Editor's Choices include a 'superlative' album of Butterworth and Holst from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Manze on Onyx, a 'reference-version' of Tchaikovsky's Album For The Young from Daniil Trifonov on Deutsche Grammophon, and 'an embarrassment of riches' from Lea Desandre, Thomas Dunford and friends in Dowland and Purcell on Erato.
Recording of the Month
Merula: Concerti spirituali
Bernard Foccroulle (organ), InAlto, Lambert Colson
'It is relatively seldom that entire albums are devoted to Merula's talents...InAlto, Colson and the Foccroulles serve up a landmark achievement of sophisticated artistic planning and peerless musicianship.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Editor's Choices
William Grant Still: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 and Margaret Bonds: The Montgomery Variations
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
'The Philadelphia Orchestra play this music with sensitivity and sumptuousness under Yannick Nézet-Séguin...this shoots straight to the top of my list of this year's best albums.'
Available Formats: Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad and Holst: Egdon Heath & St. Paul's Suite
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Manze
'The playing and recording are superlative and this moving collection can be recommended without reservation.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35 & 36, Violin Concerto No. 3
Aylen Pritchin (violin), Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
'All in all, this is an exciting addition to what is fast becoming a major series. The recorded sound lays even the smallest detail on the line, yet nothing is in your face. A great listen.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Martinů String Quartets Nos. 2-3-5-7
Pavel Haas Quartet
'While Martinů's quartets suffer less than total neglect, the present anthology could be a game-changer for a series which, the Seventh apart, gets fewer performances than it deserves.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty, Children's Album, Piano Sonata, Theme and Variations
Daniil Trifonov (piano)
'With all due respect to Mikhail Pletnev's excellent recording of the Album for the Young, Op 39, Trifonov now claims reference-version status.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Songs of Passion
Lea Desandre (mezzo), Thomas Dunford (lute, theorbo), with Alex Rosen (bass-baritone), Jess Dandy (contralto), Laurence Kilsby (tenor), Huw Montague Rendall (baritone); Jupiter
'This is an embarrassment of riches, almost overwhelmingly good...the instrumental playing is so vital and responsive it's as if Dunford has Dowland on speed-dial.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady
Scarlett Strallen (Eliza Doolittle), Jamie Parker (Henry Higgins), Alun Armstrong (Alfred P. Doolittle), Malcolm Sinclair (Colonel Pickering), Laurence Kilsby (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Julia McKenzie (Mrs Pearce), Penelope Wilton (Mrs Higgins); Sinfonia of London, John Wilson
'This is essential listening for anyone who loves musical theatre. Enchantment really does pour out of every door; this is a landmark recording, destined to give enormous and lasting pleasure.'
Available Formats: 2 SACDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
ELEGY
Mary Bevan (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano)
'The overriding impression is one of contained, understated sincerity...It's well nigh faultless, the whole thing, and the most moving recital I've heard for some time.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Mozart: Idomeneo
Andrew Staples (Idomeneo), Magdalena Kožená (Idamante), Sabine Devieilhe (Ilia), Elsa Dreisig (Elettra), Linard Vrielink (Arbace), Allan Clayton (High Priest of Neptune), Tareq Nazmi (Voice of the Oracle); Symphonieorchester und Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle
'Despite controversial moments, Rattle is every bit Gardiner's equal in theatrical energy, and arguably fields the strongest all-round cast in any recording of Mozart's ever-astonishing Enlightenment parable.'
Available Formats: 3 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Reissue/Archive Issue of the Month
Fanny Davies Plays Schumann: The Complete Recordings
Fanny Davies (piano)
'This is a performance [of the Piano Concerto] for the ages, as fresh and spontaneous as many modern performances and in some respects even more so.'
Available Formats: CD, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
