Telemann: Suites (Dux)
Stylish and refined recordings of Telemann orchestral works in French and Polish character [CRo]
Rauchenecker: Symphony No 1 (CPO)
Forgotten works by a forgotten composer may not be masterpieces but certainly worth a listen [NB]
Verdi: French Rarities (Dynamic)
One new Verdi discovery combined with some previously released material, all neatly performed [MP]
Werner: Salve Reginas, Pastorellas (Audite)
An impressive testimony to Werner’s skills in composition [JV]
The Psalms (Signum Classics)
A fine addition to the discography of Andrew Nethsingha and the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge [JQ]
Bruckner: Symphony No 4 (Capriccio)
Bruckner’s ‘Romantic’ Symphony in its original version from Poschner is solely for Brucknerian aficionados [GT]
Mayer: Symphonies Nos 3 and 7 (CPO)
Two little-known symphonies prove to be interesting but not essential listening [NB]
Still: Summerland (Naxos)
Idiomatic performances from a mother and daughter combination [WK]
Illustrazioni (Stradivarius)
A fine recording explores the renewal and variety of Italian twentieth-century piano repertoire [JW]
Pfitzner: Das Christ-Elflein (Orfeo)
Probably the most recommendable of the three recordings of Pfitzner’s Christmas tear-jerker despite its drawbacks [PCG]
Saint-Saëns: Piano Works and Transcriptions (Piano 21)
Saint-Saëns heard in a new way in a vivid and creative programme [RCh]
Foerster: Symphony 1 (Naxos)
Three enjoyable works from the less-angst ridden end of the Romantic spectrum, in fine performances [DJB]
Pianos & Orchestra (Naxos)
A unique programme very well played and recorded but of variable musical value [NB]
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies (Alto)
A fine pairing from two English conductors and orchestras, immersed in the idiom but in their very different ways [RMo]
Jascha Heifetz (violin) New York Concerts (Rhine Classics)
Heifetz fans, of which I’m one, shouldn’t hesitate [SG]
Gershwin: Fascinating Rhythm (RCA)
A welcome back to this astutely selected slice of Gershwin on Broadway [JW]
Handel: Acis and Galatea (Decca)
A thoroughly welcome reissue that enshrines many of the virtues Handelian performance in the ‘pre-authentic’ era [PCG]
Mayr: Sacri Concentus (Challenge)
The performers are pretty much ideal advocates of Mayr’s oeuvre [JV]
Schubert: Symphony Nos 5 & 6 (Challenge)
Well-crafted accounts which would sometimes benefit from a lighter touch [MG]