From the Last Week

Malgoire’s second recording of the two famous Handel suites in period style has worn remarkably well [RMo]

(Déjà Review) Some really fine cinema music here high on sumptuous 1950s confidence [RB]

Farrenc’s later piano works in the fifth volume of this excellent survey [RCh]

(Déjà Review) Sympathetic, legato-conscious performances [JW]

Brian admirers will have acquired this disc long before reading this review [NB]

Two very late works and a brief early song cycle by this significant Finnish composer [GH]

Pianist rescued in brilliant fashion from undeserved obscurity [RCh]

(Déjà Review) Elder and the Hallé offer the pre-eminent digital account of Elgar’s last oratorio [JQ]

(Déjà Review) Joins my select list of music for cheering up [BW]

An interesting curiosity uncovered after two centuries. The recording itself is a survivor of the challenges imposed by the war in Ukraine [MP]

A stunning anthology of Callas at her very best, enhanced by being rendered into Ambient Stereo [RMo]

If this first volume’s small treasures are a sign of what’s to come from Naxos’ complete Mendelssohn Choral Music cycle, we may eagerly await the remainder [SGa]

Delightful, delicate arrangements for guitar of some very well-known piano works [KT]

Monumental input from each composer, and recording and performance quality to match [DC]

Variations for piano that cannot fail to inspire awe and catharsis [ACG]

Playing that truly draws you into both the more lyrical and dissonant worlds of a notoriously difficult composer [SGa]

(Déjà Review) Blake’s accessible music never fails to impress with its invention and generous melody [IL]

(Déjà Review) An outstanding Beethoven Seventh, but the rest of the programme is very mixed [WH]

Modern masterpieces in superb accounts [LW]

An aural and artistic treat from Jordi Savall and co, but give more time to the music than to the libretto [SGa]

An excellent pairing of two of Britten’s most popular choral works [JQ]

Pared back Haydn that will divide opinion [DJB]

(Déjà Review) A disc of superb value in playing time terms as well as anything else [NB]

(Déjà Review) This is late-romantic music that sings with its face looking into radiance [RB]

An excellent recording of little-known music, which also raises some questions [JV]

An original and perceptive account of the reception of Shostakovich’s music in France [DHa]

A comprehensive survey of the Austrian emigré composer [SB]

(Déjà Review) Music designed to please then – mission accomplished [RB]

Captivating, mesmerising, and life-enhancing [DC]

The symphony is real discovery [RMay]

(Déjà Review) It’s very good [BBr]

(Déjà Review) If you do not know these extraordinary works then this as good a place as any to start [GH]

Love, passion, heartbreak and reconciliation – everything you want from Elgar at his best [DC]

Perhaps not quite perfect, but still a delight [RMay]

A thoroughly enjoyable and varied program of works by a quartet of composers spanning 120 years. [ACG]

Exquisite musicianship: Baroque and Classical repertoire by a radical reformer [DF]

A pair of surprising and rousing symphonies from a little-known source [DC]

A very welcome addition to the catalogue [MP]

Two highly contrasting orchestral pieces in stellar performances and sound [JQ]

The first volume of a useful series, with competent if not compelling performances [NB]

(Déjà Review) A programme of thoroughly enjoyable music [JS]