Shostakovich Symphony No 11

Despite the rawness and occasional congestion of the sound this is a performance of extraordinary vehemence. There is an element...

Reviewed by Michael Oliver in issue: 8/1994

Brahms/Dvorák Chamber Works

Leonskaja and the Alban Berg Quartet face considerable competition here, and not least quantatively, from Ranki and colleagues on Hungaroton/Conifer...

Reviewed by Joan Chissell in issue: 10/1988

Chopin Piano Works

Though observing that Chopin's style of piano playing was sufficiently personal and elusive almost to defy description, the late Arthur...

Reviewed by Joan Chissell in issue: 2/1992

Bartók: Orchestral Works

Soulless Bartok well-packaged, well-displayed but barely score-deep. Consider the ''Elegia'' from the Concerto for Orchestra. Bartok's 'vale of tears' is...

Reviewed by Edward Seckerson in issue: 1/1991

David Oistrakh

Reviewed by Edward Greenfield in issue: 2/2003

Borodin/Tchaikovsky String Quartets

The Brodsky Quartet has a good feeling for the structure of both these works; it would be still more effectively...

Reviewed by John Warrack in issue: 9/1991

Bach Motets

There is no shortage of currently available recordings of Bach's motets and there is no clear choice between them, either....

Reviewed by Nicholas Anderson in issue: 10/1989

Khatchaturian Gayaneh - excerpts; Symphony 2

Decca's first batch of CDs in their new Enterprise series has unleashed some valuable gems from their back catalogue. Unfortunately,...

Reviewed by Michael Stewart in issue: 9/1990

Mahler (Das) Lied von der Erde

I sometimes wonder by what measure smaller companies price their offerings, given the competition from available classics. This is a...

Reviewed by Alan Blyth in issue: 13/2005

In the mirror of time

It’s a delightful idea to commemorate Paul Badura-Skoda’s long and distinguished career by issuing these two Trout recordings. Separated by...

Reviewed by DuncanDruce in issue: 3/2006