Recording of the month

Beethoven ‘Diabelli’ Variations 

Mitsuko Uchida pf 

Decca 

This revelatory recording of the Diabelli Variations – Mitsuko Uchida’s first solo album for almost a decade – stands out as a dazzling addition to this work’s rich interpretative history. A superb release. 

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‘Mozart Momentum 1786’ 

Mahler Chamber Orchestra / Leif Ove Andsnes pf

Sony Classical 

Volume two of ‘Mozart Momentum’ is every bit as brilliant as the first; focusing on works from 1786, it’s as rich in collaborative spirit as in pianistic refinement.

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JS Bach ‘The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol 6’

Benjamin Alard clav/hpd 

Harmonia Mundi 

Book one of The Well-Tempered Clavier is brought to us by Benjamin Alard on a remarkable sounding (and looking) harpsichord. A superb performance. 

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JS Bach Goldberg Variations

Klára Würtz pf 

Piano Classics 

Klára Würtz’s Goldbergs explores Bach’s extraordinary and revered set of variations with selfless commitment and personality, bringing delicacy, drama and architectural splendour to this great music.

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Handel ‘Winged Hands’

Francesco Corti hpd 

Arcana 

Our second harpsichord album of the month, and this time it’s Handel, and Francesco Corti, a player who can draw glorious interpretative colour from both his instrument and his chosen repertoire. 

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Schubert Piano Sonatas Nos 13 & 18 

Stephen Hough pf 

Hyperion 

Really lovely playing from Stephen Hough, who offers us the most beautifully shaped sound, and a vision of Schubert’s music that feels as exploratory as it does rich in understanding of those wonderful works. 

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R Clarke ‘Sempiternam’

State Choir Latvija / Māris Sirmais 

Métier 

This, the second release by the Métier label devoted to the music of Rhona Clarke, perfectly pairs the composer’s choral music with the superb State Choir Latvija’s richly resonant sound.

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Jóhannsson Drone Mass 

Theatre of Voices; American Contemporary Music Ensemble / Paul Hillier 

DG 

The compelling sound world of the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson is powerfully captured in this epic work.  

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Nesbit Sacred Choral Music

The Choir of King’s College London / Joseph Fort 

Delphian 

Edward Nesbit’s music entrances with a distinctive voice that pairs a mysterious melodic beauty, superbly sung by Ruby Hughes, with a beautifully crafted texture.

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Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge and Other Songs 

Nicky Spence ten Julius Drake pf Timothy Ridout va Piatti Quartet

Hyperion 

Nicky Spence and colleagues deliver this set of Vaughan Williams songs with the passion and conviction of true storytellers.

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DVD/blu-ray

Zandonai Francesca da Rimini 

Sols; Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Carlo Rizzi 

Naxos 

‘A great achievement,’ writes Tim Ashley of this extraordinary Berlin production of Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini.

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Reissue/archive

‘Norma Fisher at the BBC, Vol 3’

Norma Fisher pf 

Sonetto Classics 

The third instalment of a wonderful series of BBC broadcasts by famed teacher Norma Fisher. It’s been a remarkable journey of discovery, and it’s a remarkable story too, which you can read about in the May issue.

Read the review

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