- Block: Chamber Works (Chandos)Another laudable composer emerges in the ‘Music in Exile’ series [JW]
- Bruckner: Bruckner from the Archives Vol 4 (SOMM Ariadne)A very welcome further installment in this significant historical Bruckner series [JQ]
- Iverson: Playfair Sonatas (Urlicht AudioVisual)Iverson’s achieves him aim is of creating new and exciting, innovative music at the boundaries between classical and jazz styles [KT]
- Krenek, Gál & Penderecki: Serenade For Clarinet & Strings (AVI-Music)Convincing exploration of three rare, rewarding works [JF]
- Mahler: Symphony No 7 (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)Acclaim for Mahler in Hamburg [PH]
- Reinecke: Symphony No 2 (cpo)Well-played, attractive but ultimately anonymous music [NB]
- Huw Montague Rendall (baritone): Contemplation (Erato)Superb, sensuous, subtle singing from a highly gifted British lyric baritone [RMo]
- Telemann: Six Concertos for Two Flutes (MSR Classics)(Déjà Review) Lovers of the baroque flute and “Telemaniacs” will wish to investigate these well-played world premières [PCW]
- Claudio Arrau (piano) Live Vol 2 (Doremi)Arrau in blistering form in this romantic repertoire [RCh]
- The Palacio Songbook – Music for three voices & lute (Glossa)Wonderful repertoire, and the performances could not be any better [JV]
- Christmas with The Bevan Family Consort (Signum Classics)A thoroughly enjoyable seasonal collection [WH]
- Vaughan Williams: An Oxford Christmas (Albion Records)Favourite carols in new guises and hidden gems, in an enjoyable account [JF]
- Evening Songs (Pentatone)Varied and contrasting Czech song cycles that resist the lure of the crepuscular [JW]
- Doráti & Seiber: Orchestral works (Hänssler Classic)Rarely heard and recorded works, played with commitment and empathy [HC]
- Awakenings (Avi-Music)The most exciting vocal recital disc I’ve heard in a long while [JQ]
- Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin (Atma Classique)One of the freshest and most uplifting interpretations I have come across for a very long time [GF]
- Pergament: Vol. 1 – A Musical Miscellany (Toccata Classics)Authoritative premiere recordings of a semi-forgotten Jewish-Lithuanian-Swedish composer [JW]
- Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)Yet another classic opera recording given new lustre by Pristine’s remastering [RMo]
- Alfred Brendel (piano): The 1950s SPA Recordings (APR)These pioneering and wonderfully executed performances are a valuable addition to Brendel’s discography (RCh)
- Holst at 150. A Brass Celebration (World of Brass)This CD illustrates how well Holst’s music works for the brass band medium [KT]
- Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas (Hallé)The first recording of Britten’s complete balletic masterpiece in over 30 years [EJW]
- Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 3, Piano Sonata No 7 (Orchid Classics)Superb Prokofiev from Goodyear and Litton [MBu]
- From Venice to Berlin: Baroque trio sonatas (Da Vinci Classics)Each of the sonatas performed here is a treasure; Intarsio Armonico are outstanding players of this repertoire [JV]
- Holmboe: Symphonies Nos 1, 3 and 10 (BIS)(Déjà Review) Superbly cogent works performed with stunning intelligence, tonal blend, sectional discipline and conductorly flair [JW]
- Taneyev: Symphonies (Chandos/Presto)Two most interesting Russian symphonies in accomplished and committed performances [JQ]
- Willem Mengelberg (conductor) The Concertgebouw Telefunken Recordings Vol. 4 (Pristine Audio)Further excellent performances and transfers in this ongoing series [PSt]
- Bach: Goldberg Variations (Artway)A real mixed bag, maddeningly inconsistent with some quirky and mannered decisions [RMo]
- 16th Century Italian Lute Music (Da Vinci Classics)A fine survey of Italian Renaissance lute music [JV]
- Carpenter: Complete Ballets (BMOP Sound)Extolling the American spirit: Carpenter’s 1920s ballets brought to life [JW]
- Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Live Concert Performances (Meloclassic)The epitome of violin playing, with interpretations thoughtful and profound [SG]
- Carols from Herefordshire (Albion Records)Beautifully performed and lovingly presented but not essential listening [NB]
- Gesualdo: Madrigals (cpo)(Déjà Review) Harry van der Kamp who directs and sings has done a wonderful job with these works [GH]
- Dvořák: Symphonies No.6-9; Smetana: Má vlast; Janáček: Sinfonietta (LSO Live)A fitting celebration of the Year of Czech Music and the silver jubilee of LSO Live [JQ]
- Vaughan Williams: Royal Throne of Kings (Albion Records)Another well planned, well executed survey of little-known Vaughan Williams [NB]
- Hartmann, Gade, Mendelssohn: Clarinet trios (MDG)Slow tempos blunt much of the impact, but the Hartmann stands out [DJB]
- Naftel: Orchestral, chamber and instrumental works (Divine Art)A variety of compositional styles, interesting and evocative music, and a great selection of pieces [KT]
- Destinées (Alpha Classics)An exploration of music by ten women composers from the age of Louis XIV and Louis XV [PH]
- Warlock: A Peter Warlock Merry-Go-Down (Convivium Records)A Warlock obscurity rescued from LP oblivion in handsome style [JW]
- Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)A pleasure to be reacquainted with Callas’s Norma in this remastering of her second studio recording [PT]
- Mozart: Haffner Serenade, Bella mia fiamma (Profil)(Déjà Review) Wand’s devotion plays itself out in these elegant performances [KS]
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