van Gilse: Sulamith & Der Kreis des Lebens (cpo)
A desirable disc of music by an underappreciated Dutch composer [EJW]
Saunders: Orchestral Music (Heritage)
Light‑music flair with symphonic aspirations [JF]
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (ESO Records)
Sheds a different light on Mahler’s masterpiece [JQ]
Aplvor, Swain and Finzi: Clarinet Concertos (SOMM Recordings)
Beguiling clarinet playing showcases two fine works and one masterpiece [NB]
Golijov / Clyne: Perfectly Free (Challenge Classics)
Impressive and attractive recent cello concertos, superbly realised [SB]
Schubert & Brahms: Symphonies (Profil)
(Déjà Review) An exceptionally satisfying disc [JQ]
Sarasate: Music for Violin and Orchestra (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Tianwa Yang’s best Sarasate yet, which is really saying something [BR]
Barbella: Sei trii per due violini e violoncello (Tactus)
(Déjà Review) These sonatas make pleasant listening – the performers realise often truly swinging performances [JV]
Early One Morning: Finnish Orchestral Favourites (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) I loved this two-disc sampler of lesser-known Finnish composers [BR]
Toscha Seidel (violin): American Columbia Recordings (Biddulph)
A disc that straddles the acoustic/electric divide and showcases the glorious art of violinist Toscha Seidel [JW]
Vivaldi: Violin Concertos (Arcana)
A collection of highlights from start to finish [DC]
Flem: Piano Concerto & Cello Concerto (Capriccio)
Accessible, sharply chiselled, engaging at emotional and intellectual levels [RB]
From Venice to Buenos Aires (Pentatone)
A very diverse program which simply doesn’t hang together [DJB]
Ann Schein (piano): Chopin and other recordings (APR)
Superb transfers of obscure KAPP LPs reveal the lyricism and musical maturity of a remarkable American teenager [JW]
Telemann: Sieg der Schönheit (cpo)
Superbly produced and significant period opera with much to commend it [DC]
Tchaikovsky, Smetana: Piano Trios (Biddulph)
The immediate post-war Vox chamber music catalogue gives up its secrets in fine restorations [JW]
Reicha: The Complete Piano Trios (Supraphon)
Pleasant, rather busy music, closer to Mozart than Beethoven, not especially memorable except for Trio No.4 [DJB]
Continental Britons. The Émigré Composers (Nimbus Records)
(Déjà Review) No one with the slightest interest in these composers can fail to be stirred by this release [JW]
Duruflé, Howells: Requiems (Regis)
(Déjà Review) Beautifully crafted, inspired music in immaculate performances [JQ]
Defending the Music (Oxford University Press)
An absorbing book which will entertain and enlighten you on page after page [JQ]
Lise Davidsen (soprano): Live at the Met (Decca)
The soloist shines in this live recital; the technical side of things is disappointing [MP]
Isabelle O’Connell (piano): Cocteau (Divine Art Records)
A cleverly designed concept album featuring Les Six and friends [SB]
Schaffrath: XII Soli per il cembalo (Brilliant Classics)
These imaginative performances make an eloquent case for Schaffrath’s keyboard music [JV]
Berlioz & Wagner: Orchestral Excerpts (SOMM Recordings)
Beecham live at the Royal Festival Hall, galvanizing in Berlioz and Wagner [JW]
