fantastissimus navis classics

Fantastissimus (Navis Classics)

Rich, strange and vibrantly colourful [DC]

lekeu franck dupre-austrian gramophone

Lekeu, Franck & Dupré: Violin Sonatas (Austrian Gramophone)

Commendable performances of palpable sincerity [MC]

scarlatti cantatas deutsche harmonia mundi

A Scarlatti: Cantatas (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi)

(Déjà Review) Intense and concentrated scores that will undoubtedly bring much pleasure [MC]

tchaikovsky string quartets elatus

Tchaikovsky: String Quartets (Elatus)

(Déjà Review) Superb performances given by one of the world’s finest string quartets [CF]

Janáček: Káťa Kabanová (Unitel Edition)

Powerful performances, but spare and drab staging [LW]

Bach family: Family Affairs [motets] (cpo)

An impressive survey of the art of the Bach family [JV]

Villa-Lobos: Cello Concerti, Fantasia for Cello and Orchestra (Naxos)

A very fine opportunity to hear Villa-Lobos’s complete output for cello and orchestra [HC]

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Hindemith: Cardillac (BR Klassik)

This concert performance of Cardillac makes a strong case for the opera [MC]

Tormis: Reminiscentiae (ECM)

A must for Tormis admirers; give him a try if you have not yet come under his spell [GF]

Mozart: Haffner Symphony, Paris Symphony, Oboe Concerto (Pentatone)

An auspicious start to a period-instrument series of Mozart symphonies [DF]

Dvořák: Complete solo piano music (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Fine performances of seldom heard repertoire [JW]

Goossens: Chamber music for flute (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) A consummately successful collection [RB]

Shostakovich: Symphonies 5 & 9 (Naxos)

A first-rate pairing of two of Shostakovich’s more approachable symphonies in excellent sound [RMo]

Schein: Israels Brünnlein (cpo)

If you look for a recording of this collection, this production is a serious option to be considered [JV]

The-Monarchs Music Collis Smith CRD 3545 barnardbarnard

The Monarch’s Music (CRD)

Admirers of music for Military Band and its performing traditions will enjoy this diverse programme [NB]

Cooke: Complete String Quartets Vol. 1 (Toccata Classics)

Committed and enthusiastic performances [JF]

Charpentier: David & Jonathas (Château de Versailles)

A staging of French baroque opera at its finest [MP]

Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) (ICA Classics)

A previously unissued live Sinfonia antartica heads this 40th anniversary Boult release [JW]

Bartók: Piano Works (Oehms Classics)

(Déjà Review) Bach is a most musical pianist whose understanding of the Bartókian idiom should be sampled [CC]

Adams: Shaker Loops (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) An ideal very inexpensive introduction to one of the most stimulating composers currently before the public [JQ]

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Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin (Harmonia Mundi)

A marvellous reading of Die schöne Müllerin that should please every lover of this indestructible masterwork [GF]

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Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Opus Arte)

The singing doesn’t quite match the wonderful staging [DJB]

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Parry: Piano Music Vol. 1 (Da Vinci Classics)

A splendid start to a Parry pianistic odyssey [JW]

Mendelssohn ormandy SB2K63251

Mendelssohn: Orchestral Works (Sony Classical)

A pleasant compilation but better recordings of almost every work here may be found elsewhere [RMo]