Reviews by Graham Rogers 
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Violin Sonatas (violin: Leonidas Kavakos, piano: Enrico Pace) Ludwig van Beethoven
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. -
Schubert Edition Vol. 7: Erlkönig (baritone: Matthias Goerne; piano: Andreas Haefliger) Franz Schubert
The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. -
The Rape of Lucretia (conductor: Oliver Knussen; Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble) Benjamin Britten
A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. -
Cantatas vol. 51 (Bach Collegium Japan; conductor: Masaaki Suzuki) Johann Sebastian Bach
Fluently stylish and idiomatic, these performers live and breathe Bach's music. -
Das Wohltemperierte Clavier (Books I and II) (feat. piano: András Schiff) Johann Sebastian Bach
Schiff transcends all questions of instrumentation to deliver a pure experience. -
Don Giovanni (Ildebrando D'Arcangelo; Mahler Chamber Orchestra; conductor: Yannick Nezet-Seguin) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The most exciting and consistently well-sung Don Giovanni to appear for several years. -
The Beethoven Journey: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 (feat. piano: Leif Ove Andsnes; Mahler Chamber Orchestra) Ludwig van Beethoven
The first step on what seems to be a joyous journey for the Norwegian pianist. -
Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 21 (feat. piano: Mitsuko Uchida; The Cleveland Orchestra) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Uchida's measured approach reaps rewards, capturing the joy in this life-affirming music. -
Violin Concertos / The Hebrides (violin: Alina Ibragimova; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; conductor: Vladimir Jurowski) Felix Mendelssohn
Ibragimova’s svelte, unforced violin tone is just right. -
La Finta Giardiniera (Freiburger Barockorchester; Rene Jacobs) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
An overwhelmingly joyous account of one of Mozart’s lesser-known operas. -
Symphonie Fantastique (Scottish Chamber Orchestra; conductor: Robin Ticciati) Hector Berlioz
Demands to be heard by all lovers of Berlioz's best-known orchestral work. -
Prague / A Summer’s Tale (BBC Symphony Orchestra; conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek) Josef Suk
Bělohlávek and the BBC SO make a powerful case for this intense work. -
Cello Concerto Edward Elgar
A sumptuously recorded new Elgar collection which is impressive throughout. -
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor (conductor: Simon Rattle; Berliner Philharmoniker) Anton Bruckner
Rattle’s new finale is a resounding success, full of boundary-pushing harmonies. -
A New Venetian Coronation 1595 Paul McCreesh / Gabrieli Consort & Players
A vividly atmospheric and engrossing remake. -
Alceste (soprano: Lucy Crowe; tenor: Benjamin Hulett; bass-baritone: Andrew Foster-Williams; Early Opera Company; conductor: Christian Curnyn) George Frideric Handel
The incomplete ‘incidental music’ for Alceste, conducted with liveliness and sensitivity. -
Vivaldi: Sacred Works for Soprano and Concertos Florilegium
An effectively programmed and well-recorded Vivaldi collection. -
Ein Deutsches Requiem (feat. conductor: John Eliot Gardiner; soprano: Katharine Fuge; baritone: Matthew Brook; Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique) Johannes Brahms
A carefully considered, mature and generally persuasive recording. -
Berg & Beethoven: Violin Concertos (Isabelle Faust; Orchestra Mozart; Claudio Abbado) Various Artists
Well matches the angst-ridden Berg of the 30s with Beethoven's 19th century romanticism. -
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (conductor: Marek Janowski; Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin) Richard Wagner
A winning Mesitersinger that more than holds its own with any in the catalogue. -
Duo Sonatas (violin: Rachel Podger viola: Jane Rogers) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Haydn
A warm ambience pervades this highly recommended album. -
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. -
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. -
Ezio (Il Complesso Barocco / Alan Curtis) Christoph Willibald Gluck
Showcases its singers’ virtuosic displays – and what a cast this is. -
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. -
Symphonies Nos. 39 and 40 (Orchestra Mozart; Claudio Abbado) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
An album that absolutely demands to be heard. -
Agrippina (conductor: René Jacobs; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin) George Frideric Handel
This Agrippina is a triumph, unhesitatingly recommended. -
Keyboard Concertos (piano: Alexandre Tharaud) Johann Sebastian Bach
Very much a pianist’s take on these wonderfully life-affirming concertos. -
Piano Sonatas Vol.3 (piano: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet) Joseph Haydn
Insightful recordings which considerably further the cause of greater Haydn appreciation. -
Chamber Vespers The Gonzaga Band
A wealth of great invention and craftsmanship to be appreciated. -
Guillaume Tell (conductor: Antonio Pappano; orchestra: Orchestra dell'Accademia Santa Cecilia) Gioachino Rossini
A new recording that ought to win Rossini’s last operatic word many new fans. -
Stabat Mater Gioachino Rossini
A splendid new account of Rossini’s dramatic, art-defining work. -
Keyboard Music Vol.2 (fortepianist: Kristian Bezuidenhout) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Bezuidenhout really does Mozart’s solo piano music the fullest justice. -
A Worcester Ladymass Trio Mediaeval
An absolute delight that has been worth the wait. -
I Puritani (Conductor: Vittorio Gui; The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; The Glyndebourne Chorus) Vincenzo Bellini
A fitting tribute to the phenomenal career of Joan Sutherland. -
Ottone in Villa (Il Giardino Armonico; director: Giovanni Antonini) Antonio Vivaldi
It’s not the first recording of Ottone in Villa, but it will be hard to beat. -
Violin Concertos (feat. violin: Rachel Podger; Brecon Baroque) Johann Sebastian Bach
No one will go wrong with this invigorating album. -
Piano Concertos 22 and 25 (feat. piano: David Fray; conductor: Jaap van Zweden; Philharmonia Orchestra) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A recommended release, recorded with clarity and natural balance. -
Debussy Piano Music Volume IV: 12 Études (piano: Pascal Rogé) Claude Debussy
Packed with remarkable insights that will entrance connoisseurs of the Études. -
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 Johannes Brahms
An idiosyncratic account offering a wealth of authoritative insight. -
Duo Sonatas Vol. 3 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Full of variety and invention, this is delightful music calculated to have wide appeal. -
Die Zauberflöte Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Jacobs’s account is a game-changer: we will never listen to this the same way again. -
Mass in B Minor Johann Sebastian Bach
Lovers of this great work will find much to appreciate. -
Orphée et Eurydice Christoph Willibald Gluck
Despite some shortcomings, the poignancy of the music shines through here. -
Symphonies 29, 31 'Paris', 32, 35 'Haffner' & 36 'Linz' (feat. cond: Sir Charles Mackerras, orch: Scottish Chamber Orchestra) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mackerras lavishes these magnificent works with love and commitment. -
Ivanhoe Sir Arthur Sullivan
Makes a compelling case for a work that deserves a modern audience. -
The Farewell Concerts Alfred Brendel
A welcome coda to his towering recorded legacy. -
Die Schöpfung (comp: René Jacobs; orch: Freiburger Barockorchester) Haydn
Jacobs’s impeccable Creation is fresh and often illuminating.
