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Critics’ Choice
December 2013

Dear Friends,

Here comes a selection of the most glowing, recent reviews: fresh from leading music journals, quality dailies and respected online review sites. Naxos continues to accumulate outstanding ratings and reviews for its new and recent releases; please use the critical acclaim to continue to promote these titles.

Naxos Releases

Naxos 8.573188
SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Symphonies, Vol. 9 - Symphony No. 4
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Petrenko

 
 

extra jolt of energy and a razor-sharp rhythmic attack - ClassicsToday.com

Perhaps the best of Petrenko’s much-praised cycle, then, and a strong contender for ‘best in catalogue’. - Gramophone


Shostakovich’s Fourth shows the tragedy of the human being in the machinery of dictatorship. Petrenko uses the dynamic forces of his as always excellent Liverpool Philharmonic to let us experience musically the implacability of such a terror. - Pizzicato

bravissimo all round - BBC Music Magazine

vivid performance - Daily Telegraph (UK)

Naxos 8.573180
CASELLA, A.: Triple Concerto / GHEDINI, G.F.: Concerto dell'albatro
Ghidoni, Bosna, Piemonti, I Pomeriggi Musicali, Iorio

Damian Orio sculpts the clarity of details and delivers a perfect performance - Classica

Naxos 8.572634
VASKS, P.: Flute Concerto / Flute Sonata / Aria e danza /
Landscape with Birds

M. Faust, S. Arnold, Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä, P. Gallois

fascinating are the extraordinary abilities of flautist Michael Faust - MusicWeb International

Naxos 8.572833
BRIAN, H.: Symphonies Nos. 22, 23, 24 / English Suite No. 1
New Russia State Symphony, A. Walker


The russian forces seem to have found in this troubling music a part of the evil charms of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, that would explain the devilish perfection of this performance - Classica

Naxos 8.660322
MONSIGNY, P.-A.: Roi et le fermier (Le) (The King and the Farmer)
[Comic Opera]

Opera Lafayette, Brown


quality revival of Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny’s forgotten opera ‘Le Roi et le Fermier’, with solid singing and fine orchestral playing - Pizzicato

Naxos 8.573186
PROKOFIEV, S.: Symphony No. 4 (revised 1947 version) /
The Prodigal Son

São Paulo Symphony, Alsop

 

this new installment is both intelligently programmed and very well played and conducted - ClassicsToday.com

Naxos 8.570934
ROSSINI, G.: Overtures (Complete), Vol. 2
Prague Sinfonia, Benda

full of vim and vigor - Fanfare

Naxos 8.557080
SCHUMANN, R.: Lied Edition, Vol. 7 - Liederkreis / 3 Gedichte, Op. 30 /
6 Gedichte, Op. 36

A disc to treasure. - MusicWeb International

Naxos 8.572511
Choral Concert: Vox Humana - WHITACRE, E. / PAULUS, S. /
CHILDS, D.N. / PART, A. / TAVENER, J. / BETINIS, A. / LAURIDSEN, M. (Into the Night)

This is a dandy one-stop survey of today’s top choral tunesmiths— just GET it, and then use it to help me convert those poor, misguided souls who claim that no great music is being composed nowadays! - American Record Guide

Naxos 8.573078
Choral Music - The Lost City: Lamentations Through the Ages
Sospiri, C. Watson

What a choir! This band of sublime singers lays convincing claim to any choral virtue you can name. - American Record Guide

Naxos AudioBooks NA0112
HARDY, T.: Jude the Obscure (Unabridged)

This is an absolute treat to listen to, superbly interpreted, and with each of the many characters having its own unique voice, this classic comes alive in the hands of a truly gifted narrator. - Sound Commentary




Distributed Labels

Accentus Music ACC-30274
BRUCKNER, A.: Symphony No. 1
Abbado

 

Listening and marvelling is really the only option. - Gramophone

Arthaus 108097
WEBER, C.M. von: Hunter's Bride (Film version of Der Freischütz, 2010) (Blu-ray, Full-HD)

This imaginative venture has real dramatic impetus as well as being a superb rendition of the music. It is a refreshing change, and a real pointer to what could be a most interesting future for opera in the visual medium. - MusicWeb International

C Major 713708
MOZART, W.A.: Zauberflöte (Die) (Bregenz Festival, 2013) (NTSC)

A simply brilliant Magic Flute. - MusicWeb International

Capriccio C5145
ZANI, A.: Cello Concertos (Complete)
Rummel, Kolner Akademie, Willens

This is a gratifying discovery: Zani’s music is powerful, the performances are excellent in any respect. - Pizzicato

Cedille CDR90000-143
Violin Recital: Koh, Jennifer - JANÁCEK, L. / KURTÁG, G. / BARTÓK, B. (signs, games + messages)

In an inventive stroke, this duo plays these formidable works along with a series of ingenious and impish pieces by the Hungarian modernist master Gyorgy Kurtag. - The New York Times

Dacapo 6.220545
MOZART, W.A.: Symphonies, Vol. 10 (A. Fischer) - Nos. 35 and 38

what impresses me about Fischer is that he uses his chamber forces to bring a fresh perspective on these Mozart symphonies - MusicWeb International

Delos DE3433
LANG, M.R.: Piano Music (From the Unforgetting Skies)
Lucy

Mauro is a polished advocate, with delightful interpretations communicating the richness and variety of [Lang’s] piano works. - American Record Guide

Dorian Sono Luminus DSL-92174
Harpsichord Recital: Vinikour, Jory - POWELL, M. / COWELL, H. / ROREM, N. / ADLER, S.
Toccatas: Modern American Music for Harpsichord


Vinikour plays with astonishing speed and an assured touch, so even if the pieces are unfamiliar, listeners can derive pleasure from his brilliant performances - Allmusic.com

EuroArts 2059658
HEGGIE, J.: Moby-Dick (San Francisco Opera, 2012) (NTSC)


Set against the powerful musical backdrop by Jake Heggie, Moby-Dick is a high-techno drama engulfing all senses of the body. - ConcertoNet.com

Grand Piano GP632
TCHEREPNIN, A.: Piano Music, Vol. 2
Koukl


Giorgio Koukl, true master of contrasting and powerful playing, delivers these muscled works with ease and nature and signs a reference straight away
- Classica

Newton Classics NC8802041
ROSSINI, G.: String Sonatas Nos. 1-6 (I Musici)

These performances are absolutely delightful...marked by discipline, musicality, and warm, burnished tone… - MusicWeb International

Oehms Classics OC685
BRUCKNER, A.: Symphony No. 0, "Nullte"
Hamburg Philharmonic, S. Young

Finally we have the ideal recording of this symphony!
- American Record Guide

Ondine ODE1197-2
ENESCU, G.: Symphony No. 3 / Concert Overture on popular Romanian themes
Tampere Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Lintu

 

extremely virtuosic and difficult to play but great fun to hear
- ClassicsToday.com

Opus Arte OA1097D
BERLIOZ, H.: Troyens (Les) (Royal Opera House, 2012) (NTSC)

A triumph. - MusicWeb International

Paladino Music PMR0028
SCHUMANN, C.: Piano Music (Clara Schumanns Klavier) (Russo)

For a varied, skilfully played recital on a period instrument, this will be hard to beat. - MusicWeb International


 

All the best,

Ricky Tsang
Assistant Corporate Marketing Manager

Naxos Group of Companies
Level 11, Cyberport 1, 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2993-5622 / Mobile: +852 9161-2203
Fax: +852 2760-1962
Ricky.Tsang@naxos.com
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