Mozart: L’Aurore (Alpha Classics)
A marvellous release, particular for a best-of-both-worlds Sinfonia Concertante [ST]
Schumann: Symphonies 3 & 4 & Overtures (BIS)
(Déjà Review) An attractive prospect [DC]
Pergolesi & A Scarlatti: Masses (Naïve)
(Déjà Review) Charming and inventive, vibrant and involving [RH]
JS Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier Book II (Pentatone)
Somewhat idiosyncratic, and not a recording that filled me with joy [DC]
Brahms: A German Requiem (Antal Doráti Society)
A dull, turgid account of Brahms’ Requiem which fails to engage the listener’s interest [RMo]
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 2, 5, 7 & 8 (Pristine Audio)
Hallé, Barbirolli and HMV all in one place [RB]
Smyth: Der Wald (cpo)
A really successful recording which can’t get the better of this somewhat thorny opera [MP]
P Glass: Violin Concerto 1 (Platoon)
A fine performance of the concerto but the other works do not impress [DJB]
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Souvenir d’un lieu cher (Decca)
A breath of fresh air [DC]
Debussy: Piano Music Vol. 4 (BIS)
Don’t expect to hear these Etudes played more beautifully [CH]
van Gilse: Sulamith & Der Kreis des Lebens (cpo)
Succulent and approachable early 20th century romantic rarities [DC]
Nenov: Piano Works (CRD Records)
Diminutive scores yet grand in expressive compass – deeply serious, folksy, sumptuously expressive [RB]
Theodorakis: Orchestral Works (Genuin)
A rare chance to become acquainted with one of the most fascinating, if controversial, of Greek composers [GH]
Karol Mossakowski: The Organ of Saint-Sulpice (Aeolus)
Mossakowski traces a century of French organ mastery [JF]
Vittorio Forte (piano) Volver (Mirare)
A vibrant and vivid exploration of Latin American piano [RCh]
Saint-Saëns: Complete Works for Cello and Orchestra (Hänssler Classic)
(Déjà Review) A fruitful emotional encounter with Saint-Saëns [MC]
Pierre-Laurent Aimard – Homage a Messiaen (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) A very special disc indeed [CC]
Elgar: The Crown of India (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) At last a version of this legendary work for pleasure, analysis and study [JF]
Dean: Orchestral works (BIS)
(Déjà Review) Excellent performances and superb recording of some of Dean’s most endearing works [HC]
Shor: Cello Concerto and other works (Naxos)
You would be hard-pressed to identify this as contemporary; it is kind to the ear [RB]
Franck & Widor: Works for organ and orchestra (CPO)
An excellent new version of Franck’s Op. 17 [DC]
Bass Clarinet Concertos of the 21st century (Toccata)
The bass clarinet turns out to be a very viable concerto soloist [SB]
Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie (Ondine)
Good but hardly essential accounts of music for which we already have so many great recordings [RMo]
Puccini: Messa di Gloria (Naxos)
An attractive collection of Puccini’s non-operatic juvenilia, performed in spirited fashion [RMo]
