Recommended

where songs go at night neuma bandwidth

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 orchid

Beethoven & Dean: Piano Concertos (Orchid Classics)

A refreshing and compelling pairing of two piano concertos [WH]

United-Pacific-Quintet-Fuga-Libera-FUG827

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]

senfter chamber cpo

Senfter: Chamber Music (cpo)

A debut album that’s a triumph [SG]

recording british music foreman vocalion

Recording British Music (Vocalion Books)

The immense contribution to British Music made by a ‘librarian-hobbyist’ [JW]

noack piano la dolce volta

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 HMM902384

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 dutton

Damase: Orchestral Works v2 (Dutton)

Superbly performed concertante music by a French neo-classical conservative [NB]

korngold piano trptk

Korngold: A Portrait for Piano (TRPTK)

This homage is a gem for admirers of Korngold’s music [GF]

bach guitar naxos

J S Bach: Guitar Transcriptions (Naxos)

One of the best guitar recordings of music by JS Bach [ZT]

donizetti dalinda oehms

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 dutton

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 foreman

Recording British Music (Vocalion Books)

A ready source of rare information, insight and record – and a great read [GHu]

Grieg: Symphonic Dances (Chandos)

Exemplary performances of some rare Grieg [SB]

mahler horenstein symphony hdtt

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 geisler NC24012

Amsterdam 1850 (Navis Classics)

An experience of deep friendship, hard work, and joy in the results [DC]

Britten rattle LSO0830

Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem (LSO Live)

Three superb Britten readings, including possibly the finest Spring Symphony on disc [GPJ]

Danza Gaya – Music for Two Pianos (Lyrita)

Delightful from start to finish [WK]

cristal bello vanitas

Cristal Bello (Vanitas)

A rewarding collection with a clear historical purpose, though it delights at least as much as it educates [GPu]

songs jewish disaspora acis

Art Songs of the Jewish Diaspora (Acis)

Milhaud and Castelnuovo-Tedesco are just two composers contextualised in this wide-ranging programme [JW]