MusicWeb International

Simpson: Chamber Music Vol. 1 (Toccata Classics)

Fascinating products of Simpson’s apprenticeship, and first recordings of two major chamber works [RHa]

Graupner: Partitas for Harpsichord Vol. 5 (Analekta)

(Déjà Review) Gorgeous music, excellently played and recorded, which will surely give great pleasure to all who love the harpsichord music of this era [GPu]

Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks Suites (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) A winner from start to finish – Handel’s music is given a splendid rendition

Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)

By general consensus, the essential Norma recording, now in a superior transfer [RWe]

Korngold: Symphony in F sharp (Supertrain Records)

Korngold plays his Symphony in a previously unreleased piano version [JW]

Rachmaninov: Orchestral works (High Definition Tape Transfers)

Vital, energised performances of two great pianistic and choral showpieces in spectacular surround sound [RMo]

Bach: Chamber music for oboe (Accent)

A delight from start to finish [JV]

Shostakovich: Complete symphonies (Capriccio)

One of the leading cycles, in a fine-sounding stereo incarnation [RWe]

Martin Cousin (piano): Fantasies (Convivium Records)

A fascinating recital exploring the scope of the fantasia genre [DHa]

Cavalli Statira (Opus 111)

(Déjà Review) A dramatically vivid performance of the Neapolitan version of Cavalli’s opera [RH]

Chopin: Piano works (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) These performances are among the best on the market [PG]

Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)

Five stars for Pristine’s sound rejuvenation but apart from Callas, the performance doesn’t live up to the quality of the transfer [MP]

Quartets Through a Time of Change (First Hand Records)

An imaginative selection of French string quartets [JW]

Schubert: Symphonies 2 & 6 (Forgotten Records)

Sprightly Schubert from Bamberg in fresh transfers which breathe new life into old grooves [PH]

Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Opus Arte)

This complements but does not replace Opus Arte’s 2018 filmed performance [RWe]

Górecki: Complete Works for String Quartet (Chandos)

Górecki’s impressive quartets are well worth hearing [SB]

Ricardo Gallén (guitar): Habaneras & Tangos (MarchVivo)

An enjoyable recording, but not Gallén best on offer [ZT]

Couperin: Sonates, Pieces de viole (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi)

(Déjà Review) An outstanding recording of some of Couperin’s finest compositions [JV]

Dvořák: Rusalka (Arthaus Musik)

(Déjà Review) A very welcome DVD release of one of English National Opera’s finer achievements [JL]

Elgar: Boult’s Elgar – The forgotten recordings (SOMM Ariadne)

A Boult miscellany spearheaded by the first CD appearance of the Second Symphony with the Scottish National Orchestra [JW]

Machaut: A Lover’s Death (Hyperion)

The Orlando consort end their exploration of Machaut’s complete works in purely vocal renditions [GH]

Herbert von Karajan: Live in Berlin (Berliner Philharmoniker)

Karajan live at the Philharmonie in a set to challenge preconceptions and offer re-appraisal of a legendary combination of orchestra and conductor [PH]