Critically Acclaimed

This month brings you another bumper crop of great reviews from the leading music magazines, quality dailies and online review sites. There’s no doubt about it: Naxos releases and distributes some of the best music and audiovisual albums!

Highly Reviewed Albums of the Month
Naxos 2.103005
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0189VX)

C. Tetzlaff • BBC Philharmonic Orchestra • Storgårds
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone
Editor’s Choice | Limelight
Recording of the Month | MusicWeb International

‘…A knock-out new album.’
Gramophone

‘The Elgar is awesome, both technically and interpretively, but the concentrated tension, always a hallmark of Tetzlaff’s playing, never faltered.’
Limelight

‘…alert, precise, as well as temperamental…’
MusicWeb International

‘…Tetzlaff gives Elgar’s work a fiery and joyful touch… when Tetzlaff plays, his interpretations are certainly not boring. He always creates interesting lines and unheard details, which he brings out concisely.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★

Audio Releases
Naxos Releases
Sibaja • Alessi • P. Jenkins • D.W. Hawkes • S. Brown • G. Long • Nashville Symphony • Guerrero

‘The performance is virtuosic and sparkling, featuring an exceptional Costa Rican soloist, José Sibaja.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Buffalo Philharmonic • Falletta

‘This album finds the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and JoAnn Falletta in brilliant form, presenting an exquisitely curated programme of lush French works inspired by Spain… music that, in performances like these, never loses its magic.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★


Eerens • Ryoko Aoki • Caroli • Residentie Orkest The Hague • Märkl

‘Accomplished performances of two atmospheric and beguiling contemporary works…’
Fanfare


Z. Schiff • V. Stark • Salzburg Chamber Soloists • A. Eisenberg

‘Schiff and Stark judge both aspects perfectly, playing with wonderful poise and then with joyful and infectious vitality.’
Fanfare


Gustav Piekut

‘[Piekut] reveals himself a thoughtful and sensitive artist capable of immense variety of nuance, along with a sharp expressive focus.’
Gramophone


A. Menzel • Leipzig Symphony • R. van Steijn

‘…when someone like Albrecht Menzel approaches the works with such ease and curiosity while performing with outstanding technique, a new recording is very welcome.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Alon Goldstein • Fine Arts Quartet • Cardoza

‘…Beautifully fresh chamber take on two of Mozart’s Piano Concertos…’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


Tom Winpenny

‘[Price] is done excellent service here by Tom Winpenny…’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★

‘…This is one of the best Florence Price collections around.’
Fanfare


Naxos 8.574526–27
Yeree Suh • Chuntishvili • Schäfer • Concerto de Bassus • F. Hauk

‘…An important and musically compelling addition to the oratorio discography, especially as it dates from a period in the genre’s history, which does not receive that much attention.’
musica Dei donum


Wawrowski • Lithuanian National Symphony • Lyndon-Gee

‘…Deeply felt, masterful, and accessible contemporary music.’
Fanfare


Independent Label Releases (in alphabetical order)
Bavarian Radio Symphony • Rattle
Diapason d’Or L’année | Diapason
Recording of the Month | MusicWeb International

‘…Sir Simon confirms his stature as a Mahlerian conductor with a masterful performance…’
Diapason

‘Inspirationally conducted, fantastically played and stunningly recorded, this new Mahler Seventh demands the attention of all Mahler devotees.’
MusicWeb International


Karmon • Wen-Sinn Yang • Triendl • Weimar Staatskapelle • Tzigane

‘The interpretation is perfectly balanced, and Oliver Triendl knows exactly when to lead and when to give his string partners more space. …a recording of the highest standard and enriches the catalogue…’
Pizzicato

‘Triendl and his colleagues make a persuasive case for all three works… excellent notes enhance a worthwhile release.’
International Piano


Aasgaard • Sinfonia of London • J. Wilson
Recording of the Month | Gramophone
Concerto Choice | BBC Music Magazine

‘…A programme of Walton that gets to the lyrical heart of the Cello Concerto and delivers the First Symphony with precision and drive…’
Gramophone

