This month’s selection sees organ romps, opera fantasies and orthodox tunes

JS Bach Cantatas BWV 72, 92 & 156 La Petite Band/sigiswald Kuijken et al Accent ACC25320

It’s debatable whether one-to-apart is authentic. It can, however, be unduly thin-textured. This recording features finely defined vocal and instrumental performances, but the choruses do lack heft. (OC) ★★★

JS Bach • Piazzolla Concertos Nikola Djoric (accordion) et al

Berlin Classics 0301416BC

The Serbian accordionist pairs Piazzolla with a transcription of Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No. 1. Although the articulation of the strings could better match Djoric’s playing, this is a dynamic recording. (FP) ★★★

Berwald Chamber music

Franz Ensemble MDG MDG9032189 19th-century Swedish composer Berwald’s chamber music is charming, a hybrid of Schubertian sophistication and Weber-esque froth – and it all fizzes along courtesy of these wonderfully refined performances. (OC) ★★★★

Carl Davis The Great Gatsby Czech National Symphony/carl Davis Carl Davis Collection CDC032

What this recording might lack in technical precision, it makes up for in barrels of fun. Davis wrote this ballet in the style of a 1920s Broadway musical, which it achieves ten times over. (FP) ★★★

Eisler Deutsche Sinfonie

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony et al/ Günther Theuring Capriccio C5428 Given that Eisler’s choral work was spurred by the spread of Nazism it is, unsurprisingly, relentlessly dark and dramatic. The performance here crackles with atmosphere. ( JP) ★★★★

Franck Transcriptions for Organ Peter van de Velde (organ) Aeolus AE11241 These arrangements for organ of works by César Franck are deftly realised and performed, but I wonder whether they miss the point by sounding too much like long-lost organ pieces. (OC) ★★★

Kahn

Leaves from the Tree of Life Ensemble Emigré Rubicon RCD1040 Robert Kahn (18651951) is a composer worth giving some time to. On this disc of high-quality playing there are many treasures, not least of all the ebullient Quintet, which is a cracker. (MB) ★★★★★

Mark John Mcencroe Fanfare Suite etc Sydney Scoring Orchestra Navona NV6329

This is a robust dose of Americana, richly realised in these concert-band arrangements. The spirit and melodies have much appeal, but I miss the warmth of the strings. (MB) ★★★

Roberto Piana

Opera Fantasies on a Steinway Antonio Pompa-baldi (piano)

Steinway and Sons STNS 30169

Of the two ‘Fantasy’ solo piano suites here, La bohème works better than the occasionally awkward-sounding Carmen. Both works charm more than they virtuosically thrill. (JP) ★★★

Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez etc Jacob Kellerman (guitar); LPO

BIS BIS-2485

The London Philharmonic is at its best here, accompanying Kellerman with glorious shimmering textures in a programme centred around Spanish guitar works old and new, many with a flamenco shift. (FP) ★★★★

Schnittke Cello Sonatas etc Carl-oscar Osterlind (cello), Emil Gryesten (piano) Danacord DACOCD 878 Intense and insightful readings of the two cello sonatas, while the Suite in the Old Style loses just a little of its sparkle with the cello taking the violin role. (MB) ★★★

Schubert Piano Trio No. 2 etc Alexander Rudin (cello) et al Naxos 8.573884

Fresh-feeling, unmannered performances that zip along pleasantly, especially in the Arpeggione Sonata. The recording balance isn’t always ideal, with the fortepiano occasionally sounding recessed. (JP) ★★★

Scriabin Symphony No. 2 Gürzenich-orchester Köln/dimitrij Kitajenko Oehms Classics OC474 Scriabin’s Symphony No. 2 and even more masterful Poem of Ecstasy both edge from Russian Romanticism towards Debussyesque impressionism. Detailed, soul-enriching performances. (OC) ★★★★

Beethoven’s World, Vol. 5

Works by Wranitzky et al

Munich Radio Orchestra/reinhard Goebel Sony Classical G010004036291B Goebel’s project makes a terrific case for the lesser-known works of Beethoven’s contemporaries. This fifth volume shows there’s plenty to discover by those overshadowed by the great composer. (FP) ★★★

BRUITS

Works by Reena Esmail, et al

Imani Winds, et al

Bright Shiny Things BTSC-0138

A timely set of worldpremiere recordings, with Vijay Iyer’s title quintet a sobering comment on America’s sociopolitical woes. There are moments of beauty. (MB) ★★★

Lorem Ipsum Early music from Europe and South America

Combo CAM Genuin GEN21724

This is fun. Though some may find the dialogue (in German) between tracks a needless distraction, the repertoire is imaginatively wide-ranging and the performances terrifically vibrant. (JP) ★★★★

La magnifique Flute Music for the Court of Louis XIV

Barthold Kuijken (flute) Naxos 8.579083 The Hotteterre replica instruments lend a beautiful rounded intimacy to this music by Lully, Couperin, Visée and more, charting the emergence of the flute at the court of Louis XIV. (OC) ★★★★

Miniatures Russes Piano Works by Arensky and Lyadov

Swetlana Meermann-muret (piano) Genuin GEN 21730 Near-contemporaries Arensky and Lyadov were both influenced by Chopin, as this wonderful recital proves. I could listen all day to Meermann-muret’s phrasing and singing melodic line. (OC) ★★★★

Rising Works by David Lang et al The Crossing/donald Nally

New Focus FCR281

Predominantly contemporary choral works pivot around excerpts from works by David Lang and the 17th-century Buxtehude in this moving and well programmed live lockdown recital. (FP) ★★★

Russian Orthodox Choral Music Works by Katalsky et al

Rybin and Dumka Choirs

Brilliant Classics 95969 (six discs) Covering a wealth of composers, this is an excellent introduction to Russian Orthodox music. The singing is earthy, passionate and blessed with those uniquely low basses. ( JP) ★★★★

Songs for the End of Time, Vol. 1 Music by Messiaen

Founders Routenote 5059654298177 Embellished with vocals, bass, trumpet and a rosy cathedral acoustic, there’s a rather appealing glow to this contemporary retelling of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. (MB) ★★★★

Symphonic Roar

Works by Saint-saëns, Varèse et al Yuri Mccoy (organ) and Brady Spitz (Percussion) Acis APL97957

Mccoy takes us through over a century of

French organ music from Saintsaëns to Florentz. Varèse’s vibrant Ameriques arranged for organ and percussion is quite the ride. (MB) ★★★

Vienna 1905-1910 Works by Schoenberg, Webern, Berg

Richter Ensemble Pasacaille PAS1093 Worlds collide in this set of early-20thcentury works played on gut strings, the first in a new six-part series. The Richter’s performances are rock solid and full of tonal nuance. (MB) ★★★

Works for Solo Cello

Works by Per Nørgård et al Wilhelmina Smith (cello)

Ondine ODE 1381-2

Having previously focused on Finnish composers, Smith now turns to the Danes. Although Nørgård and Poul Ruders are best known for their large-scale works, Smith shows the radiance of their solo pieces. (FP) ★★★

Yuu – Gentleness and Melancholy Works by Marais, Telemann et al Kaori Uemura (viola da gamba)

Ramée RAM1915

If you enjoy the earthy simplicity of Bach’s Cello Suites, you’ll be similarly smitten by this recital of solo viola da gamba works, played with both passion and poise by Kaori Uemura. ( JP) ★★★★ Reviewers: Michael Beek (MB),

Oliver Condy (OC), Freya Parr (FP), Jeremy Pound (JP)