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 CDs and DVDs available!

Gramophone Choice

DUSSEK, F.X.: Sinfonias, Altner G4, A3, Bb2, Bb3
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Hakkinen
Naxos 8.572683

Häkkinen…inspires his musicians into a softly atmospheric evocation of pastoral spaciousness interspersed with shadows of gentle agitation. Excellent. - Gramophone

first-rate performances featuring excellent energetic playing
- MusicWeb International

Naxos CDs

BERLIOZ, H.: Symphonie fantastique / Le corsair
Lyon National Orchestra, Slatkin
Naxos 8.572886 [CD] / NBD0029 [Blu-ray Audio]

A seriously classy recording of a suave, stylish and enthralling performance. - Herald Scotland

CASELLA, A.: Concerto for Orchestra / Pagine di guerra / Suite
Rome Symphony, La Vecchia
Naxos 8.573004

This disc is a treat, and a major release. - ClassicsToday.com

Great fun; buy now and beat the rush. - MusicWeb International

DEL TREDICI, D.: Piano Works (Complete), Vol. 1 - Gotham Glory
Peloquin
Naxos 8.559680

pianist Marc Peloquin imbues these composer-supervised performances with idiomatic aplomb and a powerful yet flexible technique - Gramophone

a series of towering performances - MusicWeb International

GRIEG, E.: String Quartets (arr. for string orchestra) / NORDHEIM, A.: Rendezvous
Oslo Camerata, Barratt-Due
Naxos 8.572441

The Oslo Camerata’s performance is so compelling, so full of life and spirit and energy, and so well recorded, that you may well fall in love with the piece. - Fanfare

JACKSON, G.: Requiem / In all his works / I am the voice of the wind / POTT, F.: When David heard
Vasari Singers, Backhouse
Naxos 8.573049

This is a disc that should be investigated by all those who are interested in contemporary choral music. - MusicWeb International

LOPES-GRACA, F.: Sinfonia / Suite Rustica No. 1 / Poema de dezembro
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Cassuto
Naxos 8.572892

a perfect introduction to [Lopes-Graça’s] highly civilized and communicative art - Fanfare

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, N.A.: Capriccio espagnol / Overtures
Seattle Symphony, Schwarz
Naxos 8.572788

ROSSINI, G.: Occasione fa il ladro (L')
Martirosyan, Antonelou, Ruggeri, Utzeri, Cortes, Wurttemberg Philharmonic, Fogliani
Naxos 8.660314-15

An idiomatic and joyous performance of this strangely neglected work.
- MusicWeb International

VILLA-LOBOS, H.: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7
Sao Paulo Symphony, Karabtchevsky
Naxos 8.573043

See Naxos catalogue

Naxos Blu-ray Audio

PROKOFIEV, S.: Symphony No. 5 / The Year 1941 [Blu-ray Audio]
Sao Paulo Symphony, Alsop
Naxos Blu-Ray NBD0031

There are a number of competitors to this new recording, but both Naxos’ exciting performance and first-rate surround sonics place it at the head of my current list. - Audiophile Audition

Accentus Music

BRUCKNER, A.: Symphony No. 5
Abbado
Accentus Music ACC-10243 [Blu-ray Video] / ACC-20243 [DVD]

DVD Performance Award - Gramophone Awards 2012

lyrical, nuanced, and profoundly coherent - Fanfare

chamber music on the grandest scale - Gramophone

See Accentus Music catalogue

Arthaus Musik

LIGETI, G.: Le Grand Macabre
Liceu, 2011
Arthaus 108058

An important addition to the Ligeti discography and a first on video.
- MusicWeb International

See Arthaus Musik catalogue

BR Klassik

MAHLER, G.: Symphony No. 9
Bavarian Radio Symphony, Haitink
BR-Klassik 900113

Haitink and the Bavarians are compelling and deeply perceptive. Indeed this reading ranks alongside the finest. - MusicWeb International

See BR Klassik catalogue

C Major

BEETHOVEN, L. van: Piano Concerto No. 5 / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, N.: Scheherazade
Bronfman, Nelsons
C Major 710108

One only has to watch [Andris Nelsons] to be captured immediately by his spell. - Fanfare

See C Major catalogue

Dacapo

HOLMBOE, V.: Chamber Symphonies
Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Storgards
Dacapo 6.220621

Excellent performances, superb sound: you will not hear a finer disc this year. - Gramophone

Conductor John Storgårds achieves a detailed and colourful performance with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. - The WholeNote

See Dacapo catalogue

EuroArts

BACH, J.S.: Goldberg Variations
Barenboim
EuroArts 2066778

Daniel Barenboim is perhaps not one immediately to be associated with Bach, but his is a most satisfying performance of the Goldberg’s - Fanfare

See EuroArts catalogue

Grand Piano

RAFF, J.: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Tra Nguyen
Grand Piano GP612

The gold standard by which future performers of Raff will be judged.
- MusicWeb International

See Grand Piano catalogue

Ondine

RAUTAVAARA, E.: Modificata / Incantations / Towards the Horizon
Storgards
Ondine ODE1178-2

Contemporary Award - Gramophone Awards 2012

Truls Mørk’s beautifully controlled performance...is as remarkable...Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under John Storgårds... and Ondine’s sensational, vivid sound set the seal on a superb Contemporary Award-winner.
- Gramophone

Bravo, bravo and thrice bravo; my disc of the year.
- MusicWeb International

See Ondine catalogue

Opus Arte

WAGNER, R.: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Glyndebourne, 2011
Opus Arte OABD7108D [Blu-ray Video] / OA1085D [DVD]

DVD Choice

David McVicar reminds us that this is an opera about youth and self-discovery - BBC Music Magazine

See Opus Arte catalogue

Other Minds

RUGGLES, C.: Works (Complete)
Buffalo Philharmonic, Tilson Thomas
Other Minds OM2020-21-2

every music lover needs to have this in his/her listening repertoire - Fanfare

See Other Minds catalogue

Tafelmusik Media

THE GALILEO PROJECT
Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik TMK1001DVDCD

played with exceptional verve and sensitivity - Fanfare

See Tafelmusik Media catalogue

Timpani Records

EMMANUEL, M.: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 / Suite francaise / Ouverture pour un conte gai
Slovenian Philharmonic, Villaume
Timpani 1C1189

heartfelt and quite memorable - Fanfare

See Timpani Records catalogue

Visit selected websites that review our recordings

See the CD and DVD labels that Naxos distributes

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

See previous months’ Critics Choices: