Recording of the Month

Vivaldi Twelve Concertos, ‘L’estro armonico’, Op 3 

Brecon Baroque / Rachel Podger vn 

(Channel Classics) 

'For all the stardom bestowed on many of today’s violinist, few are as continually inspiring as Rachel Podger, both to hear but clearly – given the magnificent sense of rapport that’s so evident in all her releases, not least this one – to work with too.' Read review

No 2

JS Bach Goldberg Variations

Britten Sinfonia / Thomas Gould 

(Harmonia Mundi) 

'Sitkovetsky’s Goldberg transcription really illuminates the inventiveness in Bach’s music, not least when played as superbly as it is here.' Read review

No 3

‘And the Bridge is Love’

English Chamber Orchestra / Julian Lloyd Webber

(Naxos)

'Julian Lloyd Webber, here as (primarily) conductor, offers an impressive disc of English music that demonstrates a richly rewarding affinity for the repertoire.' Read review

No 4

Beethoven Complete Works for Cello and Piano 

Matt Haimovitz vc Christopher O’Riley fp 

(Pentatone)

'Haimovitz and O’Riley impress in both the lyrical moments and those in which completely committed drive is required.' Read review

No 5

Beethoven ‘The Complete String Quartets, Vol 1’ 

Elias Quartet 

(Wigmore Hall Live)

'The former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists have a boldness of playing that grips you from the beginning. It bodes extraordinarily well for the cycle.' Read review

No 6

Stanford Chamber Works

Gould Piano Trio with David Adams va 

(Naxos)

'It’s more than three years since the previous Stanford volume from this superb group: they clearly love this music, and it’s a joyous listen to place alongside its equally fine predecessors.' Read review

No 7

Dohnányi ‘The Complete Solo Piano Music, Vol 3’ 

Martin Roscoe pf 

(Hyperion)

'The ever-impressive Martin Roscoe continues his Dohnányi survey with this disc of the composer’s complete solo piano works, often beguiling music and all brilliantly played.' Read review 

No 8

Liszt ‘The Complete Songs, Vol 3’ 

Gerald Finley bar Julius Drake pf 

(Hyperion)

'Gerald Finley’s approach gives these songs a captivatingly personal dimension, their originality feeling newly discovered in these impressive performances.' Read review

No 9

Valls Choral Works

La Grande Chapelle / Albert Recasens 

(Lauda)

'The controversy surrounding this Mass in 1702 may feel far away, but the performance of this composer’s spirited Iberian polyphony is as vivid as one could wish for.' Read review

No 10

‘A Painted Tale’

Nicholas Phan ten Michael Leopold lute Ann Marie Morgan va da gamba 

(Avie)

'As shown by this programme of Dowland, Purcell and others, Nicholas Phan is a wonderfully communicative tenor: a fine follow-up to his two Britten recitals.' Read review

DVD

Franck ‘Father of the Organ Symphony’ 

(Fugue State Films) 

'From the biographical to the technical, a remarkably comprehensive exploration of Franck the organist and his music.' Read review

Reissue/archive

Bruckner Symphony No 7 Mozart Symphony No 38

BPO / Carl Schuricht

(Testament)

‘Utterly unmissable’ writes Rob Cowan of this Bruckner 7/Mozart Prague pairing.