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Bellini: Norma (Divina Records)

Simply one of the greatest ‘bel canto’ performances on record [MBu]

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Sun Forest Lake (Candle Row Press)

A perceptive study of Sibelius and his key orchestral works [JQ]

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Fred over jorden (Peace to the World) (2L)

Something rather special [DC]

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Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra – The Early Years Vol. 5 (Pristine Audio)

Excellent restorations of Ormandy’s ‘World’s Greatest Music’ recordings of the late-30s [JW]

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Quilter: Go, Lovely Rose (Chandos)

A fine recital of songs is a welcome addition to the Quilter discography [PT]

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Kats-Chernin: Wild Swans (ABC Classics)

(Déjà Review) Future listeners will wonder how music of this quality could possibly have escaped their attention [ZT]

Bruckner: The Symphonies (Naxos)

A superb contribution to the anniversary celebrations: original interpretation, fine playing, good sound and outstanding documentation [RWe]

Dvořák: Symphonies 5 & 6 (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

Fresh, vital, exuberant, strikingly energetic and authentic performances [RMo]

Michael Rabin (violin) Unpublished (Parnassus)

An unpublished live Beethoven Concerto spearheads this Michael Rabin release [JW]

Erlanger: La sorcière (B Records)

A tremendous performance of an unexpectedly compelling French rarity [PSt]

Bartók: Piano Concerti (Capriccio)

Satisfying performances of two concertos, a few doubts about the third [WH]

Coleridge-Taylor, Harrison: Violin concertante works (Lyrita)

(Déjà Review) Underappreciated English concertante works given fine readings [JF]

Handel: Fernando, Re di Castiglia (Erato)

(Déjà Review) A delightful score, fortunate here in being both sensitively and expressively performed [IB]

Earliest French Piano Recordings (APR)

A splendidly remastered and historically important tranche of piano recordings [JW]

Phibbs: String Quartets 2-4 (Nimbus Records)

If you enjoy Britten’s quartets you will enjoy these [SB]

Ukrainian Christmas (Naxos)

Dazzling orchestral arrangements of traditional and recent Ukrainian Christmas music [GH]

Handel: Messiah (Alto)

A brilliant, flawless live performance graced by some stellar solo singing [RMo]

Brahms: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 (Sony Classical)

The concerto performances are very fine but the late piano pieces should not be missed on any account [JQ]

Arnold: Concerto for Two Pianos (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A valuable addition to the growing Arnold catalogue [BBr]

Bruckner: Symphony No 7 (Atma Classique)

(Déjà Review) A dedicated performance, with sensitive awareness of Bruckner’s idiom and musical characteristics [TB]

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Verdi: Don Carlo (Orfeo)

The best live Italian version in the best sound available [RMo]

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Rieti: Piano Concertos (Naxos)

A delightful disc of music by an unjustly neglected figure [PRJ]

J. S. Bach: Magnificat & Handel: Te Deum (Harmonia Mundi)

An odd combination of works, but both are performed well [JV]

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Jascha Heifetz (violin) ‘Live’ Recordings (Biddulph)

Heifetz caught live in broadcasts playing some discographic novelties into the bargain [JW]