Mahler: Four Movements (Erato)
(Déjà Review) I can find little to praise [RMo]
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Naxos)
Vocally flawed and dramatically inert; you can do much better with either a vintage recording or the recent Decca issue [RMo]
Weldon: The Judgment of Paris (AAM)
A vivacious and engaging competition-winning masque performed with real style [JW]
Hans van Manen (choreographer): Just Dance the Steps (BelAir Classiques)
A truly remarkable film about a remarkable artist [PRJ]
Handel: Chandos Anthems (Alpha Classics)
Four of Handel’s Chandos Anthems, stripped back and spring cleaned [ST]
Pizzetti: Concerto dell’estate (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A really good introduction to this neglected composer [BBr]
Mendelssohn: Organ Sonatas (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) One of the most important issues of this anniversary year [JS]
Smethergell: Overtures (cpo)
More reclamations of the music of little-known William Smethergell – pleasing, charming music though rather niche [JW]
Handel: Alexander’s Feast (Arcana)
Apart from the tenor’s contribution and spritelier tempi here, nothing else about this new recording sways my loyalty to the old Ledger recording [RMo]
Beethoven & Lentz: Violin Concertos (Pentatone)
Beethoven’s concerto is beautifully played, and Lentz’s marvellous concerto is not easy but quite rewarding [HC]
Mozart: Idomeneo (BR Klassik)
This recording of Mozart’s Idomeneo ticks all the boxes [MC]
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 (RCA)
Revelatory, but not without its flaws [DM]
Kabalevsky: Complete Piano Preludes (Naxos)
Minor masterworks all-too-rarely performed [BR]
Poulenc plays Poulenc and Satie (SOMM Ariadne)
Entirely delightful music in engaging, expert performances [JQ]
Itzhak Perlman: The Warner Classics Edition (Warner Classics)
Perlman’s 70th Birthday Box reissued in miniaturised form but with the addition of an extra disc, in time to celebrate his 80th birthday [JW]
Cowie: Because They Have Songs (Métier)
Africa’s birds, reimagined in sound [JF]
Kabeláč: Symphony No. 2 (Capriccio)
Interesting, but not enthralling [DJB]
Haydn: Favourite Symphonies (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) Partnership of conductor and orchestra at something like its best [JW]
Caldara: Sonate a Violoncello solo col basso (Tactus)
(Déjà Review) A chance to enjoy some of Caldara’s rare instrumental music [GPu]
Puts: Orchestral Music (Delos)
Sophisticated, emotional, beautifully crafted and a delight from first to last [DJB]
Weir & Beach: Choral works (Hyperion)
Fine performances of two highly contrasted choral works [JQ]
Music from the Peterhouse partbooks (Naxos)
Music from the Peterhouse partbooks [SB]
Pierre Monteux: A 150th Anniversary Tribute (SOMM Ariadne)
A fine anniversary tribute to ‘Le Maître’
Handel: Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) A fine recording of a remarkable and fascinating masterpiece from Handel’s years in Italy [GPu]
