Verdi: La forza del destino (Naxos)
A great Callas performance in a wonderful Verdi opera [PBW]
Wagenseil: Symphonies Vol 2 (cpo)
Sprightly and well thought out music played with some brilliance [BBr]
Szymanowski: The Complete Music for Violin and Piano (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) A natural and inspired choice for this repertoire [RB]
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 1 & 6 (LPO)
(Déjà Review) A revelatory First, and a fine Sixth too [BR]
Coleridge-Taylor: Orchestral Works (SOMM Recordings)
A worthy 150th anniversary tribute to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor [JQ]
Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas (Et’cetera)
An excellent new version of Prokofiev’s much-recorded sonatas [SB]
Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Doppelgänger (Sony)
A peculiar but wonderful release that showcases Kaufmann’s developing and deepening insights into the art of Lieder [ST]
Purcell: Hail! Bright Cecilia (Château de Versailles)
A misconceived performance of a great Purcell ode [JW]
Christmas in Monteverdi’s Venice (Arcana)
Christmas polyphony in Monteverdi’s Venice [JF]
Gregson: Concertos (Chandos)
A welcome 80th birthday tribute to one of Britain’s finest composers [PRJ]
Matthews: Orchestral Works (SOMM Recordings)
A distinguished and important addition to the discography of David Matthews [JQ]
16th century music for convents (Lucky Music)
Eavesdrop into an unfamiliar corner of religious music making during the Renaissance [DC]
Bowen: Music for organ, viola, violin and harp (Dutton)
Four musicians explore York Bowen’s more recherché compositions in some style [JW]
Mozart: Piano Concertos 21 and 22 (EMI Classics)
(Déjà Review) Thoughtful and transcendent playing. A winner on all counts [KS]
Muffat: Concertos (Channel Classics)
(Déjà Review) An eloquent and passionate plea for Muffat’s splendid music [JV]
Nielsen: Symphonies 4 & 5 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Makes me impatient to hear Schønwandt’s readings of Nielsen’s 2 & 3 [DM]
Schubert: Winterreise (Harmonia Mundi)
(Déjà Review) This deserves to be ranked alongside the very best [JQ]
Babadjanian: Complete Works for Piano (Claves)
Deserves a place in any good 20th century piano collection [DC]
Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor): The Complete Warner Classics Edition (Warner Classics)
A solid chunk of Mackerras, spanning half a century of recordings for the Warner group [JW]
Mahler: Symphony No.1 (Pristine Audio)
Considerably better than Walter’s stereo remake, but it’s for specialists only [SV]
Vaughan Williams: Mantegna – Hymnody and Beyond (Albion Records)
This enterprising, scholarly release of Vaughan Williams’s Hymn Tunes and their arrangements should reveal new byways into his œuvre [EJW]
Ibéria: Chabrier, Debussy & Ravel (Onyx)
The distinct perfumes and colours of Spain, orchestrated in France and brought to life in Liverpool [PH]
Dessy: String Quartets and Quintet (Cypres)
First recordings of some of the unique output by this enigmatic and mysterious composer [GH]
Clarke: Complete Songs (Signum Classics)
The twists and turns of Rebecca Clarke’s songs, presented in full for the first time in stylish, perceptive performances [JW]
