Album reviews and new releases: The RSNO celebrates 125 years and Haydn's cello sings

29 May 2016, 08:09 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45

Album reviews 29 May

Throughout the week Classic FM's presenters bring you the best new recordings, including world exclusives and premiere broadcasts of latest releases.

Album of the Week

Join John Suchet after 10am each weekday morning to hear a track from the Album of the Week.

125 years Royal Scottish National Orchestra125 Years of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi/Sir Alexander Gibson/Bryden Thomson/Matthias Bamert/Stéphane Denève/Peter Oundjian
Chandos CHAN241-55
 
Classic FM's Orchestra in Scotland celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Over four decades, the RSNO has made some excellent recordings for Chandos under a series of distinguished Music Directors, including Sir Alexander Gibson, Neeme Järvi, and, coming more up to date, Stéphane Denève, and the present incumbent, Peter Oundjian. Chandos joins the celebrations with a double album of highlights from their catalogue that runs to more than 160 minutes. It's all terrific listening, especially Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, MacCunn’s boisterous The Land of the Mountain and the Flood, and Enescu’s gloriously buoyant Romanian Rhapsody. And excellent value.

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John Brunning Drive Discovery

After 6pm each weekday evening, John Brunning showcases a track from his Drive Discovery, a fantastic new release.

Pavel Gomziakov Cello HaydnHaydn: Cello Concertos in C & D/Adagio from Symphony No.13/Adagio in F
Pavel Gomziakov/Orquestra Gulbenkian
Onyx 4151
 
Haydn is every bit the equal of Mozart and Beethoven, but loses out in popular appeal because he was so prolific. Very few of his invariably excellent pieces stand out from the crowd the way Beethoven’s Ninth or Mozart’s Don Giovanni do. This new recording of his cello concertos can only further enhance his reputation. Pavel Gomziakov is a first class soloist in both of the concertos. He draws some lovely sounds from his 'King of Portugal' Strad, while also directing the Lisbon-based Gulbenkian Orchestra.

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