Classical Highlights for April 2025


Solo virtuosity shone within the newest batch of latest releases that we reviewed. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet delivers an thrilling set of works by Khachaturian, whereas Jan Lisiecki combines Chopin’s Preludes with these of different composers. Violinist Liza Ferschtman (pictured) shines in Brahms’ concerto and a fantasy by Suk, whereas James Ehnes provides totally satisfying readings of violin plus orchestra warhorses. A few different alternative recordings embrace Bach’s B Minor Mass by Pygmalion, led by Raphaël Pichon and the Kronos Quartet in new works by Mary Kouyoumdjian.

April Classical Reviews
April Classical Opinions

Paul Agnew, Les Arts Florissants, Benjamin Alard – J.S. Bach: A Life in Music, Vol. 2 – The Weimar Years (1708-1717)
Martha Argerich – Ravel: Adagio assai from Piano Concerto in G; Ma mère l’oye; Gaspard de la nuit
Maurizio Baglini – Heroica
Nicolas Baldeyrou – Mozart: Full Works for Clarinet on Interval Devices, Vol. 1
Semyon Bychkov, Catriona Morison, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Pueri Gaudentes, Czech Philharmonic – Mahler: Symphony No. 3
Masabane Cecilia – Masabane Cecilia
Bertrand Chamayou – Ravel: Fragments
The Curious Bards, Ilektra Platiopoulou – Sublimation: Songs and dances from 18th-century Scandinavia
Danish Nationwide Vocal Ensemble, Martina Bartic – O Pay attention! to the Music of Uros Krek & Else Marie Pade
Patrick Demenga, Andres Mustonen, Kamer, Riga Cathedral Boy’s Choir, State Choir Latvija – Alexander Knaifel: Chapter Eight
Sabine Devieilhe, Cyrille Dubois, François-Xavier Roth – Stravinsky: Le Rossignol
James Ehnes, BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena – Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3; Sarasate: Live performance Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen
Mark Elder, Hallé – Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Unique 1857 Model)
Ensemble Altera, Christopher Lowrey – Dazzling Gentle
Laurence Equilbey, Accentus, Insula Orchestra – Beethoven: King Stephan; The Ruins of Athens; Leonore Prohaska
Liza Ferschtman, Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra – Brahms: Violin Concerto; Suk: Fantasy

Edward Gardner, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Refrain – Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Edward Gardner, Mary Bevan, Metropolis of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 5 – Symphony No. 9, Orchestral Songs
Stewart Goodyear, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Constantine – Mendelssohn, Goodyear, Schumann
Michael Hofstetter, Vanessa Waldhart, Robert Sellie – Handel: Brockes Ardour
Paavo Järvi, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich – Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason – Fantasie
The King’s Singers – Such Stuff As Desires Are Made On
Felix Koch – Georg Philipp Telemann: Full Cantatas, Vol. 4 – Französischer Jahrgang 1714/1715
Stanislav Kochanovsky, NDR Radiophilharmonie – Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Suite No. 3; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol
Kronos Quartet – Mary Kouyoumdjian: Witness
Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Giulio Zappa – Donizetti: Songs, Vol. 4
Christian Li – Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
Julien Libeer, Pierre Colombet, Máté Szücs, Eckart Runge – Mozart: 1, 2, 3, 4 – Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet
Jan Lisiecki – Preludes
London Choral Sinfonia, Jack Liebeck, Michael Waldron – Malcolm Arnold
Charlie Lovell-Jones, Sinfonia of London, John Wilson – Walton: Violin Concerto; Symphonic Suite from ‘Troilus and Cressida’; Portsmouth Level
Cristian Măcelaru, WDR Sinfonieorchester – Rachmaninov: Orchestral Works
Dmitry Masleev, Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra – Liszt, Rachmaninoff: Dies Irae
Nicholas McGegan, Cantata Collective – Bach: Easter Oratorio; Magnificat
Patrick Messina, Lise Berthaud, Fabrizio Chiovetta – Mozart, Bruch
Peter Moore, Tredegar Band, Ian Porthouse – Shift
Novus Quartet – Brahms: The Full String Quartets
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Ludwig Wicki – Howard Shore: Anthology – The Paris Live shows
Antonio Pappano, Tenebrae, London Symphony Orchestra – Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé

Adrian Partington, BBC Nationwide Orchestra & Refrain of Wales – Grace Williams: Missa Cambrensis
Julian Perkins, Academy of Historical Music – John Weldon: The Judgment of Paris
Illusion – Johann Sebastian Bach: The Artwork of Fugue
Philharmonic Brass, Riccardo Muti – Italiana!
Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon – J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor
Quatuor Bozzini – Jürg Frey: String Quartets
Charles Richard-Hamelin – Échos
Timothy Ridout- Telemann, Bach, Britten, Shaw
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra – Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7; The Tempest
Vladimir Rumyantsev – Sean Hickey: Sapiens – A Temporary Historical past of Humankind
Schola Antiqua of Chicago, Michael Alan Anderson – Notker Balbulus: Liber ymnorum
Silesian Quartet – Górecki: Full Works for String Quartet
Niklas Sivelöv, Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra, Joachim Gustafsson – Beethoven: Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 – Op. 61a & Op. 58
Baiba Skride, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons – Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Steven Sloane, Bochum Symphony Orchestra – George Antheil: Venus in Africa
Takács Quartet, Marc-André Hamelin – Dvořák & Worth: Piano Quintets
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel – Khachaturian
Trio Gaspard – Haydn: The Full Piano Trios, Vol. 4; Sally Beamish: Trance
Varied Artists – Georges Bizet: Djamileh; Vasco de Gama; Cantates
James Method, Natalie Burch – Benjamin Britten: Canticles
John Wilson, Jonathan Aasgaard, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – Richard Rodney Bennett, Vol. 5
Simone Younger, Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’; Barton: Of the Earth
Haochen Zhang – Beethoven: Hammerklavier Sonata; Liszt: Sonata in B minor

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