Jun. 1, 2017
Several releases in May celebrated the 450th birthday of Claudio Monteverdi, including ones from Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano; La Compagna del Madrigale; the Huelgas Ensemble; and a reissue of La Venexiana's recording of his legendary opera L'Orfeo. Those wanting to try something new might listen to the music of the prolific David Hackbridge Johnson, played by the Royal Liverpool Philharonic. For distinctly American music, sample the late William Appling playing Scott Joplin or Bette Midler's return to Broadway as Dolly Levy.
Blair Sanderson
Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano - Monteverdi: Night - Stories of Lovers and Warriors
William Appling - Scott Joplin:The Complete Rags, Waltzes & Marches
Stefan Blunier, Beethoven Orchester Bonn - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7
Khatia Buniatishvili, Paavo Järvi - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3
Claudio Cavina, La Venexiana - Monteverdi: L'Orfeo
Richard Egarr - J.S. Bach: Complete Partitas
Edward Gardner, Doric String Quartet - Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Introduction and Allegro
Hélène Grimaud - Perspectives
Marek Janowski, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Kristjan Järvi, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - A Sousa Celebration
Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"; Overture, Fidelio
Jonas Kaufmann, Jonathan Nott - Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Oliver Knussen, Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble - Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale
Giuseppe Maletto, La Compagna del Madrigale, Cantica Symphonia, La Pifarescha - Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine
Paul Mann, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - David Hackbridge Johnson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 1
Bette Midler - Hello, Dolly! [2017 Broadway Cast Recording]
Andris Nelsons, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 3; Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture
Maurizio Pollini - Chopin: Late Works, Opp. 59-64
Jean Rondeau - Bach Dynastie: Concertos
Paul Van Nevel, Huelgas Ensemble - The Mirror of Claudio Monteverdi
James Manheim
Piotr Anderszewski - Mozart, Schumann: Fantaisies
Daniel Barenboim - On My New Piano
Susan Bickley - Brian Elias: Electra Mourns
Martyn Brabbins, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Elgar: Enigma Variations
Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima - The Italian Job
Natalie Clein - Bloch, Dallapiccola, Ligeti
Reinbert de Leeuw, Asko-Schönberg Ensemble, Netherlands Radio Choir - György Kurtág: Collected Works for Ensemble and Choir
Amy Dickson - Island Songs
Peter Donohoe - Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues
Gerald Finley, Bergen Philharmonic, Edward Gardner - Sibelius: In the Stream of Life
Alec Frank-Gemmill, Alasdair Beatson - Noble and Melancholy Instrument
Sol Gabetta - Cello
Elīna Garanča, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Roberto Abbado - Revive
John Eliot Gardiner - Bach: St. Matthew Passion
Aida Garifullina - Aida
Alban Gerhardt, Markus Becker - Rostropovich Encores
Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra - Atterburg: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5
Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury - Bach: St. John Passion
Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica- Mieczyslaw Weinberg: Chamber Symphonies; Piano Quintet
Gidon Kremer, Giedré Dirvanauskaité, Daniil Trifonov - Preghiera: Rachmaninov Piano Trios
Min Kym - Gone
Leonore Piano Trio - Taneyev, Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Trios
Michail Lifits, Szymanowski Quartet - Shostakovich: 24 Preludes Op. 34; Piano Quintet Op. 57
London Haydn Quartet - Haydn: String Quartets Opp. 54 & 55
LSO Wind Ensemble - Mozart: Serenade No. 10 for winds 'Gran Partita'
Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - Bach: Johannes-Passion
Regula Mühlemann - Mozart Arias
Vadim Repin, Donald Runnicles - MacMillan: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 4
Pepe Romero, Vicente Coves, Manuel Coves - Federico Moreno Torroba: Guitar Concertos, Vol. 2
Michelle Ross - Discovering Bach
The Sixteen, Britten Sinfonia, Harry Christophers - James MacMillan: Stabat Mater
Robert Smith, Paolo Pandolfo - Excellency of Hand: English Viola da Gamba Duos
Andreas Staier, Daniel Sepec, Roel Dieltiens - Franz Schubert: Piano Trios Op. 99 & 100
Christopher Stark - Kate Whitley: I Am I Say
Stile Antico - Divine Theatre: Sacred Motets by Giaches de Wert
David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus, Bach Camerata- J.S. Bach: St. John Passion
Camilla Tilling - Loves Me ... Loves Me Not ...: Gluck & Mozart Arias
University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir, Paul Mealor - Immortal Memory: A Burns Night Celebration
