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.

Elias’s Five Songs and Laments: King’s and Wyn-Rogers’s Haunting Interpretation with BBC Symphony Orchestra

Composer: Brian ELIAS (born 1948) Works: Five Songs to Poems by Irina Ratushinskaya (1989), Laments (1998) Performers:…

Albeniz and Granados: Bream’s Enchanting Guitar Journey Through Spanish Landscapes

Composer: Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Joaquin Malats, Emilio Pujol Works: Mallorca, Opus 202; Suite Española, Opus 47;…

Various Composers’ Piano Works: Hamelin’s Masterful Exploration of Forgotten Gems

Composer: Various Works: Edna Bentz Woods: Valse Phantastique; Emile-Robert Blanchet: Turquie – Au jardin du vieux sérail,…

Beethoven’s Seventh and Eighth Symphonies: Abbado’s Dynamic Direction with the Berlin Philharmonic

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Works: Symphonies No. 7 in A major, Op. 92; No. 8 in F…

Bach’s Toccata and Glinka’s Lark: Kissin’s Captivating Exploration of Timeless Masterpieces

Composer: Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)/ Ferrucio BUSONI (1866-1924)/ Mikhail GLINKA (1804-57)/ Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-81) Works: Toccata, Adagio…

Louis Vierne’s Chamber Masterpieces: Athenaeum Enesco String Quartet’s Captivating Performance with Gabriel Tacchino

Composer: Louis Vierne Works: Piano Quintet, Op. 42; String Quartet, Op. 12 Performers: Athenaeum Enesco String Quartet…

Joseph Marx’s Violin Sonata No. 1: Ringborg and Blumenthal’s Captivating Premiere Recording

Composer: Joseph Marx Works: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major (1913) Performers: Tobias Ringborg (violin), Daniel…

Dvořák’s Violin Works: Accardo’s Masterful Interpretation with Concertgebouw and Gewandhausorchester

Composer: Antonín Dvořák Works: Violin Concerto, Op. 53; Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 Performers: Salvatore Accardo, violin; Concertgebouw…

Allen’s Piano Works: Trevor Barnard’s Insightful Journey Through Contemporary Landscapes

Composer: Geoffrey Allen, Felix Werder, Dorian Le Gallienne, Tim Dargaville, Michael Bertram Works: Three Piano Pieces Op.23…

Larsson’s Twelve Concertinos: Göran Marcusson’s Expressive Flute and Ensemble Performance

Composer: Lars-Erik Larsson Works: Twelve Concertinos (1955-56) – Volume 1: Flute and Orchestra Op.45 No. 1, Oboe…

Gibbons’ Royal Fantasies: Mark Levy’s Ensemble Brings Baroque Elegance to Life

Composer: Orlando Gibbons Performers: Mark Levy (treble viol), Joanna Levine (treble and great bass viol), Emilia Benjamin…

Bartók’s and Lutosławski’s Concertos: Sir Andrew Davis’s Commanding Performance with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic

Composer: Béla Bartók (1881-1945), Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994) Works: Concerto for Orchestra (Bartók), Concerto for Orchestra (Lutosławski) Performers:…