Recordings of the Month

herz sterne genuin

Herz: Stars rise afar (Genuin)

A rewarding release, thought-provoking and inspiring [SG]

liszt etudes lim steinway

Liszt: Transcendental Études (Steinway & Sons)

A legendary performance unfolds before you [NB]

rachmaninoff symphonies deutsche grammophon

Rachmaninoff: Symphonies 2 and 3 (Deutsche Grammophon)

These thrilling performances are fit to rank with the best in the Rachmaninoff discography [JQ]

franck hulda bru zane

Franck: Hulda (Bru Zane)

This splendid recording reveals Franck’s opera to be a work of power and beauty [SB]

rautavaara martinu bis

Rautavaara & Martinů: Piano Concertos (BIS)

An unusual coupling of concertos in outstanding performances and sound [LW]

monteverdi vespers acis

Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 (Acis)

A hugely successful outing recorded in a very resonant acoustic [DMD]

mozart concertos alpha

Mozart: Concertos (Alpha Classics)

Youthful but remarkably distinguished Mozart concerto performances [NH]

bach art of fugue harmonia mundi

Bach: The Art of Fugue (Harmonia Mundi)

Probably the best recording of the Art of Fugue I know [DMD]

saariaho reconnaissance bis

Saariaho: Reconnaissance (BIS)

An indispensable memorial to Kaija Saariaho [GF]

Ferrabosco music to hear signum

Ferrabosco: Music to Hear … (Signum Classics)

A beautifully played selection of pieces from Ferrabosco’s Lessons of 1609 which should be on the shelves of all who love the viol [GPu]

ravel trio lost dance cavi music

Ravel: In Search of Lost Dance (CAvi-Music)

Exceptional Ravel from this brilliant multi-national trio [GPJ]

orchestral anthems delphian

English Orchestral Anthems (Delphian)

A terrific disc [JQ]

strauss wind capriccio

Strauss: Complete Music for Wind Instruments (Capriccio)

Precious jewels, delightfully played [ST]

lim annunciation kairos

Lim: Annunciation Triptych (Kairos)

Welcome to the strange, murky, gorgeous world of Lim’s music [DMD]

left hand legacy cobra

Left Hand Legacy Vol. 1 (Cobra Records)

Fervent and passionate music making, a joy from start to finish [RCh]

Offenbach parisienne naxos

Offenbach: La Vie Parisienne (Naxos)

A winner in almost every respect featuring a new edition with an entire Act of previously unperformed music [MP]

jistebnicky Bohemian pre-reformation supraphon

Jistebnický Kancionál (Supraphon)

It is hard to see a better ensemble to take care of these chants than the Tiburtina Ensemble [JV]

szymanowski mythes bis

Szymanowski: Music for Violin and Piano (BIS)

Sensational Szymanowski played with utter technical control and expressive abandon [NB]

pisendel concertos berlin

Pisendel: Violin Concerti (Berlin Classics)

A resounding success [DJB]

tchaikovsky piano bis

Romeo and Juliet – Tchaikovsky on the Piano (BIS)

Extraordinary playing of the highest quality and familiar music shown in a new light [RCh]

ciaccona glossa

Ciaconna! (Glossa)

Everything here – music, performances, sound and notes – is exceptional [DJB]

bruckner symphonies blomstedt accentus

Bruckner: Symphonies 1-9 (Accentus Music)

An important and impressive contribution to the Bruckner discography [JQ]

prokofiev cleveland

Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 (The Cleveland Orchestra Recordings)

The Cleveland Orchestra stakes a claim to be currently the best in the world [DMD]

podger tutta channel

Rachel Podger (violin): Tutta sola (Channel Classics)

Quite exceptional performances of rarely heard pre-Bach Baroque solo violin works [PB]