Perfect 10/10 for Naxos and partners

Naxos and its distributed labels have been recently dominating ClassicsToday.com’s 10/10 list with album releases encompassing a variety of genres from orchestral to sacred choral music and inspired by colourful nationalistic backgrounds from Hungary, Poland, UK, Germany and Italy.

ALDRIDGE Elmer Gantry Naxos 8.669032-33 ‘Baritone Keith Phares’ performance of Gantry makes me wish I’d seen the show: his charisma comes through the speakers.’

CASELLA La donna serpente, Introduzione, aria e toccata, Partita Naxos 8.573005 ‘This disc marks the conclusion of Naxos’ Casella series, and it has been a wonderful journey.’

Glogau Song Book (The) Naxos 8.572576 ‘exceptional and very satisfying release.’

HINDEMITH String Quartets Vol 1 Naxos 8.572163 ‘full of good music and certainly worth the serious consideration of chamber music aficionados’

HINDEMITH String Quartets Vol 2 Naxos 8.572164 ‘Connoisseurs of chamber music will find this disc an endless source of pleasure.’

PENDERECKI Fonogrammi, Horn Concerto, Partita, The Awakening of Jacob, Anaklasis, De natura sonoris Naxos 8.572482 ‘get this stunningly played and recorded disc, as well as the others in this important and worthy series.’

WHITBOURN Living Voices, Son of God Mass, Requiem canticorum Naxos 8.572737 ‘well worth hearing—and repeating.’

ZÁDOR Divertimento, Elegie & Dance, Oboe Concerto, Studies Naxos 8.572549 ‘The orchestra plays with enthusiasm; this is quality music that’s evidently a lot of fun to play.’

BERLIOZ Herminie, Les nuits d’été RAVEL Shéhérazade Ondine ODE1200-2 ‘compellingly sung by Gens and conducted with conviction’

Hasse Reloaded Oehms Classics OC830 ‘This is a superb disc for lovers of the high Baroque and beginnings of bel canto, not to mention countertenor singing.’

HOLMBOE Chamber Symphonies Dacapo 6.220621 ‘John Storgards and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra play with an attention to detail, precision of ensemble, and clarity of texture that can only be called perfect.’

MADETOJA Symphony No 2, Kullervo, Elegy Ondine ODE1212-2 ‘The performances are just about perfect in all respects: totally idiomatic, committed, passionate, and immaculately played.’

NIELSEN Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 Dacapo 6.220623 ‘If this series keeps up as it has begun, it’s going to be stupendous.’

RAUTAAVARA Choral Music Ondine ODE1169-2 ‘there’s no denying the freshness and vitality and sheer virtuosity of the Tapiola Choir’

Soviet Experience Vol 2 (The) Cedille CDR90000-130 ‘the Pacifica players capture the music’s quasi-tragic mood with unflinching honesty and (as in all these performances) impeccable ensemble’

VASKS Choral Music Ondine ODE1194-2 ‘Vasks has managed to capture a combined sense of melancholy…with an ever-present optimism that infuses the Latvian spirit’

VIVALDI String Concertos Tafelmusik TMK1009CD ‘very welcome reminders of the high level of musicianship and technical mastery period-instrument performers’

WAGNER Parsifal EuroArts 2066738 [DVD] ‘pretty riveting, due mainly to the commitment of the cast to character and to superb singing and playing’

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