Welcome

There’s a rather Russian flavour running through this month’s selections, led by Tchaikovsky whose Fourth Symphony and sacred choral works take the top spots in Orchestral and Choral & Song. Then there’s the LSO, which takes on Shostakovich 1 and

5, and the Oslo Philharmonic, which unwraps a feast of Rimsky-korsakov, plus reviews of works by two members of the Prokofiev family.

We have some rarities, too, in the shape of an opera by William Alwyn, a mass by Francisco Valls and a piano concerto by Brazilian composer Almeida Prado. All that is topped of with another set of short, sharp ‘Brief Notes’ and a round up of some of the very best new music being written for the screen – including a celebration of Joe Hisaishi. Michael Beek Reviews Editor

This month’s critics

John Allison, Nicholas Anderson, Michael Beek, Terry Blain, Kate Bolton-porciatti, Geo Brown, Anthony Burton, Michael Church, Christopher Cook, Martin Cotton, Christopher Dingle, Misha Donat, Jessica Duchen, George Hall, Malcolm Hayes, Julian Haylock, Claire Jackson, Daniel Ja é, Stephen Johnson, Berta Joncus, Erik Levi, Natasha Loges, Andrew Mcgregor, David Nice, Roger Nichols, Bayan Northcott, Steph Power, Anthony Pryer, Paul Riley, Jan Smaczny, Michael Tanner, Roger Thomas, Sarah Urwin Jones, Kate Wakeling, Alexandra Wilson

KEY TO STAR RATINGS

★★★★★ Outstanding

★★★★ Excellent

★★★ Good

★★ Disappointing

★ Poor