- A & B Marcello: Cantatas (Elegia Classics)I am very impressed by Lucia Cortese’s performances of these cantatas [JV]
- The Unknown Enescu Vol. 2 (Toccata Classics)More rare Enescu on a rewarding disc [SB]
- Parallel Voices (Edizioni Bongiovanni)A wide-ranging, highly individual, often wayward collection of observations from one of opera’s great characters [RMo]
- M Harris: SymphonyIn the mood to be soothed rather than provoked or stirred …. [RB]
- Jörg Demus (piano): The Bach recordings on Westminster (Eloquence)The cultured art of Jörg Demus in Bach [JW]
- Gerhswin: Rhapsody in Blue (Forgotten Records)An enjoyable exploration of Gershwin’s many facets with some rarities [RCh]
- Humour and Classical Music: The Cat’s Duetby David Barker
- Beethoven: Symphony 3 (Warner Classics)(Déjà Review) One of the essential Beethoven recordings [CH]
- Bartók: Piano Concertos (Sony)(Déjà Review) Marvellously subtle and polished … delightfully witty [TH]
- Their Voices (Dux)A Polish-Jewish chamber programme focusing on the 1930s [JW]
- Wennäkoski: Sigla, Flounce, Sedecim (Ondine)Brilliantly imagined, often beautiful works in splendid, committed performances [HC]
- Bristow & Fry: Symphonies (Bridge)Early American romanticism – golden-age verve rather than dutiful museum revival [RB]
- Visions Illuminées (Signum Classics)Mary Bevan spreads her golden tones over the whole programme [GF]
- Amadeus Quartet (Alto)Deeply felt and beautifully played, flawless intonation and ensemble, but inferior balance and sound [RMo]
- Shostakovich: Symphonies 12 & 15 (Chandos)Well played and well engineered but lacking character [NB]
- JC Bach: Complete Opera Overtures (cpo)(Déjà Review) Anthony Halstead’s marvellous players have caused me to spend several hours exploring this and related repertoire [DBi]
- A Bird Came Down the Walk (BIS)(Déjà Review) One of those rare recital recordings that actually plays best as a recital [PSh]
- Miładowski and Chopin: Known and Unknown Romantics (Dux)Unknown but attractive piano music by Miładowski but not my top choice for the Chopin [RCh]
- Franck: Trois pièces pour grand orgue (RecArt)Powerful, exciting, dramatic and sometimes introspective music played on a remarkable organ [JF]
- Schubert: Piano Sonatas (Hyperion)Aesthetically wholly coherent and technically excellent accounts of the first complete and penultimate of Schubert’s sonatas that do not oust my favourites [RMo]
- Villa-Lobos: Complete Works for Solo Guitar (Proprius)New light on old gems [ZT]
- Wellesz: Chamber Music (Toccata Classics)Fine performances of rare chamber music by an unfashionable composer whose music has much to communicate [GH]
- Ysaÿe: Légende norvégienne (Simax)A raft of previously unrecorded works – or adaptations – by Ysaÿe [JW]
- Mahler: Symphony 1 (Audite)(Déjà Review) Simply indispensable [TD]
- The Stuyvesant String Quartet (Bridge)(Déjà Review) A worthy salute to a fine quartet [JW]
- Gál: Works for viola & piano (RecArt)An ideal balance of humour, warmth, lyricism and introspection in these appealing works [JF]
- Brodsky Quartet – Golden Oldies (Chandos)A highly diverting selection of lighter pieces to celebrate the Brodsky Quartet’s fifty-year anniversary [RMo]
- The Nannette Streicher Fortepiano (Gramola)A fresh perspective of solo piano music during the Vienna Classic period [DF]
- Schubert: “Death and the Maiden” Symphony (High Definition Tape Transfers)Enthusiastic but flawed performances by student orchestras [NB]
- Chasins: Complete Music for Solo Piano (Toccata Classics)Numerous premiere recordings in an Abram Chasins twofer [JW]
- Weinberg: Chamber Symphonies 1 & 4 (Alto)A fine re-issue of music by one of the 20th century’s most important symphonic composers [GT]
- Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues (Naxos)A delicacy and deftness of touch in the playing, allied with a natural sense of line and phrasing which can be both compelling and moving [CT]
- Dvořák: Serenades (Warner Classics)A heart-warming disc of the Dvořák serenades, played and recorded beautifully [JP]
- Shostakovich: Symphony 10 (Fuga Libera)A fine, live performance of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony by a top-class Russian orchestra [GT]
- van Helmont: Leçons de Ténèbres (Ricercar)Van Helmont’s Leçons fully deserve to be recorded, and Scherzi Musicali has done a great job of performing them [JV]
- Schubert: Piano Trios (Ondine)Ideal performances of great works – and a fitting memorial to Lars Vogt [RMo]
- Bonds: Choral Works (Avie Records)Music of Protest and Pride fervently performed [NB]
- Holst: Choral Works (SOMM Recordings)An excellent and very welcome disc of Holst’s choral music [JQ]
- Copland: Symphonies (RCA)A welcome return to the catalogue of this valuable version of Copland’s early symphonies [SB]
- Strauss R: Vier letzte Lieder (Decca)For every Richard Strauss fan this CD is an absolute must [IL]