Mignone: Concertos and Concertinos (Naxos)

Attractive and interesting works here receive idiomatic and exciting performances [NB]

Johnson: Preludes & Fugues (Divine Art)

Anything but desiccated; technically highly skilled and in places very moving [JPu]

French Opera Overtures (Chandos)

A mixed bag of goodies, distinctive and well worth a listen [RMay]

Mozart: Concertos (Warner Classics)

(Déjà Review) Definitely one to own – it’s not often that “new” Mozart pieces become available [JR]

Madetoja: Intimate Garden (Alba)

(Déjà Review) Played by a fine advocate well attuned to the music and its endearingly soft melancholia [RB]

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Tippett: A Child of Our Time  (Chandos)

A fitting memorial to a magnificent musician [ST]

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Bruckner: Symphony No 9 (Capriccio)

Poschner’s Bruckner cycle concludes with a typically inconsistent admixture of the very fine and the occasionally disappointing [RMo]

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Palestrina: Volume 9 (Coro)

Palestrina can sound a bit academic, but not here [JV]

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Leach: Diary of the Bee – Chamber Works (Divine Art)

Lyrical music largely inspired by the wildlife and countryside of the Scottish Lowlands [EJW]

Rossini: Ermione (Naxos)

A happy release due to Fogliani’s impressive conducting, although there are a few reservations about the singing [MP]

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Donizetti: La Favorite (Apex)

(Déjà Review) A bargain price introduction to an opera that has all the virtues of Donizetti’s melodic invention [RJF]

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Goldmark & Mendelssohn: String Quartets (Hänssler Classic)

(Déjà Review) Wonderfully poised & stylish accounts [CF]

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Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Pristine Audio)

A classic if not definitive recording, in superb sound [MBu]

Vivaldi La Serenissima Signum SIGCD908

Vivaldi: Double Concertos (Signum Classics)

Impressive and irresistible performances of double concertos by Vivaldi [JV]

Dvorak Symphs 7 8 9 Bychkov Pentatone PTC51872162

Dvořák: Symphonies Nos 7-9 & Overtures (Pentatone)

Very well played and recorded but lacking individuality and character [NB]

Paris La Belle Epoque Bridge 9555

Paris, La Belle Époque (Bridge Records)

Playing of the highest quality in an intriguing and very rewarding programme [GPu]

Beethoven PC5 Symphs 7 9 Mengelberg WMS2023-01-02

Willem Mengelberg – Beethoven Recordings 1940-42 (The Willem Mengelberg Society)

Marvellous performances in significantly improved sound [PSt]

Deja Review Mahler Symph 6 Herbig Berlin Classics 0094612BC

Mahler: Symphony No 6 (Berlin Classics)

(Déjà Review) One of the very best recordings of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony available [TD]

Deja Review Norgard Symphony 6 Chandos CHAN 9904

Nørgård: Symphony No 6 and Terrains Vagues (Chandos)

(Déjà Review) Committed and recommendable performances of these far from easy works, with wholehearted support from an orchestra in top form [HC]

Donizetti favorite naxos

Donizetti: La favorite (Naxos)

A complete recording of Donizetti’s La Favorite is let down by some less than beautiful singing [PT]

mahler symphony colorado mahlerfest

Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Colorado MahlerFest)

This Mahler performance is well worth the attention of all devotees; the exciting coupling adds considerable value [JQ]

senofsky american virtuoso rhine classics

Berl Senofsky (violin) American Virtuoso (Rhine Classics)

Although something of a mixed bag, there’s much to please the Senofsky admirer enshrined in these two discs [SG]

meyerbeer prophete lso live

Meyerbeer: Le prophète (LSO Live)

A welcome release that promises much but doesn’t always deliver [MP]

mythos memories da vinci

Mythos and Memories (Da Vinci Classics)

Bold playing and a glorious richness of writing in Mariani’s evocative soundscapes [RCh]