Editor's Choice: November 2023 | The best new classical recordings

Friday, November 3, 2023

Music by Offenbach, Brahms, Mahler, Ravel, Beethoven and Italian Renaissance composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi is featured on this month's Editor's Choice recordings

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 November 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

offenbach

Offenbach Le princesse de Trébizonde 

Sols; Opera Rara Chorus; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Paul Daniel

Opera Rara 

Offenbach’s opéra-bouffe brought wonderfully to life by an expert cast, conductor and players; another triumph for Opera Rara, the superb champion of lesser-known works.

Read the Gramophone review


brahms

Brahms Double Concerto 

Christian Tetzlaff vn Tanja Tetzlaff vc Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Paavo Järvi

Ondine 

A wonderfully played album, dedicated to Lars Vogt by friends and collaborators.

Read the Gramophone review


mahler

Mahler Symphony No 1 

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Semyon Bychkov 

Pentatone 

A highlight in an ongoing Mahler series from Semyon Bychkov, one beautifully played by the Czech Philharmonic, ever-alert to the music’s inner themes and voices. 

Read the Gramophone review


ravel

Ravel Daphnis et Chloé 

Sinfonia of London / John Wilson 

Chandos 

Can John Wilson do no wrong? From the initial and exhaustive study of the score, to the fine studio sound, this is hugely impressive recording from a stunning ensemble and conductor. 

Read the Gramophone review


respighi

Respighi Roman Trilogy 

Orchestra Nazionale Sinfonica della RAI / Robert Treviño 

Ondine 

This is an immensely enjoyable recording of Respighi’s ‘Roman Trilogy’, Robert Treviño capturing every element of the work’s intensity and atmosphere. 

Read the Gramophone review


weinberg

Weinberg Concertinos 

Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich / Daniel Grossmann 

Onyx 

A powerful performance from the Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich under Daniel Grossmann of Weinberg; a significant addition to the composer’s catalogue. 

Read the Gramophone review


Beethoven Piano Trios, Vol 2 

Sitkovetsky Trio 

BIS 

Two Beethoven trios brilliantly presented by the Sitkovetsky Trio: an excellent interpretation of an earlier work in the genre, and a tender, poetic performance of the magnificent Archduke. 

Read the Gramophone review


hommage

‘Hommage’ 

Sergio Tiempo pf and guests 

Avanti 

When Sergio Tiempo’s guests here include Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire, you know you are in for a rather special album of collaborative music-making.

Read the Gramophone review


daser

Daser Missa Pater noster 

Cinquecento 

Hyperion 

An album of Ludwig Daser’s music won this year’s Early Award, and here’s a brilliant way to continue the journey of discovery into the composer’s work, with Cinquecento on excellent form.

Read the Gramophone review


luzzaschi

Luzzaschi Il concerto segreto 

La Néréide 

Ricercar 

This is superb singing from La Néréide, a young ensemble of three wonderfully matched artists, who bring a haunting beauty to the music of Italian Renaissance composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi.

Read the Gramophone review


DVD/blu-ray

schreker

Schreker Der Schatzgräber 

Sols; Deutsche Oper Berlin / Marc Albrecht 

Naxos 

A huge success in the 1920s, Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber (‘The Treasure Seeker’) was hardly heard again until more recent times, and gets superlative advocacy here. 

Read the Gramophone review


Reissue/archive

cherkassky

Shura Cherkassky - The Complete 78rpm Recordings 1923-1950 

Shura Cherkassky pf 

APR 

The complete 78s of Shura Cherkassky, showcasing his early era, and another generous contribution from APR to our understanding of historic piano recordings. 

Read the Gramophone review


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