- Avison: Harpsichord Sonatas Op 5 and Op 7 (Divine Art)(Déjà Review) Recording quality (first class), performances and music come together in a wholly splendid way in this disc, one which advances Avison’s cause still further [JW]
- String Quartets by Beethoven, Nordheim & Bartók (2L Records)(Déjà Review) A shining jewel in 2L’s already richly studded crown [DC]
- Schubert: Piano Trios 1 and 2 (Erato)The performances are lovely, which matters more than the fact that the musicians are brothers [ST]
- Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé & Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps (Pentatone)The Ravel is all welcome grace and elegance but the Stravinsky lacks the requisite bite and wildness and emerges as disappointingly bland [RMo]
- Schubert & Wallen: Song Cycles (Delphian)A song recital that is more than it seems and which merits attention [WH]
- Ruehr: Piano Trios 3, 4 and 5 (Avie)Highly enjoyable, colorful chamber works that evoke a wide range of aural pictures. [ACG]
- Glière & Rachmaninoff: Piano Music for four hands (Claves)Forty-five minutes in the company of this duo is a delight, but the delightful twelve morceaux by Glière are the real winners here [SGa]
- Ivanovs: Symphonies No.19, No.21 (Skani)Late works by a prominent Latvian composer, in fine performances and recording [EJW]
- Carafa: Masaniello (Naxos)A pleasing world premiere recording of Carafa’s lively, tuneful but ultimately incongruous score [MP]
- Mahler: Symphony No.8 (Pristine Audio)The energy of this performance transcends the limitations of its mono sound and the best efforts of the coughers [RMo]
- Davie: Orchestral Works Vol. 1 (Toccata Classics)This welcome first volume does much to whet one’s appetite for more [HC]
- Cristina Ortiz (piano): The Complete Recordings on Warner Classics (Warner Classics)The EMI legacy of a talented pianist collected in a fine 11-CD box [JW]
- Delius: String Concertos (Chandos)(Déjà Review) Spellbinding performances of three concertos of languid beauty [IL]
- Bruckner: Symphonies 4 & 7 (cpo)(Déjà Review) Venzago’s Bruckner may be as iconic for the 2020s as Wand’s was for the 1990s [CH]
- SWR Vokalensemble: Fin de siècle (SWR Music)Richly rewarding choral arrangements of music from the turn of the twentieth century [MP]
- Larks Ascending (Albion Records)Five RCM student composers turn skylark recordings into strikingly varied new works [DHa]
- Handel: Giulio Cesare (C Major)This very fine cast, conductor and orchestra need a far better thought-out vehicle to support them [SGa]
- Choir of Bath Abbey: Beyond the Manger (CRD)An enjoyable and varied Christmas album [JQ]
- Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerti, Vol 4 (ARS Produktion)The ensemble is the best part [SFV]
- Brian: Symphony No 1 ‘Gothic’ (Hyperion)(Déjà Review) A momentous and remarkable work receiving its finest performance and recording to date [RB]
- Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No 30-32 (Musica Omnia)(Déjà Review) A magical choice of fortepiano and artistry which can stand up to the greats [BR]
- Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker ballet (Opus Arte)A fine tribute to Sir Peter Wright [RMay]
- Mariann Marczi (piano) Enchanting Scents (Hunnia Records)A colourful bouquet of music that distils the fragrances of the natural world [LJ]
- John Adams: Piano, Vocal & Chamber Works (Naxos)A mixed bag, mainly of transcriptions [SB]
- Mozart: Piano Concertos 20 & 22 (Alpha Classics)These delightful and engaging interpretations of well-worn repertoire exude a sense of joy and fun [Sga]
- Fantasia – Works for saxophone (Norwood Recordings)A jaunty, lyrical and communicative selection of saxophone works [JW]
- Bruch: Works for Cello & Orchestra (Ars Produktion)Not all on the level of the Kol Nidrei, but pleasant listening, and very well played and recorded [GA]
- JS Bach: Piano Transcriptions Vol. 10 (Hyperion)Panache, rounded tone, strikingly intimate gestures and intense, but never tone-forced, splendour [JW]
- Smetana: Piano Works (Naxos)Smetana’s Czech Dances in superlative performances and an early rarity [RCh]
- Panufnik: Love Songs & Lullabies (Signum Classics)Classical meets folk from around the world in exquisite arrangements – lullabies more for savouring than inducing sleep. [ACG]
- Legacy – Clarinet and Piano Recital in Milan (Halidon Classical)No real surprises from a 1996 Gervase de Peyer recital – just beautiful performances of a repertoire close to his heart and tastes [JW]
- Brian: Complete Choral Songs Volume 2 (Toccata Classics)Good values again but a certain sameness may become apparent [NB]
- Bach: Goldberg Variations (Avie)(Déjà Review) Expressive, atmospheric, intelligent performance [DC]
- Bacewicz: Violin Concertos Vol. 2 (Chandos)(Déjà Review) Why these concertos don’t enjoy greater currency is beyond me [DWa]
- Musica Sacra Hungarica (Carus)(Déjà Review) A fascinating and lovely collection from a distinguished German publishing house [WH]
- Mozart, Rossini, Kreutzer & Crusell: Bassoon Concertos (Chandos)(Déjà Review) Much to enjoy here … listen to this and marvel at playing of such eloquence [JS]
- Shostakovich: Symphonies 4 & 5 (Alpha)An auspicious start to a new Shostakovich symphony cycle [JQ]
- Satie: Vexations (No Silence Records)Is this a milestone in the performance tradition of this work? [DC]
- Loriod: Trois pièces; Messiaen: Visions de l’Amen (Alpha Classics)A first recording of Yvonne Loriod’s prepared-piano pieces, paired with the work Messiaen wrote for the two of them to play. [DHa]
- Méthode des méthodes de Moscheles et Fétis (Danacord)A landmark survey of Romantic piano culture [JF]
- Britten: Choral Music (Delphian)A very fine anniversary tribute to Britten [JQ]
Reviews of Classical Music Recordings
