From the Last Week

Two major choral works, magnificently recorded [WK]

(Déjà Review) Thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m sure I will return to it often [MC]

Wide-open spaces rising to crests of belligerence [RB]

A strange reading, alternately irritating and delightful, marred by occasional self-conscious idiosyncrasies [RMo]

Three contrasting works allow Flores to demonstrate his considerable talents [DJB]

John Luther Adams continues to amaze in his first work since his move to Australia [DHa]

(Déjà Review) Deeply satisfying [GF]

70 minutes of bon-bons beautifully played and well contrasted [RMo]

Gavrilov’s ups and downs charted in his EMI (now Warner) legacy [JW]

A welcome reissue of Zacharias’s poetic Chopin concertos [ST]

(Déjà Review) A splendid recording … blends care and precision with a broad musicality [MS]

(Déjà Review) Mikolaj certainly deserves to be heard alongside the greats [Byz]

Berner stands in the elite tradition of an André or an Aubier [RB]

The scordatura tuning takes some time to adjust to, but Biber’s wonderful invention makes it well worth the effort [DJB]

Notable additions to the catalogue of British orchestral works [JQ]

The first two great operas from Janáček’s final decade explored with generosity and detail [JW]

Refreshing and enjoyable piano quintets in an accessible idiom [SB]

Interesting and musically compelling survey of French music from around 1700 [JV]

Some superb performances directed by a conductor of the highest calibre, performing live and at the peak of his abilities [RMay]

Full-lipped and high-tensile writing [RB]

A well worked programme; not to be overlooked in the welter of releases and re-releases that continue to saturate the market [JW]

A live Beecham Scheherazade that generates the heat and drive sometimes missing from his commercial recording [JW]

Two recent, uncompromising piano quintets [RB]

Exemplary performances of sacred Latin works, some reconstructed, by a composer who is still a rather mysterious figure in Renaissance music  [GH]

A well-planned, enjoyable selection of American string quartets [LW]

(Déjà Review) This fine disc has worn very well [JW]

(Déjà Review) An excellent insight into the human relationships and stories behind some of the great symphonic and vocal music on record [DBe]

A somewhat enigmatic release that raises more questions than it answers [PRJ]

A marvellous rendition of Schubert’s final sonata [ST]

Fascinating concerto survivors from Henry Holst’s British days [JW]

(Déjà Review) No enthusiast for Les Troyens should be without this set [JS]

Old-fashioned, perhaps, but big, bold and sometimes surprisingly effective accounts [RMay]

(Déjà Review) An important disc of remarkable contemporary music [LW]

Sit back and enjoy a plenipotentiary’s sound-picture [RB]

A Planets that just about justifies itself thanks to Pappano’s colourful theatricality [ST]

An interesting if sombre compilation of German songs; the singing may not rival the very best [DJa]

(Déjà Review) Another insightful, informative album of early Beethoven from Naxos [BR]

A good primer to start exploring Sir James MacMillan’s music [ST]

Continued reclamation of Charles Wood’s string quartets in generous performances [JW]

Fresh as a daisy: beguiling playing and a big sound [RB]

(Déjà Review) Lively and energetic performances of music by Neapolitan composers [JV]