February 2026
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]
Sir Adrian Boult: Complete Warner Stereo Recordings (Warner Classics)
79 CDs of Warner’s Boult stereo legacy offering the known and the overlooked alike [JW]
Handel: Messiah (Pristine Audio)
A grand, classic, sui generis recording of ‘Messiah’ in revitalised sound [RMo]
Erling Bloch: Pioneering Danish chamber musician (Danacord)
The restored recordings of Erling Bloch – sonata and trio player, quartet leader, eminent teacher and committed exponent [JW]
Elgar: Choral Music (SOMM Recordings)
Essential listening if you love Elgar’s choral music [JQ]
Oswald: Orchestral Music (Naxos)
So much enjoyment to be gained from these three contrasting works [DJB]
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Beethoven: Symphony No.8 (SOMM Recordings)
Beecham full of flair but with somewhat foggy sonics in live Royal Festival Hall broadcasts [JW]
Humperdinck: Das Mirakel (Capriccio)
It is a modern miracle to welcome to disc this forgotten worldwide sensation from 1911 [MP]
Watkins: Symphony No.2, Concerto for Orchestra (Hallé)
A superb disc of life-enhancing music born of the Covid pandemic [PRJ]
Breaking Waves: Grace Williams, Bacewicz, Müller-Hermann (BIS)
A pleasantly varied release; Müller-Hermann’s piece is a real find [HC]
Malcolm Binns (piano) A 90th Birthday Tribute (APR)
An exceptional tribute to an exceptional pianist [RCh]
Boeck: Orchestral Works (Et’cetera)
(Déjà Review) A composer who revelled in the late-romantic style [RB]
