Recommended
Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics)
A really impressive, beautifully balanced partnership resulting in a memorable account of Sibelius’ wonderful concerto paired with a superb Lemminkäinen Suite [RMo]
Strauss: Salome & Elektra (Pristine Audio)
Straussian excellence from seven decades ago silences any of the more recent competition [MP]
Kuula: Complete Solo Songs Volume Two (Toccata Classics)
This disc is completely worthy of its predecessor [WK]
Mahler: Symphonies 1-9 (Pentatone)
A very significant Mahler cycle [JQ]
Kahn and Others: Songs (Delphian)
The songs of Robert Kahn represent a major discovery [JQ]
Rubbra: Crucifixus pro Nobis (Delphian)
The Rubbra discography advances with very fine performances and three premieres [GH]
Holst: The Planets Bax: Tintagel (LSO Live)
A terrific disc [JQ]
Dodgson: Turn Ye to Me (SOMM Recordings)
A wonderful demonstration of the craft of the song composer from Stephen Dodgson [DHa]
Vine: Child’s Play (Hyperion)
A wonderful introduction to the chamber music of one of the contemporary greats [PRJ]
Leonkoro Quartet play Berg, Schulholff & Webern (Alpha Classics)
Leonkoro Quartet impress in works of Berg, Webern and Schulhoff [LW]
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila & Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade (SOMM Recordings)
A fabulous live performance of Scheherazade, caught on the wing [JQ]
Schoenberg: Orchestral Music (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)
An outstanding Schoenberg set from the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko [MBe]
Gildemann: Chamber Music (Kairos)
Eerily atmospheric and meticulously designed, Ms Gildemann’s distinctive pieces uncannily evoke their titles [RHa]
Schubert: Irrlichter (BIS)
A beautiful performance of a number of Schubert’s most atmospheric Lieder – some old favourites and some less-known gems [DJa]
Winger: Symphony of the Returning Light (Naxos)
Two very fine contemporary works which place a high value on melody and rhythm [DJB]
Geminiani: Sonatas for violoncello (Challenge Records)
An outstanding disc which all lovers of baroque chamber music should hear [GPu]
Schuback: Brockes-Passion (cpo)
A major discovery, which deserves to be treated on equal footing with the better-known versions of Telemann and Handel [JV]
Richter: Four Symphonies (cpo)
Great fun – a winner! [DC]
Dring: Through the Centuries: Songs (Chandos)
A most enjoyable excursion into Dring’s style performed with aplomb and passion [GH]
Brahms: Late Piano Works (Warner Classics)
I had not expected to be so impressed by this recital [SB]
Lise Davidsen: Live at the Met (Decca)
The greatest soprano of our age in recital from the stage of the Met [PH]
Vellère: The Music Comes as it Likes… (Musique en Wallonie)
A most welcome introduction to Lucie Vellère’s music [HC]
Chopin: 4 Ballades & Scherzo (Deutsche Grammophon)
Electrifying pianism from a poetic genius of the instrument [PH]
Kurtág: Fin de Partie (BMC)
The unmissable first recording of Kurtág’s masterpiece [DHa]