‘In John Wilson’s hands, Walton’s Ravelian timbres shimmer and glisten… tour-de-force of orchestral brilliance…’
BBC Music Magazine

‘…A perfect example of how conductor John Wilson’s vital, yet penetrating, approach combines with the orchestra’s trademark lustre to fit this composer’s music like a glove.’
The Guardian ★★★★★


Pilsen Philharmonic • Ballot

‘…the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra realizes a sound spectrum that captivates in every respect with its orchestral finesse.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Zeynep Üçbaşaran

‘A delightful disc… The elegance of the music is matched by the sensitivities of Üçbasaran.’
American Record Guide


Arcis-Vocalisten Munich • L’Arpa festante • Gropper

‘A new and captivating stage in the rediscovery of Loewe.’
Diapason ★★★★★


Frølund • Danish Chamber Orchestra • A. Fischer

‘…An enormously exciting and intensely performed recording of Carl Nielsen’s clarinet concerto…’
Pizzicato ★★★★★

‘…A most worthy addition to the Nielsen discography, highly recommended.’
Fanfare


Brower • Schnoor • Munich Symphony • Bastian

‘Musical heritage takes centre stage notably with an Amy Beach album featuring conductor Joseph Bastian…’
Crescendo


Ryan Townsend Strand

‘Tenor Ryan Townsend Strand…is a masterful storyteller. I was absorbed from start to finish.’
Fanfare


Nelson Freire

‘…Freire brings both radiance and luminosity to Debussy’s three Estampes.’
Gramophone


Carlini • Virtuosi Italiani • Martini

‘…If you want just one disc of this genre, this Tactus release is a thorough delight; everything is played with liveliness (on modern instruments) and a truly infectious spirit.’
Fanfare


Vox VOX-NX-2791
André-Michel Schub

‘This is one of the most enjoyable Beethoven discs I have heard for some time.’
MusicWeb International

Audiovisual Releases
Independent Releases
Accentus Music ACC-20661
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(ACC-10661)
Bamberg Symphony • Blomstedt
2025 Critic’s Choice | Gramophone

‘Like some finely engineered antique clock that still keeps perfect time, Herbert Blomstedt’s flawlessly paced account of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony is a collectors’ item of rare worth.’
Gramophone


C Major 765808
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(765904)
Pisaroni • Machaidze • Romanovsky • Irvin • Coro Ventidio Basso • RAI National Symphony Orchestra • Abbado • Padrissa
Want List | Fanfare

‘…An astoundingly well-sung performance… With a splendid orchestral contribution led by Abbado, this is highly recommended…’
Fanfare


Dynamic DYN-38076
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(DYN-58076)
Pratt • Piazzola • Lupinacci • Osborn • Donizetti Opera Orchestra • Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala • Frizza • Langridge

‘John Osborn’s tenor is stylish as ever… The dramatic Raffaella Lupinacci makes much of Sara, with smooth cantilena and some exciting vocal explosions, and Simone Piazzola’s suave Nottingham matches her.’
Opera Now ★★★★★


Opus Arte OA1393D
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(OABD7305D)
Suart • McAteer • Howard • Drummond • Scottish Opera Chorus and Orchestra • Clark • Maunder

‘The selection of voices for each role is finely curated, leading to contrasts in timbres and moods that enhance the audience’s interest and enjoyment.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


UNITEL Edition 811608
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(811704)
Panikkar • Grigorian • Urmana • Peixin Chen • Gatell • Arivony • Chirka • Vienna State Opera Chorus • Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra • Zangiev • Sellars
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone
Recommended | MusicWeb International

‘This production is a complete triumph and makes us realise what a masterpiece The Gambler actually is.’
Gramophone

‘…A top notch cast, a conductor who fully understands this complex score and the world class Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus…’
MusicWeb International

Naxos recordings, and those from the labels we distribute globally, consistently receive critical acclaim for their fascinating repertoire, outstanding performances and audio quality.
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