SPONSORED: Ensemble. Unjustly Neglected - In this specially extended feature, Armstrong Gibbs' re-discovered 'Passion according to St Luke' impresses Roderic Dunnett.
All sponsored features >>
Capriccio Records is an independent Austrian classical music record label, based in Vienna, run by Johannes Kernmayer. (From the 1980s until 2010 it was a German company, part of Delta-Music GmbH, with Kernmayer as artistic director.)
Information: www.capriccio.at
CD Spotlight. Kaleidoscopic Variety - Gerald Fenech listens to music by Charles Koechlin. '... a near uncontrollable energy that almost brings Chaplin and Co back to life again.'
CD Spotlight. Truly Gripping, Attractive and Alluring - Johann Mattheson's oratorio 'Joseph', highly commended by Roderic Dunnett. '... an outstanding performance in every way, and indeed a perfect introduction to Mattheson's fresh and vital writing ...'
CD Spotlight. A Thrilling, Epic Quality - Gerald Fenech listens to Anton Bruckner's Symphony No 0, 'Die Nullte'. 'The Bruckner Orchester Linz plays superbly throughout and Markus Poschner's enthusiasm for this music allows him to reveal details of orchestration that, maybe, were hitherto missed.'
CD Spotlight. Sex, Jealousy and the Sea - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Hans Werner Henze's 'Das verratene Meer'. '... an excellent reading ...'
CD Spotlight. Music of Wit and Charm - Works by Ernst von Dohnányi and Leó Weiner, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... fine and unfamiliar music, played to perfection by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roberto Paternostro.'
CD Spotlight. Natural Talents - Gerald Fenech listens to Easter cantatas by Baroque German composer Christoph Graupner. 'Christian Bonath and his team give these baroque choral gems the ideal exposure, and reveal them to be the masterpieces they truly are in performances of inspirational nobility and incomparable beauty.'
CD Spotlight. Astounding Work - A second volume of orchestral music by Austrian composer Hans Rott, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... performed with passion and understanding, and the quality of the recording matches this. Bravo.'
CD Spotlight. Enormous Potential - Orchestral music by Hans Rott impresses Geoff Pearce. '... fine performances and warmth of sound ...'
CD Spotlight. Romantic Concertos - Geoff Pearce listens to Dohnányi's two piano concertos. 'Sofja Gülbadamova is a superb pianist who obviously identifies with this composer and has the crispness, accuracy and flair to bring off these two works.'
CD Spotlight. Enjoyable Stuff - Liszt, Schubert and Brahms piano works, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Christopher Park's near flawless interpretations have a broad structural vision, and his exquisite and intimate phrasing, while not over-romanticised, makes these works sound even more impressive. The Liszt/Schubert piece is particularly stirring, even more so through the sympathetic support of Eschenbach and his players.'
CD Spotlight. A Korngold Renaissance - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews a four CD set of music by the Austrian-born composer. 'The wholeness of this anthology is admirable.'
CD Spotlight. Thoroughly Enjoyable - Dohnányi's 'The Veil of Pierrette', recommended by Geoff Pearce. 'The rapid changes of mood and atmosphere are well done, and the playing of all concerned is exemplary.'
CD Spotlight. The Charm of 'La Nuova Commedia Dell'arte' - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Busoni's 'Turandot' and 'Arlecchino'. '... this is a book and two CDs to enjoy and to make an elegant gift.'
CD Spotlight. Unhurried and Spacious - Geoff Pearce listens to Ernst von Dohnányi's first symphony. '... a fantastic disc ...'
CD Spotlight. Music of the Utmost Beauty - Gerald Fenech listens to Weber's 'Euryanthe'. '... highly charged emotional singing, felicitous and lush playing, and the ensemble and choral pieces are brought off with panache and precision.'
CD Spotlight. The Spirit of Tango - Piazzolla's 'María de Buenos Aires', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Bouncy yet thought-provoking stuff.'
CD Spotlight. A Musical Bond - Kabalevsky and Weinberg Concertos, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Innovative stuff worthy of some serious investigation.'
CD Spotlight. Absolutely unmissable - Prokofiev's 'Ivan the Terrible', recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a blockbuster of an issue which should delight both film score collectors and Prokofiev admirers in equal measure.'
CD Spotlight. Sensitive Direction - Gustav Mahler's 'Das Klagende Lied', heard by Geoff Pearce. '... a fine performance of a somewhat little-known work.'
CD Spotlight. The Bad Boy of Music? - Orchestral music by George Antheil, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. 'Karl-Heinz Steffens and his German troops are passionate advocates of Antheil's cause, and performances are full of engaging expressiveness and technical finesse.'
CD Spotlight. Utter Conviction - Antonín Dvorák's 'The Spectre's Bride', welcomed by Gerald Fenech. 'Meister and his Vienna forces capture the eerie atmosphere of the story with chilling effect, and his consistent attention to detail allows the soloists free reign to bring out all the expressiveness of the characters.'
CD Spotlight. Scrumptious Outbursts - Orchestral music by Jaromír Weinberger, enjoyed by Roderic Dunnett. '... full of rich colours from the Berlin Orchestra under Albrecht's direction ...'
CD Spotlight. Nostalgic or Prophetic? - Sergei Rachmaninov's Symphony No 2 and 'Vocalise', heard by Lucas Ball. '... there is a great sense of direction in this recording.'
CD Spotlight. A Worthy Tribute - Purcell opera suites conducted by Neville Marriner, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... full-blown Purcellian splendour ...'
DVD Spotlight. Much Courage - Alfredo Catalani's 'La Wally', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'This Tyrolean team has made fine music ...'