REVIEWS:

The Kristjan Jarvi Sound Project: Balkan Fever (Naive V5395) A new series highlights conductor Kristjan Jarvi’s extensive classical world, music and jazz collaborations, with an ambitious release schedule over several years. This, the first album, features the vibrant colours of folkinfluenced orchestral pieces by Enescu and Kodaly. The album stars kaval player Theodosii Spassov and guitarists Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadic, with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Intoxicating music well-delivered.

Five: James Rhodes (Instrumental Records SIGCD371) Pianist James Rhodes performs a mixed programme of music including JS Bach’s Partita in B-flat, Chopin’s Ballade No 3 in A flat major and Scherzo No 2 in B flat minor, with Beethoven’s Sonata No 15 and Gluck’s Orfeo Melody. This engaging album marks the launch of Rhodes’ own record label Instrumental Records, aimed at being a creative platform for fresh new talent.

Benjamin Britten: Three Cello Suites, A film by Paul Joyce (Signum Classics SIGDVD001) British cellist Jamie Walton exploits the unique acoustics of Holy Trinity Church in Blythburgh to their full effect in performances of Britten’s Three Solo Suites for Cello. The works are the summation of a long-standing friendship between the composer and Russian master Rostropovich. A must for devotees.