Latest Classsical CDs reviewed

BACH: FLUTE SONATAS

Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord), Jonathan Manson (cello)

EMI Classics 217 4432 ***

Thirty years ago, the war cry in early music was about purity and authenticity. Today's more flexible, effectively multicultural attitude is exemplified in this new set of Bach's flute sonatas, bringing together a mainstream flautist, the Berlin Philharmonic's Emmanuel Pahud, and early music specialist Trevor
Pinnock on harpsichord. Given the repertoire, it's Pahud who's doing the accommodating, rounding his tone, containing his volume, and adapting to some of the mannerisms of early performing style. His sound is still big and easy by comparison with that of early flutes, and his manner is on the neutral sideof even-headed, sometimes even a little detached by comparison with baroque specialists. But in its own terms, the playing is of a consistently high polish. www.emiclassics.com MICHAEL DERVAN

HAYDN: SONATA IN E FLAT HOB XVI: 52; BEETHOVEN: SONATA IN A OP 2 NO 2; MOZART: SONATA IN D K311

Rafal Blechacz (piano)

Deutsche Grammophon 477 7453 *****

Rafal Blechacz, who took the first prize (and the four other special prizes) at the 2005 Chopin Competition, has been accorded unusual plaudits. Heis described as the kind of player who might restore the good name of competition winners, and his debut recital in London even prompted a leader article in the Guardian. Here Blechacz adds to the lustre of his reputation with stylish accounts of sonatas by Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart. His playing shows a remarkable combination of grace and substance. The touch is mostly light, always subtly graded, and the fingerwork as fleet as you could wish. Yet the remarkable slow movements of the Haydn and Beethoven are given their full expressive weight. www.tinyurl.com/5b9s4r MICHAEL DERVAN

TAVENER: EX MARIA VIRGINE

James McVinnie (organ), Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/ Timothy Brown

Naxos 8.572168 ***

The major piece in this new collection of seven choral works by John Tavener is Ex Maria Virgine, a 10-movement, 38-minute Christmas sequence for choir and organ that was written as a wedding present for the marriage of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2005. The writing ranges from an almost breathless joyfulness to pools of slow-moving contemplation. Tavener's ear for radiant tonal harmonies is well in evidence in this responsive performance, although the flavour is altogether more English than you might expect from a composer who spent so much time in the Orthodox Church. The Marienhymneof 2005 is almost strident by Tavener's standards.

The familiar Eastern resonances are found in the earlier pieces. www.naxosdirect.ie MICHAEL DERVAN