March 2025

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Verdi: Messa da Requiem (CRQ Editions)

La Scala in the Soviet Union perform a memorable Verdi Requiem [PH]

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Sergio Fiorentino: The Complete SAGA Album Collection (Rhine Classics)

A pleasure to have Fiorentino’s complete Saga Recordings under one roof [SG]

Wolf-Ferrari: Il segreto di Susanna (Oehms Classics)

Wolf-Ferrari’s charming one act opera in an excellent performance which will do very nicely [PT]

Handel WaterMusic Naxos

Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks Suites (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A winner from start to finish – Handel’s music is given a splendid rendition

Graupner Partitas Analekta

Graupner: Partitas for Harpsichord Vol. 5 (Analekta)

(Déjà Review) Gorgeous music, excellently played and recorded, which will surely give great pleasure to all who love the harpsichord music of this era [GPu]

Elgar: Piano Quintet

by Alan George

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Martin Cousin (piano): Fantasies (Convivium Records)

A fascinating recital exploring the scope of the fantasia genre [DHa]

shostakovich symphonies capriccio

Shostakovich: Complete symphonies (Capriccio)

One of the leading cycles, in a fine-sounding stereo incarnation [RWe]

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Bach: Chamber music for oboe (Accent)

A delight from start to finish [JV]

Rachmaninov: Orchestral works (High Definition Tape Transfers)

Vital, energised  performances of two great pianistic and choral showpieces in spectacular surround sound [RMo]

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Korngold: Symphony in F sharp (Supertrain Records)

Korngold plays his Symphony in a previously unreleased piano version [JW]

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Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)

By general consensus, the essential Norma recording, now in a superior transfer [RWe]

chopin piano favourites vol 2 naxos

Chopin: Piano works (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) These performances are among the best on the market [PG]

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Cavalli Statira (Opus 111)

(Déjà Review) A dramatically vivid performance of the Neapolitan version of Cavalli’s opera [RH]

Shostakovich: String Quartet 10

by Alan George

Bizet: Symphony in C

by Alan George

Ricardo Gallén (guitar): Habaneras & Tangos (MarchVivo)

An enjoyable recording, but not Gallén best on offer [ZT]

Górecki: Complete Works for String Quartet (Chandos)

Górecki’s impressive quartets are well worth hearing [SB]

Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Opus Arte)

This complements but does not replace Opus Arte’s 2018 filmed performance [RWe]

Schubert: Symphonies 2 & 6 (Forgotten Records)

Sprightly Schubert from Bamberg in fresh transfers which breathe new life into old grooves [PH]

Quartets Through a Time of Change (First Hand Records)

An imaginative selection of French string quartets [JW]

Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)

Five stars for Pristine’s sound rejuvenation but apart from Callas, the performance doesn’t live up to the quality of the transfer [MP]

Dvořák: Rusalka (Arthaus Musik)

(Déjà Review) A very welcome DVD release of one of English National Opera’s finer achievements [JL]

Couperin: Sonates, Pieces de viole (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi)

(Déjà Review) An outstanding recording of some of Couperin’s finest compositions [JV]