Critics Choice November 2025

This month brings you another bumper crop of great reviews from the leading music magazines, quality dailies and online review sites. There’s no doubt about it: Naxos releases and distributes some of the best music and audiovisual albums!

Highly Reviewed Albums of the Month
Naxos 2.110768–69
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0180V)
Grigorian • MacNeil • Mahnke • Mikhailov • Jost • Švēde • Frankfurt Opera Chorus • Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra • Uryupin • Barkhatov
Want List | Fanfare

The Enchantress contains some of Tchaikovsky’s most beautiful music, and Asmik Grigorian again demonstrates why she is one of opera’s new superstars.’
Fanfare


S. Strallen • J. Parker • A. Armstrong • M. Sinclair • L. Kilsby • Sinfonia of London • J. Wilson
Editor’s Choice | Gramophone
Recording of the Month | MusicWeb International

‘Could this music have a more brilliant champion than John Wilson? His devotion to making this score shine with the sparkle it deserves comes across gloriously.’
Gramophone

My Fair Lady is a great show, vividly brought to life here… superb recording.’
MusicWeb International

‘…the standard text is delivered to such a high standard as to make this an essential set for anyone seriously interested in the score. Apart from the outstanding orchestral playing and choral singing… the finely chosen cast is a joy in terms of vocal and verbal expertise.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★

Audio Releases
Naxos Releases
Buffalo Philharmonic • Falletta

‘This is really a top-notch thoughtful program, beautifully put together, spectacularly played and very well recorded.’
ClassicsToday.com


Tarara • Eun-Sun Hong • De Solaun
The Strad Recommends | The Strad

‘…Plenty to enjoy… captured spaciously… Haydn’s still-underestimated trios provide nothing but constant pleasure and this ensemble’s sensitive, responsive, occasionally cheeky performances do them full justice.’
The Strad


Marcel Tadokoro

‘It is an unusual treat to hear a professional of the kind that can master Chopin’s etudes, breathe life into a somewhat esoteric repertoire by a rather forgotten composer.’
American Record Guide


Z. Schiff • V. Stark • Salzburg Chamber Soloists • A. Eisenberg

‘[Zina Schiff’s] ability to shape the simplest of material and bring to the surface underlying emotional and spiritual intention is inspiring.’
MusicWeb International


Konstantin Scherbakov

‘…The execution of these pieces is on the highest virtuosic level. …What a joy to listen to!’
American Record Guide


B. Bilińska • Artur Malawski Podkarpacka Philharmonic • Smolij

‘With his energy, mastery of the orchestra and clarity of direction, Mariusz Smolij does full justice to these beautifully crafted scores…’
Diapason


Gould Piano Trio

‘The Gould Piano Trio offers performances of great stature…’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Alon Goldstein • Fine Arts Quartet • Cardoza

‘Once again, the performers impress with their dialogue-rich chamber music, in which Goldstein’s sensitive, nuanced, and – above all – spontaneous performance stands out.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Schola Antiqua of Chicago • M.A. Anderson

‘An exceptional performance, with perfect musicological rigour.’
Diapason ★★★★★


Naxos 8.660556–57
Farnocchia • Faggioli • Marín • Kabongo • Chuan Wang • Gabriel Park • Cracow Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra • Fogliani
Want List | Fanfare

‘…Splendid performances. Ermione’s demanding scene for three tenors with coloratura abilities is brilliantly met.’
Fanfare


Geniet • Meloni • Kyiv Virtuosi Orchestra • Caldi • Raiskin

‘…Solid and sparkling performances.’
Fanfare


Naxos 8.660572–73
B. Mulligan • J. Holloway • B. Register • Netherlands Radio Choir • Hong Kong Philharmonic • van Zweden

‘…Jaap van Zweden once again shows himself adept at whipping up a dramatic storm… There’s no doubting further proof nonetheless of the Hong Kong Phil’s – and van Zweden’s solid Wagner credentials.’
Gramophone


