Our latest reviews
The Revolution Was Televised by Alan Sepinwall
In the world of online TV recapping, Alan Sepinwall is not just a pioneer, he’s a god. Sepinwall has been writing about TV for almost 20 years and was pivotal in bringing the practice of TV recapping into the mainstream…
Elgar Cello Concerto, Weilerstein
The compulsory piece for all cellists is the oft performed, Elgar Cello Concerto. Of course made famous by Jacqueline du Pre, it is now one of the most challenging pieces to record – as everyone has firm idea of what…
Bruch & Dvorak Violin Concertos, Fischer
Julia Fischer is one of those darlings of the classical music world who keeps popping up with consistently marvelous albums. Her most recent release from Decca has her performing one of the stock standard works, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1…
In a Time Lapse, Einaudi
I don’t know what’s in the air at the moment but there are a slew of fantastic contemporary classical albums all being released one after the other. First we had Richter’s recomposition of the Four Season, the Daniel Hope’s Spheres…
Chopin Etudes, Lisiecki
Sometimes I wish the Chopin Etudes had more evocative names. Those in the know, know that these works are exciting, emotional and much more fun than I give them credit for. These Etudes are technically challenging and musically, can sometimes…
The Art of Verdi, Domingo
Deutsche Grammophon have gone back in the archives to 1972 and followed them all the way through to 2001 to pick the eyes out of the great tenor, Placido Domingo’s performances to present this two disc celebration of Verdi’s music…
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
It’s possible that, in another life, I lived in New York, rode a motorcycle and was in love with an Italian artist. This would certainly explain why I find myself captivated by Rachel Kushner’s The Flamethrowers – her second and…
Bach: Flute Sonatas, Hewitt & Oliva
I really wasn’t sure what to write in this review. How to adequately explain the hypnotising qualities of this album? Angela Hewitt and Andrea Oliva breathe new life into these sonatas of lyrical beauty. It’s at times like these that…
Chopin: Nocturnes, Pires
Theseperformances from 1995 and1996 are some of the finestexamples of Chopin’sNocturnes ever recorded. MariaJoão Pires seems to have that unique ability toalways give the listener something different, even ifthey have heard the work many times before.
Bach Re-Invented, Jarvi
In their latestalbum, Kristjan Järvi and theAbsolute Ensemble reworkBach into a strange butexciting version of a pianoconcerto. While Bach is ever present, thiskaleidoscope of music is interwoven with ideasfrom Klezmer, jazz, hip-hop and more. There issome terrific playing on show…