Donald Venezia, our friend the classical CD reviewer, has sent along this list recent of the best reviewed CDs for the months of April and May 2013. It’s taken from BBC Music Magazine, International Record Review and Gramophone.

As always, there’s music here from just about every period, style and national music tradition. You can order these titles through our friends at ArkivMusic – http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/main.jsp.

BBC Music Magazine May 2013

    R. Strauss: Don Quixote, Till Euelenspiegel. Gerhardt (cello), Power (viola), Gurzenich Orchestre Cologne, Stenz conducting Label: Hyperion CDA 67960

    *Recording of the Month

   Berg: Violin Concerto; Brahms: Violin Concerto. Capucon (violin), Vienna Philharmonic, Harding conducting  Label: Virgin Classics 973 3962

*Building a Library, best recording of the Berg Violin Concerto

    Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Symphonies of Wind Instruments; Apollon Musagete.  Berlin Philharmonic, Rattle conducting  Label: EMI 723 6112 (The Rite, Symphonies and recording is outstanding)

   Karabits: Concertos for Orchestra 1-3; Silvestrov: Elegie; Farewell Serenade. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Karabits conducting  Label: Naxos 8.572633 (outstanding recording)

   Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 5 and 8. Halle Orchestra, Elder conducting  Label: Halle CDHLL7533 (Symphony 5 is an outstanding performance)

   Weinberg Symphony Number 8 “Polish Flowers.” Dobrowolska (soprano), Marciniec (alto), Bartminski (tenor), Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Wit conducting Label: Naxos 8.572873 (outstanding recording)

   Copland: El salon Mexico; Danzon Cubano; Billy the Kid; Fanfare for the Common Man; Grohg; Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Various Orchestras, Zinman/Dorati/Knussen conducting Label: Decca 478 4585 (outstanding performance and recording)

   Elgar: In the South “Alassio;” Symphony Number 1. London Philharmonic, Solti conducting  Label: Decca 478 5155 (outstanding performance and recording)

   Wagner: Die Walkure. Kaufmann (tenor), Pape (bass) Mariinsky Orchestra, Gergiev conducting.  Label:  Mariinsky MAR0527 (outstanding performance and recording)

 Wagner: In fernem Land (Lohengrin); Am stillen Herd (Die Meistersinger); Allmacht’ger Vater, blick herab! (Rienzi); Dass der mein Vater nicht ist…Du holdes Voglein (Siegfried); Inbrunst in Herzen (Tannhauser); Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater (Die Walkure); arr Mottl Wesendonck Lieder. Kaufmann (tenor), Bruck (bass-baritone), Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Runnicles conducting.  Label: Decca 478 5189 (outstanding performance)

   Venezia: Arias by Albinoni, Caldara, Galuppi, Gasparini, Giacomelli, Vivaldi, Porta and Sellitto  Cencic (countertenor), Il Pomo d’Oro, Minasi conducting.  Label: Virgin Classic 464 5452 (outstanding performance)

   Verdi: Soprano arias from I vespri siciliani, Don Carlo, Rigoletto, Aida, Il trovatore, Un ballo in maschera, Simon Boccanegra, La forza del destino and Otello. Gheorghiu (soprano), Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Chailly conducting  Label: Decca 466 9522 (outstanding performance and recording)

French Opera Arias: Soprano arias by Donizetti, Massenet, Gounod, Berlioz, Thomas, Offenbach and Charpentier. Battle (soprano), Bastille Opera Orchestra, Chung conducting  Label: DG 479 1116 (outstanding performance)

Dutilleux: Correspondances,; Tout un monde lointain; The Shadow of Time. Hannigan (soprano), Karttunen (cello), Soloists from Maitrise de Radio France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Salonen conducting  Label: DG 479 1180 (outstanding performance and recording)

   Bach: Cantatas BWV 140, BWV112 and BWV29. Blazikova (soprano), Blaze (countertenor), Turk (tenor), Kooij (bass), Bach Collegium Japan, Suzuki conducting Label: BIS 1981 (outstanding recording)

   Berlioz: Les nuits d’ete; Romeo and Juliet Love Scene; La mort de Cleopatre. Cargill (soprano), Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ticciati conducting  Label: Linn CKD 421 (outstanding recording and performance)

  Elgar: Part Songs and Choral Works. The Rodolfus Choir, Allwood conducting  Label: Signum SIGCD315 (outstanding recording)

 Palestrina: Missa Ad coenam Agni; Surrexit pastor bonus; Regina coeli; Haec dies; Alleluia, Tulerunt Dominum; Terra tremuit; Angelus Domini; Deus, Deus meus; Lauda anima mea; Benedicte gentes; Ad coenam Agni providi. Brabant Ensemble, Rice conducting  Label: Hyperion CDA 67978 (outstanding recording)

