Carulli: Rediscovered (Dynamic)
Will challenge entrenched attitudes toward the solo music of Ferdinando Carulli [ZT]
Martin, Vladigerov & Turina: Trios (CAvi-Music)
Very intelligent programming, and very fine performances [DJB]
Scriabin: Orchestral (BIS)
Good, solid orchestral performances, very well recorded; the sonata is a welcome bonus [DM]
Fréderick Franssen (horn) (Challenge)
A virtuoso hornist addresses newly discovered Baroque repertoire [SV]
Julius Prüwer (conductor) Forgotten maestro (Pristine)
A welcome to a neglected conductor from the early electrical recording period in Berlin [GT]
Pablo Casals: Philips Legacy (Eloquence)
Late Casals in imperfect recordings, attractively remastered and presented [JW]
Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito (Alpha)
A very good new Tito which marks a new chapter in the development of Nicky Spence as the title character [ST]
Akito Tani (piano): In Concert (Exton)
An exciting new talent, and a generous and rewarding disc [SG]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartets (Marco Polo)
Performed with an obvious reverence and love [SA]
Virtuoso Music of the 16th & 17th Century for Cornetto (Arta)
Perfect demonstration of the excitement that the cornett can arouse [JV]
Gregson: Music Vol. 7 (Doyen)
Another volume of Edward Gregson’s brass band music, rewarding and engaging [JF]
Leoncavallo: Piano Works (Da Vinci Classics)
Melodious salon pieces with some attractive and impish surprises [RCh]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve (Naxos)
A superlative cast in a crisply modern, but relatively faithful production of a rarely performed opera [MP]
Renée Fleming (soprano) Greatest Moments at the Met (Decca)
These live recordings form a tribute to one of the great voices of the past quarter-century [RMo]
Lourié: Chamber and Instrumental Music Vol. 1 (Toccata)
A transplanted Russian composer who valued intimate conjunctions and statuesque ritual [JW]
Dvořák: Poetic Tone Pictures (Sony)
A generous-minded performance somewhat let down by idiosyncratic recording quality [JW]
Vivaldi: Violin Sonatas (Forgotten Records)
Playing of elegance and refinement [SG]
Abel: Cello Concertos (Hänssler Classic)
Four graceful concertante works of the mid to late 18th century, which may not excite but do entertain [DJB]
Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore (Dynamic)
Another impressive release by the Donizetti Opera festival, uncut and on original instruments [RWe]
Song of Beasts (Ramée)
Impressive performances of fascinating medieval music about real and mythological creatures [JV]
Toscha Seidel (violin): Rare and Newly Re-mastered! (Parnassus)
The molten tonalist Toscha Seidel triumphs in a selection of his 78s [JW]
Sir Adrian Boult: The Decca Legacy Vol. 2 (Eloquence)
Boult’s Deccas handsomely boxed; two Messiahs, Acis and miscellaneous recitals [JW]
Schubert: Schwanengesang (Pentatone)
The final instalment of Bostridge’s Schubert trilogy is a partnership of equals, voice and piano coming together to create something very special [ST]