Just of few of the many recent CDs which we think you will like, and which come highly recommended.

This Christmas Night                                                                                                               Choir of Worcester College, Oxford, Stephen Farr                                                RESONUS RES 10113

A delightful collection of recent seasonal works which you may not have come across before but will certainly want to hear again.

Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim’s Progress                                                                    Gerald Finley, Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Richard Hickox                                   CHANDOS CHAN 9625(2)

This recording has been out for some time but the recent production by ENO has reminded us what a wonderful work this is and so makes a recommendation apt.

Handel: Acis and Galatea (arr Mendelssohn)                                                                  Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Oxford Philomusica, Stephen Darlington    NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6201

Most of us will know Handel’s original but there is merit in listening to Mendelssohn’s arrangement as well as the quality of the singing.

Bruckner: Symphony No 7                                                                                                 BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles                                        HYPERION CDA 67916

This new recording is so vibrant, particularly the brass, that it almost sounds like a new work. Yet again Donald Runnicles exceeds himself.

Johan Svendsen: Orchestral Works Vol 2                                                                       Truls Mork, cello, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi                           CHANDOS CHAN 10711

I have to admit to knowing little of Svendsen but these works impress, particularly the Cello Concerto. If you like Dvorak you will certainly enjoy this.

Elgar: The Starlight Express                                                                                                Elin Thomas, Roderick Williams, Simon Callow, Scottish Chamber Orchestra,         Andrew Davis                                                                                                                        CHANDOS CHSA 5111-2

 We were so impressed once this started that we listened to the whole thing in one go. The combination of the new narrative, very sensitively read by Simon Callow, and the gentle scoring make the music – often in tiny snatches – all the more telling.

Frescobaldi: Toccatas & Partitas                                                                                     Fabio Bonizzoni, organ and harpsichord                                                                    GLOSSA GCD 921514

 Unexpected delights here, not only in the quality of the playing but in the individual works, most of which are likely to be unfamiliar to the listener. Fabio Bonizzoni convinces us they are worth revisiting and getting to know better.

Stanford: Sacred Choral Music                                                                               Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill                                                                  HYPERION CDS 44311/3  3CDs

 Familiar works, but Stanford is still not as highly regarded as he should be. Perhaps this compilation of choral pieces will help.

Parry; Jerusalem; The Birds of Aristophanes; England etc                                               BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, Neeme Jarvi                                CHANDOS CHAN 10740

 Though sold originally on the basis of the earlier version of Jerusalem, there are other works here which please, in particular the unison setting of England. There is, after all, far more to Parry that the Last Night of the Proms.