Herbert Blomstedt conducts a powerful version of Mahler’s valedictory essay, organist Christopher Jacobson provides a so-so “Organ” Symphony, and Kirill Petrenko’s initial recording as the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic is lovely.
Pentatone
Classical CD Reviews: Finley & Drake’s “Schwanengesang,” Bostridge & Adès’ “Winterreise,” Meglioranza & Uchida’s “Die schöne Müllerin”
Reviews of three superior vocal recordings, featuring baritone Gerald Finley, tenor Ian Bostridge, and baritone Thomas Meglioranza.
Classical CD Reviews: Jansons’ “Resurrection” Symphony, Harding’s Mahler Five, and Steinbacher’s Strauss
Two Mahler symphony entries: one is above average, the other a disappointment. Violinist Arabella Steinbacher delivers a first-rate and strongly recommended disc.
Classical CD Reviews: Sir Neville Marriner — The London Recordings, Richard Strauss, Ein Heldenleben, James MacMillan String Quartets
A winning reminder of Sir Neville Marriner’s impressive stylistic range as a conductor, a fine recording of a much-loved and -played Richard Strauss tone poem, and a striking, powerful presentation of the string quartets of James MacMillan.
Classical CD Reviews: Jonathan Nott conducts Ligeti, Herbert Blomstedt conducts Mozart, Kopelman Quartet Performs the Kissin String Quartet
Jonathan Nott does right by Ligeti and Herbert Blomstedt does the same for Mozart. You didn’t know that Evgeny Kissin, the piano virtuoso, was also a composer? Join the club.
Classical CD Reviews: Schumann’s Choral Music and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang
Conductor Aapo Häkkinen explores Robert Schumann’s writing for chorus;Andrew Manze caps off his three-volume Mendelssohn symphony survey with a glorious performance of the oddball Symphony no. 2.
Classical CD Reviews: Lars Vogt plays Beethoven, James Ehnes plays Walton, Denis Kozhukhin plays Ravel & Gershwin, Francesca Dego plays Paganini & Wolf-Ferrari
Superb discs from pianist Lars Vogt, violinist Francesca Dego, pianist Denis Kozhukhin, and violinist James Ehnes on the viola.
Classical CD Reviews: Estonian Festival Orchestra’s Shostakovich and Andrew Manze’s Mendelssohn, vol. 2
Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra present a probing and excellent version of Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 6.
Classical CD Reviews: Prokofiev’s “Cantata on the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution” and “Music of the Americas”
It’s not Prokofiev at his finest, but his “very good” was above just about everybody else’s best.
Classical CD Reviews: Hindemith Orchestral Works and Symphonic Psalms
Conductor Marek Janowski’s Hindemith is all vigor and athleticism; Tenebrae’s Symphonic Psalms & Prayers is captivating.