Berlioz: Herminie, Les nuits d’été, Cléopâtre (Arte Verum)
Impressive live performances by a singer of surprising vocal endurance but they don’t stand up against the best [RMo]
Garūta: Apple Tree (Skani)
Beautifully performed and recorded Latvian choral songs, influenced by folk music [EJW]
Albinoni: Concerti a cinque (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) An outstanding issue in all regards [TB]
Sean Shibe (guitar) – Profesión (Pentatone)
Lovers of guitar music should invest in this disc [GF]
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Chandos)
A wonderfully refined and also exciting new version [SB]
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Opus Arte)
Dame Janet Baker’s unparalleled stage performance of Orfeo makes a triumphant return to the catalogues [PCG]
Flury: Chamber Music Vol. 1 (Toccata Classics)
Flury’s romanticism on rather low wattage in his string quartets [JW]
Egilsson & Pálsson: Skjálfti (Quake) (Sono Luminus)
An imaginative expansion on a soundtrack created for a little-known Icelandic movie, but try before you buy [RHa]
Copland, Creston, Kay & Piston: Concertos & Orchestral Suites (Naxos)
Mid-20th century Americanism in works of universal appeal [JF]
Bella Adamova (contralto) There is home (Supraphon)
A superb recital of art songs, all of which perfectly suit her crystal-clear voice [SA]
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas (DG)
(Déjà Review) If a one-pianist complete set is required at reasonable price Kempff proves a generally reliable guide [CC]
Delius: A Mass of Life (LAWO Classics)
The mighty Mass of Life is revealed as a genuine masterpiece in this blazing performance [NB]
Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 (Dynamic)
A long awaited cycle that is ultimately disappointing [LD]
Mozart: Piano Concertos Vol. 8 (Chandos)
Bavouzet and Takács-Nagy are an ideal partnership in demonstrating the zest, eloquence and operatic underpinning of Mozart’s piano concertos [MG]
For Clara: Robert Schumann & Brahms (Deutsche Grammophon)
A thoughtfully conceived and excellently executed programme [JQ]
Distler: Die Weihnachtsgeschichte (OUR Recordings)
In the great German tradition of sung Biblical narrative, but reinterpreted for the early 20th century [ST]
Berg: Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 (cpo)
Two wildly contrasting symphonies from the Swedish military veterinarian [JW]
Rossini: La donna del lago (C Major)
A musically outstanding but unusual production of Rossini’s splendid opera [RWe]
Prokofiev & Khachaturian (RCA Victor)
(Déjà Review) A classic recording restored in its best sound [TD]
Vaughan Williams: Job – A Masque for Dancing (Onyx)
A highly persuasive account of Job [JQ]
Kagami – Mirror: viola da gamba pieces (Ramée)
Very personal choice of viola da gamba pieces, performed with much sensitivity [JV]
Henze: Royal Winter Music (NovAntiqua)
Three hours of enlightenment and entertainment [ZT]
H2O (ANCLEF)
Three Orchestral Masterpieces effectively rendered in piano 4-hands versions by their composers [NB]
Wagner: Siegfried (BR Klassik)
Simon Rattle’s traversal of the Ring finally reaches Siegfried, with highly recommendable results [PCG]
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