December 2012

hoice Informed by our unrivalled panel of critics, we choose the month’s must-hear recordings

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski LPO LPO0064

Recording of the Month ‘The playing throughout is marked by a oneness with Jurowski’s vision and a well-established empathy between the LPO players and their conductor’

EDWARD SECKERSON’S REVIEW IS ON PAGE 48

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BARTÓK. EÖTVÖS. LIGETI Violin Concertos Patricia Kopatchinskaja vn Hessen Radio SO / Peter Eötvös Naïve V5285 ‘It’s a mightily exciting account of Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto, which certainly doesn’t rush its fences or sell the score short.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 50

HANDEL. PURCELL ‘Sound the Trumpet’ Alison Balsom tpt English Concert / Trevor Pinnock EMI 440329 2 ‘Balsom’s point is that it was the valveless trumpet’s vocal quality that informed its music and this she demonstrates through her choice of music for this album.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 52

4 GRAMOPHONE DECEMBER 2012

SCHUMANN. DVOŘÁK Piano Quintets Jonathan Biss pf Elias Quartet Onyx ONYX4092 ‘The players manage to hold up certain telling phrases without falling into the all-too-common fallacy of applying ersatz “interpretation” simply by slowing down for the quiet bits.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 67

RACHMANINOV Piano Sonatas Nos 1 & 2 Nikolai Lugansky Naïve Ambroisie AM208 ‘Lugansky’s superb performance is endorsed by the rich, full tone of the piano – which he exploits from the fullest fff in the bass to the most ethereal treble pianissimos.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 70

SCHUBERT Solo Piano Works Paul Lewis pf Harmonia Mundi HMC90 2136/7 ‘The first instalment in Paul Lewis’s Schubert series got the year off to a wonderful start and he ends it in equally fine style with a recording every bit as compelling.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 70

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