In every issue of Gramophone, Editor Martin Cullingford chooses 12 albums (10 new releases, plus one DVD/blu-ray and one archive recommendation) as his Editor's Choice. Below, you will find the albums selected as Editor's Choice in the October 2023 issue, beginning with the Recording of the Month. 

We've included links to the album reviews in Gramophone's Reviews Database, a digital archive of all of our reviews from 1983 to today. To find out more about subscribing to Gramophone and the Reviews Database, please visit: magsubscriptions.com

Recording of the month

Parry Scenes from Prometheus Unbound. Blest Pair of Sirens 

Sarah Fox, Sarah Connolly, David Butt Philip, Neal Davies, Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players / William Vann

Chandos 

Parry’s compelling response to Shelley’s lyrical drama is given a superb performance of real conviction, conducted by William Vann and with a line-up of starry soloists.

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Fuchs ‘Orchestral Works, Vol 1’ 

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson 

Chandos 

The ever-excellent Sinfonia of London turn their virtuosity to new music, and to richly scored, beautifully crafted works by Kenneth Fuchs – all captured in super-stylish Chandos sound.

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Liszt Eine Faust-Symphonie 

Staatskapelle Weimar / Kirill Karabits 

Audite 

The atmosphere and unfolding narrative of Liszt’s epic choral symphony are wonderfully and vividly presented here by Krill Karabits and his excellent Weimar musicians. 

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‘From Mannheim to Berlin’ 

Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde vc picc

Challenge Classics 

A fabulously enjoyable opportunity to enjoy the unique sound of the violoncello piccolo, an instrument Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde clearly understands intimately and relishes. 

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‘Infinite Voyage’ 

Emerson Quartet 

Alpha 

What a thought-provoking way to crown 40 years of excellence: joined by Barbara Hannigan and Bertrand Chamayou as guests, the Emersons sound as vital at the end as they did the start of their acclaimed career. 

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Fauré Complete Barcarolles and Nocturnes 

Marc-André Hamelin pf

Hyperion 

Hamelin’s survey of Fauré’s complete Barcarolles and Nocturnes allows us to hear and investigate these fascinating works in the most impressive pianism imaginable.

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Rodgers Oklahoma! 

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson 

Chandos 

John Wilson’s second appearance this month: Oklahoma! presented in full, and every single second infused with immense care, love and belief in its place as a pivotal 20th-century work. 

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Schubert Die schöne Müllerin 

Konstantin Krimmel bar Daniel Heide pf

Alpha 

Konstantin Krimmel’s poetically evocative voice powerfully conveys his interpretation of Schubert’s tragic cycle, pianist Daniel Heide matching his compelling vision perfectly. 

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‘Sirens’ Song’ 

The Sixteen / Harry Christophers 

Coro 

One of this country’s finest choral ensembles brings us a collection of mostly a cappella, mostly 20th-century, British song. Another beautiful addition to The Sixteen’s ever-impressive catalogue. 

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‘You did not want for joy’ 

Carolyn Sampson sop Matthew Wadsworth lute/theorbo

Deux-Elles 

These superb performers take music – and song styles – that span almost the entirety of classical music history and tie it together in a perfect, and perfectly beautiful, recital.

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DVD/blu-ray

Janáček Katya Kabanová 

Soloists; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Jakub Hrůša 

Unitel Edition 

‘Musically overwhelming,’ writes Tim Ashley of this performance of Barrie Kosky’s much talked-about production. 

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Reissue/archive

Chopin ‘The Complete Recordings’ 

Robert Lortat pf

APR 

Immaculate refurbishments – says our expert on historic recording, Rob Cowan, so praise indeed – of performances that offer a wonderful insight into this pianist’s achievements of almost a century ago.