 Victoria: Ad Matutinum; Ad Missam Praesanctificatorium. La Colombina  Label: Glossa GCD C 80005 (outstanding recording)

   Mozart: Piano Concerto Number 13; Piano Concerto Number 14; Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman;” Serenade Number 13 in G. Fialkowska (piano), Chamber Players of Canada  Label: ATMA ACD 2 2532 (outstanding performance and recording)

   Brahms: String Quartet in D, Op 64 Number 5; Haydn: String Quartet Number 2. Danish String Quartet  Label: AVI 8553264 (outstanding recording)

 Brahms: Violin Sonata Number 1; Schumann: Violin Sonata Number 1; C. Schumann: Three Romances. Pike (violin), Poster (piano).  Label: Chandos CHAN10762 (outstanding performance for both Schumann works; outstanding recording overall)

Corelli: Violin Sonatas, Op 5. Avison Ensemble, Beznosiuk conducting  Label: Linn CKD 412 (outstanding recording)

Dvorak: Cypresses; String Quartet Number 13 in G. Cypress String Quartet  Label: Avie AV2275 (outstanding recording)

Messiaen: Preludes; Piece pour piano et quatour a cordes. Saariaho: Prelude; Ballade; Je sens un deuxieme coeur. Gloria Cheng (piano), Calder Quartet  Label: Harmonia Mundi HMU 907578 (outstanding performance)

   Brundibar: Music by Composers in Theresienstadt 1941-1945. Krasa/Matthews: Suite from Brundibar; Ullmann: String Quartet Number 3; Klein: String Trio; Haas: String Quartet Number 2. Nash Ensemble  Label: Hyperion CDA 67973 (outstanding recording)

Britten: Solo Cello Suites 1-3. Higham (cello)  Label: Delphian DCD34125 (outstanding performance)

Beethoven: Variations and Fugue in E flat, “Eroica;” Haydn: Variations in f, Hob.XVII:6; Schumann: Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13. Ax (piano)  Label: Sony Classical 88765 420862 (outstanding recording)

Brahms: Solo Piano Works Volume 2. Piano Sonata Number 3; Ballades, Op. 10/2 and 3; Ballade Op. 118/3; Intermezzos Op. 116/2 and 6; Intermezzo Op. 117/2; Rhapsody, Op. 119/4. Douglas (piano)  Label: Chandos CHAN 10757 (outstanding performance and recording)

 Duphly: La forqueray; Chaconne en fa; Medee; La felix; La cazamajor; La victoire; Les graces; Le pothouin. Rousset (harpsichord)  Label: Aparte AP043 (outstanding performance and recording)

Mozart: Piano Sonatas 10-12. Ogawa (piano)  Label: BIS 1985 (outstanding recording)

   Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas 6-8. Kozhukhin (piano)  Label: Onyx ONYX4111 (outstanding recording)

 Rachmaninoff: Preludes; Etudes-Tableaux; Oriental Sketch; Lilacs; Transcriptions of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and others. Rachmaninoff (piano)  Label: Naxos 8.111397 (outstanding performance)

April 2013 International Record Review, all new releases and all considered “Outstanding:”

 Bach: Violin Concertos in a and E; Concerto for 2 Violins in d; Concerto for 3 Violins in D. von der Goltz, Muellejans, Schreiber (violins); Freiburger Barockorchester, von der Goltz conducting  Label: Harmonia Mundi HMC902145

Dutilleux: Correspondances; Tout un monde lointain; The Shadow of Time. Hannigan (soprano), Karttunen (cello), Soloists from Maitrise de Radio France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Salonen conducting  Label: DG 479 1180

Martin: Le conte de Cendrillon. Tilquin (soprano), Hewson (mezzo-soprano), Khachatryan (alto), Anfruns (tenor) Orchestre de la Haute ecole de musique de Geneve, Takacs-Nagy conducting  Label: Claves 50-1202

   Hindemith: Viola Sonata, Opus 11 Number 4; Solo Viola Sonata Opus 25 Number 1; Capriccio Opus 8 Number 1 (arr Gandelsman). Gandelsman (viola), Votapek (piano)   Label: Blue Griffin BGR277

 Lutoslawski: String Quartet; Penderecki: String Quartet Number 1; String Quartet Number 2; String Quartet Number 3 “Leaves of an Unwritten Diary.” Royal String Quartet  Label: Hyperion CD67943

   Beethoven Piano Sonatas Volume 2. Piano Sonatas Numbers 4, 14 (Moonlight) and 24, and Fantasie in G, Opus 77. Biss (piano)   Label: Onyx Classics ONYX4094

