Brahms: Violin Concerto; Nielsen: Symphony No.5 (C Major)

Blomstedt leads a distinguished Nielsen Fifth; the Brahms is less memorable [JQ]

Kreisler: String Quartet; Korngold: String Quartet No.3 (Alto)

Admirable reissues still hold their own [JW]

Silenced – Unsung Voices of the 20th Century (Cedille)

A splendid selection of songs by composers cut short before their time [JW]

Vaughan Williams: Royal Throne of Kings (Albion Records)

An essential investment for all RVW enthusiasts [JF]

Ernst Wilhelm Wolf: Four Symphonies (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Wolf can attain depths of expression that seem to post-date his period [CC]

block chamber chandos

Block: Chamber Works (Chandos)

Another laudable composer emerges in the ‘Music in Exile’ series [JW]

Bruckner: From the Archives Vol 4 (SOMM Ariadne)

A very welcome further installment in this significant historical Bruckner series [JQ]

Iverson: Playfair Sonatas (Urlicht AudioVisual)

Iverson achieves his aim of creating new and exciting, innovative music at the boundaries between classical and jazz styles [KT]

Krenek, Gál & Penderecki: Serenade For Clarinet & Strings (CAvi-Music)

Convincing exploration of three rare, rewarding works [JF]

Mahler: Symphony No 7 (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)

Acclaim for Mahler in Hamburg [PH]

Reinecke: Symphony No 2 (cpo)

Well-played, attractive but ultimately anonymous music [NB]

Huw Montague Rendall (baritone): Contemplation (Erato)

Superb, sensuous, subtle singing from a highly gifted British lyric baritone [RMo]

Telemann: Six Concertos for Two Flutes (MSR Classics)

(Déjà Review) Lovers of the baroque flute and “Telemaniacs” will wish to investigate these well-played world premières [PCW]

Arrau livev2 DHR82356

Claudio Arrau (piano) Live Vol 2 (Doremi)

Arrau in blistering form in this romantic repertoire [RCh]

Palacio songbook GCD923540

The Palacio Songbook – Music for three voices & lute (Glossa)

Wonderful repertoire, and the performances could not be any better [JV]

Christmas bevan SIGCD909

Christmas with The Bevan Family Consort (Signum Classics)

A thoroughly enjoyable seasonal collection [WH]

VW Christmas ALBCD050

Vaughan Williams: An Oxford Christmas (Albion Records)

Favourite carols in new guises and hidden gems, in an enjoyable account [JF]

evening songs PTC5187219

Evening Songs (Pentatone)

Varied and contrasting Czech song cycles that resist the lure of the crepuscular [JW]

Dorati Seiber HC24035

Doráti & Seiber: Orchestral works (Hänssler Classic)

Rarely heard and recorded works, played with commitment and empathy [HC]

Awake avi 4866025

Awakenings (CAvi-Music)

The most exciting vocal recital disc I’ve heard in a long while [JQ]

Schubert mullerin ACD22315

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin (Atma Classique)

One of the freshest and most uplifting interpretations I have come across for a very long time [GF]

Pergament Vol 1 Toccata TOCC0728

Pergament: Vol. 1 – A Musical Miscellany (Toccata Classics)

Authoritative premiere recordings of a semi-forgotten Jewish-Lithuanian-Swedish composer [JW]

Puccini Turandot Bjorling Nilsson Pristine PACO218

Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)

Yet another classic opera recording given new lustre by Pristine’s remastering [RMo]

Brendel Busoni Liszt SPA APR5655

Alfred Brendel (piano): The 1950s SPA Recordings (APR)

These pioneering and wonderfully executed performances are a valuable addition to Brendel’s discography (RCh)