Latest Classical Reviews

• Complete Piano Sonatas – Volume 1: Heroic Ideals / Eternal Feminine Youth (piano: HJ Lim) Ludwig van Beethoven

  
  Pianist Lim tackles these pieces with invention as much as she does with respect.

  reviewed by Daniel Ross

• Symphony No. 15 (conductor: Bernard Haitink; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) Dmitri Shostakovich

  
  The focus is on its genuinely symphonic breadth, the deep shadows and pregnant pauses.

  reviewed by Andrew McGregor

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• Les nuits d'été / Harold en Italie (viola: Antoine Tamestit; mezzo-soprano: Anne Sofie von Otter; Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble; Marc Minkowski) Hector Berlioz

  
  An account of Berlioz’s Harold in Italy that’s sure to exceed expectations.

  reviewed by Andrew McGregor

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• Duo Sonatas (violin: Rachel Podgerl viola: Jane Rogers) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Haydn

  
  A warm ambience pervades this highly recommended album.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• Duo Sonatas Volume 5 (Duo Amadè; violin: Catherine Mackintosh; fortepiano: Geoffrey Govier) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  
  The duo’s individualistic, historically informed approach can be extremely illuminating.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

• Flute and Harp Concerto / Sinfonia Concertante for Winds (Orchestra Mozart; conductor: Claudio Abbado) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  
  Some of the most satisfying and energising performances you will ever hear.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

• Symphonies 2, 4, 7, 9; Lieder (conductor: Otto Klemperer; Philharmonia Orchestra) Gustav Mahler

  
  An indispensable set for anyone looking to get closer to Mahler.

  reviewed by Daniel Ross

• Ezio (Il Complesso Barocco / Alan Curtis) Christoph Willibald Gluck

  
  Showcases its singers’ virtuosic displays – and what a cast this is.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione - 12 concerti, Op. 8 (The Avison Ensemble; violin: Pavlo Beznosuik) Antonio Vivaldi

  
  A delightful new set which showcases The Four Seasons’ startling originality.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• The Christmas Album Libera

  
  What’s a wide-ranging programme on paper is delivered with single-flavour monotony.

  reviewed by Charlotte Gardner

• Symphonies Nos. 39 and 40 (Orchestra Mozart; Claudio Abbado) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  
  An album that absolutely demands to be heard.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

• The Symphonies (conductor: Riccardo Chailly; Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) Ludwig Van Beethoven

  
  Readings focused entirely on the composer, not on debating how things ‘should’ sound.

  reviewed by Daniel Ross

• Felt Nils Frahm

  
  A wonderful, intimate and transportative new album from the German composer.

  reviewed by Luke Turner

  • Tom Ravenscroft

• Requiem; Cantique de Jean Racine (conductor: Paavo Järvi; Choeur de l'Orchestre de Paris; Orchestre de Paris) Gabriel Fauré

  
  A beautifully warm, full sound which colours both timbre and interpretation.

  reviewed by Charlotte Gardner

• Acallam na Senórach / An Irish Colloquy (National Chamber Choir of Ireland; guitar: Stewart French; Paul Hillier) Tarik O'Regan

  
  Demonstrates O'Regan's natural feel for the voice, and his strong rhythms.

  reviewed by Charlotte Gardner

• Agrippina (conductor: René Jacobs; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin) George Frideric Handel

  
  This Agrippina is a triumph, unhesitatingly recommended.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

  • CD Review Disc of the Week

• Dissonances – String Quartetes KV 421 & 465; Divertimento KV 138 (Quator Ebene) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  
  Inspired and personal readings of Mozart’s quartets from the Gramophone award-winners.

  reviewed by Adrian Edwards

• Keyboard Concertos (piano: Alexandre Tharaud) Johann Sebastian Bach

  
  Very much a pianist’s take on these wonderfully life-affirming concertos.

  reviewed by Graham Rogers

• Ocean's Kingdom (conductor: John Wilson; The London Classical Orchestra) Paul McCartney

  
  McCartney is out of his depth on this four-movement piece for the New York City Ballet.

  reviewed by Charlotte Gardner

• In the Beginning Choir of Merton College, Oxford

  
  A stunning recording debut, and a choir to keep an eye and ear on.

  reviewed by Charlotte Gardner