2020 Most Wanted

Album Choice

“… The London Sinfonia plays superbly in both expression and attractive tone quality. Wilson’s interpretation of the symphony goes to the top of the deck; it’s a definitive view of a first-rate symphony.”

Brian Wilson – Recording of the year 2019

“An important reminder that Korngold was just as fine a composer of symphonic-scale music as he was of film music.”

Nick Barnard - Recording of the year 2019

“The recording I did not review but one that has received accolades from my colleagues. John Wilson has reformed the Sinfonia of London and this is their debut disc. Make no mistake - this is a brutally hard work to play and Wilson's players produce a performance of blistering brilliance. Wilson's approach is powerfully dramatic - perhaps linking the work more to Korngold's earlier swashbuckling scores rather than the post-war aching nostalgia some other performances emphasise. In its own right this is a sensational interpretation with the finest recordings of the two 'fillers' to boot. I listened to it in Chandos' Studio Master Download format and even by the high standards of the house this is a remarkable production allied to the performance. The next recordings from this combination of artists and recording company are eagerly awaited.”

"...The London Sinfonia plays superbly in both expression and attractive tone quality. Wilson’s interpretation of the symphony goes to the top of the deck; it’s a definitive view of a first-rate symphony. "

“…The Sinfonia of London, an ensemble resurrected in 2018 by Wilson solely for the purpose of recording, plays with heart and plenty of panache when required. Chandos’s sound is an asset, as always: warm, uncluttered and spacious… a fine program.” ****½

“… Wilson’s performance is characterised by swift, forward moving tempi in all four movements of the work {Symphony in F#] that eschews any trace of a stodginess or glutinous sentimentality. The result is a much tougher and sinewy account of the score than is to be found in rival versions; one that moves the style of the symphony closer to the era in which it was composed rather than an example of fin de siècle romanticism. The playing of the orchestra is clean, lean and superbly disciplined throughout. The scherzo, for example, is played with breathtaking precision and confidence – a whirlwind tour de force…”

***** Coup de Coeur

Recommended

"... This ranks as the best surround recording of an orchestra I have heard; the excellent performance of a rarity by Korngold adds icing to the cake."

“However valuable John Wilson’s back catalogue, this August 30 Chandos issue might just prove to be his most substantial recording achievement to date… “ *****

“… the performances from the Sinfonia of London and John Wilson – who loves this music as much as the film scores and musicals that are his speciality – are wonderful.” *****

Performance *****      Sonics (Multichannel) ****½

“…Wilson’s performance is characterised by swift, forward moving tempi in all four movements of the work that eschews any trace of a stodginess or glutinous sentimentality. The result is a much tougher and sinewy account of the score than is to be found in rival versions … The playing of the orchestra is clean, lean and superbly disciplined throughout… a most stimulating release.”

Album of the Week

“… Clearly influenced by the dark events of the previous decade, this [Symphony] is a big dramatic work in the tradition of Mahler … The Johann Strauss pastiche is huge fun, brilliantly orchestrated. More please.”

“… Superb playing and superb engineering – one of the year’s best orchestral discs.”

Recording of the Month

Performance *****      Recording *****

“At long last, Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Symphony in F sharp has the recording it deserves… Throughout, he [Wilson] and the Sinfonia of London render the symphony with the same breathtaking intensity, rigour and sweeping momentum that characterised Korngold’s own conducting and playing. Above all, there’s a white-hot passion to it, which is absolutely necessary… The recorded sound matches the playing for liveliness, clarity, definition and warmth. The Theme and Variations written for a student orchestra that must have been extremely good – is presented with tenderness exemplary attention to detail. Straussiana pays tribute to the world of operetta, which Korngold loved and worked in for some years. Here Wilson embraces splendid Viennese schwung and captures that special blend of nostalgia, wit, grace, lightness and joy that speaks ‘authentic Vienna’ loud and clear. Authentic Korngold? Yes indeed.”