Bach xmas CDA680312

Bach: Christmas Oratorio (Hyperion)

A stylish and committed performance that renews again one’s awe at the genius of Bach [JQ]

carols parrott 5036802

Christmas Carols (Erato)

A model of good taste and creative programming [JV]

Ades Alchymia Orchid ORC100264

Adès: Alchymia (Orchid Classics)

Gorgeous, autumnal music that shows that contemporary music doesn’t bite! [DMD]

Brahms Hungarian Dances Naxos 8.574424-25

Brahms: Hungarian Dances (Naxos)

A brilliant idea, well executed [SB]

Szigeti Recital at USC 1957 Biddulph 85039-2

Joseph Szigeti (violin) Recital at USC 1957 (Biddulph)

Late Szigeti: time to flog a dead horse [JW]

Forget this Night Dain Armstrong 7 Mountains 7MNTN046

Forget This Night (7 Mountain Records)

A must-have disc for all collectors of good song recitals [DC]

Kozena Folksongs Pentatone PTC5187075

Magdalena Kožená – Folk Songs (Pentatone)

A real Winner! [MP]

Philarmonica Le Consort Alpha 1011

Philarmonica (Alpha Classics)

Le Consort deserves praise for bringing the music by the mysterious Mrs Philarmonica to our attention [JV]

RVW Hodie Fantasia Naxos 8.570439

Vaughan Williams: Hodie (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Though not quite ideal in the popular Fantasia, this version of Hodie brings to life a work which I had previously written off as one of RVW’s few failures [BW]

Parry Holst RVW Christmas Choral Lyrita SRCD270

Parry: Ode on the Nativity (Lyrita)

(Déjà Review) The reappearance on CD of these performances is a cause for great celebration [JQ]

scarlatti la sposa acis

A Scarlatti: La sposa dei cantici (Acis)

An Alessandro Scarlatti world premiere in splendid performance [RWe]

bellini songs acte prealable

Bellini: Composizioni da Camera (Acte Préalable)

An enterprising collection of Bellini songs is unfortunately let down by less than ideal performances [PT]

klein biography fligg toccata

Don’t Forget About Me (Toccata Press)

A gripping, if tragic story of a composer and pianist who died too young [MMB]

chopin egorov dehaan

Chopin: Piano Works (DeHaan Records)

Superlative playing – a valuable addition to the Egorov discography [SG]

adams darkness cold blue

JL Adams: Darkness and Scattered Light (Cold Blue Music)

Deep resonant scores that explore darkness, physical and spiritual [DMD]

byzantine emperor capella romana

A Byzantine Emperor at King Henry’s Court (Cappella Records)

A spellbinding confrontation of liturgical music from two traditions – a perfect ‘alternative’ for Christmastide [JV]

piano christmas 1920s lyrichord

A Piano Christmas in the 1920s (Lyrichord)

(Déjà Review) An enjoyable and unabashed collection [JW]

tchaikovsky nutcracker opus arte

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker (Opus Arte)

(Déjà Review) Truly magical – the ideal family Christmas present [IL]

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 1-9 (Dynamic)

Some good things here, but as a whole this is not competitive [SB]

Il castrato del granduca – Arias for Gaetano Berenstadt (Glossa)

A highly interesting collection of rare baroque arias [GF]

Brahms: Die schöne Magelone (Genuin)

The best case for Brahms’s song cycle [DF]

Bruce Liu (piano): Waves (Deutsche Grammophon)

An intriguing programme with much to enjoy even if it does not quite add up [DMD]

Ullmann: Little Cakewalk – Lieder (Gramola)

Over an hour of distressing singing sabotages this song selection [JW]

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No 2 (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings)

In all respects, a worthy 150th anniversary tribute to Rachmaninov [JQ]