Korngold: A Portrait for Piano (TRPTK) This homage is a gem for admirers of Korngold’s music [GF]
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Pristine Audio) A deeply touching Butterfly and a thrilling Pinkerton who are all the more striking in Pristine’s vivid remastering [RMo]
Wilhelm Grosz (conductor) 1933: Les Chefs proscrits (Forgotten Records) The protean but short-lived Wilhelm Grosz in popular fare from Weimar Berlin [JW]
Damase: Orchestral Works v2 (Dutton) Superbly performed concertante music by a French neo-classical conservative [NB]
Schmidt: Symphony 4 & The Book with Seven Seals (Somm Recordings) Two notable archive recordings in excellent transfers to mark Schmidt’s 150th anniversary [JQ]
The Musical Harmer Family by Gill Price
Stanfordian Thoughts: 23. Stanford & Chadwick’s Book of Choruses by Christopher Howell
Debussy & Mozart: Songs (ECM) (Déjà Review) Banse’s subtle, dark-toned soprano is ideal for this material [TH]
20th Century Works for Flute and Orchestra (Centaur) (Déjà Review) A delightful anthology … tunefulness and brevity [HC]
Nielsen: Flute Concerto, Symphony No. 3 (Chandos) Vibrant performances of Nielsen’s masterpieces, but the competition is formidable [LW]
A Gardener’s World (Rubicon) A varied and engaging recital, performed with style and commitment [JQ]
Mozart: Mozart, You Drive me Crazy! (Alpha Classics) Attractive in every respect to lovers of Mozart, or of opera in general [GF]
Rossini: Le Siège de Corinthe (C Major) A fine cast of singers are thrown out to sea by a pointless, dismal production [MP]
Mascitti: Sonate a Tre, Opera Prima (Challenge Classics) An excellent composer whose sonatas are done full justice here [JV]
Bach: Piano Transcriptions Volume 5 (Hyperion) (Déjà Review) Milne’s playing also reflects his love of this demanding yet rewarding repertoire [TB]
Auric: Beauty and the Beast (Naxos) (Déjà Review) A most desirable release recommended to film buffs and anyone with interest in 20th Century French music [HC]
Fučík: Dances & Marches (Marco Polo) Enjoyable world premiere recordings of long-lost music [RM]
Lambert: Music for Brass and Organ (Toccata Classics) Fine performances of fine music [WK]
Mozart: Symphonies 9, 14, 20 & 24 (Genuin) Not everything gels perfectly, but when it does Klumpp impressively catches Mozart’s sense of adventure in a whole new world [MG]
Rheinberger & Mendelssohn: Choral Works (Pentatone) A marvellous exhibition of unaccompanied choral singing [JQ]
Pärt: Passio (St John Passion) (Naxos) (Déjà Review) Spotless intonation, and a clear sense of the rhythmic ebb and flow, world class [KS]
Sibelius: Rondo of the Waves (BIS) (Déjà Review) Exalted performance values and rare vintage Sibelius [RB]
Margola: Music for Violin, Piano & Orchestra (Brilliant Classics) This disc provides a good opportunity to make the acquaintance of a talented and affable composer [GPu]
J S Bach: Guitar Transcriptions (Naxos) One of the best guitar recordings of music by JS Bach [ZT]
d’Indy & Magnard: Piano works (Piano Classics) d’Indy’s sonata is impressive but Magnard’s Promenades are more entertaining [SB]
Debussy & Strauss (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) An auspicious launch for the Melbourne Symphony’s own label [JQ]
Schubert: Mayrhofer Lieder Vol 2 (Naxos) Intimacy in music encapsulated on a small circle of plastic – remarkable and breathtaking [SA]
Sculthorpe: Music for Cello (Tall Poppies) If you don’t know Sculthorpe, you should and this disc would provide an ideal introduction [NHo]
Morricone: Absolutely … Ennio Morricone Vol 2 (Da Vinci Classics) The original orchestral film scores are matchless, but these are very fine arrangements [TMS]
Nielsen: Symphony No 3 and Flute Concerto (Chandos) Good performances but no special interpretative insights [PBW]
Turina: Works for Strings (Naxos) An interesting survey of Turina’s music arranged for string orchestra. A little extra glamour in the recording would have made it even more appealing [NB]
Schubert/Liszt: Der Wanderer (Piano Classics) Liszt’s reworkings of Schubert are well worth considering [SB]
Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba Suite and The Pines of Rome (Reference Recordings) The exotic Respighi – contrasts the little known with the very well known. Recommended [AB]
Poulenc: Stabat Mater and Litanies à la Vierge Noire (Opus Arte) A moving, compelling document regarding some of this unique composer’s finest music [GPJ]