Reviews by Charlotte Gardner
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Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov: Piano Trios Lang Lang (feat. Vadim Repin, Mischa Maisky)
Lang Lang can not only do chamber music, but do it phenomenally well. -
Beethoven and Korngold Violin Concertos Renaud Capucon, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin
Altogether, an elegantly feel-good disc. -
Within a Dream – A Celebration of the Artistry of Richard Hickox Various Artists
Serves to highlight Hickox’s wide-ranging musical knowledge and tastes. -
Verismo Renée Fleming
Fleming has more than justified her diva status. -
Sehnsucht Jonas Kaufmann
The orchestra and choir colour well the moods and tones set by Kaufmann. -
Brahms: Complete Symphonies (Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle) Johannes Brahms
This recording absolutely delivers on Brahms’ depth and beauty. -
Brahms: Symphony 3 / Choral Works (Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique/Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner) Johannes Brahms
Riveting, enlightening and enjoyable in equal measure. -
L'amour De Loin Kaija Saariaho
A finely balanced performance that works almost as well on disc as it does on stage. -
Scotland at Night - Choral Settings of Scottish Poetry from Robert Burns to Alexander McCall Smith Various Artists
Surprises and enlightenment come thick and fast in this presentation of Scottish culture. -
Vivaldi (Venice Baroque Orchestra feat. conductor: Andrea Marcon, Mezzo-Soprano: Magdalena Kozena) Antonio Vivaldi
It's back to Baroque for Magdalena Kozena. -
The Complete Music for Violin & Piano (feat. violin: Alina Ibragimova, piano: Cedric Tiberghien Karol Szymanowski
Extraordinary technique and powers of expression in glorious audio technicolour. -
Ten Sonatas in Four Parts (Retrospect Trio) Henry Purcell
Marks the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth, and a fitting tribute it is. -
Not no faceless Angel and other choral works (Polyphony feat. Stephen Layton, conductor) Gabriel Jackson
Music to take the ears and the mind heavenwards, whatever you believe. -
Midsummer Night Kate Royal
Luscious vocals and effortless, pure top register – a disc to be revisited again. -
Violin Concertos 1 & 3, Sinfonia Concertante (Scottish Chamber Orchestra feat. conductor: Louis Langrée, vln: Renaud Capuçon, vla: Antoine Tamestit) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
There is real artistic synergy here -
Floodplain Kronos Quartet
A disc that stretches, excites and inspires the senses. -
The Sofa/The Departure Elizabeth Maconchy
The credit really goes to Independent Opera's vibrant productions -
Via Crucis Pawel Lukaszewski
Almost too emotionally overwhelming. -
Sonatas For Fortepiano And Violin Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A real pleasure. -
Romance du Soir The King's Singers
If only all artists could find such an elegant way of bridging these two musical worlds. -
24 Caprices Niccolo Paganini
She plays with intensity and maturity -
L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges Maurice Ravel
Quite wonderful. -
Masses: Malheur Me Bat, Fortuna Desperata Josquin des Prez
Showcases the extraordinary complexity of Josquin's writing -
Piano Trios Volume 1 Joseph Haydn
Their lines of phrase are smoothly satisfying -
Teatro d'Amore Claudio Monteverdi
Very special, and very surprising -
Solo Cantatas Johann Sebastian Bach
Just the right amount of religious propriety. -
Dido And Aeneas Henry Purcell
This truly feels like the 'Dido' for the 21st century. -
Concerti Grossi After Corelli Giovanni Benedetto Platti
This disc's success, though, is really due to the performances... -
Horn Concerto / Alphabicycle Order Colin Matthews
It would be hard to come up with a more contrasting pair of works -
Colloredo Serenade K.203 and Divertimento K.251 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Altogether, fine stuff. -
Furore: Handel Opera Arias Georg Friedrich Händel
All in all, a marvellous solo album debut. -
Songs My Mother Taught Me Magdalena Kozená
Carries the same personal originality that made her debut album stand out from the crowd. -
Cello Sonatas Vol 1 Ludwig van Beethoven
An expressiveness that borders on the sublime. -
Piano Concertos Johann Sebastian Bach
He couldn't have made a better beginning... -
Cello Concertos Antonio Vivaldi
A performance oozing soul and individuality. -
Complete Piano Works Volume 2 Maurice Ravel
A deeply pleasurable disc -
Piano Concertos 21 & 22 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Fantastic stuff. -
Symphonie Fantastique Hector Berlioz
Disappointing, but not catastrophic as to the CD's overall likeability. -
Threshold Of Night Tarik O'Regan
Striking, intense, captivating -
Der Tod Und Das Madchen Franz Schubert
You'd have to be a real hater of too-presto prestos not to be seduced by these musicians. -
The Wanderer: Lieder & Fragments Franz Schubert
By golly is it an impressive compilation. -
Soirées Musicales Rossini
...arresting, intimate and evocative in equal measure. -
Natasha Natasha Marsh
Marsh is undeniably popular, and for good reason. -
Chamber Works Olivier Messiaen
This is special playing from a special group of musicians. -
The Feast of the Ascension at Westminster Abbey Choir of Westminster Abbey
Another offering to lift the soul heavenwards from James O'Donnell and his choir. -
Baroque Gabriela Montero
It is music to let your hair down to, without discarding your brain along the way. -
Matthew Passion Johann Sebastian Bach
From the word go, the Dunedin Consort draws you in. -
Symphonies Nos. 38 - 41 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
In all the symphonies, the transparency of sound has you sitting bolt upright,... -
Great Handel Handel
...the whole disc is undoubtedly an enjoyable listen. -
Maria Cecilia Bartoli
Wonderful music sung by a modern-day star.