Schubert: Trout Quintet (Berlin Classics)
(Déjà Review) Very satisfying, centred and gracious [RB]
What plaintive melodies are these? (Oboe Classics)
Warmth as well as veiled melancholy in previously unrecorded British songs for oboe and voice [JW]
The Music of Malcolm Arnold (Orchid Classics)
A wonderful CD that fills some important gaps in the Arnold repertoire [KT]
Minkus: Don Quixote (Opus Arte)
A delightfully Spanish cornucopia of exuberant dances with an appealing cast and showing the Royal Ballet Company in top form [MP]
Martin Cousin (piano): Fantasias for piano (Convivium Records)
An interesting and well-planned programme superbly performed and sympathetically recorded [NB]
Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas (Hallé)
These CDs launch the partnership between the Hallé and Kahchun Wong most impressively [JQ]
Schnittke: Concerti Grossi Nos 1 & 5 (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) A real feeling of being the definitive article [TH]
Copland: Orchestral Works (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) In all respects, recommended without a moment’s hesitation [KS]
Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide (Alpha Classics)
A very fine new account of a neglected great opera [RWe]
Steffani: Psalmodia Vespertina, Stabat Mater (Arcantus)
Steffani’s expressive powers displayed in full glory [JV]
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Chandos)
A more intimate, lower-key account which for me fails to stir the blood [RMo]
Palmgren: Complete Piano Works 8 (Grand Piano)
More treasures in this latest unearthing of Palmgren’s unjustly neglected piano music [RCh]
British Cello Works – Vol 3 (Lyrita)
Four fine cello sonatas, played with obvious skill and enthusiasm [JF]
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Warner Classics)
Soggy tempos and slack pacing entirely fail to convince [RH]
Martin: Tripytchon (ECM)
An extremely high quality product which deserves recognition [CR]
Scriabin: Complete Piano Sonatas (Et’cetera)
An impressive debut in this demanding repertoire [SB]
Handel: Ópera Viva (IBS Classical)
Underwhelming singing compromises the attractiveness of this medley of Handel numbers from his operas played in strict period style [RMo]
Saint-Saëns: Music for Two Pianos (Somm Recordings)
A well-filled disc of two piano delights [PRJ]
Yevgeny Svetlanov (conductor) Debussy & Rachmaninov (ICA Classics)
A formidable Soviet conductor with legendary technique directs three London orchestras in music from Russia and France [PH]
Arc III: Brahms and Schubert piano works (First Hand Records)
The way Orion Weiss plays reflects his love of the works he has chosen [SA]
Turnage: Greek (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Whether uncomfortable or not this remains essential listening for lovers of contemporary music theatre [TH]