Editor's Choice: June 2025 | The best new classical recordings
Friday, May 16, 2025
The month we feature new recordings of Strauss's Salome, Shostakovich's piano concertos, CPE Bach's violin sonatas, Elgar's The Kingdom and more
Recording of the month
R Strauss Salome
Sols; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (Chandos)
There’s a palpable intensity to this Salome, conductor Edward Gardner in perfect control of the drama, while soprano Malin Byström offers a compelling portrait of Richard Strauss’s lead.
Bruckner. Schumann ‘Symphonies oubliées’
Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall (Alia Vox)
Jordi Savall brilliantly brings a historically informed approach to these early works from Bruckner and Schumann, the results full of highly involving detail.
Shostakovich Cello Concerto No 2 Britten Cello Sonata
Sheku Kanneh-Mason vc Sinfonia of London / John Wilson (Decca)
Sheku Kanneh-Mason is once again a highly reflective cellist, here joined by John Wilson and pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.
Shostakovich Piano Concertos
Yuja Wang pf Boston Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (DG)
‘Dazzling execution and playful characterisation’: Jed Distler perfectly captures Yuja Wang on this a superb addition to Nelsons’s Shostakovich survey.
CPE Bach Violin Sonatas
Ryo Terakado vn Fabio Bonizzoni hpd (Challenge Classics)
Violinist Ryo Terakado and harpsichord Fabio Bonizzoni make a wonderfully engaging pair, their glorious instrumental sound and evident rapport shining in CPE Bach’s music.
Dvořák. Price Piano Quintets
Marc-André Hamelin pf Takács Quartet (Hyperion)
Once again the Takács Quartet excel – this time with Dvořák and Price – and as with all their guests, they welcome pianist Marc-André Hamelin to their ranks with effortless style.
Scriabin Vers la flamme
Yevgeny Sudbin pf (BIS)
Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin returns to Scriabin, with whose music he met early acclaim, bringing a renewed insight and evident enjoyment to the composer’s unique world of exploratory colour and rhythm.
Brahms Lieder
Christian Gerhaher bar Gerold Huber pf (Sony Classical)
Baritone Christian Gerhaher and pianist Gerold Huber’s partnership reaps ever-greater rewards, a return to the music of Brahms demonstrating the interpretative intimacy and humanity in which they excel.
Elgar The Kingdom
Sols; Crouch End Festival Chorus; London Mozart Players / David Temple (Signum)
Elgar’s The Kingdom receives a stirring performance from David Temple, his Crouch End Festival Chorus, the London Mozart Players and superb soloists.
‘Vox Feminae’
Les Kapsber’girls (Alpha)
A fantastic programme of vocal work by Baroque female composers, from an ensemble, Les Kapsber’girls, who journey through the emotions conveyed with captivating characterisation throughout.
Video of the month
‘Depictions of Nature’
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Marin Alsop (Digital Concert Hall)
Marin Alsop’s Berlin Philharmonic debut is a standout highlight on the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall this month.
Reissue/archive
Guarneri Quartet ‘The Complete RCA Album Collection’
(RCA)
This 49-CD Guarneri Quartet box-set offers an opportunity to delve into the ensemble’s significant contribution to chamber music on record throughout much of the second half of the 20th century.
