Shostakovich: Symphony No 11 (LSO Live)
A very fine performance which yields to its rivals – to one in particular [WH]
Mozart: Arie e Duetti (CBC)
(Déjà Review) An opportunity to hear a sensational new soprano and two very good male colleagues [GF]
Respighi: Violin Sonatas (Claves)
First recordings of two violin works by Respighi coupled with the great sonata all exquisitely played [PSh]
Hommages: Works for strings (BIS)
A varied selection that repays repeated hearing; the arrangement of Apollon musagète is a real ear-opener [HC]
Transatlantic. Works for brass (Chandos)
A superbly curated disc which rewards unhurried listening and repeated return [JF]
Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor) Complete Stereo Recordings on Warner Classics
Beecham’s stereo discography in a sturdy box albeit largely in pre-existing remasterings [JW]
Clérambault: Te Deum, La femme adultère (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
An impressive testimony of Clérambault’s qualities in the field of sacred music [JV]
Rameau: A Basket of Wild Strawberries (Ondine)
Early music buffs will probably run miles to avoid such a disc, but they will be missing a treat [DC]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Overtures & Suites (BIS)
An appealing and highly recommendable issue [TB]
Bax: Spring Fire – Complete Music for Cello and Piano (SOMM Recordings)
Passionate music performed with great skill and wisdom [NB]
Haydn: Symphonies & Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics)
Another volume to cherish from Alpha & Antononi [PH]
Sacred concerti of the 17th century (Passacaille)
A exciting disc with first recordings of German 17th century sacred music [JV]
Kennedy-Fraser/Bantock: The Seal Woman (Retrospect Opera)
Neglected Hebridean songs fused into a folk opera [EJW]
Mozart: Concertos for 1, 2 and 3 Pianos (CBC)
(Déjà Review) The Mozart Anniversary year will bring many reissues and new releases but this will surely be regarded as a highlight [DRD]
Persichetti: Music for Wind Band (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A fine all-round anthology of Persichetti band works [WK]
Benjamin Appl (baritone) Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Alpha Classics)
A cornucopia of wonderful songs, superbly sung, for every lover of art songs to delve into [GF]
Bach: Organ Favourites on the Mighty Willis Organ (Alto)
Cathedral power meets Baroque brilliance: Bach unleashed on Liverpool’s Titan [JF]
Bartók: Complete String Quartets (Forgotten Records)
Outgunned by the competition, but still worth a listen [PH]
McCormack: mine but for its sublimation (Another Timbre)
The first recording of a spellbinding composition for piano [DHa]
Grieg: Music for String Orchestra (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A veritable smorgasbord of simply scrumptious music! [GPJ]
20th Century British Masters Vol 2 (Avie)
(Déjà Review) One of the finest choral discs to have come my way for some time [JQ]
Pitfield: Orchestral Music (Toccata Classics)
A magnificent new release of unjustly neglected British music [DJ]
Bach: King of Kings (Chandos)
A celebration of the unassuming genius of Sir Andrew Davis [NB]
Wagner: Tannhäuser (Warner Classics)
A swings-and-roundabouts recording of the Dresden version of Tannhäuser – stick with Konwitschny and Solti [RMo]
