Marx: Natur-Trilogie (ASV)
An impressionistic voice soaked in the quintessence of lyrical expression [RB]
Bach: (RE)inventio (Divine Art)
An interesting exercise, with mostly winning results [DJB]
Liszt: A Faust Symphony, Les Préludes (St Laurent Studio)
Uncontrived, yet revelatory, interpretations from a neglected podium auteur [NC]
Ponchielli: La Gioconda (Pristine Audio)
A good but not quite superlative recording in enhanced sound [MBu]
Vecchi: Six-Voice Motets (Dynamic)
Complete motets by a prolific but overlooked Italian renaissance master [GH]
Bruckner: Symphony No 9 (Myrios Classics)
A swift, coherent, absorbing onslaught upon Bruckner’s Ninth which carries its own conviction [RMo]
Russian Variations (Hyperion)
Well planned and brilliantly executed recital culminates in a superb set of Rachmaninov variations [NB]
Yoshimatsu: Symphony No 4, Trombone Concerto (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Much of this music is delightful, particularly the symphony, where Yoshimatsu wears his heart unselfconsciously on his sleeve. The BBC Philharmonic plays beautifully with Ian Bousfield a fine soloist in the concerto [CT]
Wallen: The Girl in My Alphabet (Avie)
(Déjà Review) Wallen is a brashly creative, open-minded composer striding with confident abandon from jazz, to Tippett, to spirituals, to Schoenberg, to Mediterranean mystery [RB]
Toscanini: The 1939 Beethoven Cycle (Pristine Audio)
One of the finest Beethoven Symphony cycles in the best remasterings [DF]
Mozart: Così fan tutte (Deutsche Grammophon)
Despite cuts and a less than perfect ensemble, the sense of being a part of an exciting occasion is boldly realized here [MP]
Sibelius: Symphonies (Brilliant Classics)
A fine set but compromised by comparatively lacklustre Second and Seventh Symphonies [RMo]
Yixiang Hou (piano) Carnival (KNS Classical)
Worthy performances in an unusual and intriguing programme [RCh]
D Johnson: Preludes & Fugues (Divine Art)
Another major contribution to Scottish classical music [JF]
Wilhelm Kempff (piano) Live Concert Edition (Meloclassic)
Indispensable for Kempff fans [SG]
Dvořák & Brahms: Concertos (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Packed with drama and tunefulness and with virtuosity to burn [KS]
Bruckner: Symphony No 4 (Onyx)
Hindoyan does absolutely everything right in a beautifully played account [RMo]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Naxos)
A Wagner production from hell to be avoided at all possible costs [PCG]
Le Berger Innocent – recital (Ricercar)
This fills a gap in the musical repertoire of the French Rococo [MP]
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, Symphony No. 40; Schumann: Piano Concerto (C Major)
A beautifully filmed concert with a surprising programme [WH]
Secrets of Armenia – recital (Grand Piano)
First recordings of music by little-known composers, in convincing performances [GH]
New Music for E♭ Tenor Horn and String Orchestra (Phoenix USA)
A treasure trove of delights [PRJ]
Bainton & Clifford: Orchestral Music Vol. 2 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Committed readings of unjustly neglected works from the forgotten byways of the British Musical Renaissance [HC]