Recommended
Where Songs Go at Night (Neuma Records)
The project exemplifies the meaning of the saying “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good” [SA]
Julius Asal (piano): Scriabin & Scarlatti (Deutsche Grammophon)
Imaginatively constructed, probing and a tribute to sensitivity and outstanding musicianship [SG]
Beethoven & Dean: Piano Concertos (Orchid Classics)
A refreshing and compelling pairing of two piano concertos [WH]
Pacific Quintet: United (Fuga Libera)
The playing on this outstanding issue is nothing short of spectacularly good [GPJ]
Henselt, Bronsart: Piano Concerti (BIS)
Unequivocally first-rate, brilliant in every respect – for the lover of 19th-century piano concertos [EJW]
Recording British Music (Vocalion Books)
The immense contribution to British Music made by a ‘librarian-hobbyist’ [JW]
Florian Noack (piano) I Wanna Be Like You – The Piano Transcriptions (La Dolce Volta)
A hugely enjoyable celebration of the piano from this supremely gifted pianist [RCh]
Urlicht – Songs of Death and Resurrection (Harmonia Mundi)
The singing is masterly, the playing of the orchestra excellent and the recording first class [GF]
Damase: Orchestral Works v2 (Dutton)
Superbly performed concertante music by a French neo-classical conservative [NB]
Korngold: A Portrait for Piano (TRPTK)
This homage is a gem for admirers of Korngold’s music [GF]
J S Bach: Guitar Transcriptions (Naxos)
One of the best guitar recordings of music by JS Bach [ZT]
Donizetti: Dalinda (Oehms Classics)
Good, honest, open-throated singing in an intriguing and highly enjoyable reconstruction of a formerly lost work – and a star performance by the lead soprano [RMo]
Rose in Bloom – recital (Orchid Classics)
An imaginative programme, stunningly performed [NB]
State Fair and the 20th Century-Fox Songbook (Dutton)
A celebration of great Hollywood musicals of the 40’s & 50’s performed with stunning style, sophistication and pizzazz [NB]
Recording British Music (Vocalion Books)
A ready source of rare information, insight and record – and a great read [GHu]
Mahler: Symphony No 3 (High Definition Tape Transfers)
An excellent, parallel recording of one of the finest Mahler performances ever committed to disc [JQ]
Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagione & La Follia (Alpha Classics)
An electrifying rendition of the Four Seasons to set alongside Fabio Biondi’s [DJB]
Amsterdam 1850 (Navis Classics)
An experience of deep friendship, hard work, and joy in the results [DC]
Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem (LSO Live)
Three superb Britten readings, including possibly the finest Spring Symphony on disc [GPJ]
Cristal Bello (Vanitas)
A rewarding collection with a clear historical purpose, though it delights at least as much as it educates [GPu]
Art Songs of the Jewish Diaspora (Acis)
Milhaud and Castelnuovo-Tedesco are just two composers contextualised in this wide-ranging programme [JW]