Review: “Contes” – Sandrine Piau, David Kadouch
Soprano Sandrine Piau and pianist David Kadouch perform fairy-tale songs and lullabies by Bernard, Hahn, Ravel, Wolf, Strauss and Shostakovich.
Album Reviews
Read independent classical music reviews by our panel of named critics. We publish new critiques of recent releases two to three times a week. Each assessment includes detailed comparisons with benchmark rival recordings, exact track timings, and rigorous analysis to help you build your collection.
In Short – 5 New Piano Albums – October 2026
Five new piano albums by Lucas Debargue (Gershwin), Klára Würtz (Beethoven), Aaron Pilsan (Chopin), Kit Armstrong (Piano Chronicles), and Minsoo Sohn (Bach).
Review: Liszt – “Metanoia” – Yulianna Avdeeva, Piano
Yulianna Avdeeva plays Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor alongside late works.
Review: Emilie Mayer – Symphonic Works, Volume 1 – Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and Bernhard Forck play Emilie Mayer’s Symphony No. 1 and two overtures, with Alexander Melnikov in the Piano Concerto.
Double Review: Brahms – Late Solo Piano Works – András Schiff, Anna Fedorova
Anna Fedorova plays Brahms' late Opp. 117-119 piano sets; András Schiff adds Opp. 76 and 116 on an 1859 Blüthner.
Review: Verdi – Opera Arias – Lise Davidsen, Edward Gardner
Lise Davidsen sings scenes from five Verdi operas, including Macbeth, Don Carlo and Aida, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner.
Review: “Homage to Heifetz” – María Dueñas, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel
María Dueñas plays Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole and Korngold’s Violin Concerto with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel.
Review: Beethoven and the Italians – Münchener Kammerorchester, Enrico Onofri
Enrico Onofri conducts the Münchener Kammerorchester in Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 and 7 with works by Cherubini, Spontini and Rossini.
Review: Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 1 – Piemontesi, Gewandhausorchester, Honeck
Francesco Piemontesi plays Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 live with the Gewandhausorchester under Manfred Honeck, plus the Op. 118 Piano Pieces.
Review: Mahler – Symphony No. 5 on Period Instruments – Philipp von Steinaecker
Philipp von Steinaecker conducts the Mahler Academy Orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 5 on period instruments.