British Piano Concertos (Lyrita)
Five-star performances and recordings of second tier works [NB]
Martin & Franck: Piano quintets (CAvi-Music)
Superb performances of both works: a rewarding coupling [SB]
Atterberg: Aladin (cpo)
A decent performance of Atterberg’s last opera, a tuneful rendition of a fairy tale in an exotic musical setting [EJW]
Mozart: Piano Concertos (SWR Classic)
Michelangeli’s Mozart at its most ebullient, masculine and human [JW]
Britten: Michelangelo Sonnets (Hyperion)
A convincing collection, well-sung, played and recorded [CG]
Handel: Acis and Galatea (Dorian)
A delightful recording that captures the energy of a live performance [KM]
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Opus Arte)
Sir Bryn Terfel triumphs in Mussorgsky’s original vision of his conscience-stricken Tsar [PCG]
Anne-Sophie Mutter – Vivace (SWR Classic)
A revealing documentary sheds light on a superstar career [RMay]
Rachmaninov & Tchaikovsky: Romances (Pentatone)
A valuable addition to the discography of the songs of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky with sensitive and deeply considered performances [GF]
Transcend (Genuin)
An exciting collection of new music for accordion, guitar, and chamber orchestra [SW]
Bach: The Six Partitas (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Angela Hewitt again shows her mastery of Bach’s keyboard music [KM]
Carissimi: Ten Motets (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Music helped by the beautiful and beatific voice of bass Garrick Comeaux [GH]
Graun: Silla (cpo)
A premiere recording that is mainly of interest to Opera Seria completionists [MP]
Stöhr: Orchestral Music Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)
Substantial ‘forgotten’ scores presented in the best possible light [NB]
Haydn & Mozart: Symphonies (Pristine Classical)
Horenstein’s Haydn and Mozart pack quite a punch [MG]
Dutilleux & Dusapin: Works for Cello & Orchestra (Alpha)
Cello tales of mystery and imagination [JLW]
Schumann: Kinderszenen (Apex)
(Déjà Review) Superb pianism and a complete immersion in Schumann’s most extreme psychology [DS]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartets Vol. 1 (Dorian)
(Déjà Review) A fine start to a much neglected body of work [JW]
Noskowski: Symphonies 1 & 2 (Capriccio)
Two late-19th century symphonies, agreeable if not compelling, little known, little heard [RB]
Rossini: Il turco in Italia (C Major)
A delightfully entertaining modern take on Rossini brings overtones of Fellini to the action [PCG]
I Wanna Be Ready [spirituals] (Navona)
A slightly new take on an unusual variety of spirituals, sung by soloists and choir who really understand them [GH]
Handel: Theodora (Opus Arte)
A radical feminist staging for a very well-sung account of Handel’s late masterpiece [RWe]
Mozart: Concertos; Voříšek: Symphony (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) More great music-making from the Ančerl Gold Series [DS]
McEwen: String Quartets Vol. 2 (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) The Chilingirians really do bring life and joyous affirmation to this [JW]
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