April 2025

Kaleidoskop Europa: Tänze für Klaviertrio (Gramola)

A delightful anthology of European dances, familiar and forgotten [GPu]

brahms requiem dorati

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Antal Doráti Centenary Society)

A powerful live performance that also has some troubling aspects [WH]

Fritz Kreisler (violin): Violin Concertos (Pristine Audio)

The legendary Fritz Kreisler comes up pristinely in new transfers of his concerto recordings [PH]

Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux (Piano Classics)

A superb new version of Messiaen’s great piano cycle [SB]

Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On (Signum Classics)

In times of war and unrest, this album from the masterly King’s Singers gives hope [GF]

Strauss: Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben (Gramola)

On the evidence of flabby playing and murky sound, the conductor should stick to Bruckner [RMo]

Mahler: Symphony No.3 (Farao Classics)

(Déjà Review) Mehta knows how to handle large forces, but is less successful in conveying the music’s symphonic direction and flow [TB]

Dufay: Mass for Saint Anthony Abbot; Binchois: Motets (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) Often searingly beautiful, often surprisingly inventive, and always brilliantly performed [EML]

Ukraine SOMMCD0701

Ukraine – A piano portrait (SOMM Recordings)

A disc that should gain wide recognition [SA]

Verdi trovatore PACO220

Verdi: Il trovatore (Pristine Audio)

A finely produced package of golden age singing, splendidly refurbished for a new generation [MP]

Spain baroque CC720018

Spain On Fire (Challenge Classics)

A delight from first note to last [DJB]

Reynish v13 56913MCD

Timothy Reynish (conductor) Works for wind band (Mark Masters)

An enjoyably eclectic programme of music for wind band [PRJ]

Beethoven MPEditions cd002

Für Beethoven: Arrangements for Guitar & Piano (MP Editions)

The unlikely pairing of guitar and fortepiano yields surprising musical discoveries in this engaging collection of Beethoven arrangements and related works [SSc]

Virtuoso Naxos8574683

Virtuoso – Music for Euphonium and Brass Band (Naxos)

Intriguing arrangements for brass band of some well-known works [KT]

Mussorgsky songs 567993

Mussorgsky: Songs (Warner Classics)

Christoff is delightfully over the top, hugely enjoyable and making more straight-laced versions sound boring [TH]

Mahler sym9 4732742

Mahler: Symphony 9 (Decca)

An interesting, provocative reading of the Symphony and the performances of the songs are very good [JQ]

Messiaen Quatuor Brilliant

Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du Temps (Brilliant Classics)

An admirable new version of Messiaen’s much-recorded work [SB]

Walton Violin Concerto Chandos

Walton: Violin Concerto and other orchestral works (Chandos)

John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London embark on a Walton odyssey [PH]

Bach Keyboard Concertos Warner

Bach: Keyboard Concertos (Warner Classics)

Spectacularly virtuosic playing of some of Bach’s most joyously inventive music [RMo]

Kelly St Francis Regent

Kelly: St Francis of Assisi (Regent)

A much-needed boost to the limited Bryan Kelly discography [PRJ]

Stravinsky Le Rossignol Erato

Stravinsky: Le Rossignol (Erato)

Roth andLes Siècles provide enough musical revelations to make this the top choice among stereo versions [MP]

Busoni Piano Music Vol 13 naxos

Busoni: Piano Music Vol. 13 (Naxos)

Wolf Harden brings his survey to end with something of a miscellany to tie up loose ends [RCh]

Corigliano Symphony Chandos

Corigliano: Symphony 2 (Chandos)

This new version of the Second Symphony now takes pride of place on the Corigliano part of the shelf [CC]

Heifetz Sonatas Naxos

Jascha Heifetz (violin) Sonatas (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) No Heifetz admirer should be without this [JW]