Lofstrom: Myths and Accidents (Diversions)
Songs of real originality from Doug Lofstrom [DHa]
Rutter: A Clare College Celebration (Harmonia Mundi)
A fitting 80th birthday tribute to John Rutter [JQ]
Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals & Metamorphic Variations (Chandos)
Mid and late period Bliss contrasts an underappreciated ballet with a curious orchestral work [JW]
Sparks from Ashes – Czech Song Cycles (Chandos)
A satisfying collection of songs from Czech and Slovak lands from a tenor in fine fettle [PH]
Sir Adrian Boult: The Warner Classics Edition (Warner Classics)
A 36-CD remastered box that restores (almost) all Boult’s mono legacy for the Warner umbrella of labels [JW]
Firsova and Smirnov: Love and Loss (OUR Recordings)
Moving works from this husband and wife team [SB]
Valls: Mapa Armónico Práctico 1742 (MDG)
Impressive display of Valls’ daring use of harmony [JV]
Bériot: Violin Concertos 2, 3 & 5 (Naxos)
Fireworks and songful concertos [JW]
Schumann & Brahms: Piano Quintets (Virgin Classics)
I was entranced, enraptured and enthralled – you have to have this one [DJB]
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Alba)
(Déjà Review) State of the art Goldbergs [DC]
Bax & Ireland: Works for Piano & Orchestra (Somm)
(Déjà Review) The Bax premiere is a revelation [RB]
Tippett, Britten & Walton: Works for Piano & Orchestra (BIS)
An intelligent, generous and well-played survey of three fine British keyboard concertante works [NB]
Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Naxos)
A typically thought-provoking Calixto Bieito production of Handel’s masterpiece, well sung and played [DHa]
Vaughan Williams: Mantegna – Hymnody and Beyond (Albion Records)
Hymns reimagined, Vaughan Williams gloriously illuminated [JF]
Nowel: Advent and Beyond (Delphian)
An exceptional disc in every way [JQ]
Clarke: Music for violin, viola and piano (Brilliant Classics)
Compact, youthful interpretations of Rebecca Clarke’s works for strings with piano [JW]
Gouvy: Chamber Music (Farao Classics)
An album of valuable Théodore Gouvy wind chamber works [MC]
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Pristine Audio)
Once again, Pristine breathes new life into an imperishable classic of the gramophone [RMo]
Choir of St John’s Cambridge: O Holy Night (Signum)
A most enjoyable Christmas programme, superbly performed [JQ]
Prokofiev: The Gambler (Unitel Edition)
Prokofiev’s masterly opera about greed and desperation is presented in brilliant performances and a fine if somewhat controversial production [RC]
Coleridge-Taylor: Orchestral Music (Somm)
A potpourri of largely unrecorded Coleridge-Taylor [JW]
The Jazz Album (Classics for Pleasure)
(Déjà Review) An enjoyable album of jazz-influenced music, London Sinfonietta on good form [GPu]
Rosa Ponselle: Songs and Arias (Naxos Great Singers)
(Déjà Review) We must be grateful for the opportunity to hear this great soprano [ABo]
19th Century French Music for Winds (MSR Classics)
(Déjà Review) Character, energy and great ensemble playing [SP]
