September 2025
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Below par recording, uninspired playing [DM]
Beethoven: String Quartet op. 59/1
by Alan George
Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) Extremely rewarding … this disc puts itself firmly back in the front line [TH]
Mahler: Symphonies 4 & 8 (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Incredible, intriguing, and worth a hearing [EML]
Ravel: Orchestral Works & Song Cycles (L’Auditori)
A mixed bag of excellent orchestral works and less satisfying song cycles [RMo]
Howells: Psalms and Psalm Preludes (Regent Recordings)
Admirers of Herbert Howells’ music should consider this a mandatory purchase [JQ]
The Eule Organ: Magdalen College, Oxford (Convivium Records)
Magdalen’s Eule organ: a monument to musical continuity and change [JF]
Rubinstein: Piano music (Naxos)
Characteristically virtuosic and big boned rarities from this not-very-Russian-sounding Russian [RCh]
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Lili Boulanger: D’un soir triste (Avi-Music)
A competent, somewhat episodic account of no special distinction [RMo]
Lehmann: A Brilliant Destiny (La Boîte à Pépites)
A selection of Liza Lehmann’s songs in excellent performances [JQ]
Gardner: Complete Organ Music Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
A splendid addition to Winpenny’s and Gardner’s discographies [WK]
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Pristine Audio)
With Pristine’s remastering, this becomes a worthy alternative to more modern recordings [GF]
Martinů: Cello Concerti (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) For a disc of these works, this could hardly be bettered [LW]
Mahler: Four Movements (Erato)
(Déjà Review) I can find little to praise [RMo]
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Naxos)
Vocally flawed and dramatically inert; you can do much better with either a vintage recording or the recent Decca issue [RMo]
Weldon: The Judgment of Paris (AAM)
A vivacious and engaging competition-winning masque performed with real style [JW]
Hans van Manen (choreographer): Just Dance the Steps (BelAir Classiques)
A truly remarkable film about a remarkable artist [PRJ]
Handel: Chandos Anthems (Alpha Classics)
Four of Handel’s Chandos Anthems, stripped back and spring cleaned [ST]
Pizzetti: Concerto dell’estate (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A really good introduction to this neglected composer [BBr]
Mendelssohn: Organ Sonatas (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) One of the most important issues of this anniversary year [JS]
Smethergell: Overtures (cpo)
More reclamations of the music of little-known William Smethergell – pleasing, charming music though rather niche [JW]
Handel: Alexander’s Feast (Arcana)
Apart from the tenor’s contribution and spritelier tempi here, nothing else about this new recording sways my loyalty to the old Ledger recording [RMo]
Beethoven & Lentz: Violin Concertos (Pentatone)
Beethoven’s concerto is beautifully played, and Lentz’s marvellous concerto is not easy but quite rewarding [HC]
Mozart: Idomeneo (BR Klassik)
This recording of Mozart’s Idomeneo ticks all the boxes [MC]