   Handel: Saeviat tellus inter rigores, HWV240; Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate; Porpora: In caelo stelle clare fulgescant; Vivaldi: In fuore iustissimae irae, RV626. Lezhneva (soprano), Il Giardino Armonico, Antonini conducting  Label: Decca 478 5242

   Poulenc: Stabat mater; Les Biches. Petersen (soprano), SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, NDR Chor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Deneve conducting  Label: Hanssler Classics CD93.297

   Wagner: In fernem Land (Lohengrin); Am stillen Herd (Die Meistersinger); Allmacht’ger Vater, blick herab! (Rienzi); Dass der mein Vater nicht ist…Du holdes Voglein (Siegfried); Inbrunst in Herzen (Tannhauser); Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater (Die Walkure); arr Mottl Wesendonck Lieder. Kaufmann (tenor), Bruck (bass-baritone), Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Runnicles conducting  Label: Decca 478 5189

Gramophone May 2013

   Haydn: Keyboard Concertos Numbers 3, 4 and 11. Hamelin (piano), Les Violons du Roy, Labadie conducting  Label: Hyperion CDA67925

           *Recording of the Month

   Bloch: Schelomo; Bridge: Oration; Hough: The Loneliest Wilderness. Isserlis (cello), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Wolff conducting/Tapiola Sinfonietta, Takacs-Nagy conducting  Label: BIS BIS1992

   Faure: Berceuse; Pelleas et Melisande Suite; Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso; Romance; Violin Concerto Number 1. Nemtanu (violin), Chamber Orchestra of Paris, Zehetmair conducting  Label: Mirare MIR193

   Lutoslawski: Symphony Number 1; Partita; Chain 2; Dance Preludes. Collins (clarinet), Little (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gardner conducting  Label: Chandos CHSA5108

   Mendelssohn: Symphony Number 2 Lobesgesang. van Wanroij (soprano), Baumans (soprano), Henckens (tenor), Consensus Vocalis, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, de Vriend conducting  Label: Challenge Classics CC72543

 Vaughan Willims: Symphonies 5 and 8. Halle Orchestra, Elder conducting  Label: Halle CDHLL7533

Enescu: Legend; Falla: Siete Canciones populares espanolas; Glazunov: Album Leaf; Hagerup Bull: Perpetuum mobile; Hindemith: Trumpet Sonata; Ibert: Impromptu; Kreisler: Marche miniature viennoise; Toy Soldier’s March; Puccini: Avanti Urania; Canto d’anime; E l’uccellino; Sole e amore; Storiella d’amore; Rachmaninoff: Vocalise, Opus 34 Number 14; Sommerfeldt: Divertimento Opus 21. Helseth (trumpet), Stott (piano)  Label: EMI 416471-2

 Brahms: Ballades Opus 10; Klavierstucke Opus 76; Variations on a Theme of Paganini Opus 35; Hungarian Dance Number 5 (arr Cziffra/Bax). Bax (piano)  Label: Signum SIGCD309

 Schubert: Piano Sonatas Numbers 16 and 21. Pires (piano)  Label: DG 477 8107GH

 Bach: St. John Passion. Sampson (soprano), Davies (countertenor), Bostridge (tenor), Mulroy (tenor), Davies (bass), Williams (bass), Polyphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Layton conducting  Label: Hyperion CDA67901/2

  Handel: Saeviat tellus inter rigores, HWV240; Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate; Porpora: In caelo stelle clare fulgescant; Vivaldi: In fuore iustissimae irae, RV626. Lezhneva (soprano), Il Giardino Armonico, Antonini conducting  Label: Decca 478 5242

   Gluck: Iphigenie en Aulide and Iphigene en Tauride. Gens (soprano), Delunsch (soprano), Otter (mezzo-soprano), Beuron (tenor), Teste (bass), Chorus of Netherlands Opera, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski conducting  Label: Opus Arte DVD OA1099D/Blue Ray OABD7115D

   Wagner: In fernem Land (Lohengrin); Am stillen Herd (Die Meistersinger); Allmacht’ger Vater, blick herab! (Rienzi); Dass der mein Vater nicht ist…Du holdes Voglein (Siegfried); Inbrunst in Herzen (Tannhauser); Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater (Die Walkure); arr Mottl Wesendonck Lieder. Kaufmann (tenor), Bruck (bass-baritone), Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Runnicles conducting  Label: Decca 478 5189

   Beethoven: Sonata for Violin and Piano Number 9 “Kreutzer;” Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano in g; Bartok: Rhapsody Number 1 for Violin and Piano; Sonata Number 2 for Violin and Piano. Szegeti (violin), Bartok (piano)  Label: Pristine Audio PACM084