Our monthly selection of shorter reviews has new works and forgotten gems

Babajanian • Tchaikovsky

Piano Trios

Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) et al BIS-2372 Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio can sometimes feel baggy, but the intensity of sound, emotion and purpose turn this into a gripping, charged performance. Arno Babajanian’s Trio is an excellent companion. (RF) ★★★★

JS Bach Magnificat

La Chapelle Harmonique et al

Chateau de Versailles CVS009 Splendidly alert, life-affirming musicianship here, particularly the brass playing in the opening minutes of the Magnificat and the thrilling final moments of BWV 63. (OC) ★★★★

Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2 etc Baibe Skride (violin) et al Orfeo C 950 191 Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto is paired with two rhapsodies here, performed with real bite. Skride’s characterful playing is matched by the orchestra’s sturdy sound. (FP) ★★★★

Bon Six Flute Sonatas

Vladimir Soares (recorder) et al

Drama Musica DRAMA007 Eighteenth-century Italian composer Anna Bon has since disappeared into relative obscurity. The young prodigy’s first set of flute sonatas – performed here on recorder with purity and control – suggests that this is entirely undeserving. (FP) ★★★

John A Carollo Symphony No. 3 Lso/miran Vaupoti Navona NV6250 There are invigorating moments of lyrical drama in this work, itself jam-packed with themes and colourful ideas. There’s some disconnect between movements perhaps, but great playing from the LSO. (MB) ★★★

Franck Redemption

Flemish Radio Choir et al

Musique en Wallonie MEW 1994

The music contains some longeurs, but there are some lovely moments scattered throughout Franck’s Berliozian oratorio. Playing and singing are top notch. (OC) ★★★★

Gesualdo Madrigali

Exaudi Vocal Ensemble

Winter & Winter 9102592

This programme of 19 remarkable madrigals by the Italian composer, a horrifying character with a lurid biography, is sung with blazing intensity and total precision by Exaudi. (RF) ★★★★★

Gesualdo

Secondo Libro Di Madrigali

La Compagnia del Madrigale

Glossa GCD 922809

The distinctive timbres of individual voices bring intimacy to La Compagnia del Madrigale’s latest volume of Gesualdo, which turns to the second book of madrigals. It’s sensitively recorded. (RF) ★★★★

Karl Jenkins Miserere

Polyphony et al Decca 481 8580 Jenkins’s vision of peace and unity in the Middle East inspires a masterful blend of musical styles and a typically sumptuous soundworld. And what a line-up! Iestyn Davies captivates. (MB) ★★★★

Lydia Kakabadse

Choral and Vocal Works

Clare Mccaldin (mezzo) et al

Divine Art dda 25188

Kakabadse’s Odyssey for choir and harp wends its Homeric way in pleasant if not particularly memorable style. The songs for mezzo and piano that follow are more characterful. (JP) ★★★

Juris Karlsons Sacred Choral Works Latvian Radio Choir et al Ondine ODE 1342-2

From quiet contemplation to raw emotion, the representation of prayer lies at the heart of this Latvian composer’s Adoratio for choir and orchestra. It’s powerful stuff, passionately performed. (JP) ★★★★

Aaron Jay Kernis

Flute Concerto etc

Marina Piccinini et al Naxos 8.559830 The 2015 Flute Concerto is the headline work here (and it’s a cracker), but the much earlier Second Symphony (1991) leaves the biggest impression, packing an emotional punch. (MB) ★★★★

Magnard Symphonies Nos 3 and 4 Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra Naxos 8.574082

The ghosts of Wagner and Bruckner haunt the final two symphonies of Albéric Magnard, a French composer who pretty much spanned the late Romantic period. Vivid performances. (RF) ★★★

Marchand • Guilain Organ Works David Ponsford (organ) Nimbus NI 6390 Played on a largely authentic French organ, these collections of late 17th- and early 18th-century Pièces d’orgue radiate a stately, often melancholy beauty. Seek out Marchand’s Dialogues in particular. (OC) ★★★★

Moniuszko • Zarebski

Chamber Works

Plawner Quintet CPO 555 124-2

Juliusz Zarebski’s Piano Quintet is immediately grabbing, a far bolder creation than the nonetheless engaging pair of string quartets by his Polish compatriot, Stanis aw Moniuszko. An enjoyable album all round. (RF) ★★★★

Flor Peeters Organ music

Roberto Marini (organ) Brilliant 95637 Flor Peeters’s organ music doesn’t set the world alight, but there are one or two gems lurking here: Suite Modale, the Aria and the Toccata, Fugue and Hymn on Ave Maris Stella. (OC) ★★★

Chang Ping

Oriental Wash Painting

China National Symphony Orchestra Naxos 8.570627

If you’re looking for gently ambient chinoiserie, these four concertos are the wrong place to turn – Chang Ping’s style is often dramatic and hard-hitting, aided by thrilling solo performances. ( JP) ★★★★

Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky etc Utah Symphony Reference FR-735

This knocked my socks off! Some of Prokofiev’s most thrilling music, performed by massive orchestral and choral forces in a sublime recording. (MB) ★★★★★

Rahbari My Mother Persia (Vol. 2) Mohammad Motamedi (tenor) et al Naxos 8.574065

Eastern flavours abound in Rahbari’s symphonic tributes to his Iranian heritage which take influences from Rimsky-korsakov and Borodin among others. (OC) ★★★

Sibelius Kullervo

The Polytech Choir et al

Ondine ODE 1338-5

The Finnish orchestra pays homage to the great Finnish composer’s symphony, deeply rooted in Finnish culture. A win all round. Despite a slightly muted start, the orchestra springs into action when the voices join. (FP) ★★★

Vivaldi Airs & Concertos

Jupiter Alpha Classics ALPHA 550

This Vivaldi is vital and exciting in the hands of Thomas Dunford’s new starry supergroup. Ferocious and fizzing, mezzo Lea Desandre is a force to be reckoned with. (MB) ★★★★★

Evensong Live 2019

Works by Parry, Byrd, Walton et al The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge King’s College KGS0038

Recorded at various Evensong services, this mix of choral music old and new is as glorious as you’d expect, and with superb programme notes to boot. (FP) ★★★★

Forgotten Treasures

Works by Schmidt, Weiner et al Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Beau Fleuve Records 605996-998531

A lovely disc, imaginatively programmed and aptly titled. Martucci’s exquisite Notturno is perhaps the pick of the gems revealed, though Weiner’s sprightly Hungarian Folkdance Suite is also good fun. (JP) ★★★★

Homage to Women Composers Works by Thea Musgrave et al

Ruth Lomon & Iris Graffman Wenglin (piano) Navona Records NV6254

The culmination of years of research, this disc uncovers piano duos by female composers from the Romantic period through to the late 20th century. Synchronicity could be tighter, but the project is seriously commendable. (FP) ★★★

Souvenirs of Spain & Italy

Works by Vivaldi, Turina et al Sharon Isbin (guitar) et al

Cédille CDR 9000 190

You can almost hear the fizz of prosecco and cava as Isbin and the Pacifica Quartet enjoy each other’s company in this Mediterraneaninspired disc. A ray of sunshine to brighten winter days. (JP) ★★★★ Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB),

Oliver Condy (OC), Rebecca Franks (RF),

Freya Parr (FP), Jeremy Pound ( JP)