Recommended

poston carols naxos

Poston: Carols and Anthems (Naxos)

Impressive rediscovery of much beautiful but unfamiliar music by a familiar composer [NB]

Gaito: Chamber Works for Piano & Strings (cpo)

A joy from start to finish [SG]

scheller grain acte prealable

Scheller: Dead Grain (Acte Préalable)

Cold, creepy, crepuscular and clever – Scheller’s eerie sounds slither delightfully under the skin [RHa]

jauchzet gott accent

Jauchzet Gott (Accent)

A disc to treasure, with probably the best ever performance of Bach’s famous Cantata BWV51 [JV]

Godecharle: Harp quartets (Ramée)

Well-written, entertaining harp quartets by a little-known composer, in excellent performance [JV]

byrd songs inventa

Byrd: Songs of sundrie natures (Inventa)

The first recording of all Songs of sundrie natures in exemplary performances show Byrd’s charm, humour and unwavering focus on the key messages [MG]

rachmaninoff sonata alpha

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Preludes (Alpha Classics)

The key release of Rachmaninov’s 150th anniversary year – a revelation [RWe]

Bach: Goldberg Variations Reimagined (Channel Classics)

Goldberg meets Brandenburg in a very successful merger [DJB]

Macmillan motets SIGCD773

Bach & MacMillan: Motets & Sacred Songs (Signum)

Imaginative and technically stunning singing from this outstanding chamber choir [GPJ]

Schubert impromptus BIS2614

Schubert: Impromptus (BIS)

A refreshingly intimate account of Schubert’s impromptus in masterly performances by a fortepiano player of unparalleled recording experience [MG]

Infinite Voyage Emersons Alpha 1000

Infinite Voyage (Alpha Classics)

Emerson Quartet’s farewell recording is rather special [LW]

mendelssohn elias bsorec

Mendelssohn: Elias (BSO Recordings)

A boldly dramatic performance which has the feel of a major event about it [MP]

The Guerra Manuscript Vol. 6 (Naxos)

The glorious conclusion of an interesting and important project [JV]

Puccini: The Great Puccini (Deutsche Grammophon)

Yes – we are hearing something special here [RMo]

Lully: Thésée (Aparté)

Lully’s Thésée sounds glorious in this period-instrument performance [MC]

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Bach: The French Suites (Hyperion)

Enriching performances, informed by consummate musicianship [SG]

sacconi quartet orchid

Beethoven & Schubert: String Quartets (Orchid Classics)

A highly attractive pairing of two of the greatest string quartets, interpreted and played to perfection [RMo]

bach goldberg olafsson deutsche grammophon

Bach: Goldberg Variations (Deutsche Grammophon)

I’m not sure it is possible to overhype playing as good as this [DMD]

through the night bis

Through The Night (BIS)

A stimulating medley of the best string music, beautifully executed [RMo]

From Mannheim to Berlin (Challenge Classics)

Cello playing of the highest calibre [JV]

Fraser-Simson: Complete Settings of Songs by A.A. Milne (EM Records)

A complete delight [WK]

Haydn pianotrios RD250423

Haydn: Piano Trios (Praga Digitals)

An album of distinction from the Guarneri Trio Prague [MC]

angelus ad fontes

French Sacred Song (Ad Fontes)

A fascinating programme, with top class performances in excellent sound [GPu]

Weinberg Symph 12 BBCPO Storgaards Chandos CHAN20165

Weinberg: Symphony No 12 (Chandos)

A superb, state-of-the-art recording of Weinberg’s symphonic works [GT]