Vladimir Jurowski’s new recording of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony no. 1 is a tightly-played, exciting reading; The Yiddish Cabaret’s only real offense relates to poor labeling; The transcriptions in Russian Masquerade are played with spunk and vitality.
Jerusalem Quartet
Classical CD Reviews: Shades of Debussy at 100
An impressive collection of nine new releases (seven of which are reviewed here). While some might not displace the classic recordings of Debussy already out there, this gathering offers some welcome and fresh interpretive contrasts.
CD Reviews: Jerusalem Quartet plays Bartók and Heath Quartet plays Tchaikovsky
Jerusalem Quartet’s Bartók is more elegant than hard-edged; Heath Quartet’s Tchaikovsky is vigorous and sweeping.
Classical CD Reviews: Smetana and Janacek — String Quartets, Schoenberg and Berg — Music for Strings (Harmonia Mundi)
Two new recordings from Harmonia Mundi offer gripping performances, including one of the Smetana String Quartet no.1 that’s particularly full of fire and life.