March 2026

karajan berlin 1970

Herbert von Karajan Live in Berlin, 1970–1979 (Berliner Philharmoniker)

An important survey of one of the great partnerships of the 20th century at its peak [DHa]

Alexander Gibson (conductor): Opening the Doors (Warner)

Celebrating a Centenary so auld acquaintance should ne’er be forgot [PH]

Kullak: Piano Works (Naxos)

Winning performances of music from a mostly forgotten but undeniably inventive composer [RCh]

Brambach: Complete Piano Quartets & Piano Sextet (cpo)

Brambach receives his first recordings with these well-crafted works [DJB]

Verdi: La traviata (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) An excellent bargain which competes with the very best versions on record [DBe]

Toldra, Casals & Montsalvatge: Music for String Orchestra (Nimbus)

(Déjà Review) An original and completely unhackneyed collection of Catalan music for string orchestra [RB]

Grinholc Gloria AP0599

Grinholc: Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Acte Préalable)

A modern, melodic ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ in a commemorative recording at the 600th anniversary of Ełk [EJW]

Schuback cpo 5557052

Schuback: Brockes-Passion (cpo)

A major discovery, which deserves to be treated on equal footing with the better-known versions of Telemann and Handel [JV]

Strauss electra CHSA53752

Richard Strauss: Electra (Chandos)

An orchestrally fine Elektra, but the singing is not up to scratch [ST]

Munch WHRA6027

Charles Munch (conductor) A Treasury of French Music (West Hill Radio Archives)

There’s something here even for those with an extensive collection of Munch’s recordings [JW]

karajan berlin 1970

Herbert von Karajan Live in Berlin, 1970–1979 (Berliner Philharmoniker)

A fascinating, marvellously presented anthology [JQ]

Tippett ritual NI5217

Tippett: Ritual Dances & Sosostris’s Aria (Nimbus)

The first and brilliant fruit of Nimbus’s joint project with the 84 year old composer [RB]

Donizetti RobertoDevereux Dynamic

Donizetti: Roberto Devereux (Dynamic)

A fine production of one Donizetti’s strongest operas [RWe]

LagrimediSanPietro Lasso Alpha

Lasso, Agostini: Lagrime di San Pietro (Alpha Classics)

A welcome addition to Passiontide discography and testimony to the art of the late Denis Raisin Dadre [JV]

Dring Songs Chandos

Dring: Through the Centuries: Songs (Chandos)

A most enjoyable excursion into Dring’s style performed with aplomb and passion [GH]

Richter Symphonies cpo

Richter: Four Symphonies (cpo)

Great fun – a winner! [DC]

Verdi Traviata icaclassics

Verdi: La traviata (ICA Classics)

(Déjà Review) An enormously subtle creation enshrined for posterity [RMo]

Tcherepnin SymphoniesandPianoConcertos BIS

Tcherepnin: The Symphonies and Piano Concertos (BIS)

(Déjà Review) A fascinating and sometimes very engaging insight into the unfamiliar world of Alexander Tcherepnin [RB]

kuhnau completesacredworks cpo

Kuhnau: Complete Sacred Works (CPO)

If you are keen on period vocal music and J.S. Bach’s cantatas then you should certainly consider acquiring this set [DC]

Pioneering Haydn On Record: Symphony 93

by Christopher Howell

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6

by Alan George

strauss_ isadellacasa

Strauss: Four Last Songs (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A magnificent souvenir of perhaps the greatest Strauss soprano ever [RMo]

pierremonteeux westhill

Pierre Monteux in Boston (West Hill Archives)

(Déjà Review) Authoritative, finely played, well recorded and transferred [JW]

russianoperasuites guild

Orchestral Suites from Russian Operas (Guild)

Fills in the discographic gaps with lovely repertoire [SV]