Brahms: Viola Sonatas (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Very fine performances of these late works [MC]
Bloch, Bruch & Dohnányi: Cello & Orchestra (Claves)
An impressive young cellist in an attractive programme [RWe]
Erica Morini (violin) The Complete Victor Recordings (Pristine Audio)
Youthful Erica Morini’s earliest recordings from New Jersey show her scintillating in morceaux [JW]
Peace I leave with you – Music for the Evening Hour (Coro Magdalen)
A discerningly chosen programme given accomplished performances [JQ]
Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau (BR Klassik)
A lovely supplement to the complete live recording in much better sound [RMo]
Donizetti: La favorite (Naxos)
Javier Camarena as Fernand is worth a listen, but the singing on the whole is too compromised for a general recommendation [GF]
J S Bach: The First Cantata Year Vol 1 (Hänssler Classic)
Given the quality of the existing cycles, this is a brave project but a very fine start [DJB]
Nicola Benedetti (violin) Szymanowski, Saint-Saëns & Chausson (Deutsche Grammophon)
Quite a debut – a truly excellent Szymanowski [CC]
Rossini: La Cenerentola (Warner Classics)
A welcome return to the catalogue of an excellent performance [RJF]
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 1 & Piano Sonata No 14 (Deutsche Grammophon)
Overall, this is an unsatisfying and disappointing CD [PBW]
Raff: Welt-Ende – Gerich – Neue Welt (cpo)
Raff’s survey of ‘the Last Things’ contains some surprisingly enterprising and original writing [PCG]
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Erato)
Thrilling Orfeo ed Euridice starring Jakub Józef Orliński [DF]
Mahler: Symphony No 3 (BR Klassik)
Flawlessly played, beautifully gauged and balanced and in spectacular sound, this is a lovely souvenir of the late Jansons’ prowess as a Mahler conductor [RMo]
Marcelle de Lacour (harpsichord): Musique Française pour Clavecin (Forgotten Records)
The long-lived harpsichordist Marcelle de Lacour in fine French Baroque repertoire [JW]
Tchaikovsky: Orchestral works (Chandos)
A very enjoyable Tchaikovsky collection, vividly played and recorded [JQ]
Rachmaninov: Symphonies Nos 1-3 (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) A burnished classic of the gramophone [RB]
Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A stunning recording – overcome your prejudice and buy it [RMK]
Serenade, I Miss You (Oak Recordings)
An interesting glimpse into the musical activities in the capital of Texas [GF]
Art Songs of the Jewish Diaspora (Acis)
Milhaud and Castelnuovo-Tedesco are just two composers contextualised in this wide-ranging programme [JW]
Moravec: Orchestral Works (BMOP Sound)
Well played diverse scores receiving committed performances [NB]
Cristal Bello (Vanitas)
A rewarding collection with a clear historical purpose, though it delights at least as much as it educates [GPu]
Maguire: Dystophilia (Neuma Records)
A pair of apocalyptic electroacoustic realisations; intriguing in their conception but not for listeners of a nervous disposition [RHa]
Mischa Levitzki (piano) Complete HMV Recordings (APR)
Lots to enjoy from this pianist who died too young [RCh]
Stölzel : Cantatas for Pentecost 1737 (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Cantatas by Bach’s contemporary, which turn out to be of superior quality [JV]