Holst: The Planets (BR Klassik)

A solid, “safe” account, hobbled by a dull, listless opening movement [RMo]

JS Bach: The Art of Fugue (Ramee)

A suggestion that the art of counterpoint is infinite [DC]

Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)

(Déjà Review) Truly inspired performances of masterful music [PJL]

tchaikovsky piano bis

Romeo and Juliet – Tchaikovsky on the Piano (BIS)

Extraordinary playing of the highest quality and familiar music shown in a new light [RCh]

Rota capello C5466

Rota: Il cappello di paglia di Firenze (Capriccio)

Probably the most charming comic Italian opera since Falstaff in a fizzing studio performance [GF]

Puccini Lescaut PACO201 [RMo]

Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Pristine Audio)

A gramophone stereo classic from the 50s is given yet more lustre by this splendid remastering [RMo]

Lully Psyche CVS086

Lully: Psyché (Château de Versailles Spectacles)

Rousset’s lively new version of Psyché offers the listener much pleasure [MP]

Cutler garden aether

Cutler: Garden (Æther Sound)

Heavily ambient instrumental compositions [DC]

Hymns holten 8226142

Reforming Hymns (Dacapo)

Interesting and important disc from a musical, historical and social angle [JV]

Wild 20s 900206

The Wild Sound of the 20s – 1923 (BR Klassik)

A good example of 1920s music in outstanding performances, let down by lack of texts [LW]

Elgar: Symphony 1 (Hallé)

(Déjà Review) An interpretation that underscores the mutual admiration between Elgar and Strauss [CF]

Poulenc: Stabat Mater (BR Klassik)

An unusual programme, attractive, but somewhat generic performances [PBW]

Offenbach Robinson Crusoé Opera Rara ORB3

Offenbach: Robinson Crusoé (Opera Rara)

A splendid way to explore some of the composer’s lesser-known operettas [MC]

gavrilov complete dg eloquence

Andrei Gavrilov (piano) Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon (Eloquence)

A release pianophiles will treasure [SG]

Flury Orchestral Vol3 Toccata TOCC0643

Flury: Symphonies 1 and 4 (Toccata Classics)

A well recorded, but still little-known composer – well worth investigating [GH]

Briggs Requiem King's College London Delphian DCD34298

Briggs: Requiem (Delphian)

A fine showcase for the music of Kerensa Briggs [JQ]

Puccini Turandot Pappano Warner 5419740659

Puccini: Turandot (Warner Classics)

Great sound, conducting, choral singing and orchestral playing, but only one principal singer who really comes up to scratch [RMo]

Debussy Jeux Strauss Also Sprach Roth LSO0833

R Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra (LSO Live)

A patchy Zarathustra and a good Jeux, but you’ll find better performances of both elsewhere [ST]

Mussorgsky Pictures Kuchar Naxos 8.555924

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Commitment … involvement … a feeling of wonder [SA]

wagner siegfried decca

Wagner: Siegfried (Decca)

Triumph! Rejoice! Victory! Solti’s Ring, at last, as Wagner intended! [PCG]

tchaikovsky symphony bernstein

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 (Deutsche Grammophon)

Bernstein’s infamous late Pathétique – neither the slowest nor the greatest [LD]

icelandic stage chandos isolfsson

Icelandic Works for the Stage (Chandos)

Well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable music; Viðar is a definite discovery [DJB]

stravinsky firebird rite decca

Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (Decca)

Impressive Stravinsky from Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris [JQ]

citadel song anakronos heresy

Citadel of Song (Heresy)

Unconventional and innovative, this may offend purists, but I find it beautiful and richly rewarding [GPu]