Recommended
Vittorio Forte (piano) Volver (Mirare)
A vibrant and vivid exploration of Latin American piano [RCh]
Debussy & Szymanowski: String Quartets (Alpha Classics)
Outstanding accounts of Debussy’s and Szymanowski’s string quartets [LW]
Martin, Messiaen & Daniel-Lesur: Religious choral works (Pentatone)
Superb performances of religious works in the French tradition [SB]
John Turner (recorder): Prayer for Peace (Prima Facie)
Rare repertoire, luminous playing, enduring effect [JF]
Bach JS: The 6 Cello Suites (Sony Classical)
Kobekina successfully blends historical insight with expressive flexibility in an intimate and sonically beautiful performance [PB]
Nicolas Medtner plays Medtner (APR)
Medtner’s incredible solo pianism now in one stunning set [RCh]
Stravagante pensiero: Gesualdo & Napoli (Naïve)
Lovers of madrigals should not miss this superb recording [jv]
Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Hallé)
An outstanding performance that can be ranked with the finest recordings of the ‘Resurrection’ I have heard [MC]
Alfvén: Complete Orchestral Songs (dB Productions)
A perfect disc in almost every respect [WK]
Vivaldi: La Gloria e Imeneo (Naïve)
A revelatory addition to the ongoing series of the complete works of Vivaldi [MP]
Palestrina: Missa Fratres ego enim accepi (Ars Produktion)
An unusual, exciting performance of a Palestrina mass [JV]
Miró Quartet: Hearth (Pentatone)
Wonderfully imaginative arrangements of Christmas favourites; something to enliven even the jaded palette – or ear [PRJ]
Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 2 (BIS)
Suzuki offers a brilliant, structurally transparent perspective that combines historical insight with spirit and verve [PB]
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Erin Morley (soprano): Golden Age (Pentatone)
A superb recital which should find a welcome home under any Christmas tree [MP]
R Clarke: The Complete Songs (Signum Classics)
A revelatory set, superbly performed [JQ]
Schubert: Chamber Music (MDG)
Performances that need fear comparisons with no other [ST]
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Testament)
Greater than the “Recording of the Century” [LD]
Glass: Complete Piano Etudes (InFiné)
Straight to the top of the list for the complete set [DJB]
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Doppelgänger (Sony)
A peculiar but wonderful release that showcases Kaufmann’s developing and deepening insights into the art of Lieder [ST]
Gregson: Concertos (Chandos)
A welcome 80th birthday tribute to one of Britain’s finest composers [PRJ]
Pärt: Credo (Alpha Classics)
A 90th birthday tribute that serves as an exemplary introduction to Arvo Pärt [LW]
Scriabin: Orchestral Works (Deutsche Grammophon)
Outstanding Scriabin from an orchestra celebrating its centenary [PH]
Berlioz: Le carnaval romain, Symphonie fantastique (Pentatone)
Finally, a Symphonie fantastique to rival the vintage versions in superb, vivid, beautifully balanced digital sound [RMo]
Brahms: Double Concerto & Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante (Nimbus)
A delightful disc, offering an intriguing twist on the Mozart and a grand, virtuosic account of the Brahms, in superb sound [RMo]
