CD, Prokofiev (composer)
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Sibelius & Prokofiev: Violin Concertos
RecommendedJanine Jansen (violin), Klaus Mäkelä (cello), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
So impressive. Janine Jansen essentially strips these pieces of all the years of what one might call ‘performance adornment’ and takes them back to their elemental roots. —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 7th June 2024
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winners 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Concertos
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Gramophone Awards, 2025 Shortlist, Concerto
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Throughout this enthralling and warmly recorded performance, Osborne maximises colour and atmosphere, yet manages to achieve a freshness of approach without recourse to idiosyncratic mannerisms.... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 21st January 2013
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2013, Disc of the month
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2013, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2013, Winner - Instrumental
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Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5
RecommendedJean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda
Throughout, Bavouzet displays a light touch and laudable levels of physical stamina, with a firm grasp of the very different personalities of each piece. Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic perform... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2014, Disc of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2014
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Building a Library, May 2017, Also Recommended
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Gramophone Awards, 2014, Winner - Concerto
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Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas & Five Melodies
RecommendedAlina Ibragimova (violin), Steven Osborne (piano)
From the austere opening bars...it's clear that this violin-and-piano duo is capable of the subtlest interplay. Steven Osborne is the lion, or the demon, that needs taming by Alina Ibragimova's... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 14th July 2014
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BBC Music Magazine, August 2014, Chamber Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2014, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2014
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His account of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet suite affords further evidence that he is one of the world’s most accomplished poets of the keyboard, and I have never heard ‘Ondine’ so dainty and... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 12th January 2024
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BBC Music Magazine, February 2024, Instrumental Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2024, Recording of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2024 Shortlist, Shortlisted - Piano
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Solo Instrument
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Gramophone Magazine, Critics' Choice 2024
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Poltéra Plays Prokofiev
RecommendedChristian Poltéra (cello), Juho Pohjonen (piano), Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Anja Bihlmaier
Poltéra has all the warmth and variety of tone, plus technical address, the score demands...There are plenty of distinguished versions of this repertoire on CD, but at bargain price none that... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, August 2024, Concerto Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
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Prokofiev & Shostakovich: Cello Concertos
RecommendedSteven Isserlis (cello)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi
Here at last is a recording to persuade sceptics that Prokofiev's Cello Concerto is not just an interesting but rather drab failure...both Isserlis and Jarvi leave their competition standing... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 2nd March 2015
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2016, Concerto Finalist
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2015
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A supremely intelligent, deeply feeling artist of the first order. —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2018, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2019, Winner - Instrumental
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Grammy Awards, 62nd Awards (2019), Nominee - Best Classical Instrumental Solo
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Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2
Haochen Zhang (piano)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dima Slobodeniouk
Zhang possesses a clarity of finger and thought that are highly impressive. Passages that are often sounded with an all-purpose pyrotechnical pizzazz here possess a transparent sparkle, refreshingly... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2019, Editor's Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Concerto
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From first electrifying note-punch to last, with so much poetry and poignancy in between, this is a tour de force of pianism highlighting what seems more than ever like the great sonata sequence... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2020, Editor's Choice
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Record Review, 8th February 2020, Record of the Week
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2020, Recording of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2020, Finalist - Instrumental
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2021, Winner - Instrumental
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