Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A dramatic and engaging performance [DBe]
If Music: Jakub Józef Orliński (Erato)
A recital that sets up tensions, fruitful and otherwise, between voice and piano [JW]
d’Indy: Orchestral Works Volume 4 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Sheer, unadulterated pleasure [DM]
Spohr: Violin Concertante 1 & 2 (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A fine and satisfying recording of music which, if hardly outstanding, has strong merits [JPJ]
Sainsbury & Wood: Violin Concertos (Dutton Epoch)
(Déjà Review) Two strong works written in captivating romantic idioms that while not identical have more in common than you might expect [RB]
Kahn and Others: Songs (Delphian)
The songs of Robert Kahn represent a major discovery [JQ]
Bruckner: Symphony No 7 (Pristine Audio)
Despite its improved sound, except as a historic document this remains superfluous in the light of competitive recordings from Karajan himself [RMo]
Gruber: Orchestral Music (Capriccio)
Definitive performances of works by the Viennese iconoclast [PRJ]
Widor: Piano Music (Danacord)
Beyond the Toccata: Widor’s Piano Secrets [JF]
Brahms: Symphonies 3 & 4 (Pristine Audio)
Across the passage of time these recordings retain their pleasures and satisfactions [RB]
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.2; Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances (naïve)
(Déjà Review) Compelling performances of major works [RC]
Martinů: Le Jour de Bonté (Arco Diva)
(Déjà Review) Charming and interesting, and leaves you hungry for more [ST] One of the highlights and discoveries of the Martinů celebrations [RB]
Vivaldi in Prague (Accent)
An excellent survey of Vivaldi’s contacts and influence in Prague [JV]
Rubbra: Crucifixus pro Nobis (Delphian)
The Rubbra discography advances with very fine performances and three premieres [GH]
David Nadien (violin): Live in Recital (Biddulph)
A live concert from 1972 finds David Nadien and Jaques Abram in excellent form [JW]
A Light Has Dawned (Convivium Records)
This will bring refined delight to everyone keen on excellent choral music both ancient and modern [DC]
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Animal Music)
A combination that seems so unlikely, but it works very well [DJB]
Linarol Consort: Epitaph for a Green Lover (CRD)
A compelling musical survey of the world of Margaret of Austria [JV]
Gruber: Piano Works (Capriccio)
Gruber comes over as a civilised flâneur at large in a so-civilised society [RB]
Telemann: Fantasias 1-12 (Nimbus)
First releases by an admirable, though now forgotten violinist [JW]
The Munich Guitar Society Manuscripts (Naxos)
First recordings of recently discovered, historically interesting music for guitar [ZT]
Weiyin Chen (piano): La Belle Époque (Claves)
An enjoyable mix of favourites with a couple of rarities for good measure [RCh]
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A starry cast, with a classic performance from Gottlob Frick, achieving not quite the sum of its parts [DBe]
MacMillan: Sun-Dogs, Visitatio Sepulchri (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Two highly contrasting choral works by an outstanding contemporary composer in superb performances [JQ]
