The Best Reissues & Archive Releases of 2017
Gramophone
Friday, December 8, 2017
Here are Editor Martin Cullingford's selections, by issue, of the finest reissues and archive releases of 2017
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January
JS Bach Complete Works
Zuzana Růžičková hpd
(Erato)
A significant set celebrating this fine harpsichordist’s survey of Bach’s solo keyboard music.
![](/media/198866/koussevitzky_american_pasc484-200.jpg)
February
Diamond. Harris. Hill Symphonies
Boston SO / Koussevitzky
(Pristine Audio)
Koussevitzky conducting the premiere of Harris’s Symphony No 5: ‘an important release’, writes Rob Cowan.
![](/media/198865/william_kapell-200.jpg)
March
William Kapell
Marston
Killed in a plane crash aged 31, Kapell’s discography is relatively small: these broadcasts and concerts, many of them first releases, are valuable additions.
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April
‘From Melba to Sutherland’
Eloquence
80 singers in all: a great celebration of a country’s contribution to the art of opera.
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May
Michael Gielen Edition, Vol 4
SWR Music
‘Even more revelatory than the first three volumes’, suggests Rob Cowan of the latest instalment in this Michael Gielen series.
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June
Beethoven Complete String Quartets
Takács Qt
Decca
I attended some of these sessions and can still recall the forensic care and commitment the Takács brought to these works.
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July
Rachmaninov ‘The Edison Recordings’
Sergey Rachmaninov pf
Naxos
A valuable glimpse into the sound world and artistry of one of history’s greatest pianists.
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August
JS Bach Brandenburg Concertos
Newstone
Heritage
A significant set, Harry Newstone’s early stereo Brandenburg Concertos get a deserved re-release.
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September
Gundula Janowitz ‘The Last Recital’
First Hand
The soprano’s final recital, nine years after she officially retired from the stage: a moving recording of a remarkable occasion.
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Awards 2017 Issue
Mozart Symphonies Nos 39 & 40
Staatskapelle Dresden / Otmar Suitner
Berlin Classics
Suitner’s fine archive Mozart is, as Rob Cowan writes, well worth investigating.
![](/media/198859/rachmaninov_preludes_0-200.jpg)
October
Rachmaninov Preludes
Moura Lympany pf
Decca Eloquence
Quite a historic event – the first recording of all of Rachmaninov's Preludes, made by Moura Lympany in 1941-2.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
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November
Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Wilhelm Kempff pf
APR
APR once again shines in its commitment to making past legends a living part of today’s catalogue.
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December
Purcell The Fairy Queen
Soloists; Boyd Neel Orchestra / Anthony Lewis
Decca Eloquence
The Fairy Queen’s first recording, reissued.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz