Handel: Giulio Cesare (Harmonia Mundi)
Probably the best DVD version and one of the best in any format [BW]
Todd: Saint Cuthbert (Mawson & Wareham)
A superb must buy for anyone remotely interested in British choral/contemporary music [NH]
Bruckner: Symphony 4 (Capriccio)
A fine performance vitiated by Poschner’s penchant for rushed tempi [RMo]
Auber: Le Philtre (Naxos)
This light-hearted comedy is charming entertainment and the presentation is worthy [GF]
Lutyens: Piano Works Vol. 2 (Resonus Classics)
Another chance to discover little known works by a significant but often derided figure of twentieth century British music [GH]
Sibelius: Symphonies 5-7 (Pristine Audio)
The finest Fifth I know, and an excellent Sixth and Seventh, all given a new lease of life by Pristine as XR Remastered Ambient Stereo [RMo]
Vers la source dans le bois (Da Vinci Classics)
If you like the French chamber music of this period, you will be in safe hands with this Italian trio [GPu]
Messes anonymes (Musique en Wallonie)
These two masses are fascinating stuff, but the style of singing may not be everyone’s cup of tea [JV]
Armenian Rhapsody (BIS)
(Déjà Review) The APO’s considerable team talents are put to fine use on this quality all-Armenian disc [Byz]
Rautavaara: The Gift of the Magi (Arthaus Musik)
(Déjà Review) An intelligent, small-scale opera well performed, and accompanied by a moderately interesting documentary [Gpu]
Robert Casadesus (piano): Brahms/Falla (Maestro Editions)
Ringingly affirmative Brahms and a good if ordinary de Falla [RB]
Bruckner: Symphony 9 (Pristine Audio)
Van Beinum’s flexible way with this music will appeal to those who also esteem Jochum in Bruckner but there are too many flaws [RMo]
Swedish Piano Concertos (BIS)
Three strongly contrasting works for piano and orchestra repay repeated hearings [HC]
Sgambati: Symphony 2 (Naxos)
La Vecchia and his Rome orchestra do Sgambati proud in a premiere recording [RMay]
Stravinsky: Violin & Piano (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) An unexpectedly wide range of memorable repertoire in colourful and personally characterised performances [LF]
Arnold: Orchestral Works (Chandos)
A great way to fill the gaps in one’s Malcolm Arnold collection with these superb performances and sound LW]
Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross (Brilliant Classics)
With added flute part, this arrangement is a welcome curiosity for those already familiar with the work [SW]
Heinichen: Dresden Vespers (Accent)
Excellent recording of music by a composer who was in no way inferior to the best of his time [JV]
Verdi: Messa da Requiem (Rondeau)
I have honestly never heard anything like this… [RMo]
Fabien Sevitzky (conductor) The Indianapolis Symphony Vol. 6 (Pristine Audio)
The final release in the Sevitzky-Indianapolis series ends in a celebration of the dance [JW]
Schönberg, Berg: Transfigurations (Alpha Classics)
Intelligently programmed and well played key works of the Second Viennese School [NB]
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