Editor's Choice recordings – June 2016
Gramophone
Friday, May 20, 2016
Martin Cullingford’s pick of the finest recordings from this month’s reviews
Recording of the month
Rachmaninov Etudes-tableaux, Op 39. Moments musicaux, Op 16
Boris Giltburg pf
Naxos
This highly gifted pianist’s well-chosen survey of Rachmaninov’s solo works reveals a remarkable instinct for getting to the heart of the composer’s music, and then making it his own. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Prokofiev Symphony No 5. Scythian Suite
Deutsche Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin / Tugan Sokhiev
Sony Classical
Tugan Sokhiev is building an impressive catalogue of Russian repertoire recordings, and this Prokofiev Fifth is an addition very much worth acquiring. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Berg. Schoenberg. Webern Complete Works for String Quartet
Diotima Quartet
Naïve
A hugely impressive survey, not just of the works for quartet by these key 20th century composers, but of the interpretative skill of this fine ensemble too. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Franck Piano Quintet Debussy String Quartet
Marc-André Hamelin pf Takács Quartet
Hyperion
The superb, ever illuminating Takács (exquisite in the Debussy) and the brilliant virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin unite for a truly beautiful take on the Franck Quintet. Read the review
‘Virtuoso’
Leonidas Kavakos vn Enrico Pace pf
Decca
These show-stopping virtuoso pieces push the violin (not to mention violinist) to the absolute limit, something the excellent soloist Leonidas Kavakos handles, and revels in, brilliantly. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Audio Editor Andrew Everard writes: It takes some chutzpah to name your album Virtuoso, but fortunately Kavakos’s performances of this set of lollipops more or less live up to the title: it’s anything but dull and shows the range of the violinist’s talents. He’s served by a sound that’s equally expressive and dynamic in its 96kHz/24bit form, giving a wide-open view of both instrument and performance: there’s a strangely muted sound to the piano in the opening Danse Russe from Petrouchka, but that aside the timbres here are both persuasive and captivating, and while the bill of fare here may be a bit rich to tackle at one sitting, this is an enjoyable ‘dip in, dip out’ compilation, and a fine showcase for just what high-resolution audio can bring to your listening.
JS Bach Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas
Rachel Barton Pine vn
Avie
Playing that feels entirely at the service of Bach’s profound music, but in the best possible way: a powerful and personal performance of these masterpieces for solo violin. Read the review
‘Neglected Works for Piano’
Bengt Forsberg pf
dB Productions
Neglected works, by neglected composers – all of whom are women – are given richly rewarding and beautiful advocacy by Bengt Forsberg. A fascinating and compelling recording. Read the review
Machaut Messe de Nostre Dame
Graindelavoix / Bruno Schmelzer
Glossa
This is wonderfully exciting – there’s an earthy passion underpinning the excellent musicianship which lends something very different and quite unforgettable to Machaut’s music. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Satie Socrate. Mélodies
Barbara Hannigan sop Reinbert de Leeuw pf
Winter & Winter
Songs which seem tailor-made for Barbara Hannigan’s skill at making controlled coolness seem rich and dramatic, with equally superb piano support from Reinbert de Leeuw. Read the review
Zelenka Missa Divi Xaverii
Collegium 1704 / Václav Luks
Accent
Marvellous theatricality and virtuosity, combined with excellent singing throughout, make this a first-class recording of this 18th-century Mass. Read the review | Download from Qobuz
DVD/blu-ray
Verdi La forza del destino
Sols incl Harteros & Kaufmann; Bavarian State Orchestra / Asher Fisch
Sony Classical
The star is very much Anja Harteros, who as Leonora is ‘mesmerising, exuding a sense of noble tragedy’ writes reviewer Hugo Shirley. Read the review
Reissue/archive
Arnold The Complete Conifer Recordings
Sony Classical
A welcome return to the catalogue for this survey of Arnold’s orchestral music. Download from Qobuz
