GUILLAUME DUFAY
The Dufay Spectacle Gothic Voices [ Linn / CD - released 27/Apr/2018 ] "To mention all the glorious details here would break the banks of this review but I cannot avoid mentioning the marvellously experienced singing of Catherine King and her duetting with Steven Harrold: that is seriously classy" Gramophone |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini (complete opera recorded in 2015) BLU-RAY Dutch National Opera / John Osborn, Mariangela Sicilia, Maurizio Muraro, Michèle Losier / Sir Mark Elder (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 5/May/2018 ] "Osborn has all the vocal verve and dash to make the devil-may-care sculptor the constant centre of attention. Mariangela Sicilia uses her fearless, technically brilliant vocalism to sustain his beloved Teresa's vibrant personality…a musical treat" |
THOMAS ADES
Ades: The Exterminating Angel (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Audrey Luna, Amanda Echalaz, Sally Matthews, Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies / Thomas Ades (cond) [ Erato Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Feb/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Contemporary |
WILLIAM BYRD
One Byrde in Hande: Byrd's Keyboard Music Pamela Thorby (recorder) Richard Egarr (harpsichord) [ Linn / CD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - EARLY MUSIC |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Consolatio Ricercar Consort [ Mirare / CD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] The first cantatas offered by Bach in Leipzig: sinfonia, chorus, chorale, recitative, most diverse tunes, all struck by the eloquence of the musician, but also full of poetry according to deep spiritual commentaries. A great art is displayed here,... |
GEORGE BENJAMIN
Benjamin: Lessons in Love and Violence (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Stéphane Degout, Barbara Hannigan, Gyula Orendt, Peter Hoare / George (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jul/2019 ] "At just 90 minutes, this is an opera of impressive concentration with not a word or note wasted." Gramophone |
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE
Buxtehude: Abendmusiken Vox Luminis & Ensemble Masques, Lionel Meunier [ Alpha / CD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 2019 - Choral |
FROMENTAL HALEVY
Halevy: La Reine de Chypre [The Queen of Cyprus] Véronique Gens, Cyrille Dubois, Étienne Dupuis / Flemish Radio Choir & Orchestre de chambre de Paris, Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane Ediciones Singulares / 2 CD/Book - released 20/Sep/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD 2019 WINNER - Opera |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Persephone (compete melodrama) Andrew Staples & Pauline Cheviller / Finnish National Opera, Esa-Pekka Salonen [ Pentatone SACD / CD - released 1/Apr/2019 ] "Orchestral textures are clean yet sensuous, rhythms exactingly precise. In lesser hands, the score can seem episodic. Salonen, however, forges it into a unified drama, in which not a note or word seems wasted…The choral singing is warm and focused." |