From the Last Week

Havergal Brian’s Agamemnon on disc prefaced, as he’d suggested, by the Twelfth Symphony [JW]

A stunning compendium of Adès’ music for the stage in a self-recommending release [PH]

Chants from over a thousand years ago in an atmospheric, enriching performance [GH]

An engaging previously unreleased all-Bartók concert from Doráti in Paris [DHa]

Refined and focused playing, seductively performed [SG]

An exquisitely played and intelligently assembled bouquet for Ravel [PH]

(Déjà Review) Enormous presence and clarity; no serious collector will want to be without this set [TH]

(Déjà Review) A Glass soundtrack with a different sort of musical emphasis to what has often gone before [NHo]

A reference recording of Mahler’s First Symphony, and some rare Tennstedt repertoire [LD]

An interesting programme of Scottish-inspired songs, but Cunningham’s tenor is too dry for my liking [PT]

A highly successful, satisfying anthology recital by a vocal ensemble at the top of its game [RMo]

Busoni’s marvellous piano creations shown to their best advantage in this young pianist’s very secure hands [RCh]

Should be acquired by anyone with an affection for the string quartet genre [DC]

Ravel’s two concertos, reasonably well played and excellently recorded, but I was left wanting more [DHa]

(Déjà Review) These beautifully crafted works are full of grace, wit, charm and even some drama and romance [KS]

(Déjà Review) Pellucid beauty, an exceptional sense of excavated drama, tremendous atmospheric compression, rhythmic nuance and panache [JW]

An original recital including a creative imagining of a sixteenth quartet by Shostakovich [DHa]

Lovers of piano music are in for a treat with the many discoveries this disc affords [SA]

A fine disc of cantatas by a relatively neglected composer [GPu]

First recordings of two attractive Ukrainian piano concertos with a depressing history [EJW]

Revelatory and thoroughly engrossing [DF]

A tour de force from the leading dramatic soprano of the modern age [PH]

(Déjà Review) The set should be highly rewarding to those who place top priority on gorgeous music [DS]

(Déjà Review) An extraordinarily rewarding series now celebrated in a fourth volume [RB]

Anyone wanting a collection of Fauré songs need look no further than this [GF]

The best available transfer of a great performance of Bruckner’s Eighth [PSt]

A pleasant miscellany, though the number of very short tracks and the limited variety of instrumental colour makes sustained concentration difficult [GPu]

An interesting glimpse into Doráti’s Hindemith [DHa]

From early Gurney to Ian Venables, the Pastoral is renewed through warmly flowing compositions [JW]

Intriguing arrangements for brass band of some contemporary pieces [KT]

Four world premieres of a neglected late Baroque composer played with aplomb and vigour [MS]

Cortot’s playing almost always convinces one that his is the true way [CC]

A superb release which should not be missed [MP]

A welcome return to the music of Shostakovich by the Jerusalem Quartet [DHa]

These remarkable discs have been hard to track down so it is wonderful to have them collected together and to hear Etsuko Hirose’s dazzling pianism [RCh]

Fine performances but a problem with the recorded balance partially hinders one’s pleasure [GPu]

With abundant sonic splendour and musical prowess, Järvi and his band kick off their new Mahler cycle on a high (trumpet) note [KC]

Hard to find many positives here [DJB]

(Déjà Review) Finely paced readings with a clear sense of the inner relationship of the parts, textures and drama [ED]

(Déjà Review) Merckel admirers can savour his very special musicianship in works entirely congenial to him [JW]

Brilliant performances of unusual, even quirky, repertoire [NB]