Charpentier: David & Jonathas (Château de Versailles)

A staging of French baroque opera at its finest [MP]

Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) (ICA Classics)

A previously unissued live Sinfonia antartica heads this 40th anniversary Boult release [JW]

Bartók: Piano Works (Oehms Classics)

(Déjà Review) Bach is a most musical pianist whose understanding of the Bartókian idiom should be sampled [CC]

Adams: Shaker Loops (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) An ideal very inexpensive introduction to one of the most stimulating composers currently before the public [JQ]

Schubert mullerin HMM902720

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin (Harmonia Mundi)

A marvellous reading of Die schöne Müllerin that should please every lover of this indestructible masterwork [GF]

Mozart figaro OA1356D

Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Opus Arte)

The singing doesn’t quite match the wonderful staging [DJB]

Parry pianoV1 C00759

Parry: Piano Music Vol. 1 (Da Vinci Classics)

A splendid start to a Parry pianistic odyssey [JW]

Mendelssohn ormandy SB2K63251

Mendelssohn: Orchestral Works (Sony Classical)

A pleasant compilation but better recordings of almost every work here may be found elsewhere [RMo]

Rise salford PRCD1249

Rise Up and Wonder (Priory)

New sacred music of talented women composers, sung by a fine and sympathetic choir [GH]

frescobaldi and the south arcana

Frescobaldi and the South (Arcana)

A compelling recital which places Frescobaldi in his historical context [JV]

Bernstein psalms 8559177-1

Bernstein: Chichester Psalms (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Wonderful playing and singing, and a recording which is crystal clear and atmospheric [GPJ]

Breton verbena V4895

Breton: La Verbena de la Paloma (Naïve)

(Déjà Review) Recommendable both to lovers of zarzuela and to those new to it [RH]

Beethoven Piano Trios v2 Sitkovetsky BIS2539

Beethoven: Piano Trios Nos 2 & 7 (BIS)

Beethoven doesn’t seem to be an ideal fit with this very fine ensemble [DJB]

Mozart Piano Quartets CHAN20179

Mozart: The Piano Quartets (Chandos)

Fine playing, but the interpretations are a matter of personal taste [PBW]

VW Tavener MacMillan Hyperion CDA68420

Vaughan Williams, MacMillan, Tavener: Choral Works (Hyperion)

Splendid Vaughan Williams, and the other works are not to be missed on any account [WH]

Karajan Lucerne Early Years Audite 21464

Karajan – The Early Lucerne Years (Audite)

Karajan in Lucerne in largely unreleased performances [JW]

Bruckner Symp 4-Haitink BR Klassik 900213

Bruckner: Symphony No 4 (BR Klassik)

Another superlative rendering of a Bruckner symphony from Haitink [RMo]

Sheppard Missa Cantate Tallis Scholars Gimell CDGIM053

Sheppard: Choral Works (Gimell)

Magnificent examples of Tudor polyphony, superbly performed [JQ]

Bjorling Til Havs Swedish Society SCD1100

Jussi Björling (tenor) Til Havs (Swedish Society Discofil)

(Déjà Review) A treasure snatched from last minute oblivion and a memorable memento of a great voice and personality [RB]

La Belle Homicide Naive E8880

La Belle Homicide – Lute Music (Naïve)

(Déjà Review) I urge listeners who wouldn’t normally purchase a recital of lute works to hear this superlative recording [MC]

parry prometheus chandos

Parry: Prometheus Unbound (Chandos)

This release will be self-recommending – and rightly so – to admirers of Parry [JQ]

sardone reimagining aria digressione

Sardone: Reimagining Aria (Digressione)

Instrumental finesse in Baroque arias reimagined as composed jazz vehicles [JW]

verdi requiem rca

Verdi: Messa da Requiem (RCA)

A great soprano soloist and a fine choir and orchestra, very well directed, still cannot save this account from mediocrity [RMo]

Mozart and his Europe (Genuin)

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