Tasto Solo - Early Modern English Music 1500-1550

Rating: 5/5

Review:
An excellent disc

I think this is excellent.  I wasn't sure what to expect because I'd not heard Tasto Solo before, but they have made a first-rate and extremely enjoyable disc here.

The title is pretty self-explanatory; this is a programme of instrumental music from England in the first half of the 16^th Century.  Much of it is anonymous and most of it was unknown to me, which can be a bit of a daunting prospect because such a programme can sometimes be a rather worthy and turgid affair.  This is anything but; I found the music a delight and the playing brilliant.  Tasto Solo have that kind of virtuosity which doesn't draw attention to itself but is all about bringing the music to life, which they do delightfully.  The disc is varied, enjoyable and a real pleasure from start to finish.

If you have any interest in early music, don't hesitate.  The recorded sound is excellent and it's a first-rate disc all round which I'm delighted to have discovered.  Very warmly recommended.

Bach - Violin Sonatas & Partitas - Barati

Rating: 3/5

Review:
Not a great interpretation

I'm afraid I didn't think this set was all that good.  There is nothing actively wrong with it; Krystof Barati is plainly a very capable violinist whose technique is up to the challenge of these demanding works, but as an interpretation of Bach I didn't enjoy it that much.  In the mighty chaconne from the D minor Partita, for example, it seems to me that Barati's over-vigorous attack is not a substitute for intensity of feeling.  He goes in for a lot of aggressive hammering at downbeats and there is a slightly show-offy feel to some of the quicker passages which are taken very quickly indeed.  However, there should also be mystery, spirituality and tenderness here (and throughout the Sonatas and Partitas) which I simply don't find in Barati's playing.  None of this is helped for me by a rather distant over-resonant acoustic.

The set does have its moments; the Prelude to the E major Partita, for example, skips and dances very pleasingly (although, again, the acoustic doesn't do it any favours) and there are other places where Barati brings the music to life, but overall I think this lacks much of the depth, subtlety and thoughtfulness of people like Rachel Podger, Isabelle Faust, Viktoria Mullova and others. 

Some other people don't share my view and have enjoyed this set very much, but given the great recordings which I already have, personally I can't really recommend it.

Sor - Early Works - Carter

Rating: 5/5

Review:
Fabulous

This is a lovely disc of wonderful music, beautifully played by William Carter.

Sor's music is very beautiful and extremely well crafted; if it had been written for piano rather than guitar it would probably be far better known and celebrated.  The great Andres Segovia was a champion of Sor's music and one can see why; it is full of melodic and harmonic invention and a real pleasure to listen to.

William Carter plays superbly, to my ears.  I am no expert on this music, but I think I know good playing when I hear it and this is fabulous.  It is technically flawless and has an empathy and fluency which makes the music really glow, I think.  The sound which Carter brings from his guitar is just wonderful – superbly recorded, as always, by Linn.

The whole thing is a huge pleasure and I can recommend it very warmly.

Guerrero - Missa Super flumina Babylonis - Noone

Rating: 5/5

Review :
A terrific disc

I love Michael Noone's recordings of Guerrero and this is another very fine achievement.

Although he doesn't get as much recognition as his near-contemporary Victoria, Guerrero's music is excellent.  It is inventive, rich and very beautiful – qualities which this recording brings out very well.  The singing by Ensemble Plus Ultra is excellent throughout with a lovely blend and balance and real engagement with the text.  The instrumental work, too, is top-class, with a fabulous rich sound which complements but never dominates the voices.  It's an exemplary performance, in my view.

The recorded sound and presentation are both of Glossa's usual very high standard and this is a terrific disc all round.  Very warmly recommended.

Bach - English Suites Nos 1,3 & 5 - Anderszewski

Rating: 5/5

Review:
A first-class recording

Just to add my voice to the chorus of praise for this excellent recording.  Anderszewski brings a slightly more modern feel to these Suites than some, but manages to do that without ever losing Bach's sense of dance, nor does he swamp Bach with a lot of over-fancy Romantic phrasing and other tricks.  These are full, rich and respectful interpretations by a master pianist, which are beautifully recorded and extremely rewarding all round.

I have dearly loved piano recordings of the English Suites by Murray Perahia and Angela Hewitt; Anderszewski's interpretation sits alongside them in my affections.  This is a first class recording which I can recommend very warmly indeed.

Bach - Goldberg Variations etc. - Halls

Rating: 5/5

Review:
An excellent set

I think this is an excellent set.  Its centrepiece is the Goldberg variations; there are a lot of truly great recordings of the Goldbergs now, but for me this is among them. 

Since he made this in 2009, Matthew Halls has rightly achieved international recognition as an instrumentalist and as director of the Retrospect Ensemble.  You can see why here. He brings real thought and sensibility to the Goldberg Variations, as well as immaculate technique.  The Aria is beautifully judged, the dances really dance, Variation 15 has that wonderful sense of searching and mystery, Variation 29 is stately and powerful without the crashing clunkiness of some recordings, and so on.  The whole thing is an absolute pleasure, as are the Aria Variata and the Sarabanda con Partita.

The overall sound is just fabulous.  Halls plays a beautiful sounding instrument, from which he brings the full, rich resonance and Linn, as always, capture it superbly in the  recording.  With intelligent, thoughtful and readable notes and very attractive presentation, this is a really fine set all round and very warmly recommended.

Beethoven - Complete String Quartets - Takacs Quartet

Rating: 5/5

Review:
A wonderful set

This complete Beethoven cycle by the Takacs Quartet is regarded by many as one of the major musical achievements of the last few years. I agree - this is a simply wonderful set.  I bought the original discs as they came out and they have given me immense pleasure for years.

The Takacs Quartet are technically outstanding. Tuning is faultless and the precision of their playing together is quite remarkable. In the finale of Op.59 No.3, for example, Beethoven's final sprint for the finishing line is played with thrilling vigour and at a tremendous pace, but intonation and ensemble playing are rock solid, which cannot be said of some other recordings by leading quartets.  Here we have four marvellous musicians playing brilliantly and who are absolutely at home with the music and with each other.

This bedrock of technique allows their wonderful interpretation of the music to shine out. In Beethoven's sublime slow movements, for example, there is exactly the right balance of sweetness and intensity - never cloying but never impenetrable. This excellence of interpretation runs right through the whole set and if you're looking for a complete recording of Beethoven's quartets you couldn't do better, I reckon. Even if you have recordings you love, I'd suggest buying this set - you will find real insight and pleasure throughout. I can recommend it very warmly.