Recordings of the Month

clarke songs signum

R Clarke: The Complete Songs (Signum Classics)

A revelatory set, superbly performed [JQ]

kaufmann doppelganger sony

Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Doppelgänger (Sony)

A peculiar but wonderful release that showcases Kaufmann’s developing and deepening insights into the art of Lieder [ST]

part credo alpha

Pärt: Credo (Alpha Classics)

A 90th birthday tribute that serves as an exemplary introduction to Arvo Pärt [LW]

scriabin orchestral dg

Scriabin: Orchestral Works (Deutsche Grammophon)

Outstanding Scriabin from an orchestra celebrating its centenary [PH]

berlioz fantastique pentatone

Berlioz: Le carnaval romain, Symphonie fantastique (Pentatone)

Finally, a Symphonie fantastique to rival the vintage versions in superb, vivid, beautifully balanced digital sound [RMo]

wagner parsifal marston

Wagner: Parsifal (Marston)

The Holy Grail available complete at last: The 1938 Met Parsifal [PH]

glass etudes infine

P Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes (InFiné)

A compelling balance of technical finesse with expressive depth [PB]

elgar ades violin ondine

Elgar & Adès: Violin Concerti (Ondine)

A thrusting, brilliant Elgar Concerto, informed by early recordings, and a great Adès [JW]

puzzi mass ramee

Puzzi: Messa a quattro voci (Ramée)

Puzzi’s mass is one of the discoveries of this year [JV]

lindberg aho clarinet signum

Lindberg & Aho: Clarinet Concertos (Signum Classics)

Two modern classics in excellent performances [SB]

belle epoque alpha classics

Adèle Charvet (mezzo-soprano) Belle époque! (Alpha Classics)

An elegant, sophisticated mélange of mélodies, beautifully sung and played, incorporating some pleasing surprises and novelties [RMo]

my fair lady chandos

Lerner & Loewe: My Fair Lady (Chandos)

A great show, vividly brought to life in this superb recording [JQ]

puts orchestral delos

Puts: Orchestral Music (Delos)

Sophisticated, emotional, beautifully crafted and a delight from first to last [DJB]

brahms wolf lieder linn

Brahms & Wolf: Lieder (Linn)

Marvellous and treasurable, the finest song disc to have come my way in some considerable time [ST]

schoenberg orchestral berlin philharmonic

Schoenberg: Orchestral & choral music (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)

Superb performances of orchestral and choral music by Schoenberg [DHa]

field nocturnes dg

Field: Complete Nocturnes (Deutsche Grammophon)

Field’s exquisite nocturnes in wonderfully personal performances [RCh]

salieri cublai aparte

Salieri: Cublai, Gran Kan De’ Tartari (Aparté)

The buffa side of Italian Opera in the heyday of Vienna’s pre-eminence [PH]

jewish vienna onyx

Jewish Vienna (Onyx)

A beautiful programme, exquisitely performed, with Chen Reiss in top form [GF]

herstory genuin

Mitra Kotte (piano) Herstory (Genuin)

One of the most enjoyable recitals I have heard this year, let alone one featuring just female composers [RCh]

beethoven richter dg

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (Deutsche Grammophon)

Richter in his prime in Beethoven from the archives of Deutsche Grammophon [PH]

Alma: Ibero-American Songs (SOMM Recordings)

A song-recital recording to convert those who think they are not keen on song-recital recordings [DC]

French School Pianists play French concertos (APR)

A great piano tradition is celebrated in style [PH]

Benjamin Appl (baritone) Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Alpha Classics)

A cornucopia of wonderful songs, superbly sung, for every lover of art songs to delve into [GF]

Pitfield: Orchestral Music (Toccata Classics)

A magnificent new release of unjustly neglected British music [DJ]