August 2013

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

BEETHOVEN The Complete String Quartets, Vol 2 Belcea Quartet Zig-Zag Territoires ZZT321

Recording of the Month ‘Alongside formidable technical expertise is a pervasive determination to confront the knottiest of issues, caution be damned’

NALEN ANTHONI’S REVIEW IS ON PAGE 40

Tap here to enjoy excerpts on the Gramophone Player

CASELLA Orchestral Works, Vol 3 BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Gianandrea Noseda Chandos CHAN10768 ‘Good news: Vol 3 in Chandos’s Casella series effortlessly maintains the exalted artistic and technical standards of both its predecessors.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 44

JANÁČEK Sinfonietta. The Fiddler’s Child. Taras Bulba Prague Radio SO / Tomáš Netopil Supraphon SU4131 2 ‘Supraphon’s engineering team manage vivid reportage of constantly varying textures that frequently defeat even their most accomplished rivals.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 47

4 GRAMOPHONE AUGUST 2013

SIBELIUS Symphonies – Nos 1 and 4 Minnesota Orchestra / Osmo Vänskä BIS BIS1996 ‘The passion and sweep of the First is electric, rivalling Berglund’s classic Helsinki version and overhauling those by Järvi and (dare I say it) Sir Colin Davis.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 49

KATHERINE BRYAN Flute Works Katherine Bryan l Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Jac van Steen Linn CKD420 ‘Exuberance of spirit coupled with the mellowness of her golden timbre lend the first movement a lightness, energy and mellifluous fluency.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 54

‘LIVE FROM LUGANO 2012’ Martha Argerich and Friends EMI 721119 2 ‘This collection treads the fine line between the immediacy and drama of live perfomance and the accuracy needed for the repeat listening of recorded performance with great dexterity.’

REVIEW ON PAGE 60

gramophone.co.uk