Glojnarić: Pure Bliss (Kairos)
Yet more contemporeana that’s been somehow touched by the pop world – fascinating and unclassifiable [RHa]
Tchaikovsky: None But The Lonely Heart (Naxos)
The singing is especially good from some impressive young singers but the staging… [MP]
Les choses de la vie – Cinema II (Erato)
Take your seat in the stalls for scores from le cinéma français [RMay]
J S Bach: Cantatas (PHI)
Incisive performances of three cantatas, among them one of Bach’s most beloved [JV]
Mozart: Requiem (BR Klassik)
A good, though not inspired version, which doesn’t compare to an earlier Jansons performance with the Concertgebouw [PT]
Brahms: German Folk Songs (Apex)
Lovers of this music need both Genz and Schwarzkopf/Fischer-Dieskau [GF]
Bennett: Sea Change (Collegium Records)
A beautifully performed survey of Bennett’s often neglected choral music [CT]
Donizetti: Maria de Rudenz (Warner Fonit)
Coarse at times, but often exciting, as one would expect a bleeding nun to be [MP]
Busoni: Piano Concerto (SWR Classic)
A worthy performance of this massive work but others are better [SB]
David Ponsford (organ): Corrette & Dandrieu (Nimbus Records)
A perfect match of music, organ and performer [JV]
Mahler: Symphony No 6 (BR Klassik)
Sir Simon Rattle and his new orchestra’s Mahler Sixth in top-flight performance and recording [EJW]
Hellstenius: Public Behaviour (BIS)
Two riveting and provocative vocal works which muse upon modes of communication in modern life. Virtuosic and entertaining [RHa]
Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem, Young Person’s Guide (LSO Live)
A successful and enjoyable Britten anthology [JQ]
Martinů: Symphonies Nos 3 & 5 (Naxos)
A good introduction to the symphonies [JF]
Adam: La Filleule des fées – ballet (Marco Polo)
(Déjà Review) Uplifting and quite delightful, containing charming melodies [RW]
A Malcolm Arnold Musical Companion (Malcolm Arnold Society)
A companion to hold your hand through the works of an utter professional [RB]
Henry Merckel (violin) French Chamber Works (Forgotten Records)
Classic chamber recordings from the inimitable violinist Henry Merckel and his ensembles [JW]
Cowie: The Kreutzer Effect (Métier)
A stimulating exploration of the Kreutzer Quartet’s talents [JF]
Bruckner: Symphony 4 (Fontec)
Here we go again … best avoided [RMo]
Shostakovich: String Quartets (Signum Classics)
The Carduccis’ Shostakovich: control and catharsis [NC]
Jacqueline Delman (soprano) More from my archives (Oak Grove)
A valuable documentation of Delman’s versatility, musically, repertoire-wise and linguistically [GF]
Rodrigo: Orchestral Works v4 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Amongst the most atmospheric and delicious works that I have experienced in some time [KS]
Mendelssohn: Octet & Sextet (Delos)
(Déjà Review) A real winner in terms of repertoire, performance, interpretation, sound quality and sheer enjoyment [MC]
Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Pristine Audio)
The culmination of a great Ring cycle has a place among the best: scintillating singing, playing and conducting [RMo]
