Recommended
Haydn: Die Schöpfung (BR Klassik)
An outstanding performance of Haydn’s life-enhancing oratorio [JQ]
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Opus Arte)
This newly filmed Royal Ballet performance becomes the first choice for Swan Lake [RMay]
Granados: Goyescas and El Pelele (cpo)
A superb debut in these demanding but delightful works [SB]
Williamson: Chamber Music for Wind and Piano (Divine Art)
A superb reminder of why we need the music of Malcolm Williamson [PRJ]
Heavenly Light: Eton Choirbook Reconstructions (CRD)
Superbly reconstructed motets brilliantly brought to life [GH]
Messiaen’s Musical Universe (Fugue State Films)
A brilliant, revelatory release which enhances our understanding of Messiaen [DHa]
Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux (Piano Classics)
A superb new version of Messiaen’s great piano cycle [SB]
Spain On Fire (Challenge Classics)
A delight from first note to last [DJB]
Bach: Keyboard Concertos (Warner Classics)
Spectacularly virtuosic playing of some of Bach’s most joyously inventive music [RMo]
Prokofiev: Symphony 6 (LSO Live)
A great version of one of Prokofiev’s finest works from the LSO and Noseda [PH]
Fatma Said (soprano) Lieder (Warner Classics)
This wonderful disc of Lieder for soprano and different forces held me spellbound [PT]
Ravel: Très Franc (TYXart)
A joyful recital of great music stunningly played and recorded [NB]
Mahler: Symphony 7 (BR Klassik)
Inspirationally conducted, fantastically played and stunningly recorded, this demands the attention of all Mahler devotees [JQ]
Rupture: Works for Saxophone Quartet (Centrediscs)
A spectacular and colourful musical cavalcade [SG]
Beethoven: Symphonies Vol. 5 (SOMM)
Scharwenka’s fine arrangements of these sunny, playful symphonies are superbly played [TMS]
Shostakovich: Symphonies 4-6 (Decca)
Compellingly truthful performances of a triptych of Shostakovich symphonies [AG]
Puccini: Tosca (Deutsche Grammophon)
The best Tosca released in the past half-century [GF]
Dvořák & Price: Piano Quintets (Hyperion)
Winning performances [LW]
Demantius: Johannes-Passion (cpo)
A superb performance of a 17th century German Passion [JV]
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op 2 (Challenge Classics)
Prosseda amply demonstrates the surprising distinctiveness of these early Beethoven piano sonatas [MG]
Another kind of Rossi (Stradivarius)
The arpa doppia in full glory – an exciting disc [JV]
Lully: Alceste (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Relive the Golden Age of the Tragédie lyrique in a performance of insight and conviction [PH]
Adès: Orchestral suites (LPO)
A stunning compendium of Adès’ music for the stage in a self-recommending release [PH]
Ravel: Fragments for piano (Erato)
An exquisitely played and intelligently assembled bouquet for Ravel [PH]
