August 2026
Suppè: Fantasia symphonica & Spanish dances (cpo)
Newly revived works shine a revealing new light on the composer [RMay]
Felix Mendelssohn: Organ Sonatas (First Hand Records)
Offers pretty much all you could ask for from these works [DC]
The Republic of Love. Opera and Political Freedom (Oxford University Press)
A philosopher takes a thought-provoking and timely look at opera [DHa]
J S Bach: St Matthew Passion (Avie)
A few things make this performance a good choice but the deficiencies in the power of two of its soloists might bother some [SGa]
Popov: Symphony 3 & Symphonic aria (Northern Flowers)
An imposing string symphony and a touching memorial form an effective programme [NB]
Spohr: Symphonies 8 & 10 (Hyperion)
A fine, musical, superbly engineered disc that guarantees much pleasure [CC]
Schubert: Symphony 9 (Pristine Audio)
Fascinating listening [JW]
Taneyev: String Quartets Vols 1 & 2 (Northern Flowers)
Re-releases of string quartets which should be much better known [GH]
Dupré: Symphonie-Passion (Base2 Music)
The music-making and the engineering make this a memorable disc [JQ]
Skog: Chamber Works (Brilliant Classics)
Gentle and pleasant works that need a little more variety [DJB]
Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum 2025 (Danacord)
A treasury of rare pianistic discoveries [JF]
Martha Argerich and Friends – Lugano 2010 (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A very rewarding collection of wonderful music in excellent interpretations [OL]
American Music for Percussion Vol. 1 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) So much here to delight the receptive ear – the most original percussion writing I’ve heard in ages [DM]
Ladies First (Indésens Calliope)
A skilfully planned and beautifully played recital showcasing music of real quality [NB]
Pioneering Haydn On Record: Symphony 17
by Christopher Howell
Haydn: Symphony No.45
by Alan George
Roman: Swedish Mass (Nilento Records)
The best possible performance of Roman’s Swedish Mass [JV]
Wagner: Operatic Excerpts (Naxos Historical)
(Déjà Review) Reference pointers to incandescent live performances which, incredibly, take the drama and even the sound to a higher level [DH]
Salieri: Il mondo alla rovescia (Dynamic)
(Déjà Review) A fascinating work in a pleasing debut recording [GPu]
Schubert: Songs (Harmonia Mundi)
A very pleasing third instalment of this Schubert project – interesting and beautifully performed [DJa]
House of Wonder: Sally Beamish Celebrates 70 Years (Delphian)
A fondly compiled, superbly performed 70th birthday celebration of Sally Beamish [PC]
Chamouard: Orchestral Works (Indésens Calliope)
Slow and meditative music which could have been orchestrated for greater colour and effect [EJW]
Bon: Sei sonate per il cembalo (Tactus)
These performances of Bon’s little-known sonatas are rather unsatisfying [JV]
Talbot: Sunstone (Divine Arts)
Anyone who cares about contemporary choral music should hear this wonderful score [JQ]
