Ponchielli: I Lituani (Accentus Music)
I Lituani may not be on the same level as La Gioconda, but it shows that Ponchielli wasn’t a one-work composer [GF]
Heavenly Light: Eton Choirbook Reconstructions (CRD)
Superbly reconstructed motets brilliantly brought to life [GH]
Różycki: Piano Works Volume 3 (Acte Préalable)
Colourful and richly imaginative piano works in this worthy third volume [RCh]
Messiaen’s Musical Universe (Fugue State Films)
A brilliant, revelatory release which enhances our understanding of Messiaen [DHa]
Strauss: Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben (Gramola)
On the evidence of flabby playing and murky sound, the conductor should stick to Bruckner [RMo]
Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On (Signum Classics)
In times of war and unrest, this album from the masterly King’s Singers gives hope [GF]
Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux (Piano Classics)
A superb new version of Messiaen’s great piano cycle [SB]
Fritz Kreisler (violin): Violin Concertos (Pristine Audio)
The legendary Fritz Kreisler comes up pristinely in new transfers of his concerto recordings [PH]
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Antal Doráti Centenary Society)
A powerful live performance that also has some troubling aspects [WH]
Kaleidoskop Europa: Tänze für Klaviertrio (Gramola)
A delightful anthology of European dances, familiar and forgotten [GPu]
Dufay: Mass for Saint Anthony Abbot; Binchois: Motets (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Often searingly beautiful, often surprisingly inventive, and always brilliantly performed [EML]
Mahler: Symphony No.3 (Farao Classics)
(Déjà Review) Mehta knows how to handle large forces, but is less successful in conveying the music’s symphonic direction and flow [TB]
Virtuoso – Music for Euphonium and Brass Band (Naxos)
Intriguing arrangements for brass band of some well-known works [KT]
Für Beethoven: Arrangements for Guitar & Piano (MP Editions)
The unlikely pairing of guitar and fortepiano yields surprising musical discoveries in this engaging collection of Beethoven arrangements and related works [SSc]
Timothy Reynish (conductor) Works for wind band (Mark Masters)
An enjoyably eclectic programme of music for wind band [PRJ]
Spain On Fire (Challenge Classics)
A delight from first note to last [DJB]
Verdi: Il trovatore (Pristine Audio)
A finely produced package of golden age singing, splendidly refurbished for a new generation [MP]
Ukraine – A piano portrait (SOMM Recordings)
A disc that should gain wide recognition [SA]
Mahler: Symphony 9 (Decca)
An interesting, provocative reading of the Symphony and the performances of the songs are very good [JQ]
Mussorgsky: Songs (Warner Classics)
Christoff is delightfully over the top, hugely enjoyable and making more straight-laced versions sound boring [TH]
Busoni: Piano Music Vol. 13 (Naxos)
Wolf Harden brings his survey to end with something of a miscellany to tie up loose ends [RCh]
Stravinsky: Le Rossignol (Erato)
Roth andLes Siècles provide enough musical revelations to make this the top choice among stereo versions [MP]
Kelly: St Francis of Assisi (Regent)
A much-needed boost to the limited Bryan Kelly discography [PRJ]
Bach: Keyboard Concertos (Warner Classics)
Spectacularly virtuosic playing of some of Bach’s most joyously inventive music [RMo]
