Thomas Fasano

Tom Fasano has been writing reviews of classical music recordings for the past quarter century. He's finally making them public on this blog.
55

Carey Blyton Early Songs – Korman and Partridge

Carey Blyton: The Early Songs Beryl Korman (soprano), Ian Partridge (tenor), Stephen Roberts (piano), Jennifer Partridge (piano),…

58

Melchior and Flagstad in Wagner Parsifal – 1938 Met Opera

# A Voice from Valhalla: Melchior and Flagstad in Parsifal The discovery of these aluminum transcription discs…

61

Tchaikovsky String Quartets by St Lawrence Quartet

Tchaikovsky: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 St Lawrence String Quartet EMI Classics CDC5 57144 [69:42] The…

52

Arthur Bliss: Decca British Music Collection

Arthur Bliss: Decca British Music Collection [2 CDs] Robert Cohen (cello); Alfredo Campoli (violin); Royal Philharmonic Company/Barry…

61

Dvorak and Tchaikovsky by Muti – Abbey Road Recordings

Muti’s Dvořák and Tchaikovsky: Abbey Road Splendors from the Mid-Seventies There’s something to be said for the…

43

Bizet Carmen Highlights – Bumbry and Vickers

Georges Bizet Carmen (highlights) Grace Bumbry (mezzo-soprano), Jon Vickers (tenor), Mirella Freni (soprano), Kostas Paskalis (baritone), Eliane…

57

Mozart Bassoon Concerto – Lawrence Perkins and Camerata

Mozart: Concerto in B♭ major, K. 191 • Weber: Andante e Rondo Ungarese; Concerto in F major,…

48

Schubert Winterreise – Bass Jules Bastin

A Bass in Winter: Jules Bastin’s Unexpected Journey Here’s an oddity worth contemplating. Jules Bastin—that superb Belgian…

43

Berlioz Songs – Véronique Gens and Lyon National Opera Orchestra

Hector Berlioz (1803–69) Les nuits d’été, La mort de Cléopâtre, La captive, La belle voyageuse, Zaïde Véronique…

53

Stokowski 1947 RCA Sessions – Virtuosity Without Vision

Stokowski’s 1947 Testament: Virtuosity in Search of Vision The story of Stokowski’s wandering years after Philadelphia—and there…

58

Bentzon Symphonies 5 and 7 – Aarhus Orchestra Ole Schmidt

Niels Viggo Bentzon Symphony No. 5, Op. 61 Ellipser (1950) [36:19] Symphony No. 7, Op. 83 Tre…

53

Vivaldi Cello Concertos – Alexandre Debrus

Vivaldi’s Cello Concertos: Pleasant Confections, Indifferently Served Cello Concertos by Antonio Vivaldi Alexandre Debrus, cello; Elaine Debrus-Boucher,…

50

Rubbra: Sinfonia Concertante – Hickox and BBC Wales

Rubbra: The Sinfonia Concertante and Choral Works CHANDOS CHAN 9966 BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox Howard…

46

Purcell Fantasias by London Baroque on Modern Strings

PURCELL: Fantazias London Baroque / Charles Medlam BIS CD-1165 [71:55] The summer of 1680—Purcell just twenty-one, already…

63

# Torrejon: Lima Cathedral Music from Colonial Peru

68

Ravel Piano Works by Gieseking – EMI

Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano Walter Gieseking EMI 7243 5 74793 2 5 [2 CDs: 117:42]…

53

Sibelius Symphonies and Tone Poems by Berglund

SIBELIUS: Complete Symphonies and Miscellaneous Works Paavo Berglund/Helsinki Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony EMI 5 74485 2 (8 CDs)…

60

Weber Peter Schmoll – Hagen Philharmonic Markson

Weber’s Juvenilia: A Fifteen-Year-Old’s Prophetic Voice Peter Schmoll and his Neighbours (1802) Soloists; Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerhard Markson…