Critically Acclaimed

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!

Highly Reviewed Albums of the Month
ORF Vienna Radio Symphony • Alsop
ICMA Winner: Contemporary Music Award

‘The music is most effective in Marin Alsop’s outstanding interpretations, and the Vienna RSO once again does its best to play this music brilliantly and excitingly.’
International Classical Music Awards (ICMA)

‘The music is most effective in Marin Alsop’s outstanding interpretations, and the Vienna RSO once again does its best to play this music brilliantly and excitingly.’
Classical Lost and Found


Bavarian Radio Chorus • Munich Radio Orchestra • Dijkstra
ICMA Winner: Choral Music Award

‘…recording that is matchless both for its sound and content.’
International Classical Music Awards (ICMA)

‘Vision of eternity – under the direction of Peter Dijkstra, Bruckner’s sacred music reaches new heights, purified by the Baroque revolution.’
Classica

‘The performance under Dijkstra…is splendid. This is a terrific chorus… The motets, four of Bruckner’s most popular, are also beautifully done… This is wonderful choral work.’
American Record Guide

Audio Releases
Naxos Releases
Quartetto Adorno

‘This is the chamber music discovery of the year. …serious but eminently approachable, quasi-programmatic, charming, melodic, colourful…’
– Keep on Listening Award, ClassicsToday.com


Musica Viva NY Choir and Orchestra • Hernandez-Valdez

‘The Musica Viva NY Choir bask in the technical challenges, sustaining long lines with finesse and brimming with colour and crisp ensemble in the livelier material.’
Gramophone


A. Porter • Nikki Chooi • Buffalo Philharmonic • Falletta
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘…a winning album with a bang.’
American Record Guide


Georgi Dimitrov-Jojo
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘…This is simply beautiful playing.’
American Record Guide


Danish Chamber Orchestra • A. Fischer

‘…not a single complete set on modern instruments offers the same transparency, clarity, fruitiness, and especially, in the minuets, the sparkling humour and delightful rusticity that Fischer distills in Copenhagen.’
Classica


Eichhorn • Say

‘Having reached musical maturity, both artists are in full command of their faculties…achieving a balance that truly conveys the romantic spirit of the works.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Minas Gerais Philharmonic • Mechetti

‘An intense sonic energy emanates from this generous album…’
Diapason


Gould Piano Trio

‘A true discovery!’
Rondo ★★★★★


Matteo Generani

‘Matteo Generani’s fresh and colourful interpretations allow the 17 pieces to develop their charm.’
Pizzicato ★★★★


Naxos 8.660540–41
Dupuis • Margaine • Car • Polenzani • Deutsche Oper Berlin Chorus and Orchestra • Mazzola
Editor’s Choice | Limelight

‘A vibrant new account of Massenet’s Biblical epic.’
Limelight


Cologne West German Radio Chorus • Cologne Chamber Orchestra • Poppen

‘…it is a true delight.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Massa • Münch • Parfenov

‘Much of [the work] sounds familiar, elegant, smooth and refined, played idiomatically by the trio Massa, Münch and Parfenov.’
Pizzicato ★★★★


Naxos 8.574356–57
D. Tiliakos • A. Simos • Stamboglis • Bulgarian National Radio Chorus and Symphony • Fidetzis

‘…this solid recording…is essential for this repertoire.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Staatskapelle Halle • Bollon
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘…If, like me you can never get enough of post-romantic glories, look no further.’
American Record Guide


Tonkünstler Orchestra • Rudner

‘…this is one of the great musical finds in the history of German symphonic music. It’s just a wonderful work and a joy to discover and something that…in under normal circumstances, you’d have to wait for your local orchestra to do it.’
– Disc of the Year – Keep on Listening Awards, ClassicsToday.com


Independent Label Releases (in alphabetical order)
Quatuor Danel
ICMA Winner: Chamber Music Award

‘…the Quatuor Danel achieves a feat worthy of the highest comparisons, for the instrumental brilliance of the performances and the sense of total commitment, and offers admirers of this music a reference point that everyone will have to take note of from now on.’
International Classical Music Awards (ICMA)

‘…the Danel Quartet reveals a thrilling intimacy with the composer’s language.’
Classica


Wigmore Soloists
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘The Wigmore Soloists not only submit another first-rate volume of chamber music; they demonstrate that, even in the shadows cast by the German and Austrian stalwarts of their genres, these lesser-known British entries are just as worthy and compelling.’
American Record Guide


South Dakota Symphony • Gier

‘An Atlas of Deep Time might just be John Luther Adams’s best work since his Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Become Ocean of 2013.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★


ORF Vienna Radio Symphony • M. Poschner
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘This orchestra sounds very beautiful, playing and sound. I ended up…thinking this is one of the very best recordings of the symphony…’
American Record Guide

