Recordings of the Month

eastern clarinet antarctica

Zayt Gezunterheyt – The Folk Soul of the Eastern Clarinet (Antarctica Records)

A simply outstanding meeting of stunning musicians and glorious music [PJ]

aarhus organ danacord

The Great Organ of Aarhus Cathedral (Danacord)

Superb performances, great sound quality, brilliant documentation and rewarding programming [JF]

dvorak trios suprahon

Dvořák: The Complete Piano Trios (Supraphon)

If this doesn’t win every award going I will be astonished [DMD]

purnima cantaloupe singh

Rakhi Singh (violin): Purnima (Cantaloupe)

Rakhi Singh’s exceptional playing and arranging skills in an exhilarating transatlantic contemporary violin recital [RHa]

jewish piano centaur

A Pianist Explores Her Jewish Heritage (Centaur)

Fabulous music, hugely enjoyable [SA]

mahler symphony bis

Mahler: Symphony No 8 (BIS)

A stunner of a Mahler Eighth, one of the best since Solti’s classic account [RMo]

shostakovich quartets genuin

Shostakovich: String Quartets 7-13 (Genuin)

Blazingly impressive performances given with intense virtuosity and musical insight [NB]

bartok concertos alpha

Bartók: Concertos (Alpha Classics)

This performance has completely revised my view of the Viola Concerto [DMD]

shostakovich violin cedille

Dependent Rising (Cedille)

Magnetically communicative music given electric performances [DMD]

french two piano orchid

Poulenc, Milhaud, Debussy: Music for two pianos (Orchid Classics)

Great music, wonderfully played, in perfect recording [GPJ]

britten requiem decca

Britten: War Requiem (Decca)

A landmark recording revealed in the stunning realism of a new transfer on SACD [JQ]

mendelssohn symphonies linn

Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 5 (Linn)

Sui generis: a disc that will change the way you hear Mendelssohn [ST]

byzantine emperor capella romana

A Byzantine Emperor at King Henry’s Court (Cappella Records)

A spellbinding confrontation of liturgical music from two traditions – a perfect ‘alternative’ for Christmastide [JV]

jauchzet gott accent

Jauchzet Gott (Accent)

A disc to treasure, with probably the best ever performance of Bach’s famous Cantata BWV51 [JV]

byrd songs inventa

Byrd: Songs of sundrie natures (Inventa)

The first recording of all Songs of sundrie natures in exemplary performances show Byrd’s charm, humour and unwavering focus on the key messages [MG]

rachmaninoff sonata alpha

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Preludes (Alpha Classics)

The key release of Rachmaninov’s 150th anniversary year – a revelation [RWe]

sacconi quartet orchid

Beethoven & Schubert: String Quartets (Orchid Classics)

A highly attractive pairing of two of the greatest string quartets, interpreted and played to perfection [RMo]

angelus ad fontes

French Sacred Song (Ad Fontes)

A fascinating programme, with top class performances in excellent sound [GPu]

rodgers oklahoma chandos

Rodgers: Oklahoma! (Chandos)

A ground-breaking recording of a ground-breaking American musical [PCG]

Mozart and his Europe (Genuin)

A beautiful tone and natural, unmannered playing and flexibility of phrasing [RCh]

bach partitas delphian

Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (Delphian)

Deeply committed performances, informed by consummate musicianship [SG]

wagner gotterdammerung decca

Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Decca)

A recording for the ages, revealed in full splendour in a new re-mastering [JQ]

echoes bohemia wind chandos

Echoes of Bohemia: Czech Music for Wind (Chandos)

The Orsini Ensemble rises superbly to all the challenges of this colourful and attractive music [GPJ]

faure piano hyperion

Fauré: Piano Works (Hyperion)

Magical performances, illuminated and musically informed, recorded in superior sound [SG]