BIS
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Nielsen & Sibelius: Violin Concertos
RecommendedJohan Dalene (violin), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Dalene has a strong command of long evolving lines – crucial in both composers – but he balances that with a fine feeling for ‘speaking’ phrasing and articulation...The expression can certainly... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2022, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 1st April 2022
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Gramophone Awards, 2022, Shortlisted - Concerto
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Concerto
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2022
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Nominated - Concerto
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Alfred Schnittke & Arvo Pärt: Choral Works
RecommendedRaul Mikson (tenor), Maria Melaha (soprano), Karolina Kriis (soprano), Marianne Pärna (alto), Ave Hännikäinen (alto), Toomas Tohert (tenor), Kaia Urb (soprano)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Kaspars Putniņš
The performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under Kaspars Putiniņš is really impressive with a particularly rich and sonorous bass sound that is absolutely tailor- made for this... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2018, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2018, Winner - Choral
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2018
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Weber: Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra
RecommendedRonald Brautigam (fortepiano), Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens
Both concertos have a presto finale which calls for dazzling virtuosity – something which Brautigam has in spades: his fearless pyrotechnics are truly astounding. He’s stylishly supported by... —
Awards:
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2021
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Concerto
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The Chiaroscuro Quartet are particularly good at capturing the more forward-looking moments…Their use of gut strings and a historically-informed approach produces focused tone throughout; the... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2018
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Record Review, 17th November 2018, Disc of the Week
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Chamber Music
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Johann Wilhelm Wilms: The Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
RecommendedRonald Brautigam (piano), Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens
Brautigam and Willens plainly believe in this music: they collaborated on the editions used, and create performances of lightness and transparency, matched by the recording’s clarity. —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 1st July 2022
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Concerto
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Bach - Motets
RecommendedYukari Nonoshita & Aki Matsui (soprano), Damien Guillon (counter-tenor), Satoshi Mizukoshi (tenor) & Dominik Wörner (bass)
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
The performance is, as you'd now expect from [Suzuki's] Collegium, excellent. Voices range from delicate soloists to a splendidly light and transparent 18-strong chorus. Instrumental support... —
Awards:
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Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2011, Choral Award Winner
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2010, Winner - Musique Chorale
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Building A Library, May 2021, Recommended Recording
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Ravel & Saint-Saëns: Piano Trios
Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin), Isang Enders (cello), Wu Qian (piano), Sitkovetsky Trio
It’s ravishingly done by the Sitkovetsky Trio, who more than inhabit the scope of Ravel’s expressive language and ambition in his attempt to expand the form’s musical language. —
Awards:
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Chamber Music
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2022, Winner - Chamber
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Mozart: Mass in C minor, K427 'Great'
RecommendedCarolyn Sampson (soprano), Olivia Vermeulen (alto), Makoto Sakurada (tenor), Christian Immler (bass)
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
Stripping the score right back, Suzuki makes musicianship dominate. He taps into the subtle arts of his fellow performers, especially Carolyn Sampson, to create a benchmark performance…Sampson... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, January 2017, Disc of the month
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2016, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2017, Winner - Choral
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Building a Library, September 2020, Recommended Recording
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Victorious Love - Songs by Henry Purcell
RecommendedCarolyn Sampson (soprano), Laurence Cummings (harpsichord & spinet), Elizabeth Kenny (archlute / theorbo), Anne-Marie Lasla (bass viol), Sarah Sexton (violin I), Andrea Morris (violin II) & Jane Rogers (viola)
Her tone is extraordinarily beautiful: natural, warm and unforced, with almost superhuman vocal athleticism —
Awards:
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Building a Library, February 2014, Top Recital Recommendation
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2007, Editor's Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
RecommendedMartin Fröst (clarinet), with Janine Jansen (violin), Boris Brovtsyn (violin), Maxim Rysanov (viola), Torleif Thedéen (cello), with Roland Pöntinen (piano), with Torleif Thedéen (cello) & Roland Pöntinen (piano)
Br
Fröst revels in the deep-plush velvet of his chalumeau regions - and, indeed, sustains this timbre throughout the instrument's register...the ensemble creates cutting-edge rhythmic urgency,... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2014, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2014
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Gramophone Awards, 2015, Finalist - Chamber
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