‘…it’s fair to say that this one is a revelation… superbly alert playing from the ORF orchestra, Poschner sweeps away even more cobwebs from this neglected gem…’
Europadisc


Will Liverman

‘This is another triumphant recital by Will Liverman, an exceptional artist.’
Fanfare


Xiayin Wang • BBC Philharmonic • J. Wilson
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone

‘John Wilson and pianist Xiayin Wang are the finest of advocates for this rarely heard music by the American composer Edward MacDowell.’
Gramophone


Andrea Boscutti
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘The recorded sound is good… Boscutti…plays with great sensitivity.’
American Record Guide


Divinerinnen

‘The Divinerinnen know how to let this simple music be exactly what it is – simple, lilting, sophisticated and absolutely delicious.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Gottlieb Wallisch
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘Mr Wallisch performs all the dances with panache. The sound is excellent.’
American Record Guide


Idil Biret

‘…[Idil Biret] is an exceptional artist who can record anything she wishes to play.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


J. Goltz • P. Zielke • Wittmer • Mannheim National Theatre Orchestra • Ollu

‘This necessary recording of one of Rihm’s most significant works is committed and intense, very well recorded…’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Latvian Radio Choir • Kļava

‘…this album presents a powerfully compelling, stunningly sung, hour of immersive listening to a distinctive and important musical voice.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★

‘The Latvian Radio Choir sings with an astonishing array of sound colours…’
The New York Times

‘Remarkable works, to which the Latvian Radio Choir and Sigvards Kļava bring all their unmatched qualities; in the moment, you can’t imagine it being sung or conducted by anyone else.’
Gramophone


Janowitz • Verrett • Corelli • Wächter • Ghiaurov • Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra • Stein

‘The voices belong to the glorious era of the Staatsoper, with Ghiaurov shining particularly as Philip II.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Esbjerg Ensemble • Hyldig

‘…the Esbjerg Ensemble, joined by regular collaborators…make impeccable guides through these fantastical musical landscapes.’
Gramophone


Reinhold Friedrich Brass Quintet
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘That this is a first-rate album is no surprise, considering the people who constitute the Reinhold Friedrich Brass Quintet.’
American Record Guide


Diyang Mei • German Radio Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern Philharmonic • B. Dean

‘It’s wonderful playing from all concerned.’
The WholeNote


Chiara Cattani
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘It is an enjoyable adventure to hear what [Chiara Cattani] makes up.’
American Record Guide

Audiovisual Releases
Naxos Releases
Naxos 2.110739
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0155V)
Vallone • Tognocchi • Lebow • Samoilov • Bintner • Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra • Hussain • Schlather
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘All of the singers are fine comic actors, and all sing very well. Angela Vallone’s darker soprano contrasts well with Bianca Tognocchi’s brighter instrument. Theo Lebow has a beautiful tenor; and Iurii Samoilov offers a steady, smooth baritone…’
American Record Guide


Independent Releases (in alphabetical order)
Bayerische Staatsoper Recordings BSOREC1005
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(BSOREC2005)
Damrau • Nigl • Konradi • Winkler • Bavarian State Orchestra • Jurowski • Kosky
ICMA Winner: Opera Award

‘…stage and orchestra, acting and singing merge into pure operetta bliss at the highest level.’
International Classical Music Awards (ICMA)


BelAir Classiques BAC224
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(BAC524)
Brownlee • Fuchs • Teitgen • Mauillon • Di Pierro • Vidal • Van Mechelen • Bounazou • Lesca • Paris National Opera Chorus • Minkowski • Les Musiciens du Louvre • Pelly
Critic’s Choice | American Record Guide

‘…Brownlee’s thrilling performance here is little short of a revelation.’
American Record Guide


C Major 768308
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(768404)
Peter • Hillebrand • Fischesser • Ruckgaber • von Treuenfels • Vienna Symphony Orchestra • Mazzola • Stölzl
Recommended | MusicWeb International

‘Chief among the highlights here is Nikola Hillebrand’s beautifully glowing lyric soprano as Agathe. …Her acting is natural and unforced…’
MusicWeb International

‘…the cast has real strength in depth. The chorus work and orchestral playing under Enrique Mazzola are lively and engaged.’
Gramophone


Opus Arte OA1390D
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(OABD7327D)
Osipova • Clarke • Royal Opera House Orchestra • Kessels • MacMillan
Recording of the Month | MusicWeb International

‘…Natalia Osipova is, along with Marianela Núñez, one of [the Royal Ballet’s] very finest dancers. Her fine technique is, moreover, augmented by a spirit of physical adventurousness and risk-taking that particularly suits her to the highly dramatic roles…’
MusicWeb International

Naxos recordings, and those from the labels we distribute globally, consistently receive critical acclaim for their fascinating repertoire, outstanding performances and audio quality.
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