Reviews
Review: Shawn E Okpebholo 'Songs in Flight'
Shawn E Okpebholo’s new song cycle is an outstanding response to America’s painful past and
gets to the heart of real lives exploited by slavery, says Kate Wakeling in her review
Review: Inmost Heart (Samson Tsoy)
In his review, Michael Church is left spellbound by Samson Tsoy’s artistry at the keyboard in this glorious show of reinterpreted works
Review: Debussy – String Quartet in G minor etc (Nash)
The Nash Ensemble are immaculate in this new vintage recording of sparkling quartets and sonatas by Debussy, says Suzanne Rolt in her review
Review: Vivaldi – 'Arsilda'
In her review, Kate Bolton-Porciatti enjoys an excellent new recording of Vivaldi’s 1716 Arsilda, a Baroque farce with plenty of bravura
Review: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (Daniel Pioro)
This evocative narrated version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a refreshing take, says Ingrid Pearson in her review
What's new?
Review: Mahler 7 (Bavarian Radio SO/Rattle)
In his review, David Nice thinks this detailed Bavarian recording of Mahler 7 is the best possible way to mark Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday
Review: Exile (Patricia Kopatchinskaja et al)
In his review, Erik Levi enjoys a brilliant melting pot of discoverable works by exiled composers from Patricia Kopatchinskaja and friends’ eloquent performances of lesser-known works
Review: Mozart Piano Sonatas (Ran Jia)
In his review, Michael Jameson believes Ran Jia’s insightful take on this set of Mozart sonatas are an undeniable triumph and set a modern benchmark
Review: Bartók & Ligeti String Quartets (Marmen Quartet)
In her review, Jessica Duchen is bowled over by the intensity, energy and expert view of these challenging works by Ligeti and Bartók, deftly handled by the Marmen Quartet
Review: Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (Le Cercle de l’Harmonie)
In his review, Michael Jameson is thrilled by Jérémie Rhorer’s visionary interpretation of Beethoven’s great mass, the Missa Solemnis
Chamber
Review: Block: Chamber Works (ARC Ensemble)
In his review, Erik Levi enjoys discovering the life and music of exiled Austrian composer Frederick Block in this superb ARC Ensemble album
Schumann – Viola (Maxim Rysanov) (Review)
In her review, Jessica Duchen enjoys these expressive Schumann performances by Maxim Rysanov, Julian Bliss and Dasol Kim
Re:Build (Slide Action) (Review)
In her review, Anne Templer falls head over heels for a thrilling rollercoaster of new works from brilliant trombone quartet, Slide Action...
Choral & Song
Review: The Salvage Men (Eric Ericson Chamber Choir)
The Eric Ericson Chamber Choir shine in this outstanding selection of modern works for choir by US composers, says Kate Wakeling in her review
Review: Serpentes Ignei in Deserto (Hasse)
The who’s who of voices in this first recording of Hasse’s operatic Serpentes Ignei in Deserto
make it a hit, says Berta Joncus in her review
Žibuoklė Martinaitytė: Aletheia etc (Review)
Composer Žibuoklė Martinaitytė’s is a distinctive voice, says Christopher Dingle in his review of this potent and powerful set of new works
Concerto
Review: Handel & Tailleferre Harp Concertos (Berlin Phil)
Harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet’s delicate virtuosity glows in this short and sweet release of an enchanting pairing of Handel and Tailleferre, says Michael Church in his review
Review: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (Théotime Langlois de Swarte)
In her review, Kate Bolton-Porciatti is kept on the edge of her seat by Théotime Langlois de Swarte’s compelling new recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Review: Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 etc (Yoav Levanon)
The young Israeli-French pianist Yoav Levanon goes all in with this sparkling and dramatic display of Liszt, says Rebecca Franks in her review
Instrumental
Review: Scarlatti: A Man of Genius (Francesco Corti)
In his review, Nicholas Anderson enjoys the bravura of the Italian harpsichordist Francesco Corti’s survey of these evocative solo works by Domenico Scarlatti
Review: Brahms • Schubert: Piano Works (Alexandre Kantorow)
The outstanding French pianist Alexandre Kantorow makes light work of Brahms and Schubert in this exhilarating show, says Jessica Duchen in her review
Yuletide Treats (Duo Pleyel) (Review)
In his review, Michael Church gets a warm glow from Duo Pleyel’s festive selection of four-hand piano arrangements
Opera
Review: Massenet's Hérodiade (Deutsche Oper Berlin)
This luscious live recording from Berlin breathes great life into Massenet’s overlooked gem, Hérodiade, says Christopher Cook in his review
Rihm: Jakob Lenz (Review)
Small numbers make a big impact in this recording of the late Wolfgang Rihm’s Jakob Lenz, says George Hall in his review
Contemplation (Huw Montague Rendall)
Rising star baritone Huw Montague Rendall impresses in this glorious debut recital, says George Hall in his review
Orchestral
Review: Gipps's Symphony No. 1 etc (BBC Philharmonic)
In his review, Geoff Brown is won over by persuasive performances and a splendid discovery in this striking selection box of rarities by Ruth Gipps
Review: An Atlas of Deep Time (John Luther Adams)
In her review, Rebecca Franks is awed by John Luther Adams’s immersive new work with Earth’s timeline at its heart
Donnacha Dennehy: Land of Winter (Review)
In her review, Steph Power is captivated by Donnacha Dennehy’s poetic portrait of Ireland’s unforgiving seasonal shifts