May 2026
Messiaen: Chamber Works (Chandos)
The greatest chamber work of World War Two in a persuasive performance [RWe]
Kerem: Orchestral Music, Vol 2 (Toccata Classics)
Northern climes … taiga and tundra … laconic … not dazzle and drama [RB]
Garro and Guerrero: From Fire & Earthquake (Delphian)
Garro’s cause has been very well served here [JQ]
Finzi, Swain & ApIvor: Clarinet Concertos (SOMM Recordings)
Imaginative programming presents two Clarinet novelties and an established classic [JW]
Alexandra Dariescu (piano): A Child’s Dream (Signum Classics)
Dariescu is in fine form in this excellently curated collection of pieces that have real meaning for her [RCh]
Schubert: String Quintet (Nimbus)
(Déjà Review) An excellent performance, intense and thrilling, elegant and thought-provoking [OL]
Bax, Delius & Bridge: English Spring (Hallé)
Déjà Review: A winner on all counts [RB]
Chambonnières: Overseas (Alpha Classics)
Louise Acebo is the ideal interpreter of Chambonnières’ music [JV]
Chronos, Kairos et Aiôn (Mnémosyne)
Far out along the modernistic promontory [RB]
Joplin: King of Ragtime (Danacord)
Refined classical interpretations of ragtime’s king [JF]
Melcer: Songs & Piano Transcriptions (Acte Préalable)
A competent if not dazzling addition to Acte Préalable’s growing catalogue of Melcer’s works [RCh]
Thomas: Sol (Nimbus)
A composer with a distinctive and beguiling voice [SB]
Echoes of Paris: Violin sonatas (Avie)
A highly recommendable programme [WH]
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Perfect Prima Donna (Warner Classics)
A very special collection of lieder, opera and operetta from one of the great post-war sopranos [DBe]
La Rue: Missa Iste confessor domini (Coviello Classics)
Interesting recording, but the performance practice is debatable [JV]
Mahler: Symphonies 1-9 (Pentatone)
A very significant Mahler cycle [JQ]
Kuula: Complete Solo Songs Volume Two (Toccata Classics)
This disc is completely worthy of its predecessor [WK]
Janáček, Martinů & Suk: Orchestral Works (Chandos)
Sheer pleasure from this varied programme of early twentieth-century Czech orchestral works [WH]
Fribbins: Cello Concerto (First Hand Records)
Folk Songs is a treasure in the resilient tradition of English tonal music [RB]
Overtures in Hi-Fi (Eloquence)
(Déjà Review) Joyous music-making … just too tempting to resist [DM]
Stéphane Degout (baritone): Mélodies (Naïve)
(Déjà Review) A very appealing recital [GF]
