February 2026
Rutter: Orchestral Works (Decca)
A different side of John Rutter in authoritative performances [LW]
Weinberg: String Quartets (Chandos)
Taut and angular, substantial quartets, plus a nice surprise [SFV]
Mascagni: Zanetto (Oehms Classics)
A beautifully sung rarity which merits more revivals [RMo]
Fritze: Overtures and Symphonies (Naxos)
Classy brilliance … tuneful but not a soft touch [RB]
Phibbs, Dafgard & Gordon: Concertos for Bass Clarinet (Toccata Next)
Superbly played and beautifully recorded – an excellent showcase for an improbable solo instrument [NB]
Grainger: Salute to Percy Grainger (Eloquence)
(Déjà Review) A very substantial helping of the essential Grainger in performances and recordings that are exemplars to the rest [RB]
Chopin: Scherzos and Ballades (Oehms Classics)
(Déjà Review) This disc is a treasure, a rarity to behold [RC]
Rameau: Pygmalion & Iso: Zémide (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
A winning first appearance of Pierre Iso’s Zémide on disc, alongside a mellow account of Rameau’s Pygmalion [CRo]
Mozart & Schubert: String Quartets (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
Two accounts that are as fine as any in the catalogue, making a valuable pairing [RMo]
La Huella de las Cuerdas (The Journey of Strings) (Private release)
A very unique musical experience in stringed instruments [ZT]
Cabinet of Curiosities (Warner Classics)
Such an odd mix of music, but somehow it works [DJB]
Dusapin: 7 études, Piano Works No.1 (Genuin)
Dusapin’s études are not a match for other recent piano studies [SB]
Daugherty: Route 66 (Naxos)
Great fun [NB]
Bruckner: Symphony 8 (BR Klassik)
The symphonic lines are sensitively and eloquently drawn and the orchestral playing is exemplary [TB]
Zemlinsky: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, etc. (Chandos)
A very successful disc of varied music in excellent performances [JQ]
Stravinsky: Late Works (Pentatone)
Spiritual revelations in Stravinsky’s late works [DHa]
Kletzki: The Complete String Quartets (Prelude Classics)
The first complete recording of Paul Kletzki’s string quartets [RB]
The 21st-Century Orchestra: Music from Brown University (New Focus Recordings)
An intriguing survey of 21st century American orchestral music [PRJ]
Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos (BIS)
Two frequently coupled Romantic violin concertos alongside a real discovery [WH]
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Shakespeare Overtures Vol. 2 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) The music is unfailingly attractive, is colourfully orchestrated and sympathetically played [GH]
JS Bach: Oboe Concertos (BIS)
(Déjà Review) A standard which will be hard to beat [DC]
Beethoven: String Quartet in B flat major, Op.130
by Alan George
Britten: The Beggar’s Opera (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Must now be first choice for this work [MG]
Arnold: Ballet Music (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) A disc that no admirer of Arnold’s music will want to be without [JQ]
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