June 2026

Defending the Music (Oxford University Press)

An absorbing book which will entertain and enlighten you on page after page [JQ]

Lise Davidsen (soprano): Live at the Met (Decca)

The soloist shines in this live recital; the technical side of things is disappointing [MP]

Isabelle O’Connell (piano): Cocteau (Divine Art Records)

A cleverly designed concept album featuring Les Six and friends [SB]

Schaffrath: XII Soli per il cembalo (Brilliant Classics)

These imaginative performances make an eloquent case for Schaffrath’s keyboard music [JV]

Berlioz & Wagner: Orchestral Excerpts (SOMM Recordings)

Beecham live at the Royal Festival Hall, galvanizing in Berlioz and Wagner [JW]

3 British Accordion Concertos (Toccata Next)

Attractive, engaging British concertos for an unusual instrument [HC]

Nancy Green (cello): Spanish & Latin Cello (Cello Classics)

(Déjà Review) An enjoyable recording with wide appeal [ZT]

David Oistrakh (violin, viola): Legacy (ICA Classics)

(Déjà Review) Admirers of string players will warm to this DVD, and to the estimable performances preserved here [JW]

Klaus Tennstedt (conductor): The Complete Warner Classics Edition (Warner Classics)

A seminal collection of recordings of the staple Romantic repertoire by a great conductor [RMo]

Telemann concertos ARC25057

Telemann: Concertos for recorder (arcantus)

This disc displays all the qualities for which Telemann is famous [JV]

Kaun sym2 5557142

Kaun: Symphony 2 & Sir John Falstaff – A Humoresque (cpo)

Entertaining and transiently gripping but not compelling [RB]

Elgar v3 50482

Elgar from the Archives Vol 3: The Kingdom & Enigma Variations (SOMM)

Valuable additions to the catalogue which expand our appreciation of composer and conductor [NB]

Stokowski PASC242

Leopold Stokowski (conductor) Chicago Debut Concerts (Pristine Audio)

A little slice of Stokowskian debut history in these two discs [JW]

Virgo DCD34086

O Virgo Benedicta: Music of Marian Devotion from Spain’s Century of Gold (Delphian)

An auspicious debut disc from a fine British vocal consort [JQ]

Chopin v1 UMDCCD245246

The Chopin Traditions Vol 1 (Chopin University Press)

Some excellent Chopin here but thin on documentation for such a promising series [RCh]