands, with van Wanroij and Aldrich nicely contrasted as the sibling rivals and Dubois (who shows real mettle in the more dramatic writing) delivering a heart-stopping account of the work's breakout aria 'Vainement, ma bien-aimée'.' (Katherine Cooper)
Available Formats: CD + Book, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
A Portrait of Chopin
Lara Melda (piano), Carducci Quartet
'Lara Melda and the Carducci Quartet strip away the weight of the orchestra, bringing clarity to Chopin’s extraordinary melodic talents and the interplay between piano and quartet, in arrangements made with Bartłomiej Kominek. The playing is exceptionally well judged, and Melda draws the most beautifully shaded sounds and articulation from the Shigeru Kawai piano. Every note from pianist and quartet speaks, including in the flourishes of the outer movements, yet there is never a moment of over-indulgence, even in one of the most affecting interpretations of the second movement of the first concerto I have ever heard. An indispensable album, beautifully recorded.' (Matthew Ash)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
The White Birds
String Trio Baltia
'This album from String Trio Baltia shines the light on four contemporary Latvian composers. Gundega Šmite takes a rather sideways look at the ever-popular inspiration of birdsong - basing her trio on four white birds from around Latvia, none of which are really known for their singing. Pēteris Vasks, by contrast, has a reputation for more lyrical writing, and his lyrical, meditative Castillo interior is no different. Gundaris Pone explores perspectives on death and mortality in his duet for viola and cello, and Tālivaldis Ķeniņš's trio reflects his feelings on returning to a rapidly-awakening Latvia in 1989.' (David Smith)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Charles Koechlin: Symphony No. 1
Patricia Petibon (soprano), Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Ariane Matiakh
'Charles Koechlin has rarely received the attention his music richly deserves, so it’s good to see Ariane Matiakh follow her persuasive recording of his Seven Stars Symphony with this new album. Koechlin’s first symphony opens in muted mystery and proceeds to cover a lot of stylistic ground throughout its four movements. Matiakh draws persuasive playing from the orchestra, with tasteful balance and huge dynamic range, as she does in opening work, Au loin. The 3 Mélodies, are sung with bright-toned voice and idiomatic French by Petricia Petibon, closing song Epiphane in particular demonstrating her mastery of subtle inflection.' (Matthew Ash)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
British Piano Concertos: Addison; Cannon; Chagrin
Simon Callaghan (piano), BBC NOW, William Boughton
'Pianist Simon Callaghan has done much to champion works by neglected composers, not least in his series of British Piano Concertos on Lyrita, now reaching its third volume. Having featured on both previous instalments, John Addison is represented here not once but twice, with his Piano Concertino plus the one-movement Conversation Piece appearing alongside pieces by Francis Chagrin and Philip Cannon. The slow movement of the former work is a particular highlight, with Callaghan and the BBC National Orchestral of Wales under conductor William Boughton bringing a winning combination of grace, poise, and wit to their playing.' (James Longstaffe)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Complete Works For Oboe By Madeleine Dring
Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Adam Walker (flute), Amy Harman (bassoon), Antonio Oyarzabal (piano)
'The oboe was clearly an instrument close to Dring's heart (her husband Roger Lord occupied the principal chair at the LSO for three decades) and there are some real gems among the smaller pieces on this lovely collection, from the zippy 'Italian Dance' to the plangent transcriptions of Cole Porter's 'In the Still of the Night' and Dring's own 'My Heart Is like a Singing Bird'. The more substantial works are equally engaging - not least the Trio for flute, oboe and piano, where the two woodwind instruments often combine to create sonorities which amount more than the sum of their parts and the spiky finale carries a whisper of Shostakovich and Prokofiev.' (Katherine Cooper)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Daqun: Impressions of Liyuan – Symphonic Concerto Cycle
Zhang Jiajing (Chinese percussion), Wang Junkan (dizi), Lu Yiwen (erhu), Liu Wenwen (suona), Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Lin Daye
'Commissioned by the Shanghai National Orchestra to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Impressions of Liyuan by Jia Daqun (贾达群) is a 'symphonic concerto cycle' or quartet of concertos, each evoking a different style of traditional Chinese opera. It's incredibly ambitious in its scope, not least in the weaving-together of two musical traditions from opposite sides of the world, but it's absolutely compelling. Jia's music is by turns excitingly rhythmic, wistfully melodious and harmonically adventurous, with a thrilling finale.' (David Smith)
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
