Gernsheim: Piano Quartets

Friedrich Gernsheim: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 - Andreas Kirpal, Diogenes Quartet

I am playing this CD over and over again because I just can't get enough of it. This music is as passionate as some of Brahms' best chamber music, but it has a very distinct character. Gernsheim (1839-1916) deserves to be rescued from his present obscurity.

Brilliant Classics 93997

Miaskovsky: symphonies

Nikolay Miaskovsky: Complete symphonies - Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov

Some people may have heard of Miaskovsky (1881-1950), fewer have listened to some of his works, and fewer still know he wrote no less than 27 symphonies, here on 16 CDs.

Not all of his symphonies are equally interesting, and the performances are often extremely sloppy. Nevertheless, it was a revelation for me going through so much unchartered territory.

Warner Music France 2564 69689-8

Dohnányi: String quartets 2-3

Ernst Von Dohnányi: String quartets nos. 2 & 3; Zoltán Kodály: String quartet no. 2 - Guarneri Quartet

Very powerful and original, yet neglected chamber music. The performances are top-notch.

Sony 88697158382

Schönberg: String quartets 1-2

Arnold Schönberg: String quartets 1-2 - Prazák Quartet

Truly sublime performances of two enigmatic string quartets that reveal all their heavenly splendour only in the hands of the most able musicians.

Praga PRD 250 112

Britten: Violin concerto

Benjamin Britten & William Walton: Violin concertos - Ida Haendel, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund

Britten's concerto is performed with fervour, daring and extraordinary technique. This recording from 1977 deserves a place in every music collection.

EMI 764202 2

Szymanowski: Piano works

Szymanowski: Piano works and works for violin and piano - Mikhail Rudy, Ulf Hoelscher and Michel Beroff

The piano music by Szymanowski is not well known but highly enjoyable. For an integral edition, the recordings by Sinae Lee are recommended. The recording by Mikhail Rudy on the first CD of the present 2-CD edition covers only about half of his piano works, but the performance is much superior to Sinae Lee's. The second CD in the edition, with works for violin and piano, played by Ulf Hoelscher and Michel Beroff, is less successful. E.g. for the Mythes Op. 30, the recording by David Grimal and Georges Pludermacher (see below) is to be preferred. But on the whole, this budget edition is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with Szymanowski's magical music.

EMI 476924 2

Enesco: Violin sonata no. 3

Leoš Janáček, Karol Szymanowski, Béla Bartók, Georges Enesco: Works for violin and piano - David Grimal and Georges Pludermacher

All of the works on this CD are gems that deserve to be much better known. What swept me off my feet was the third violin sonata by Georges Enesco from 1926. The performance fabulously captures the spirit of folk music from central Europe.

Ambroisie AM 163