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Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 3, LSO
I don’t know why Nielsen is not a more popular composer around here. Lush and romantic in style, but interesting with twentieth century harmonic ideas, his Symphonies are truly gorgeous. Continuing in their Nielsen series of recordings, the LSO present…
The Books That Shaped Art History edited by Richard Shone & John-Paul Stonard
Whereas many books introducing art history do so from the perspective of theories and methods, the points of embarkation for this volume are rather the landmark publications that have shaped the subject, as well as the personalities and stories behind…
Bach: Complete Orchestral Suites
This is the 2012 Gramophone Award-winner in the Baroque Instrumental category. The Freiburger Orchestra give an exhilarating account of the all the suites. As the Financial Times noted, ‘[They] offer no star soloist, but don’t need onein Bach’s four orchestral…
Raff: Symphony No 2, Jarvi
Who is Joachim Raff? That was my first question on getting this recording, but as I put it on to listen, from the very first notes it didn’t matter. This has the joy and stateliness of Beethoven, with slightly more…
Bruckner: Symphony No 7, Runnicles
Donald Runnicles and BBC SSO have made a stunning debut on this Hyperion label with this recording of Bruckner’s 7th symphony. I have always been an admirer of Bruckner’s majestic compositions and this new recording should please fans as well…
Zarebski: Piano Quintet, Quartet, Plowright
This recording from two obscure Polish composers is another first for the Hyperion label. Both works are excellent examples of chamber music from the Romantic period and wouldn’t be out of place beside Schumann, Mendelssohn or even Schubert. The skill…
Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead, Litton
This new recording from Andrew Litton and the Bergen Philharmonic is the perfect introduction to these wonderful works by Rachmaninov. Beginning with The Isle of the Dead, a tone poem dating back to 1909, and inspired by the painting of…
The Childhood of Jesus by J.M. Coetzee
When they arrive in the town of Novilla, a child and a man are directed to a building with a large sign in Spanish that reads ‘Resettlement Centre’. The man seems to have had his memory wiped from him. The…
The Ghost Riders of Ordebec by Fred Vargas
The Times says of author Fred Vargas: ‘One of today’s few truly original writers of crime fiction; disturbing, unruly, droll and poetic.’ I agree with that – in a genre full of formulaic gore, Vargas is refreshing. Her mixture of…
Pivot Point by Kasie West
As a Searcher living in a hidden world where everyone has mind powers, Addie Coleman, when faced with a choice, has always been able to see both outcomes. This has consistently prevented disaster in her life.
When her parents decide…
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