Martin Cousin (piano): Fantasias for piano (Convivium Records)
An interesting and well-planned programme superbly performed and sympathetically recorded [NB]
Minkus: Don Quixote (Opus Arte)
A delightfully Spanish cornucopia of exuberant dances with an appealing cast and showing the Royal Ballet Company in top form [MP]
The Music of Malcolm Arnold (Orchid Classics)
A wonderful CD that fills some important gaps in the Arnold repertoire [KT]
What plaintive melodies are these? (Oboe Classics)
Warmth as well as veiled melancholy in previously unrecorded British songs for oboe and voice [JW]
Copland: Orchestral Works (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) In all respects, recommended without a moment’s hesitation [KS]
Schnittke: Concerti Grossi Nos 1 & 5 (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) A real feeling of being the definitive article [TH]
British Cello Works – Vol 3 (Lyrita)
Four fine cello sonatas, played with obvious skill and enthusiasm [JF]
Palmgren: Complete Piano Works 8 (Grand Piano)
More treasures in this latest unearthing of Palmgren’s unjustly neglected piano music [RCh]
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Chandos)
A more intimate, lower-key account which for me fails to stir the blood [RMo]
Steffani: Psalmodia Vespertina, Stabat Mater (Arcantus)
Steffani’s expressive powers displayed in full glory [JV]
Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide (Alpha Classics)
A very fine new account of a neglected great opera [RWe]
Martin: Tripytchon (ECM)
An extremely high quality product which deserves recognition [CR]
Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Warner Classics)
Soggy tempos and slack pacing entirely fail to convince [RH]
Arc III: Brahms and Schubert piano works (First Hand Records)
The way Orion Weiss plays reflects his love of the works he has chosen [SA]
Yevgeny Svetlanov (conductor) Debussy & Rachmaninov (ICA Classics)
A formidable Soviet conductor with legendary technique directs three London orchestras in music from Russia and France [PH]
Saint-Saëns: Music for Two Pianos (Somm Recordings)
A well-filled disc of two piano delights [PRJ]
Handel: Ópera Viva (IBS Classical)
Underwhelming singing compromises the attractiveness of this medley of Handel numbers from his operas played in strict period style [RMo]
Scriabin: Complete Piano Sonatas (Et’cetera)
An impressive debut in this demanding repertoire [SB]
Korngold: Symphony and The Sea Hawk (Delos)
(Déjà Review) As good as it gets [CF]
Turnage: Greek (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Whether uncomfortable or not this remains essential listening for lovers of contemporary music theatre [TH]
Mahler & Gunning: Symphonies (Colorado MahlerFest)
An excellent Mahler performance and the premiere of an impressive new symphony [JQ]
Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan (Evil Penguin Classic)
Compromised accounts do not displace classic versions [RMay]
Paris 1913: L’Offrande lyrique (Nimbus)
A pleasing recital of French chansons all tied to the year 1913 [MP]
Maestros in the Mirror: Bach & Walther (Da Vinci Classics)
Interesting comparison between two colleagues and distant cousins [JV]
