Portraits of a Mind (Albion Records)

A dazzling performance and production [JF]

Eudice Shapiro (violin): Sonatas and duos (Biddulph)

The admirable art of violinist Eudice Shapiro, heard in core repertory [JW]

Smetana: Má Vlast (Supraphon)

(Déjà Review) Ančerl and his wonderful orchestra are the ‘real thing’ – buy, hear and believe! [PJL]

D Scarlatti: Violin Sonatas (Obsidian)

Makes a very strong case for treating these sonatas as violin sonatas [GPu]

Ostinato (Pan Classics)

A beautifully burnished sound, but the dominance of slow tempos is a negative [DJB]

Haydn: Stabat Mater (Pentatone)

Haydn’s moving Stabat Mater reimagined – a success all around [LP]

Alphons Diepenbrock: The Life, Times and Music of a Dutch Romantic Composer (Toccata Press)

A rewarding read [SG]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Capriccio)

Poschner’s well-directed Complete Versions series continues [RMo]

Bruch + Tveitt (Berlin Classics)

A well-played but unbalanced programme [NB]

Boughton: Of Delights and Passions (EM Records)

Expressive directness and frolicsome invention in a series of Boughton disc premieres [JW]

Peacock Pie (Hyperion)

(Déjà Review) A delightful release which is a joy from first to last [HC]

Reverie polish Dux1765

Rêverie – Polish Cello Miniatures (Dux)

First recordings of works that deserved to stay buried [DJB]

Bruckner sym6 LSO0842

Bruckner: Symphony 6 (LSO Live)

Controversial and underwhelming Bruckner from Rattle [LD]

Beethoven vol7 MS1471

A Beethoven Odyssey Vol. 7 (MSR Classics)

Brawn turns out thoroughly impressive accounts of these last three very challenging sonatas [RC]

Voyages bevan SIGCD509

Voyages (Signum Classics)

A fascinating journey through Baudelaire’s and Goethe’s poetic landscapes [GF]

Haydn qts CDA68410

Haydn: String Quartets (Hyperion)

Versions for hard-core period instrument enthusiasts [RMo]

Presti Vol2 DHR8140

Ida Presti & Alexandre Lagoya (guitars) Vol. 2 (Doremi)

A second souvenir of the art of this guitar duo, with special emphasis on the youthful brilliance of Ida Presti [JW]

Crossings atlantic 99278

Atlantic Crossings (Gramola)

An offbeat concept produces a very rewarding album [MP]

argenta-great-conductors-emi-1

Ataúlfo Argenta (conductor) (EMI Classics)

(Déjà Review) Lisztians need to hear Argenta’s Faust; his El Amor Brujo is perhaps the best ever [RB]

Biber Sonatas Accent ACC24386

Biber: Sonatas (Accent)

The sonatas are fabulous, but the trumpet duos do rather drag on [DJB]

Mozart Symph 39 40 41 Blomstedt BR Klassik 900196

Mozart: Symphonies 39-41 (BR Klassik)

Masterful, ideally executed and engineered recordings of Mozart’s three greatest symphonies [RMo]

Stamitz Violin Concertos CPO 5554792

Stamitz: Violin Concertos (cpo)

Lively performances of little-known compositions from the end of the Baroque period [CRo]

Cage Choral Works Ondine ODE1402-2

Cage: Choral Works (Ondine)

An interesting corner of John Cage’s output expertly performed by a choir and conductor who really understand and enjoy working in the idiom [MS]

R Strauss Philharmonia Santu SIGCD720

R Strauss: Tone Poems (Signum Classics)

Some marvellous Strauss tone poems that mark the beginning of Rouvali’s stewardship of the Philharmonia [ST]