Reviews by Charlotte Gardner 
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Septem verba a Christo (Sophie Karthaüser, Christophe Dumaux, Julien Behr, Konstantin Wolff, Academie für Alte Musik Berlin/Rene Jacobs) Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. -
Pictures, Sarcasms & Visions (feat. piano: Steven Osborne) Modest Mussorgsky / Sergei Prokofiev
This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. -
Artaserse (Philippe Jaroussky; Max Emanuel Cencic; Coro della Radiotelevisione svizzera; Concerto Koln; conductor: Diego Fasolis) Leonardo Vinci
Vinci’s final opera possesses extraordinary energy and some beautiful moments. -
Harpsichord Concertos (Retrospect Ensemble; harpsichord/director: Matthew Halls) Johann Sebastian Bach
A fresh-feeling recording of ear-popping brilliance. -
Voice in the Wilderness, Schelomo, From Jewish Life; Kol Nidrei (cello: Natalie Clein; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; conductor: Ilan Volkov) Ernest Bloch and Max Bruch
A lovely piece of programming, tenderly performed. -
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - MacMillan Series Vol 1 (Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic; Colin Currie; Gordan Nikolic) James MacMillan
A tour-de-force world premiere is the star attraction of this great release. -
Paris & Vienna (piano: Gottlieb Wallisch) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The pianist presents much to appreciate, not least the simple grace of his expression. -
Requiem (Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge; conductor: Stephen Layton) Herbert Howells
A glorious celebration of Howells' sacred output. -
A Song of Farewell: Music of Mourning & Consolation Paul McCreesh / Gabrielli Consort
Contrasting yet complementary, this is guaranteed to draw you into reflection. -
This Is the Day: Music on Royal Occasions John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers
Sacred choral easy listening of the highest standard. -
Piano Concertos 1 & 2 (Danny Driver; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; conductor: Rory MacDonald) Erik Chisholm
Striking and brilliantly performed music that mixes its influences beautifully. -
String Quartet, Piano Trio, Deux Danses, Reverie Claude Debussy
A confident, vital, lyrical reading of the Quartet, plus delightful extras. -
Works for Solo Piano: Volume 1 (piano: Barry Douglas) Johannes Brahms
A triumph of Brahmsian thought, with playing that gets right to the heart of the composer. -
Kindertotenlieder / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (contralto: Sara Mingardo; cello and conductor: Luigi Piovano; Musici Aurei) Gustav Mahler
One of the most expertly compiled and emotively performed programmes around. -
Breakfast at Tiffany's - 50th Anniversary Edition Henry Mancini
If you don't yet own this Oscar-winning soundtrack, this is the version to go for. -
Poèmes Renée Fleming
After a diversion into rock territories, this finds Fleming back where she belongs. -
Songs: The Airmen Martin Shaw
This revisiting of Shaw’s songs has produced some ear-pricking results. -
The Christmas Album Libera
What’s a wide-ranging programme on paper is delivered with single-flavour monotony. -
Requiem; Cantique de Jean Racine (conductor: Paavo Järvi; Choeur de l'Orchestre de Paris; Orchestre de Paris) Gabriel Fauré
A beautifully warm, full sound which colours both timbre and interpretation. -
Acallam na Senórach / An Irish Colloquy (National Chamber Choir of Ireland; guitar: Stewart French; Paul Hillier) Tarik O'Regan
Demonstrates O'Regan's natural feel for the voice, and his strong rhythms. -
Ocean's Kingdom (conductor: John Wilson; The London Classical Orchestra) Paul McCartney
McCartney is out of his depth on this four-movement piece for the New York City Ballet. -
In the Beginning Choir of Merton College, Oxford
A stunning recording debut, and a choir to keep an eye and ear on. -
Seeing Is Believing (conductor: Nicholas Collon; violin: Thomas Gould; Aurora Orchestra) Nico Muhly
Capable of beguiling listeners of all ages, experts and newcomers alike. -
Motets Anton Bruckner
A disc to be revisited and savoured again and again. -
St John Passion Johann Sebastian Bach
A little slice of musical heaven. -
Bullets & Lullabies James Rhodes
An overwhelmingly accessible package that screams mass market youth appeal. -
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Alexandre Desplat
Menacing, comforting, magic-tinged, powerful and fragile all in one. -
Three Baroque Tenors Ian Bostridge
His smooth, supple voice is well able to deal with the multiple styles. -
The Nutcracker Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Rattle has taken his 20th century expertise and brilliantly applied it to Tchaikovsky. -
Symphony 4 (John Eliot Gardiner) Johannes Brahms
A reassessment of how Brahms' fourth and final symphony should be understood. -
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace Karl Jenkins
This expertly performed recorded version gives a good flavour of its live power. -
Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin Johann Sebastian Bach
Silvery, bright and pure, Khachatryan delivers a deeply expressive interpretation. -
Fiction Quatuor Ébène
A triumph of originality and verve. -
The Piano Concertos Béla Bartok
Bavouzet's energy and lightness make the most of the jubilant, rhythmic writing. -
Symphony No.4 / Fragments from Kanon Pokajanen Arvo Pärt
Each movement has its own character, motifs binding constituents into a wonderful whole. -
Cello Symphony / Cello Suite No.1 Benjamin Britten
Bursting with contemplative beauty, instinctive phrasing, full-toned radiance. -
Concerti Grossi Opus 6 Georg Frederic Händel
The Avisons achieve what every composer hopes for, to move the listener's spirit. -
Gloria / Te Deum (London Symphony Orchestra; National Youth Choir of Great Britain; soprano: Hayley Westenra) Karl Jenkins
Faultless musicians flesh out Jenkins’ new choral work superbly well. -
Cantiones Sacrae 1612 (Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow) Peter Phillips
This feels like choral perfection… Fabulous stuff. -
Passion & Division (feat. viola: Susanne Heinrich) Tobias Hume
Heinrich delivers a masterful performance, breathing life into aged material. -
Tenor Rolando Villazon
Villazon is a great singer and performer, but Tenor does not capture him at his best. -
Missa S. Emidio (feat. cond.: Claudio Abbado, orch.: Orchestra Mozart) Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Feels like musical perfection. Just go listen, and enjoy. -
Chopin: Cello Music Frédéric Chopin
Imbued with a youthful enthusiasm underpinned by interpretational maturity. -
Before Life and After Benjamin Britten
A satisfying recital on every level. -
Organ Concertos Op.7 Georg Friedrich Händel
An intensely enjoyable listening experience. -
Messa da Requiem Giuseppe Verdi
Without a doubt, this will prove to be a seminal recording. -
Complete Works for Piano, Volume 5 (feat. pianist: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet) Claude Debussy
A musical adventure, and Bavouzet has more than achieved what he set out to do. -
Sacrificium Cecilia Bartoli
Confirmation that Bartoli remains one of today’s greatest artists. -
Bach Brandenburg Concertos English Baroque Soloists, Kati Debretzeni (violin) / John Eliot Gardiner
Stands up on its own, quite simply as a smashing performance. -
Piazzolla and Beyond (London Concertante) Various Artists
A riveting, dramatic, and even sexy listen.