Nielsen: Orchestral Music (Chandos)
Well programmed, superbly played, a treat for Nielsen lovers [WH]
Lerner & Loewe: My fair lady (Chandos)
A quality production which is warmly welcomed [SB]
Saint-Saëns: L’Ancêtre (Bru Zane)
A fine, dramatic late opera by Saint-Saëns, melodically elusive but highly atmospheric and beautifully performed [RMo]
Adam, Hahn & Offenbach: Operas (Naxos)
A collection of Parisian delicacies served in fine style [MP]
Handel: Concerti Grossi Op.6 (BIS)
(Déjà Review) As they say in the trade: ‘a winner!’ [DC]
Lully: Psyché (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Splendid and approachable … interesting and unusual [MS]
Casella: Sinfonia per orchestra, Italia (cpo)
(Déjà Review) A stirring epic symphony and the dazzle of a latter-day Capriccio Italien [RB]
Chopin: Études (Avie)
(Déjà Review) Superb Chopin which serves to underline Borac’s excellence [CC]
Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ (Brilliant Classics)
Interpretatively cohesive and consistent but rather driven and unvaried [RMo]
Mozart: Idomeneo (BR Klassik)
This new Idomeneo is almost the one we have all been waiting for [MP]
Chromatic Renaissance (Winter & Winter)
Be prepared to have your comfortably diatonic rug pulled from beneath your feet [DC]
The Lily of Killarney (MPR)
Operatic fantasias and a mixed salad of other British works in fine performances [JW]
Puzzi: Messa a quattro voci (Ramée)
Puzzi’s mass is one of the discoveries of this year [JV]
Aloiz & Winkler: The Brahms Trio (Naxos)
A fine pair of unknown romantic piano trios [RCh]
Pitfield: Orchestral Music (Toccata Classics)
More evidence of the continuing rehabilitation of this ‘Modest Man of Music’, an imaginative and skilful composer [GH]
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (Signum Classics)
A grand, more leisurely and reflective Ein Heldenleben which is wholly successful on its own terms [RMo]
Medtner (piano): Complete Solo Piano Recordings (APR)
APR’s single discs of Medtner from 1930-47 sessions return now packaged in an indispensable box [JW]
Veracini: Sonate Accademiche – An Anthology (Challenge Classics)
A perfect introduction to the music of Veracini [JV]
Bernstein: Mass (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Do not hesitate [ST]
Donizetti: L’Elisir d’amore (VAI)
(Déjà Review) Strictly for opera addicts interested in how it used to be done [RJF]
Claudio Arrau (piano) The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals (First Hand Records)
A finely produced and consistently enlightening set [JW]
The best of Martin Jones: Discover Erich Korngold (Nimbus)
A useful selection of Korngold’s piano music [SB]
Shostakovich: Symphony 11 (LSO Live)
A very successful account of the Eleventh Symphony, superbly played [JQ]
Handel: Chandos Anthems, Vol 2 (Chandos)
A reminder that there is more than one way to do “authentic” performance [ST]
