Schubert: Piano Sonatas (Hyperion)
Aesthetically wholly coherent and technically excellent accounts of the first complete and penultimate of Schubert’s sonatas that do not oust my favourites [RMo]
Franck: Trois pièces pour grand orgue (RecArt)
Powerful, exciting, dramatic and sometimes introspective music played on a remarkable organ [JF]
Miładowski and Chopin: Known and Unknown Romantics (Dux)
Unknown but attractive piano music by Miładowski but not my top choice for the Chopin [RCh]
The Stuyvesant String Quartet (Bridge)
(Déjà Review) A worthy salute to a fine quartet [JW]
Weinberg: Chamber Symphonies 1 & 4 (Alto)
A fine re-issue of music by one of the 20th century’s most important symphonic composers [GT]
Chasins: Complete Music for Solo Piano (Toccata Classics)
Numerous premiere recordings in an Abram Chasins twofer [JW]
Schubert: “Death and the Maiden” Symphony (High Definition Tape Transfers)
Enthusiastic but flawed performances by student orchestras [NB]
The Nannette Streicher Fortepiano (Gramola)
A fresh perspective of solo piano music during the Vienna Classic period [DF]
Brodsky Quartet – Golden Oldies (Chandos)
A highly diverting selection of lighter pieces to celebrate the Brodsky Quartet’s fifty-year anniversary [RMo]
Gál: Works for viola & piano (RecArt)
An ideal balance of humour, warmth, lyricism and introspection in these appealing works [JF]
Dvořák: Serenades (Warner Classics)
A heart-warming disc of the Dvořák serenades, played and recorded beautifully [JP]
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues (Naxos)
A delicacy and deftness of touch in the playing, allied with a natural sense of line and phrasing which can be both compelling and moving [CT]
Copland: Symphonies (RCA)
A welcome return to the catalogue of this valuable version of Copland’s early symphonies [SB]
Holst: Choral Works (SOMM Recordings)
An excellent and very welcome disc of Holst’s choral music [JQ]
Bonds: Choral Works (Avie Records)
Music of Protest and Pride fervently performed [NB]
Schubert: Piano Trios (Ondine)
Ideal performances of great works – and a fitting memorial to Lars Vogt [RMo]
van Helmont: Leçons de Ténèbres (Ricercar)
Van Helmont’s Leçons fully deserve to be recorded, and Scherzi Musicali has done a great job of performing them [JV]
Shostakovich: Symphony 10 (Fuga Libera)
A fine, live performance of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony by a top-class Russian orchestra [GT]
Howells: Orchestral Works (Chandos)
Rare works in very fine performances, and a superb warm recording [HC]
Strauss R: Vier letzte Lieder (Decca)
For every Richard Strauss fan this CD is an absolute must [IL]
The Golden Shore (Matador Publishing)
A warm welcome is due this exemplary book which has been so well realised [RB]
La Valse (Hänssler Classic)
These wind orchestra arrangements could hardly be better played [MC]