New releases last eight weeks: Classical

Review: Originally released in 1997, Andrea Bocelli's remastered Romanza album is a resplendent showcase of his remarkable tenor. This reissue revitalises the iconic tracks with enhanced audio clarity that captures the lush orchestration and emotional depth of Bocelli's performance. Highlights include the stirring 'Con Te Partiro,' the haunting 'Vivo Per Lei,' and the passionate 'La Luna Che Non C'e', all of which are ripe with Bocelli's rich tones and dynamic range. Romanza is one of many great works from this classical mainstay and it has never sounded better than this.

Review: To mark Anton Bruckner's bicentenary in 2024, Deutsche Grammophon releases a limited and numbered audiophile vinyl edition of Herbert von Karajan's famous recordings of the complete symphony cycle with the Berliner Philharmoniker, on 17 LPs. All recordings have been newly mastered and mixed by Rainer Maillard and Sidney C. Meyer from Emil Berliner Studios: Symphonies Nos. 4-7 (analogue recordings from 1975-1979), based on 8-track material were treated according to the Original Source Series standards. Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 & 3 are digital recordings from 1980 and 1981 and have also been newly mastered and cut by the same team at EBS, optimizing the sound by utilising new bespoke analogue-to-digital-to-analogue conversion technologies and using a tube-based mixing console from 1960. The 17xLP set is housed in a slipcase with O-card, with eight 2xLP gatefolds (Symphonies Nos. 2- 9) and one single sleeve (Symphony No. 1) presented in a sleeve (1 LP), with artwork based on the respective original releases including liner notes and with additional material including recording documentation and photos.

Review: Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic are at the pinnacle of classical music and are renowned for their stellar recordings. Rattle's tenure with the orchestra has been marked by mutual growth and exceptional performances and this 2012 recording of Bruckner's 9th Symphony, featuring the 'Four Movement Version', showcases their unparalleled musicianship. The performance of the original three movements is particularly noteworthy, highlighting Rattle's ability to evoke the grandeur of Furtwangler and Karajan while adding his unique interpretive touch. Despite the symphony's unfinished fourth movement, the recording's excellence makes it essential listening, with the orchestra delivering a breathtaking performance.

Review: Few conductors have been as closely associated with the works of Gustav Mahler as Sir Simon Rattle, Here, the British maestro leads the world famous Berliner Philharmoniker in a rendition of Symphony 5, which itself is one of the most renowned pieces in Mahler's oeuvre. The first instrumental he composed since his Symphony No. 1, it's a powerful audio odyssey here performed flawlessly for Rattle's first ever concert as principal conductor of Berlin's prestigious orchestra. Comprising five movements, each packs its own unique personality. At times lighter than air, in other moments packing a subdued depth, pomp and pageantry, and epic drama ('Trauermarsch. In Gemessenen Schritt. Streng. Wie Ein Kondukt'), you could argue this showcases the breadth of classical in one stunning experience, but that might be stating the obvious.