Reinecke's harp concerto may not be one of the better known ones, but most would have to agree that from the melodic standpoint it must rank among the most beautiful ever written. It may well remind you of Gliere's mellifluous effort in this genre that came some fifty years later. In fact, there's a similarity in mood between the two that makes one wonder if Reinecke's wasn't a source of inspiration for the later work.

The concerto and ballade for flute are lovely, extremely late, introspective pieces, which unfortunately are rarely heard today. We have the soloist to thank for this version of the former, which resolves some inconsistencies in the score.

Good performances and sound make this disc a real winner. (P060831)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)

Here's the third of five Northern Flowers CDs devoted to all nine of Sergei Taneyev's string quartets.

Because of publishing peculiarities, quartets seven through nine were composed first. So, as Chico might have said to Groucho in A Day at the Races, three will get you six and eight will get you two as far as the order in which the quartets here were written. Sergei may not have been the tunesmith that some of his Russian contemporaries were, but he was a highly cultivated man whose music has an intellectual integrity second to none.

The third quartet, his most popular, is classically proportioned and ends with a knockout theme and variations.

The eighth, like the seventh (see the newsletter of 20 May 2006), honors Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whom Taneyev and his teacher Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky idolized.

You'll find the performances full of Slavic soul, and the recorded sound acceptable. A word of caution though, some listeners have reported tracking problems with these disc. (P060830)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)

Devotees of Cesar Franck's D minor symphony will be overjoyed to discover the earlier of these two symphonies by Joseph-Guy Ropartz (1864-1955), who was one of Cesar's last students. There's a refreshing simplicity and sense of cohesion about this piece that's a direct result of the composer's adherence to Franck's cyclic principle. The march-like finale, which smacks of d'Indy and Magnard, cannot help but move you.

Composed some forty years later during World War II, the fifth is a more highly developed affair. This very jubilant music certainly belies the circumstances under which it was written. In fact, there's a Gallic glee about the last movement that guarantees you a genuine joyride.

Ebullient performances and good sound are the rule throughout. (P060829)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)

If you're one of those musical curmudgeons who can't abide tuneful, brilliantly orchestrated, large romantic symphonies, read no further! But, for those of us who can, wow! And we have Albany Records to thank for it, because they commissioned this symphony.

Lloyd, who died in 1998, was one of the last highly colorful, arch romantic British symphonists as this fabulous sounding hybrid release proves. A terrific tunesmith, superb orchestrator and an accomplished conductor, the composer outdoes himself here with this absolutely outstanding feel-good score. The musical ideas come flying at you a-mile-a-minute in a recording that's an audiophile's dream-come-true.

So treat yourself to a real soundfest and give this disc a spin! (Y060828)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)

Those who've heard all seven symphonies by this early romantic Czech composer would probably agree that the third is by far his best. That makes this a logical choice for adventurous listeners wanting to sample his music.

This symphony has some nifty features including a haunting idee fixe, some wonderful Slavic sounding themes and a terrific finale that starts in Mannheim Rocket fashion, and bears a strange resemblance in places to Mozart's fortieth symphony.

A stirring overture worthy of Weber, an introduction and variations for clarinet as well as an introduction and rondo for horn are also featured. You'll find the latter two selections are delightful mini-concertos.

The performances are committed and the sound is first-rate. (P060827)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)

This release has received rave reviews and when you hear it you'll understand why. With a voice perfectly suited to this material soprano Soile Isokoski gives those of us who cut our teeth on Kirsten Flagstad's renditions of Jean Sibelius' (1865-1957) songs something new to think about.

Conductor Leif Segerstam opts for a dreamier, more laid-back approach to these works as exemplified in Diamond on the March Snow. This translates well to the Kalevala creation myth, tone-poem-lied Luonnotar, which demonstrates the composer's amazing ability to infuse his music with a feeling for the infinite quietude and sublime rapture of the cosmos.

Seventeen other sumptuous vocal delights await you here, and they're all in demonstration quality sound -- audiophiles please take note. (Y060826)

-- Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found (CLOFO.com)