An irresistible album of arias for two altos

Sonatas Nos 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6; Sonata violino solo representativa in A major Rachel Podger (violin); Brecon Baroque Channel Classics CCS48525 70:08 mins No Arts Council funding was available to rescue

Ravel: Ma mère l’Oye; Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy (piano) Harmonia Mundi HMM902752 49:20 mins Those of us lucky, as I was at both their Ragged Music Festival and

Piano Trios; Piano Quintet, Op. 57* *Julia Fischer (violin),*Nils Mönkemeyer (viola); Oliver Schnyder Trio Prospero PROSP0035 76:52 mins Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet explores a bewildering variety of

Chandos Anthems Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen Alpha Classics ALPHA1153 75:08 mins Today’s historians could have a field day besmirching this music as being the product of a morally corrupt society. After c

The Seal Woman: A Celtic Folk Opera Yvonne Howard, Catherine Carby, Catriona Hewitson, Seumas Begg, Arthur Bruce, Christian Loizou et al; Orchestra of Scottish Opera/ John Andrews Retrospect Opera RO0

The newly reconfigured band throw open the doors on an expansive sixth album. By Victoria Segal. Illustration by Quinton Winter.