New Classical Reviews, December 2016

Naturally, given the time of year, our reviewers last month sampled some of the 2016 batch of holiday releases. These included a new one from the esteemed King's Singers, and for those who enjoy brass music, one each from Septura and Alison Balsom. We also did some catching up so you know what to expect at the Grammy Awards next month. Some of those nominees include the Los Angeles Opera's production of The Ghosts of Versailles; John Adams' Scheherazade.2 featuring Leila Josefowicz; and the album Gesualdo by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. We're looking out for you so you know what to listen for.





Blair Sanderson
ARC Ensemble - Chamber Works by Jerzy Fitelberg
James Conlon, Los Angeles Opera Chorus, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra - John Corigliano & William M. Hoffman: The Ghosts of Versailles
Valdimir Feltsman - Franz Schubert: Piano Sonatas Vol. 3
Julia Fischer, Daniel Müller-Schott - Duo Sessions
Olivier Fortin, Ensemble Masques Le Théâtre Musical de Telemann
Angela Hewitt - Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations [2015 Recording]
Tõnu Kaljuste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra - Gesualdo
Mari Kodama, Momo Kodama - Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo
Nicholas McGegan, Zsolt Kalló, Capella Savaria - Schubert: Symphony No. 5; Works for Violin and Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, Seattle Symphony Orchestra- Dutilleux: Sur le Même Accord; Les Citations; Mystère de l'Instant; Timbres, Espace, Mouvement
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Dresden Staatskapelle - Anton Bruckner: Symphonie No. 3 d-Moll
Gil Shaham - 1930s Violin Concertos, Vol. 2: Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2
Roman Simovic, London Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble - Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge; Elgar: Introduction and Allegro
Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips - Josquin Masses: Di Dadi, Une mousse de Biscaye
Mitsuko Uchida, Cleveland Orchestra - Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 17, K453 & No. 25, K503
John Wilson, BBC Philharmonic - Copland: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 – Symphonies

James Manheim
Alison Balsom - Jubilo
Jamie Barton, Brian Zeger - All Who Wander
Belcea Quartet, Till Fellner - Brahms: String Quartets; Piano Quintet
William Boughton, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC National Chorus of Wales - Bernard van Dieren: 'Chinese' Symphony
The Clarion Choir, Steven Fox - Maximilian Steinberg: Passion Week
Marianne Crebassa - Oh, Boy!
The Crossing, Donald Nally, Prism Quartet - Gavin Bryars: The Fifth Century
Lara Downes - America Again
Emil Gilels - Seattle Recital
Benjamin Grosvenor - Homages
Kristjan Järvi, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra - Steve Reich: Duet
Emma Johnson - Clarinet Goes to Town
Leila Josefowicz, St. Louis Symphony, David Robertson - John Adams: Scheherazade.2
The King’s Singers - Christmas Presence
Tasmin Little - A Violin for All Seasons
Lavinia Meijer - The Glass Effect
Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov, Armando Piña, Marco Armiliato - Nowell Sing We!
La Nuova Musica, David Bates - François Couperin: Leçons de Ténèbres
ORA - Refuge from the Flames
Steven Osborne - Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op. 90 in E minor, Op. 101 in A major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Oxford Baroque, Stephen Darlington - Francesco Durante: Requiem
Krzysztof Penderecki, Warsaw Philharmonic - Penderecki conducts Penderecki, Vol. 1
Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque - Bach: The Art of Fugue
Andrew Rangell - Chopin: The Mazurkas - Complete
Septura - Christmas With Septura
TrondheimSolistene - Reflections
Uranienborg Vokalensemble, Elisabeth Holte - Himmelrand
Voces8 - Winter
Martin West, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra - C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky; Ghosts; A Parting Grace