Critics Choice October 2022

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 music and audiovisual albums!

2022 Opus Klassik Winners
KORNGOLD, E.W.: Die tote Stadt [Opera] (Bavarian State Opera, 2019)
KORNGOLD, E.W.: Die tote Stadt [Opera] (Bavarian State Opera, 2019)
Bayerische Staatsoper Recordings BSOREC1001
VASKS, P.: Musica serena • Musica dolorosa • Musica appassionata • Cello Concerto No. 2
VASKS, P.: Musica serena • Musica dolorosa • Musica appassionata • Cello Concerto No. 2
BR-Klassik 900336
SCHNITTKE, A.: Film Music, Vol. 5 – The Stars of the Day • The Favorite • Father Sergius
SCHNITTKE, A.: Film Music, Vol. 5 – The Stars of the Day • The Favorite • Father Sergius
Capriccio C5350
PROKOFIEV, S.: Violin Concertos Nos. 1–2 • Sonata for Solo Violin
PROKOFIEV, S.: Violin Concertos Nos. 1–2 • Sonata for Solo Violin
Naxos 8.574107
Among Whirlwinds – METCALF, J. • HILDEGARD OF BINGEN • THORVALDSDÓTTIR, A. • HORSLEY, J. • STOYTCHEVA, S.
Among Whirlwinds – METCALF, J. • HILDEGARD OF BINGEN • THORVALDSDÓTTIR, A. • HORSLEY, J. • STOYTCHEVA, S.
OehmsClassics OC1723
HINDEMITH, P.: Clarinet Concerto • Clarinet Quartet • Clarinet Sonata
HINDEMITH, P.: Clarinet Concerto • Clarinet Quartet • Clarinet Sonata
Orfeo C210041
Audio Releases
Naxos Releases

Naxos 8.574465–67
Danish Chamber Orchestra • A. Fischer

‘Fresh, engaging recordings’
The Guardian ★★★★★

‘A revelation!’
Stretto


Mammel • Abele • Holst-Sinfonietta • K. Simon
★★★★

‘A celebration of Korngold, then a demonstration of the miraculous variety his music holds, brilliantly conceived as a programme and performed with real devotion.’
Classical Explorer


Butterfield • McMahon • Wollston

‘Butterfield, McMahon and Wollston play it with a lovely feeling of enjoyment and engagement…’
Planet Hugill ★★★★


Portuguese Symphony • Borralhinho

‘Fresh and lively playing’
ClassicsToday.com


Ukrainian State Symphony • Kuchar

‘Lyatoshynsky provides us with an exciting listening adventure.’
Gramophone


Naxos 8.551460–61
Bästlein • Djeddikar

‘The music is such a delightful discovery, and Bästlein’s singing is so full of character…’
Fanfare


Z. Schiff • Royal Scottish National Orchestra • Eisenberg

‘Heavenly violin playing by the mother and fine orchestral accompaniment by the daughter’
de Gelderlander ★★★★★


Spectrum Concerts Berlin

‘…Do listen to the end as the work’s close is both ravishing and haunting.’
Classical Explorer


Nicolosi

‘Nicolosi’s highly idiomatic virtuosity showcases all the material to the best possible effect.’
Infodad.com ★★★★


Oviedo Filarmonía • Haider

‘A grand discovery!’
Stretto


Independent Label Releases (in alphabetical order)
Gaechinger Cantorey • Rademann

‘The recording is a triumph… Hans-Christoph Rademann is well-versed in this repertoire and brings to both pieces well-considered tempi, lithe textures, and choral singing that has strength of purpose without ever been overbearing.’
Choir & Organ ★★★★★


Gazi • Jones • Welbanks • Khiyo • Ligeti String Quartet

Bondona is an embarrassment of riches containing plenty of surprise, delight and depth.’
Songlines ★★★★

‘Singh’s joyful enthusiasm is infectious and his solo debut is a delight.’
Baker & Taylor CD Hotlist


