Critics Choice September 2023

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
Han Chen
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone

‘The superb pianist Han Chen draws on an equal affinity with Romantic and contemporary repertoire to bring us a survey of Ligeti’s Études which stands among the best.’
Gramophone

‘A powerfully persuasive reading of music that makes a good introduction to Ligeti’
AllMusic.com ★★★★


Munich Opera Horns
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone

‘…this album from the Munich Opera Horns is captivating.’
Gramophone

‘The Munich Opera Horns play vividly and imaginatively in all the works, making the CD a real treat for the ears. And not only for horn fans!’
Pizzicato ★★★★

Audio Releases
Naxos Releases
Bermel • C. Otto • Hijmans • JACK Quartet

‘This is a highly enjoyable album of music from an imaginative composer, virtuosically performed by the JACK Quartet and three superb soloists.’
Fanfare


Wunderlin • Valentin-Fieguth • Carrel • Ingenpaß • Eisenlohr

‘Eisenlohr’s singers give us all the beauty of sound one could hope for, as well as (one guesses) deep sincerity and unaffected delivery. Tenor Kieran Carrel also has a beautiful voice… the results are winning.’
Fanfare


P.E. Fisher • Albany Symphony • D.A. Miller

‘…there is a breathtaking level of articulation and dynamic detail, flattered by a high-quality recording.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★

‘An album that does admirable justice to one of the most prolific, significant, and increasingly long-lived composers of a remarkable generation.’
The Arts Fuse


R. Tuck • English Chamber Orchestra • Bonynge
Editor’s Choice | Limelight

‘Tuck rounds off her entertaining and illuminating Czerny series in style.’
Limelight

‘The music in this release is superbly accomplished in the Viennese Classical style…’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★


M. Strauss • S. Stoyanov • Houston Symphony • Spano

‘Robert Spano and the Houston Symphony Orchestra play with commitment and at a high level in a consistently communicative interpretation that delights the ear.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Christopher Mallett

‘Mallett performs each piece with technical and musical fluency, and with a strong sense of the style of the period.’
American Record Guide


Tippett Quartet
Editor’s Choice | Limelight

‘From Vienna to Hollywood, three quartets that should be heard more often.’
Limelight


Valentin Malinin

‘A most rewarding release, well-balanced, and showcasing a major talent.’
Classical Explorer


Needleman • Ji Su Jung • Baltimore Symphony • Alsop

‘Ji Su Sung has been championing this [Marimba] concerto, and her performance is inviting.’
American Record Guide


ORF Vienna Radio Symphony • Alsop

‘…virile, emphatic readings of riveting energy and drive. …these are fantastic Schumann symphonies in their own right…’
American Record Guide


Independent Label Releases (in alphabetical order)
Konradi • Harmsen • Davislim • Stražanac • Bavarian Radio Chorus • Berlin Akademie für Alte Musik • Arman

‘Arman is an attentive Mozartian. Throughout, the support from the Berlin Akademie is invigorating – a perfect match for the fastidious precision of the Bavarian Radio Choir.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


T. Johanns • N. Karmon • A. Willwohl • A. Hülshoff • O. Triendl

‘…the album is yet another significant step in making room for Labor in the romantic catalogue and allowing audiences to hear his music once again.’
American Record Guide

‘…the performances here are excellent. This set is definitely in the running for my 2023 Want List. Don’t miss it.’
Fanfare


Barton Pine • McGill • ORF Vienna Radio Symphony • M. Alsop

‘Well-recorded and expertly performed, this is a rewarding album which skilfully explores the intersection of Western and Arabic musical vocabularies.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


Cappella Musicale della Cattedrale di Vercelli • Demicheli • Bagnasco • Silano

‘…the standard of performance and recording elevates this to a disc of the utmost importance.’
Classical Explorer



S. Freier • Chudak • Ziazan • Elsäßer • Kalaidjian • Sofia Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra • Salvi

‘…more than an hour of lively, colourful, dramatically apposite music, delightfully rendered.’
American Record Guide


