November 2024

I cannot remember a record I’ve enjoyed more this year or one I felt compelled to listen to time after time [SA]

A worthy testimony to the art of Frans Brüggen [JV]

L’Orfeo with a difference, especially in instrumental colour and dramatic projection [RWe]

An enjoyable, thoughtfully prepared Christmas album [JQ]

Wholesome songs from two Ulsterwomen of lyric, and folkloric, gifts [JW]

Paris, Pelléas, Party – a winning trio in this sparkling collection [RCh]

A good account of some of Puccini’s youthful works which is not necessarily an improvement on Pappano’s rival version [RMo]

A moving and timely disc, Dvořák’s matchless concerto stands alongside short works by Ukrainian composers [WH]

(Déjà Review) Thrilling, evocative performances captured in the best Chandos sound. Especially important for presenting the full score of Scott of the Antarctic [IL]

(Déjà Review) One of the stronger Warner Apex CDs. By all means buy it to play straight through and enjoy the stimulation of the juxtaposition of the music of these three composers [CC]

by David Barker

A desirable collection that captures the Cherkassky magic [SG]

This is one of the finest Prokofiev piano discs issued in recent times [RCu]

A showcase for the superb ‘Next Generation Mozart soloists’, a little flawed by the use of a hackneyed 19th century version of the Sinfonia concertante [MG]

A model of creative programming and performance [JV]

Two intriguing scores which bookend the composer’s compositional life [SG]

A near-hit and a miss; a good Bowen Concerto and an ordinary Walton [JW]

Freire enthusiasts should love the performances, sound deficiencies or not [DS]

Repeated listening to these Schulhoff scores offers revelatory rewards [MC]

An all-Hungarian disc of real pleasures – Doráti’s approachable Concerto and Seiber’s orchestral music in splendid performances [JW]

A brand-new score for a creepy classic silent movie that really pulls out all the stops [PH]

Colourful extended harp fare from Finland, a slightly underwhelming follow-up to Hynninen’s marvellous Otilia album [RHa]

A super disc [JQ]

Pichon’s inventive programming and superb musicianship make this recording stand out in a crowded field [SSc]