RECORDING OF THE MONTH

BEETHOVEN ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonatas

Murray Perahia pf

DG

Murray Perahia, one of today’s very finest pianists, brings intelligence, grace and virtuosity to these most well-known of sonatas – a superb recording of real drama and beauty.

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‘THE GERSHWIN MOMENT’

Kirill Gerstein pf St Louis Symphony Orchestra / David Robertson

Myrios

Kirill Gerstein’s famed virtuosity meets his jazz background to produce a thrilling, hugely enjoyable and well thought-out celebration of Gershwin’s music.

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FRANCK String Quartet. Piano Quintet

Paavali Jumppanen pf Danel Quartet

CPO

Critic Andrew Farach-Colton’s praise for this Franck chamber set, and for Quatuor Danel’s gripping interpretations, couldn’t be stronger: ‘urgently recommended’, he concludes.

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MARTINŮ Madrigals

Martinů Voices / Lukáš Vasilek

Supraphon

Extraordinary, skilful and atmospheric music, both sacred and secular, from Martin≤ – words which equally apply to the music-making itself from the ensemble named in his honour.

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JS BACH Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, BWV1014-1019

Isabelle Faust vn Kristian Bezuidenhout hpd

Harmonia Mundi

Isabelle Faust and Kristian Bezuidenhout’s experience in performing these works together pays dividends once in front of the mics on this wonderful set.

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BERSA ‘Complete Piano Music, Vol 1’

Goran Filipec pf

Grand Piano

New music to me, but what a delight to discover! This is the opening volume of a series devoted to the Croatian composer Blagoje Bersa’s, and one couldn’t ask for a better champion than Goran Filipec.

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SCHNITTKE Psalms of Repentance

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Kaspars Putniņš

BIS

Possibly the best recording yet of one of the choral repertoire’s most technically challenging works, says critic Ivan Moody of this powerful Schnittke recording.

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FRANCK. POULENC Cello Sonatas

Edgar Moreau vc David Kadouch pf

Erato

Well-known favourites and less familiar works are given equally excellent advocacy by the ever-impressive young French cellist Edgar Moreau and pianist David Kadouch.

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DEBUSSY ‘Songs, Vol 4’

Lucy Crowe sop Malcolm Martineau pf

Hyperion

Debussy features heavily in this issue, and if you’re inspired to explore his music further then this, the latest volume in Hyperion’s series of his songs, is an exquisite place to turn.

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HANDEL Arias

Franco Fagioli counterten Il Pomo d’Oro / Zefira Valova vn

DG

From theatrical fireworks to slower arias, countertenor Franco Fagioli brings drama and superb singing to this Handel showcase; Il Pomo d’Oro offer excellent accompaniment.

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Audio Editor Andrew Everard writes: 'A gloriously exuberant set of Handel arias, with the 96kHz/24bit high-resolution release really bringing out the ambience and depth of the recording. The hi-res version adds crispness and bite to the orchestral performances accompanying Franco Fagioli’s remarkable voice, which stands firmly centre stage and is delivered with fine presence.'

DVD/BLU-RAY

TCHAIKOVSKY The Queen of Spades

Sols; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Mariss Jansons

C Major Entertainment

Tchaikovsky himself becomes a central character in his own opera in this staging from Amsterdam, a ‘terrific memento of a provocative but enthralling production’, writes reviewer Mark Pullinger.

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REISSUE/ARCHIVE

MAHLER Kindertotenlieder STRAUSS Tod und Verklärung

Brigitte Fassbaender mez Munich Philharmonic / Sergiu Celibidache

Münchner Philharmoniker

Deeply moving Mahler from Brigitte Fassbaender makes for a compelling release.

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