April 2026
Franck: Symphony in D minor (HDTT)
Treat yourself to an old favourite in a ripe, vibrant new transfer [PH]
Gildemann: Chamber Music (Kairos)
Eerily atmospheric and meticulously designed, Ms Gildemann’s distinctive pieces uncannily evoke their titles [RHa]
Strauss: Elektra (Chandos)
Wonderful orchestral playing but variable singing [SB]
Schoenberg: Orchestral Music (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
An outstanding Schoenberg set from the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko [MBe]
Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5 (ICA Classics)
(Déjà Review) Anyone with an interest in Munch and his magnificent Boston band will find this DVD fascinating [TP]
Bach Family: Chamber music for two flutes (Nimbus Records)
(Déjà Review) Fine playing all round by a well matched and collegial ensemble [KS]
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Chandos)
A rather charmless, heavy-handed take on Dvořák’s famous two sets of dances [RMo]
Schubert: Irrlichter (BIS)
A beautiful performance of a number of Schubert’s most atmospheric Lieder – some old favourites and some less-known gems [DJa]
Coccia: Sacred Music from Eighteenth-Century Rome (Toccata Clasics)
Coccia’s music may not be everyone’s cup of tea but is excellently performed [JV]
Martin: Chamber Music (MDG)
Some of Frank Martin’s most important chamber works [SB]
Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos (Solo Musica)
A fine young artist, but no revelations here [SFV]
Dédé: Morgiane, ou, Le sultan d’Ispahan (Delos)
The first opera by a Black American turns out to be revelatory, despite forces unequal to the composer’s imagination [MP]
Dring: Songs of Madeleine Dring (Chandos)
A good showcase for Madeleine Dring’s considerable skill as a song writer [NB]
Winger: Symphony of the Returning Light (Naxos)
Two very fine contemporary works which place a high value on melody and rhythm [DJB]
Brian: Orchestral Music, Vol 1 (Toccata Classics)
(Déjà Review) Will be one of my discs of the year without doubt [NB]
Beethoven: Works for Cello & Piano (Challenge Classics)
(Déjà Review) Guaranteed to provide long-term enjoyment [DCL]
Roth: Vocal works (Signum Classics)
Alec Roth composes music of truth and beauty [WH]
Bonis & Ravel: Violin Sonatas (Evidence Classics)
A superb coupling comprising acclaimed works by Ravel and others hardly known by Bonis [MC]
Carbon: Astro Cats (Convivium Records)
The playful cover to this album hides a collection that presents a surprising range of emotional undulations [DC]
Bellini: Norma (Decca)
Admirable in many regards [DBe]
Balakirev: Piano Works (Hyperion)
A pianist of exceptional skill and promise [DM]
Ferrari: 6 Violin Sonatas (Capriccio)
The best possible case for the little-known Ferrari [JV]
Geminiani: Sonatas for violoncello (Challenge Records)
An outstanding disc which all lovers of baroque chamber music should hear [GPu]
Respighi: Maria Egiziaca (Naxos)
A more than respectable recording of Respighi’s pallid, mystic hybrid of opera and oratorio [MP]
