Alfvén: Symphony No. 4, Festival Overture (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Should win many new friends for Alfvén’s music [WT]
Winter Whispers: Ukrainian Piano Tales (Ars Produktion)
Simple music, but repeated listening brings rewards [SA]
Wilms: The Piano Concertos, Vol 2 (BIS)
If you like the fortepiano, you’ll enjoy this [SFV]
Verdi: I Lombardi alla prima crociata (BR Klassik)
An exciting, red-blooded performance, captured live in the clearest sound of any available version [MP]
Puccini: Tosca (Unitel Edition)
The staging will divide opinion, but watch, listen, and let the performers convince you [WH]
de Monte: Madrigali spirituali (Passacaille)
Superb performances – the best possible case for Philippus de Monte [JV]
Korngold, Coll & Brahms: Piano Trios (Rubicon)
Trio Isimsiz leave a positive impression [LW]
Farrenc: Piano Trios, Cello Sonata (Brilliant Classics)
A good introduction to the chamber music of this underrated and under-recorded composer [DJB]
The Nightingale and the Sparrow (Guild)
(Déjà Review) Plenty to enjoy in this delicate, yet never lightweight, repertoire [PW]
Glass: Signature (Analekta)
For the Glass waverers out there, this might be the disc that dispels doubts [DJB]
R Strauss: Choral works (Hyperion)
Choral singing of formidable accomplishment [JQ]
Fairy Tales (Quartz)
An eclectic programme, dynamically played if lacking complete virtuosic ease [NB]
Bach: Goldberg Variations (Deutsche Grammophon)
Freshness, new life, vitality and a wealth of new insights are bought to this oft-recorded work [SG]
Puccini: I Canti (BR Klassik)
A disc that no Puccini admirer can dispense with [GF]
Rossini: Semiramide (Decca)
A feast of stylish bel canto singing for the two stars but the rest of the cast can only struggle though [MP]
An Eternal Harmony (Coro)
A well-balanced recital, beautifully sung, mixing old and new [RH]
Maderna: Serenata per un satellite & other works (Dynamic)
An important Maderna monograph seems to fill some gaps in the catalogue. One for the specialist, however, rather than the general listener [RHa]
Hughes: Oratorio – Dewi Sant (Rubicon)
A fine new recording of a Welsh oratorio [JQ]
Mozart: Sonatas for Piano & Violin (Deutsche Grammophon)
A magical new recording of the Mozart sonatas for piano and violin [RMa]
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Prospero)
The original version of Mascagni’s masterpiece unfortunately let down by singing that cannot do justice to the music or drama [MBu]
Wranitzky: String Quartets (cpo)
A good introduction to the chamber music of a marginalised composer [SA]
Mustonen: Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 (Ondine)
Two attractive works by this gifted Finnish composer [SB]
Dreams Desires Desolation – English Song (Divine Art)
An interesting disc of English Parlour Songs suffers from a lack of personality and variety [PT]