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier - Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott
The Choir of Westminster Abbey - Finzi: Lo, the full, final sacrifice; Bax: This worldes joie
Blair Sanderson
Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano - Monteverdi: Night - Stories of Lovers and Warriors
William Appling - Scott Joplin:The Complete Rags, Waltzes & Marches
Stefan Blunier, Beethoven Orchester Bonn - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7
Khatia Buniatishvili, Paavo Järvi - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3
Claudio Cavina, La Venexiana - Monteverdi: L'Orfeo
Richard Egarr - J.S. Bach: Complete Partitas
Edward Gardner, Doric String Quartet - Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Introduction and Allegro
Hélène Grimaud - Perspectives
Marek Janowski, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Chorus - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Kristjan Järvi, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - A Sousa Celebration
Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"; Overture, Fidelio
Jonas Kaufmann, Jonathan Nott - Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Oliver Knussen, Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble - Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale
Giuseppe Maletto, La Compagna del Madrigale, Cantica Symphonia, La Pifarescha - Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine
Paul Mann, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - David Hackbridge Johnson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 1
Bette Midler - Hello, Dolly! [2017 Broadway Cast Recording]
Andris Nelsons, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 3; Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture
Maurizio Pollini - Chopin: Late Works, Opp. 59-64
Jean Rondeau - Bach Dynastie: Concertos
Paul Van Nevel, Huelgas Ensemble - The Mirror of Claudio Monteverdi
James Manheim
Piotr Anderszewski - Mozart, Schumann: Fantaisies
Daniel Barenboim - On My New Piano
Susan Bickley - Brian Elias: Electra Mourns
Martyn Brabbins, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Elgar: Enigma Variations
Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima - The Italian Job
Natalie Clein - Bloch, Dallapiccola, Ligeti
Reinbert de Leeuw, Asko-Schönberg Ensemble, Netherlands Radio Choir - György Kurtág: Collected Works for Ensemble and Choir
Amy Dickson - Island Songs
Peter Donohoe - Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues
Gerald Finley, Bergen Philharmonic, Edward Gardner - Sibelius: In the Stream of Life
Alec Frank-Gemmill, Alasdair Beatson - Noble and Melancholy Instrument
Sol Gabetta - Cello
Elīna Garanča, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Roberto Abbado - Revive
John Eliot Gardiner - Bach: St. Matthew Passion
Aida Garifullina - Aida
Alban Gerhardt, Markus Becker - Rostropovich Encores
Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra - Atterburg: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5
Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury - Bach: St. John Passion
Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica- Mieczyslaw Weinberg: Chamber Symphonies; Piano Quintet
Gidon Kremer, Giedré Dirvanauskaité, Daniil Trifonov - Preghiera: Rachmaninov Piano Trios
Min Kym - Gone
Leonore Piano Trio - Taneyev, Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Trios
Michail Lifits, Szymanowski Quartet - Shostakovich: 24 Preludes Op. 34; Piano Quintet Op. 57
London Haydn Quartet - Haydn: String Quartets Opp. 54 & 55
LSO Wind Ensemble - Mozart: Serenade No. 10 for winds 'Gran Partita'
Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - Bach: Johannes-Passion
Regula Mühlemann - Mozart Arias
Vadim Repin, Donald Runnicles - MacMillan: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 4
Pepe Romero, Vicente Coves, Manuel Coves - Federico Moreno Torroba: Guitar Concertos, Vol. 2
Michelle Ross - Discovering Bach
The Sixteen, Britten Sinfonia, Harry Christophers - James MacMillan: Stabat Mater
Robert Smith, Paolo Pandolfo - Excellency of Hand: English Viola da Gamba Duos
Andreas Staier, Daniel Sepec, Roel Dieltiens - Franz Schubert: Piano Trios Op. 99 & 100
Christopher Stark - Kate Whitley: I Am I Say
Stile Antico - Divine Theatre: Sacred Motets by Giaches de Wert
David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus, Bach Camerata- J.S. Bach: St. John Passion
Camilla Tilling - Loves Me ... Loves Me Not ...: Gluck & Mozart Arias
University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir, Paul Mealor - Immortal Memory: A Burns Night Celebration
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier - Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott
The Choir of Westminster Abbey - Finzi: Lo, the full, final sacrifice; Bax: This worldes joie