This month brings you another bumper crop of great reviews from the leading music magazines, quality dailies and online review sites. There’s no doubt about it: Naxos releases and distributes some of the best music and audiovisual albums!
‘Performances of absolute reference…’
– Ritmo
‘Together with his musical partners Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff and Barbara Buntrock, [Vogt] created an album that will remain a benchmark long into the future, and will help to keep alive the memory of one of the greatest Brahms interpreters of our time.’
– Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)
‘The interpretation by Tetzlaff/Buntrock/Tetzlaff and Vogt aligns with the mastery displayed by Brahms in one of his greatest works.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★
‘Stirring performances of three remarkable American organ concertos… an innovative web of tightly integrated textures between organ and instruments of the orchestra…’
– Choir & Organ ★★★★★
‘The versions by Schwabe and Rimmer are notable, direct, and have better sound than many classic recordings.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★
‘Together their [Schwabe and Rimmer] Beethoven is exciting and passionate…’
– American Record Guide
‘Excellent musicianship evident in the detailed sound recording…’
– Ritmo
‘The balance [Giltburg] achieves between emotive and rhapsodic expression with clarity, control and a complete lack of self-indulgence makes this album a wholly engaging experience, and demonstrates how richly this music deserves to be valued as highly as anything Rachmaninov wrote.’
– Presto Music
‘The perfect sound quality enhances convincing performances…’
– Ritmo
‘Ivanov delivers stylish and idiomatic readings of the sixteen sonatas he performs. Each sonata sounds perfectly convincing and is tendered with care and attention to detail.’
– MusicWeb International
‘Conductor Štilec successfully elicits colourful and detailed playing from his musicians.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★
‘Definitely one of the most important complete recordings of the Scriabin sonatas.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★
‘This fulfilling SACD hits all the right notes.’
– Fanfare
‘In her music, the composer achieves an incredible density of events, which the BR Symphony Orchestra brings to life in exemplary fashion in this portrait, showcasing works written between 2016 and 2023.’
– Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)
‘This endeavour has been monumental, and the result is excellent.’
– Ritmo ★★★★★
‘An interpretation that’s wonderfully alert to the work’s melodic and rhythmic ingenuity.’
– Gramophone
‘The performances are equally outstanding.’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★
‘A powerful listen.’
– WFMT (Chicago)
‘The 12 superb sopranos and altos of the Corvus Consort sing the complex, close-knit textures of these works with delicacy and pinpoint accuracy.’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★
‘A pristine choral blend married to fresh programming ideas.’
– AllMusic.com ★★★★★
‘Parlando’s intensely Russian debut presents music of daring and defiance.’
– Limelight ★★★★★
‘Both Soulez-Larivière and Scheucher prove to be technically outstanding and committed interpreters who not only get to the bottom of the music and turn it upside down, but also work very well as a duo.’
– Pizzicato
‘Isabel Dobarro’s work is of great significance; it not only brings visibility to these creators but also inspires new generations, instilling confidence that their works can have a place in the current musical landscape.’
– Ritmo
‘From the haunting opening, Maria Bengtsson is utterly captivating as Oceane in this recording of the acclaimed 2019 premiere production.’
– Gramophone
‘The performance is a knock-out…’
– American Record Guide
‘The four musicians show a relaxed and playful view of the works, performed with nimble fingers, which on the one hand show off their technical ability and on the other hand their carefully crafted and relaxed manner.’
– Pizzicato ★★★★★
‘The quality of these interpretations make this release a very effective introduction to early baroque instrumental composition and should entice listeners to investigate other recordings of this repertoire.’
– American Record Guide
‘Here is a lovely interpretation of three well-known works of the cello repertoire… the sonic result is a blessing to our ears! …Don’t miss it!’
– American Record Guide
‘A showcase for the most mellifluous of soprano voices – such as Sara Jubiak, who here delivers a strong performance. …those happy to tackle something other than a conventional Arabella will find this a seductive performance.’
– Classical CD Choice
‘Listening to his Alpine Symphony is like sitting in front of a large screen (the old-fashioned kind) to watch Lawrence of Arabia or Ben-Hur. Music in cinemascope.’
– Ritmo
‘Alex Esposito’s Don Gregorio…really steals the show as the soft-hearted tutor, infinitely flexible in his recitatives and nimble in the ensembles… Milletarì keeps things spinning along with an admirable feel for Donizetti’s cracking rhythms.’
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
‘Elīna Garança is all you could wish for as Dalila. Her tone is glowing from top to bottom, she phrases seductively and looks fabulous as well.’
– Fanfare
‘One emerges purified after listening to it.’
– Ritmo