July 2025
Skrzydlewski: Piano works (Acte Préalable)
Acte Préalable have unearthed another forgotten name for this recital of idiomatically romantic music [RCh]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (CRQ Editions)
Tito Gobbi in one of his great roles at Covent Garden, by way of the BBC [PH]
Britten: Suite from The Prince of the Pagodas (Chandos)
A welcome reissue of an excellent recording placing Britten’s ballet in context [DHa]
Ben Heppner sings Scenes from Wagner’s Ring (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) This is a coup for Mr. Heppner, a disc deserving of any number of awards [KS]
Korngold: Captain Blood & other filmscores (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) An object lesson in swashbuckling film music [SA]
Pictures from Finland (Chandos)
An enjoyable, well performed disc with not much originality or interest [BSt]
Donizetti: Alfredo il Grande (Naxos)
Alfred battles with the Danes and the lack of star-quality singers in this slightly disappointing release [MP]
La belle époque des Geloso (Ciar Classics)
World premiere recordings of cheerful, tuneful, uplifting Belle Époque music by a mother and son [RMo]
Cowie: Rock Music (Métier)
A complex cycle of sonatas inspired by geological processes [JF]
Shostakovich & Prokofiev: String Quartets (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) How wonderful to see Nimbus demonstrating all its strengths in this superb issue [CC]
Schubert: String Quintet, Symphony No.5 (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) One classic and one slight disappointment [JW]
Shostakovich: Symphony No 11 (LSO Live)
A very fine performance which yields to its rivals – to one in particular [WH]
Holst: Beni Mora & Choral Symphony (SOMM Ariadne)
A fine interpretation of the Choral Symphony added to a sparse field [WK]
French School Pianists play French concertos (APR)
A great piano tradition is celebrated in style [PH]
Leif Segerstam (conductor): Segerstam in Aarhus (Danacord)
Brilliant final testimony to Leif Segerstam’s recording career [JF]
Respighi: Violin Sonatas (Claves)
First recordings of two violin works by Respighi coupled with the great sonata all exquisitely played [PSh]
Mozart: Arie e Duetti (CBC)
(Déjà Review) An opportunity to hear a sensational new soprano and two very good male colleagues [GF]
Clérambault: Te Deum, La femme adultère (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
An impressive testimony of Clérambault’s qualities in the field of sacred music [JV]
Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor) Complete Stereo Recordings on Warner Classics
Beecham’s stereo discography in a sturdy box albeit largely in pre-existing remasterings [JW]
Transatlantic. Works for brass (Chandos)
A superbly curated disc which rewards unhurried listening and repeated return [JF]
Hommages: Works for strings (BIS)
A varied selection that repays repeated hearing; the arrangement of Apollon musagète is a real ear-opener [HC]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Overtures & Suites (BIS)
An appealing and highly recommendable issue [TB]
Rameau: A Basket of Wild Strawberries (Ondine)
Early music buffs will probably run miles to avoid such a disc, but they will be missing a treat [DC]
Kennedy-Fraser/Bantock: The Seal Woman (Retrospect Opera)
Neglected Hebridean songs fused into a folk opera [EJW]
