- Partout amour me vient chercher – 17th Century French sacred works (Indesens)An excellent recording of little-known music, which also raises some questions [JV]
- Shostakovich in France (Boydell Press)An original and perceptive account of the reception of Shostakovich’s music in France [DHa]
- Wellesz: Complete Symphonies & Works for Chamber Orchestra (cpo)A comprehensive survey of the Austrian emigré composer [SB]
- Ball: Works for Cello (Musical Concepts)(Déjà Review) Music designed to please then – mission accomplished [RB]
- Bach: Goldberg Variations (Hyperion)Captivating, mesmerising, and life-enhancing [DC]
- Moszkowski: Orchestral Music – Vol 4 (Toccata Classics)The symphony is real discovery [RMay]
- Brian: Symphonies 11 and 15 (Naxos)(Déjà Review) It’s very good [BBr]
- CPE Bach: The Hamburg Symphonies (Brilliant Classics)(Déjà Review) If you do not know these extraordinary works then this as good a place as any to start [GH]
- Elgar: Violin Concerto (Rubicon)Love, passion, heartbreak and reconciliation – everything you want from Elgar at his best [DC]
- Frederick Ashton’s La fille mal gardée (Opus Arte)Perhaps not quite perfect, but still a delight [RMay]
- Her Symphonic Voice: Live in Concert (Albany)A thoroughly enjoyable and varied program of works by a quartet of composers spanning 120 years. [ACG]
- Karl Richter (conductor): The Complete Teldec & Ducretet-Thomson Recordings (Warner)Exquisite musicianship: Baroque and Classical repertoire by a radical reformer [DF]
- Hiller: Symphonies (cpo)A pair of surprising and rousing symphonies from a little-known source [DC]
- Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo-soprano): Mujer Fatal (Decca)A very welcome addition to the catalogue [MP]
- Dvořák: Symphony 9 (Reference Recordings)Two highly contrasting orchestral pieces in stellar performances and sound [JQ]
- Marx: Chamber Music vol.1 (Naxos)The first volume of a useful series, with competent if not compelling performances [NB]
- Dvořák, Mendelssohn & E Hartmann: Wind Serenades (MDG)(Déjà Review) A programme of thoroughly enjoyable music [JS]
- That’s Entertainment (Warner Classics)(Déjà Review) Fans of those spectacular MGM musicals shouldn’t hesitate [IL]
- Shostakovich: Piano Concertos & Solo Works (Deutsche Grammophon)Yuja Wang’s quicksilver character and lyrical poise in Shostakovich [CAE]
- Taneyev: Complete Trios (Northern Flowers)Magisterial performances and unique understanding of the composer: unequaled [WK]
- Saariaho: Saarikoski Songs, Vista & Three Preludes (Ondine)A level of lushness, wistfulness, and emotional intensity places these works among Saariaho’s best [ACG]
- Bloch: Violin Sonatas, Baal Shem (Naxos)Remarkably wide-ranging repertoire, performed with passion and skill [NB]
- Sergey Rachmaninov (piano) Solo Recordings Vol. 2 (Naxos)(Déjà Review) A disc to cherish, a truly glorious experience [SA]
- Yun Kyong Kim (organ): Of Another Time (MSR Classics)(Déjà Review) A programme lovingly compiled and played, excellently recorded [JS]
- CPE Bach: Cello Concertos (Channel Classics)Impressive stuff with an individual approach from the soloist [DC]
- Lizée: ZonelyHearts (Centrediscs)A fascinating exhibition of Nicole Lizée’s audiovisual world [DHa]
- Machaut: Sacred Choral works (Delos)Sacred and secular works, given here in a very particular performance style [GH]
- Dmytro Choni (piano) Heartlands (Naïve)Marvellous performances by an outstanding young pianist [PBW]
- Pärt: The Music for Organ (Nimbus)Bowyer gives yet more virtually irreproachable performances [Byz]
- Maria Forsström (contralto) Kaleidoscope (Musica Rediviva)A varied and fascinating and superbly executed disc [GF]
- Busoni: Works for Piano (Nimbus Records)A highly enjoyable Busoni recital from Martin Jones [DHa]
- Noël in the Musiikkitalo (Toccata Next)Lehtola illuminates seven contrasting Christmas visions [JF]
- Feldman in Love: A novelA novel about Morton Feldman? Why not? [DHa]
- Alexandre Tharaud (piano) Mémoire (Erato)Balm in a troubled world [DJB]
- The Italian Intermezzo (Chandos)(Déjà Review) Magical, uninhibited heart-on-sleeve performances delivered in the very best Chandos sound [IL]
- Lisa Batiashvili (violin) Echoes of Time (Deutsche Grammophon)(Déjà Review) Batiashvili’s playing is highly refined and gorgeous [MC]
- Witt: Orchestral Music (Naxos)(Déjà Review) The Naxos tradition of bringing the obscure to light has paid off in this recording [JPJ]
- Schnittke: Discoveries (Toccata Classics)(Déjà Review) Five different works from throughout Schnittke’s career performed with vigour and insight by committed musicians [MS]
- Wagner: Die Walküre (Pristine Audio)While far from perfect, this is a strangely compelling version with much that is worth hearing [MP]
- John Tilbury (piano): Domestic and archive recordings (Another Timbre)John Tilbury’s last recordings make a compelling box set. [DHa]
- Couperin: Complete Unmeasured Preludes (DLM Editions)Levaillant’s adventurously languid style sometimes sounds improvised as Couperin intended, giving us something both old and new [SGa]
Reviews of Classical Music Recordings