Hansjörg Albrecht

‘Albrecht continues his superb performances in this gigantic undertaking, handling the technical complexities of these transcriptions with ease, employing a kaleidoscopic use of colour and a fluid musicality, bringing these symphonies to life in a way Bruckner never imagined.’
American Record Guide


Gävle Symphony • J. Martín

‘…orchestral colour aplenty and a splendidly uplifting end to the Symphony in D minor.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


Lintl • Nyári • Isene • Magdeburg Theater Opera Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra • Skryleva
Quarterly Critic’s Choice | Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)

‘The passionate commitment of Anna Skryleva and all those involved from the very beginning have masterfully snatched a late romantic, colourful opera with an astonishingly individual character from oblivion.’
Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)


Iceland Symphony • Ollikainen

‘…thrilling release…’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★


South West German Radio Vocal Ensemble • Y. Weinberg
Quarterly Critic’s Choice | Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)

‘Top class!’
Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)

‘…I enjoyed all of it immensely and am drenched in admiration for the shifting images and moods the SWR ensemble evokes with their remarkable singing.’
American Record Guide


Mostacci • Bologna Baroque
Recommended | MusicWeb International

‘…performances combining fresh discovery with passion and commitment.’
MusicWeb International


Vox VOX-NX-3002CD
Berlin Philharmonic • Furtwängler

‘Furtwängler brings monumentality and profundity to Beethoven and reveals the importance of Beethoven’s message.’
American Record Guide


Livingstone • Jacobson

‘The combination of sitar and cello really work well for me. Highly recommended.’
Positive Feedback Online

Audiovisual Releases
Naxos Releases
Naxos 2.110691–92
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0130V)
Koch • Streit • Uhl • Grundheber • Slovak Philharmonic Choir • Wiener Symphoniker • de Billy • Warner

‘A straightforward but memorable staging by Keith Warner…its inclusion in Naxos’s catalogue is a cause for celebration.’
The New York Times


Naxos 2.110756
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0168V)
d’Oustrac • Talbot • Christoyannis • Huchet • Peintre • Choir Les éléments • Orchestre de chambre de Paris • Leroy • Lesort
Editor’s Choice | Limelight

‘A strong cast is led by Stéphanie d’Oustrac. …her feisty Périchole is convincingly quick-witted.’
Limelight


Naxos 2.110752
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0166V)
Byström • Guerrero • Hakobyan • Chorus of Dutch National Opera • Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra • Viotti • Kosky

‘Urgently conducted by Lorenzo Viotti and well sung by a youthful cast, Puccini’s thriller here moves with a swiftness that anticipates the slasher flick.’
The New York Times


Independent Releases (in alphabetical order)
Accentus Music ACC-20583
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(ACC-10583)
Mao Fujita • Lucerne Festival Orchestra • Riccardo Chailly

‘A totally exciting performance outstandingly played by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra.’
Pizzicato ★★★★


BelAir Classiques BAC188
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(BAC488)
Mavlyanov • Garifullina • Semenchuk • Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Chorus and Orchestra • Zangiev • Tcherniakov

‘…Timur Zangiev conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi with verve and understanding. Don’t hesitate.’
Classical Explorer


Opus Arte OA1354D
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(OABD7303D)
Avetisyan • Álvarez • Oropesa • Sherratt • Royal Opera Chorus • Royal Opera House Orchestra • Pappano • Mears

‘Antonio Pappano’s conducting is masterly, offering one of the best accounts available.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


UNITEL Edition 808908
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(809004)
Grigorian • Kiria • Burdenko • Guerrero • Mattila • Schwarz • Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor • Wiener Philharmoniker • Welser-Möst • Loy

‘The cast is top-notch, yet there is one interpreter who stands out: Asmik Grigorian as the sensitive Lauretta, as the ardently amorous Giorgetta, and as the immensely characterful and touching Angelica.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★

AudioBooks
Nicholas Boulton

‘[Boulton] makes any production he performs a delight.’
AudioFile



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