Mozart: Orchestral Works (Dynamic)
A wonderfully played and very varied Mozart programme in extraordinarily vivid sound [RMo]
Stanford: Cushendall, Irish Song Cycles (SOMM)
Containing a number of recorded premieres, this is an attractive selection of some of Stanford’s many Irish songs [JQ]
Berkeley: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) Great to have this landmark recording issued on CD [JF]
Wagner: Parsifal (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) If you come to terms with some controversial aspects, you could be watching one of the finest all-round operatic performances you will ever see [JL]
Stanford: Orchestral Songs (Resonus)
Admirers of Stanford’s music will welcome this very enjoyable disc [JQ]
Schubert: String Quartets (Hyperion)
Vehement, concentrated playing of the highest quality in an attractive pairing [RMo]
Cantabile: Anthems for Viola (Delphian)
Two fine artists in a fascinating and wide-ranging programme [WH]
Debussy: Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien (SWR Classic)
A problematic version of a problematic work, but Debussyians should investigate [SB]
Prokofiev & Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos (Mercury)
A wonderful, spellbinding disc; legendary recordings of legendary performances of the two concertos [PSe]
Mozart: Violin Sonatas (Philips)
(Déjà Review) One of the most rewarding and enjoyable Mozart discs in recent years [DS]
Mills: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (ABC Classics)
(Déjà Review) A lovely ballet score that should appeal to anyone responding to Prokofiev’s ballet scores [HC]
Haydn: Symphonies Nos 50, 62 & 85 “La Reine” (Alpha Classics)
Performances brimming over with vibrancy [SG]
Bruckner: From the Archives, Volume 2 (Somm Recordings)
This second instalment confirms this will be a series well worth following as the Bruckner bicentenary year progresses [JQ]
Bach: Concertos for Oboe and Oboe d’amore (Naxos)
Reconstructed concertos for oboe and oboe d’amore constitute a musical treat for lovers of Bach’s music [ZT]
Enescu, Ysaÿe and Bacewicz: Music for Strings (Chandos)
John Wilson’s latest recording of string music is a winner [SB]
Lloyd: Requiem and Psalm 130 (Lyrita)
Highly attractive choral music in a conservative idiom, splendidly performed and recorded [WH]
Rihm: Jagden und Formen (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) An explosively dramatic and expressive piece given an exemplary performance – very highly recommended [AT]
Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne (Vanguard Classics)
(Déjà Review) These two Davrath discs remain the reference against which all other recordings are measured [RB]
Aldrovandini: Trio Sonatas (Da Vinci Classics)
This disc is the perfect way to get to know Aldrovandini [JV]
Furtwängler conducts R Strauss (Pristine Audio)
Pristine opens up a new depth of sound for these wartime classics [RMo]
Parry: Prometheus Unbound (Chandos)
A splendid debut commercial recording of a work that deserves to be better known than as just a historical curiosity [NC]
Kessler: Piano Works (Acte Préalable)
Modest piano pieces by a neglected but once influential musician [RCh]