JOHANN JOSEPH FUX
Fux: Ave Regina Accentus Austria, Thomas Wimmer [ Deutsche Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 4/Aug/2017 ] "It is good to see this release showcasing some of the material [Fux] provided for the Imperial Court Chapel...The music is well constructed...but don't expect it to change your life." Gramophone |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Sonata no.3 & Fantasien op.116 Adam Laloum (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 1/Oct/2021 ] After his recent Schubert album, Adam Laloum pays a visit to Brahms: the young prodigy of the early 1850s immediately established himself as the worthy heir of Beethoven and Schumann with his dazzling Sonata no.3. Almost forty years later, we find... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Piano Sonata D.958 & 894 Adam Laloum (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] Barely two years separate the monumental Sonata in G (October 1826) from its sister in C minor (September 1828), the first of a trilogy composed on the threshold of death, which was to win the struggle a few weeks later. Two years - and a whole... |
GABRIEL FAURE
Faure: Messe de Requiem Opus 48 / Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville Agnes Mellon, Peter Kooy, La Chapelle Royale, Ensemble Musique Oblique, Philippe Herreweghe [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / CD - released 29/Sep/2008 ] 'Filled with refined sensibility, the performance expresses Fauré's personal concept of death 'as a happy deliverance, as aspiration towards the happiness of the hereafter.' - American Record Guide |
BOCCHERINI
Stabat Mater / Symphonies Agnas Mellon (soprano) / Ensemble 415 / Chiara Banchini [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / 2 CD - released 20/May/2011 ] 'A quite exceptionally fine disc, which I firmly recommend to anyone with an interest in Boccherini.' (Gramophone) |
TELEMANN
Orchestral Suites Akadamie Fur Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / 2 CD - released 3/Jun/2013 ] "This set can hardly fail to entertain. That is first and foremost the merit of the composer who apparently had a sharp eye for his environment and the idiosyncrasies and weaknesses of human beings." (MusicWeb Aug 2013) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Adagios & Fugues [after JS Bach] Fugue arrangements for strings Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 1/Mar/2014 ] "The Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin are radiant in this recording … this is glorious music beautifully played; a fascinating collection." Early Music Today |
J.S. BACH
Orchestral Suites Nos. 2 & 4 Akademie far Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 25/Oct/2002 ] ***** Five Star recording Penguin Stereo Guide |
TELEMANN
Suites 'La Bizarre' Akademie far Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 24/Aug/2002 ] Gramophone Award Nomination 2002 - Baroque instrumental |
TELEMANN
Suites & Overtures Akademie far Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 25/Oct/2002 ] "...superb...The growing band of Telemaniacs need not hesitate." - The Sunday Times |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / JUSTIN Heinrich KNECHT
Beethoven: Symphony no.6 "Pastoraleˮ / Knecht: Symphonie "Le Portrait musical de la Natureˮ Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] ""Freshness and vitality are the two words which spring to mind. Concertmaster Bernhard Forck pushes the work along with a driving impetuosity which has all the burgeoning energy of springtime." MusicWeb Recommended |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: Double Concertos Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Georg Kallweit [ Harmonia Mundi Musique d'abord / CD - released 21/Jul/2017 ] The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin transports us to the Venice of the 'red-haired priest'. "Simple excellence leading to simple enjoyment, and a composer's unique creative spark vividly expressed." Gramophone |
BOCCHERINI
Symphonies Op 35, 41 & 42. Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi Musique d'abord / CD - released 11/Aug/2003 ] What better proof than these Symphonies commissioned by the Crown Prince of Prussia to show how the Italian 'Boquerini' never lost contact with Europe, even when retired to the depths of the Spanish countryside. With their colourful instrumentation... |
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Telemann: Concerti per Molti Stromenti Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 9/Jun/2017 ] It has been said that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto 300 times. Could anyone possibly say that of Telemann? Not only do the specimens here feature every kind of weird and wonderful instrumental combination - four trumpets, three horns, two flutes... |
HANDEL
Water Music [3 suites] Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 10/Feb/2016 ] "The piece's vitality and brilliance of invention shine forth in the strongest and most appealing orchestral colours." (Recording of the Month BBC Music Magazine March 2016) |
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
A Telemann Companion Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs & Georg Kallweit, with Dorothea Roschmann, Roman Trekel, Ruth Ziesak, etc [ Harmonia Mundi / 7 CD Box Set - released 7/Jul/2017 ] "Altogether, this tribute to Telemann can be heartily endorsed for both newcomers and feinschmeckers alike...For those who are willing to dive into the big vocal scores, this is a supreme delight." AudAud.com |
Al Ayre Espanol, Eduard Lapez Banzo
A batallar estrellas: Cathedral Music from 17th Century Spain [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 15/Feb/2005 ] "Services at Seville Cathedral must have been a blast if this disc is anything to go by. Po-faced piety is conspicuous by its complete absence; saucy false relations and a hyperactive continuo part contribute to the exuberant effect of the title... |
CHOPIN
Chez Pleyel: the recreation of an actual Chopin concert Alain Planes (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 20/Oct/2009 ] "Planès himself works poetic magic, with wonderfully paced phrasing and a style of rubato replete with beautifully judged elasticity and grace; and he has explored Chopin's approach to improvised ornamentation to tasteful effect. There's not a... |
JOSEF HAYDN
Piano Sonatas nos.11, 31, 38 & 55 Alain Planes (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi Musique d'abord / CD - released 10/Feb/2014 ] "The musicianship of Alain Planès, that most fastidious yet humane of pianists, is perfectly suited to the keyboard music of Haydn" Stephen Pettitt, Sunday Times, May 2009 |
JANACEK
Piano Works Alain Planes (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / CD - released 20/May/2010 ] "There is poetry aplenty, but he is not afraid of the music's dark heart." (BBC Music) |