Chandos
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All the soloists are excellent, and thoughtful casting among the four baritones and bass-baritones has allotted the Israelite father to Matthew Brook, who brings just that touch of extra warmth... —
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Weber: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 & Bassoon Concerto
Karen Geoghegan (bassoon)
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena
The performances are pretty astringent, Juanjo Mena persuading the BBC Philharmonic to play as if they were a period orchestra, with wiry lean string tone and rasping woodwind. —
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Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No.3
James Ehnes (violin), BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena
There’s also much to enjoy, albumwide, from the playing here. Ehnes, with that elegant, effortless technique of his own, brings a cool, cantabile purity to the Saint-Saëns concerto’s lilting... —
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Scharwenka: Piano Concertos Nos. 1–4
Alexander Markovich (piano)
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Jarvi's watchful support and...control of orchestral dynamics gives Markovich more room to shape phrases effortlessly: his playing is especially fine [in the Scherzo of No. 1], cool-headed,... —
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Stravinsky: Works for piano and orchestra
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier
[Bavouzet] captures the spirit of these disparate works...The São Paulo Symphony Orchestra under Yan Pascal Tortelier proves a remarkably deft partner, matching so that the numerous accents,... —
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 7 & Toward the Unknown Region
Catherine Bott (soprano), Roderick Elms (organ)
London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
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Edward Gardner conducts Holst & Richard Strauss
CBSO Youth Chorus, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Edward Gardner
Here these showpieces are played with all the zest and freshness one may hope for from these highly skilled young musicians...It perhaps does not require a conductor of Edward Gardner's calibre... —
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The bulk of Britten's choral output, repackaged at budget level from full-price originals. Wonderfully sympathetic performances, rich recording. A top bargain for the Britten centenary. —
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These are performances on the largest scale…although of course only four instruments are playing, you have to remind yourself that you’re not listening to a symphony orchestra…I have found,... —
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Beethoven: Piano Concertos
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano), Karin Egardt (oboe), Kevin Spagnolo (clarinet), Mikael Lindström (bassoon), Terése Larsson (horn), Swedish Chamber Orchestra
This latest set in a year that threatens a surfeit of Beethoven piano concerto releases gets better as it goes along...in the grandeur, sweep and spontaneity he brings to the opening movement... —
