Orchestral - Classical Explorer

A Summer Night Concert 2021

A lovely disc, worth its weight in gold for that superb Levit Rachmaninov

The Symphonies of Louise Farrenc

Rarely can Farrenc's music have spoken with so much power and so much eloquence; rarely can her genius have shone through so brightly

Stravinsky

Ballets Russes from Roth

Rediscover Stravinsky's seminal ballets on authentic instruments; discover some new friends in "Les Orientales"

Shostakovich

Early and late Shostakovich from Andris Nelsons and the Bostonians

An amazing twofer; one definitely worth adding to your library

Brahms

Brahms' Third and a magnificent Serenade

We have to thank Iván Fischer for his championing of this wonderful Serenade

Bruckner

A Bavarian Bruckner Three from Jansons

We've met Janson's Bruckner Sixth Symphony before on Classical Explorer. Now it's time for the Third - but "which" Third is it? The thorny question of Bruckner's revisions raises its head. Jansons has opted for the 1889 third version, which has a laudable tautness of structure. The Bavarian orchestra is

Prokofiev

Vasily Petrenko conducts Prokofiev and Myaskovsky

This is a spectacularly successful series

Violin

Francesca Dego plays Paganini and Wolf-Ferrari

A disc to cherish; a fabulously inventive coupling, and performances that glow with the energy of youth

Tchaikovsky

The return of Paavo Järvi: Tchaikovsky Symphonies 2 & 4

Järvi brings a modern view to the scores, revealing their multifaceted genius without diminishing the power. Quite an achievement!

Shostakovich

Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony: a plea for reappraisal

Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony is such a rewarding score, fully deserving of our attention

Orchestral

The Music of Paul Wranitsky: Orchestral Works

Given Naxos' laudable penchant for completism, it is good to note that this is "Orchestral Works 1" ...

Orchestral

Fantasy of Companionship

My, how the world needs upbeat music, expertly performed, right now. And here it is!

Orchestral

Sir Adrian Boult: A Musical Legacy

A salutary reminder of the greatness of this most English of conductors

Beethoven

The return of Currentzis: Beethoven Seventh

There are very few discs that, when they arrive, cause one to drop everything, head to the player and listen straight away. This is one such disc. Regular readers may remember that, some nine months ago, Classical Explorer began its journeyings with Currentzis' Beethoven Fifth. Currentzis is probably the only

Orchestral

The Curious World of C. P. E. Bach

Johann Sebastian had a lot of children - a lot. Most of them unsurprisingly composed to a greater or lesser degree: we think of Johann Christian Bach (J. C. Bach, 1735-82), the so-called "London Bach" most readily perhaps, for, his gallant, supremely well shaped music, itself a rich vein to

Orchestral

George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra: The Forgotten Recordings

This is a major release of historical recordings that at once reminds us of the stature of George Szell and his superb Cleveland Orchestra while also filling out our picture of their collaboration. The monolingual booklet comprises an extended essay by Lani Spahr on Szell himself. We hear how Szell

Orchestral

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 1: two new rivals

You wait for ages, then two turn up at once ...

Mahler

Mahler's Unfinished: The Tenth Symphony

This Mahler 10 puts the Minnesota Orchestra up there as one ofthe World's great orchestras

Violin

Paris: Hilary Hahn plays Chausson, Prokofiev & Rautavaara

The choice of music is exquisite; the result, fully satisfying ...

Orchestral

Encountering Bruckner's Sixth Symphony

Bruckner's score holds great treasures if we only give it a chance ...

Contemporary

The World Was Once All Miracle: The Defiantly Eclectic World of Raymond Yiu

If you like music that is intriguing, entertaining, challenging, sophisticated and sometimes outrageous, you'll like this

Respighi

Respighi's "orchestral interpretations" of Bach and Rachmaninov

Composers interacting with other composers' music is a fascinating subject. From virtuoso 19th century pianists transcribing Bach organ works for the piano to the likes of Wendy Carlos and Leopold Stokowski, each offers us an opportunity not only to revel in the new but to remind ourselves of the strengths

Clarinet

Caprices & Laments

A great combination of pieces, brilliantly performed with great understading

Orchestral

Islands of Happiness: a Trio of Serenades from Zurich

A trio of serenades that will appeal to afficionados and newcomers alike

Orchestral

New Year's Day 2021 from Vienna with Riccardo Muti

A beacon of light for today's world