Classical Reviews
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Jakub Hrůša conducts symphonies by Bohuslav Martinů
15th May 2026
The Czech conductor leads the Bamberger Symphoniker in performances of all six of the symphonies by his compatriot that are full of rhythmic vitality, magical textures, and characterful playing from every section of the orchestra.
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Martinů: The Symphonies
Bamberger Symphoniker, Jakub Hrůša
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Inferno from Behzod Abduraimov
8th May 2026
Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov combines the fire and virtuosity suggested by the title and cover of his new album, with a level of poetry and communication which explores the full potential of a varied and engaging solo recital.
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French orchestral favourites from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London
1st May 2026
A beautifully chosen and vividly performed collection of popular French pieces including Dukas's L'Apprenti sorcier, Saint-Saëns’s Danse macabre, suites from Bizet's Carmen, and Wilson's own orchestral transcription of Debussy's Clair de lune.
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Thomas de Hartmann's Esther
24th Apr 2026
De Hartmann's 1946 opera-oratorio about the Biblical queen who thwarts a poisonous courtier's bid to annihilate the Jewish race receives its first complete professional recording courtesy of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits, with Corinne Winters in the title-role.
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De Hartmann: Esther
Corinne Winters (Esther), Yuriy Yurchuk (Assuérus), Andrew Foster-Williams (Mardochée), Bernard Richter (Aman), Olga Bezsmertna (Élise), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Hydaspe /Asaph), Paul Appleby (Chantre), The Grange Festival Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits
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Arvo Pärt from Eva Ollikainen and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
17th Apr 2026
Four very different symphonic works show Pärt's imaginative and harmonic languages changing over time - from the modernist and avant-garde early in his career through to more pensive and spiritual works.
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Jonas Kaufmann's Magische Töne
10th Apr 2026
The superstar tenor sounds in mint condition on this fascinating exploration of operetta by Hungarian-born composers including Emmerich Kálmán, Franz Léhar and Paul Abraham, supported by wonderfully idiomatic playing from the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra under Dirk Kaftan.
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Mendelssohn from Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester
3rd Apr 2026
The Latvian conductor pays homage to his predecessor in Leipzig with fresh, driven accounts of the symphonies and major oratorios which embrace the DNA of earlier approaches without ever sounding self-consciously old-school.
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Antonio Pappano and the LSO perform Holst's The Planets
27th Mar 2026
The London Symphony Orchestra and their Chief Conductor perform a powerful yet mystical account of Gustav Holst's survey of the solar system, alongside a majestic reading of Arnold Bax's Cornish tone poem, Tintagel.
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Bach's St John Passion from Raphaël Pichon and Pygmalion
20th Mar 2026
Raphaël Pichon follows up his benchmark recording of the St Matthew Passion with a much-anticipated account of the St John - with the raw immediacy of the narrative tempered by moments of tenderness.
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JS Bach: Johannes-Passion
Julian Prégardien (Evangelist), Huw Montague Rendall (Jesus), Ying Fang (soprano), Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano), Laurence Kilsby (tenor), Christian Immler (bass-baritone), Etienne Bazola (baritone), Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon
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Early Puccini from Sinfonia of London and John Wilson
13th Mar 2026
With the emphasis on clean lines and rhythmic drive, this collection of student symphonic works, upscaled chamber music and orchestral excerpts from the first three operas presents a fully-rounded Portrait of the Composer As A Young Man.
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Walton from the CBSO and Kazuki Yamada
6th Mar 2026
Kazuki Yamada leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in rhythmically taut accounts of Walton's symphonies, demonstrating his firm understanding and love of the music, and the deep bond he has built with the masterful players of one of the UK's finest orchestras, captured live in superb sound by Deutsche Grammophon.
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Boston Symphony Chamber Players: The Deutsche Grammophon Recordings
5th Mar 2026
Our guest-writer explores a rich anthology of studio recordings from the 1970s, with highlights including a starrily-cast account of Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, Second Viennese School arrangements of Johann Strauss II, and treasurable Debussy with a young Michael Tilson Thomas as pianist.
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Strauss's Elektra from Edward Gardner in Bergen
27th Feb 2026
The Norwegian orchestra capture all the savagery and strange sensuality of Strauss's dysfunctional family drama in glorious technicolour on this live recording from 2023, with Iréne Theorin in the title-role and Iain Paterson as her avenging brother.
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Symphonic works by Elsa Barraine
20th Feb 2026
Two symphonies and a pair of pictorial tone-poems show the long-neglected twentieth-century French composer at her finest, with a musical language drawing on both watercolour Impressionism and bold modernism.
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The Calidore String Quartet weave an American Tapestry
13th Feb 2026
The New York-based quartet present music by three of their compatriots (plus one Viennese émigré), in a thoughtful album showcasing the diversity and richness of twentieth-century American music.
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American Tapestry
Calidore String Quartet
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Goldberg Variations from Yunchan Lim
6th Feb 2026
Yunchan Lim brings an expressively muscular yet idiomatic approach in this live recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, making this new album a treasurable addition to a catalogue which includes many celebrated recordings.
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Overtures from the British Isles Vol. 3
30th Jan 2026
Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic lead a whistle-stop tour through the highways and byways of British music around the time of World War Two, taking in works by composers including Havergal Brian, Daniel Jones, Richard Arnell and Robin Orr.
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Renaud Capuçon celebrates his fiftieth birthday with Bach
23rd Jan 2026
The violinist marks a milestone with a classy album of Bach's sonatas and partitas, swapping awestruck veneration for simple personal enjoyment.
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J.S. Bach: Sonatas & Partitas
Renaud Capuçon (violin)
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A Winterreise with a difference from Allan Clayton
16th Jan 2026
The British tenor joins forces with Aurora Orchestra under its founder Nicholas Collon for Hans Zender's 'composed interpretation' of Schubert's bleak song-cycle, premiered in 1993 and bringing the piece's chilly soundscapes to life with an ensemble which includes accordion, guitar, a battery of percussion and a wind-machine.
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Mendelssohn and Enescu Octets from the Ébène and Belcea Quartets
9th Jan 2026
String octets from Mendelssohn and Enescu - both in their teens at the time of composition - show the two composers’ genius already in full flower. The Ébène and Belcea quartets give it their all and the results are spectacular.
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Enescu & Mendelssohn: Octets
Quatuor Ébène, Belcea Quartet
