May 2026
The Great Forgotten Danish Violinist Henry Holst (Danacord)
Fascinating concerto survivors from Henry Holst’s British days [JW]
Schubert: Piano Music (Pentatone)
A marvellous rendition of Schubert’s final sonata [ST]
Holst: The Planets (LSO Live)
A Planets that just about justifies itself thanks to Pappano’s colourful theatricality [ST]
Beethoven & Brahms: Orchestral Music
Old-fashioned, perhaps, but big, bold and sometimes surprisingly effective accounts [RMay]
López-Gavilán: Orchestral Music (Reference Recordings)
Sit back and enjoy a plenipotentiary’s sound-picture [RB]
MacMillan: The Birds of Rhiannon (Chandos)
A good primer to start exploring Sir James MacMillan’s music [ST]
Mozart: Serenades (Nimbus Records)
Fresh as a daisy: beguiling playing and a big sound [RB]
Wagner: Das Rheingold (Pristine Audio)
A fine performance in excellent sound for the provenance, well enhanced, but with attendant flaws and failings [RMo]
Darkness (Challenge Classics)
An interesting if sombre compilation of German songs; the singing may not rival the very best [DJa]
Wood: String Quartets No.2, 4 (SOMM Recordings)
Continued reclamation of Charles Wood’s string quartets in generous performances [JW]
Bella Napoli (Alba)
(Déjà Review) Lively and energetic performances of music by Neapolitan composers [JV]
Beethoven and His Teachers (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Another insightful, informative album of early Beethoven from Naxos [BR]
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]
