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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6
Complete Symphonies Volume 1
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend
de Vriend comes to Beethoven from the Baroque and Classical end of the repertory...These are strong, thrustful performances which make sense in terms of the music in hand and the orchestra's... —
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Mia Yrmana Fremosa
Medieval woman's songs of love and pain
Triphonia: Amanda Simmons, Gaby Bultmann & Leila Schoeneich
They display a wide variety of instrumental colours and often lively playing of substantial virtuosity. They are particularly resourceful in their percussion, drawing very heavily on the Arabic... —
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In a crowded field, this new version stands its ground. Tempi tend to be swifter than some, and when it comes to capturing the intensity of creation of Beethoven's extraordinary triptych, the... —
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Buxtehude - Vocal Works 2
Opera Omnia V - Cantatas, Concertos, and miscellaneous pieces
Bettina Pahn, Johannette Zomer (soprano), Bogna Bartosz, Patrick van Goethem, Daniel Taylor (alto), Jörg Dürmüller, Andreas Karasiak (tenor), Donald Bentvelsen & Klaus Mertens (bass)
The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman
The Amsterdam Baroque Choir and Orchestra provide well rounded choral contributions and lithe playing, each aspect performed with tangible engagement. …Koopman… directs proceedings judiciously,... —
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Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'
Annemarie Kremer (soprano), Wilke te Brummelstroete (alto), Marcel Reijans (tenor) & Geert Smits (baritone)
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend
it's a considerable relief to turn to interpreters who respond first of all to the text in front of them...what one actually hears is a symphony composed in 1824 and not 1884...The adroit members... —
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Shostakovich & Ravel: Piano Trios
Trio Mondrian: Ohad Ben-Ari (piano), Daniel Bard (violin) & Hila Karni (cello)
The opening movement of the Ravel starts out tentatively and continues in a state of apprehension, but the approach makes perfect sense once you hear their Shostakovich: restraint is rewarded... —
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Castello & Co: Venetian Sonatas for Winds and Strings
Kathryn Cok (harpsichord & organ), Wouter Verschuren (dulcian), Adam Woolf (alto and tenor trombone), Bjarte Eike, Aira Maria Lehtipuu (violin) & Jamie Savan (cornetto and cornetto muto)
The combination of instruments – mainly harpsichord, dulcian and high or low trombone, with violins and cornetts joining in for some works – may sound unpromising but proves varied and spirited.... —
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Liza & Dmitry Ferschtman: Duos for Violin & Cello
Liza Ferschtman (violin) & Dmitry Ferschtman (cello)
Pungent performances of three fine duos by seasoned veterans: the Kodaly is a little formal, but the Ravel is visceral. The Schulhoff is at once haunting and raw. —
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This performance [of Pictures] proves his win was neither just a flash in the pan, nor a sentimental gesture from the judges. Tsujii's initial 'Promenade' comes across with a clean, sustained,... —
