Beethoven: Egmont (BR Klassik)

A decent performance but no text for the narration is a hindrance [SB]

Mozart cosi PACO195

Mozart: Cosi fan tutte (Pristine Audio)

A glorious documentation of the high standards of the ensemble at the Royal Stockholm Opera more than 80 years ago [GF]

Verdi rigoletto OABD7303D

Verdi: Rigoletto (Opus Arte)

A striking new Rigoletto from the Royal Opera House, strongly cast and very well conducted [RWe]

Holmboe qtets2 6220717SACD

Holmboe: Quartets Vol 2 (Dacapo)

The Nightingale Quartet continues its admirable Holmboe cycle [JW]

Voices ephrata BSTC0141

Voices – Ephrata Cloister (Bright Shiny Things)

A very interesting production, both historically and musically [JV]

SaintSaens ballet 8574463

Saint-Saëns: Dances & Ballet (Naxos)

A disc primarily for admirers of Saint-Saëns and 19th century ballet [RMay]

byrd weelkes signum

Tom + Will: Weelkes & Byrd 400 years (Signum Classics)

Two great English renaissance composers are juxtaposed, with outstanding results [GH]

Nowowiejski Piano and Cello Concertos Dux1883

Nowowiejski: Concertos (Dux)

Nowowiejski’s concertos, heard in premiere recordings, leave a puzzling impression [JW]

Whistling book english recorder music divine art DDA21241

The Whistling Book (Divine Art)

An absorbing smorgasbord of music, from grade pieces for tyros to major recital works [JF]

Mustonen string quartet no1 LAWO LWC1243

Mustonen: Chamber Music (Lawo)

Two impressive new works by this versatile musician [SB]

Gaubert chamber Claves CD3059

Gaubert: Chamber Music (Claves)

Assured and attractive music by a major figure in the history of the flute, well played and recorded [GPu]

Tchaikovsky ballets dorati ADE80

Tchaikovsky: Ballets (Doráti Edition)

Pioneering full-length accounts of Tchaikovsky’s ballets that will appeal to Doráti’s many admirers [RMay]

Ariosti 6 Lessons Brilliant 95620

Ariosti: Lessons for viola d’amore (Brilliant Classics)

A perfect disc to become acquainted with the viola d’amore and Ariosti’s sonatas [JV]

opera autobiography banks

Opera – The Autobiography of the Western World

Enjoyable and engaging if not fulfilling [MMB]

vaughan williams PASC673

Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 6 & 9 (Pristine)

Pristine remastering of the first Boult cycle of Vaughan Williams symphonies reaches a triumphant conclusion [PCG]

britten turn screw 828

Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Alpha)

A vivid rollercoaster approach, the listener smarting on the front row stalls [MG]

gal voices TOCC0644

Gál: Music for Voices Vol. 2 (Toccata)

An absorbing cross-section of vocal works composed over a period of four decades [JF]

Glass symphony 7778982

L Glass: Symphony 4 (CPO)

A commanding recording of Louis Glass’s (occasionally) problematic Fourth Symphony [JW]

Jongen preludes CHAN20264

Jongen: Preludes (Chandos)

A valuable recording of neglected repertoire [DC]

Szymanowski piano 4863007

Szymanowski: Piano Works (DG)

Wonderful playing and the disc is worth buying for the Masques alone [SB]

Grondahl legacy DACOCD887

Launy Grøndahl (conductor) Legacy Vol. 7 (Danacord)

The Grøndahl legacy series reaches volume 7 with a question mark or two [JW]

Musique lyrique pour cor et piano (Danacord)

A rewarding exploration of a variety of virtuosic works – technical wizardry and sheer lyricism [JF]

The Silver Swan (Convivium)

A clever conjoining of British song-writing contemporaries [JW]

Schulhoff: Piano Concerto (Hänssler)

Two of Schulhoff’s finest works, both well performed and recorded [MC]