Gramophone Editor's Choice: September 2022 | The best new classical recordings
Monday, August 8, 2022
Featuring outstanding new recordings of Mahler's Symphony No 4, Schubert's Symphonies Nos 8 and 9, Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and more
Recording of the month
Mahler Symphony No 4
Sabine Devieilhe sop Les Siècles / François-Xavier Roth (Harmonia Mundi)
Last month’s cover artist discussed the rationale behind his period-performance of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, and the results are as revelatory as we might have hoped. A wonderful recording.
Schubert Symphonies Nos 8 & 9
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Herbert Blomstedt (DG)
Herbert Blomstedt, now 94, draws on a lifetime of Schubertian wisdom, experience and affection in what David Threasher calls ‘a rather special recording’.
‘Jurowski Conducts Stravinsky, Vol 1’
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski (LPO)
Magnificent interpretations of The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, just two parts of a generous opening to a three-album series.
‘A Cembalo certato a Violino solo’
Johannes Pramsohler vn Philippe Grisvard hpd (Audax)
This intelligently programmed set places Bach’s six sonatas for violin and harpsichord in the context of his time with first recordings of many works from the era.
‘Corazón’
John-Henry Crawford vc Victor Santiago Asuncion pf (Orchid)
John-Henry Crawford’s love affair with Latin American music was sparked by winning First Prize in Mexico’s 2019 Carlos Prieto Competition, and this delightful release is the result.
Haydn Piano Sonatas, Vol 11
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet pf (Chandos)
A brilliant series ends on a note worthy of all the previous volumes – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s desire to share his affection for Haydn’s music with us is infectious. A superb survey.
D Scarlatti Keyboard Sonatas
Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy pf (Piano Classics)
‘A deeply fulfilling and beautifully engineered Scarlatti programme,’ writes Jed Distler of this album from Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy. Do listen to it.
Blackford Mirror of Perfection
Britten Sinfonia / David Hill (Lyrita)
Two works by Richard Blackford – one a second recording, and wonderfully done at that, the second a response to Covid – earn admiration from our critic Guy Rickards.
Massenet ‘Songs with Orchestra’
Sols; Paris Chamber Orchestra / Hervé Niquet (Bru Zane)
A stylishly performed recital of 25 of Massenet’s songs, only four previously recorded, by a vocal line-up and conductor truly alive to the composer’s sound world.
Mouton Missa Faulte d’argent
The Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice (Hyperion)
There’s a vivid sense of excitement in the Brabant Ensemble’s approach to Mouton’s music, the late-medieval works full of variety, character and individuality.
DVD/blu-ray
Wagner Der fliegende Holländer
Sols; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra / Oksana Lyniv (DG)
In his review, Mike Ashman praises the performance, and offers a sufficiently intriguing account of the production for you to decide whether or not it’s for you.
Reissue/archive
‘Elgar from America, Vol 3’
John Barbirolli (Somm Ariadne)
Sir John Barbirolli’s insight into The Dream of Gerontius is well known, but here comes another glorious recording of him conducting the work, with the New York Philharmonic live from Carnegie Hall in 1959.
You can read the reviews of all of these albums – and many more – in the September issue of Gramophone magazine and in our Reviews Database. Explore our subscription packages to find out more