Bavarian State Orchestra • V. Jurowski

‘A real treat, from every angle. Inspired, in fact.’
Classical Explorer



Cedille CDR90000-212
Black Oak Ensemble

‘An ensemble to make each [piece] stand out and stand in its own deserving space.’
ClassicsToday.com

‘Supreme musicianship, enthusiasm and commitment.’
MusicWeb International


Nightingale String Quartet

‘I can’t imagine these masterful interpretations being bettered.’
Limelight


Xiaoya Liu

‘It’s quite an experience. And one that you want to repeat almost immediately.’
Limelight

‘This great music needs a great interpreter and the young Chinese pianist Xiaoya Liu is it, with a great technique and precision… An exceptional disc.’
Scherzo

‘Liu’s incisive, assertive and galvanic projection of the outer movements [of Fantasia from the Third Sonata] makes an altogether stronger case, together with Dynamic’s superior recorded sound and overall production values. Highly recommended.’
Gramophone


Rombach • Spanos • Pandolfis Consort

‘Listening to these pieces makes me want to find a group to read thru them!’
American Record Guide


Ayrapetyan

‘The interpretations have a moving character and create a very special atmosphere of well-being in the listener.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Multiverse

‘Tunes played with total commitment that are accessible, surprising, and richly enjoyable.’
Jazz Views


Vaitkevicius • Giunter • Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra • Variakojis

‘New York-based Lithuanian composer wows with new works for string orchestra.’
Limelight

‘I find it hard to imagine better performances than these… Ondine’s sound engineers have also ensured that Martinaitytė’s evocative sound worlds are conveyed with all the clarity and transparency one could wish for.’
Kulturdelen ★★★★★


Esfahani • Aarhus Symphony • Segerstam

‘The whole performance has a remarkable vigour and élan. That this is a live performance is all the more remarkable.’
Planet Hugill


Carrettín • Gajic

‘Ever-shifting rhythms, visceral melodies and thrilling interpretations.’
The WholeNote


South West German Radio Symphony Orchestra • Baden-Baden • Rosbaud

‘This set is yet another feather in his [Rosbaud’s] cap, one that should be heard by all serious music lovers.’
The Art Music Lounge

Audiovisual Releases
Naxos Releases
Naxos 2.110691–92
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0130V)
Koch • Streit • Uhl • Grundheber • Slovak Philharmonic Choir • Wiener Symphoniker • de Billy • Warner

‘This is a long-awaited first video representation of Mathis der Maler, much welcomed for its overall quality, including superb audio and video.’
Fanfare


Naxos 2.110731
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0150V)
Minasyan • Neksarova • Popov • Ulyanov • Scelomiansky • Orchestre et Chœurs de l’Opéra National de Lyon • Rustioni • Kosky

‘There may be a glut of recent Cockerel DVDs out there but this is one that cannot be missed.’
Gramophone


Naxos 2.110713
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0144V)
Kaiser • Hartmann • Stefanoff • Butter • Chor der Oper Graz • Grazer Philharmoniker • Kluttig • Loschky
★★★★

‘This DVD is an opportunity to appreciate perhaps the finest work by one of the finest composers of the 20th century’
new-classics.co.uk


Independent Releases (in alphabetical order)
C Major 760408
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(760504)
Nylund • Herlitzius • Skelton • Elgr • Schwarz • Staatsopernchor • Staatskapelle Berlin • Rattle • Michieletto

‘I have nothing but praise for Camilla Nylund’s Jenůfa. She is mesmerizing and inhabits her role as well as any I have heard.’
MusicWeb International


Opus Arte OA1347D
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(OABD7298D)
English Baroque Soloists • Monteverdi Choir • Gardiner

‘The orchestral playing and choral singing really are splendid…’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★


Unitel Edition 806708
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(806804)
Wiener Philharmoniker • Thielemann

‘Christian Thielemann, a deeply committed Brucknerian, in splendid filmed performances with the Vienna PO.’
Gramophone



View all Features »