Independent Label Releases (in alphabetical order)
Bavarian Radio Symphony • Kalitzke
Supersonic | Pizzicato

‘With Kalitzke’s skillful baton conducting, it seems easy to bundle the exquisite instrumental contributions of the various musicians in the ensemble into supporting and engaging sound elements.’
Pizzicato

‘Featuring convincing performances with a spacious sound capture, this BR-Klassik edition is a valuable contribution for those wishing to delve into this repertoire.’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic • Wit

‘Antoni Wit together with the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie makes a strong case for the composer with these well-crafted recordings. …you may well be tempted to promote Zygmunt Noskowski to the second rank of Polish composers.’
Gramophone


Third Coast Percussion

‘There’s a reason why Third Coast Percussion, have picked up a GRAMMY Award; their ability to inspire, captivate and defy tradition is nothing short of stunning.’
Take Effect


Castronovo • Kaunas City Symphony • Orbelian
Want List | Fanfare

‘…Castronovo brings his luminous upper register, elegant phrasing, and infectious rhythmic sense.’
Fanfare


Spanos • Czech Ensemble Baroque Choir • Pandolfis Consort

‘Nicholas Spanos delivers very impressive performances.’
American Record Guide



Arcis-Vocalisten Munich • L’Arpa festante • Gropper

‘A balanced choral sound and excellently prepared soloists breathe life into the words, making this oratorio, first performed again in 2005, a real experience.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


Latvian Radio Choir • Kļava

‘The interpretations never slip into pure theatricality, but are enormously communicative and wonderfully contemplative in the right places – always with a latent radiance.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★

‘The Latvian Radio Choir performs with authority and fervour. ’
Diapason

‘…Without question, this one is special and will be included among the Year’s Best when the time comes.’
American Record Guide


Christina Bjørkøe

‘This is an imaginative and very rewarding celebration.’
International Piano


German Radio Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern Philharmonic • Inkinen

‘…an intoxicating sound bath. …listeners immediately feel immersed in the rich, exciting soundscape.’
Pizzicato ★★★★★


McGrath • Liepāja Symphony • Mann
Recommended | MusicWeb International

‘…superbly conveyed. [Emma McGrath] plays like an angel, with a wonderfully rich and often achingly beautiful tone quality.’
MusicWeb International


Neville Armstrong

‘Overall, this is quite an engaging recital that I listened to once again with a smile on my face.’
Positive Feedback Online

Audiovisual Releases
Naxos Releases
Naxos 2.103005
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(NBD0189VX)

Independent Releases (in alphabetical order)
Accentus Music ACC-20661
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(ACC-10661)
Bamberg Symphony • Blomstedt
Want List | Fanfare

‘…A performance of great depth and refinement…a “historical performance” by the next Bruckner milestone.’
Fanfare

‘[Blomstedt’s] clear, structured interpretation, grandiose without being bombastic, testifies to his unwavering affinity with the master of St Florian.’
Diapason ★★★★★


Bayerische Staatsoper Recordings BSOREC1006
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(BSOREC2006)
Kulchynska • Zhilikhovsky • Soghomonyan • Bavarian State Orchestra • Jurowski • Tcherniakov

‘…the Munich cast is a model of homogeneity, right down to the smallest roles…which the director manages to turn into real characters in a matter of seconds. The protagonists themselves are top-notch.’
Diapason


C Major 767708
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(767804)
Yoncheva • Grigolo • Burdenko • Arena of Verona Choir and Orchestra • Ciampa • de Ana

‘This production from Verona has all the ingredients needed for a successful Tosca.’
www.klassik.com


Dynamic DYN-38016
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(DYN-58016)
De Vittorio • Naviglio • Cafiero • Totaro • Cappella Neapolitana • Florio

‘…The core members of the ensemble…once again demonstrate their affinity for such beautiful and peculiar music. ’
Ritmo ★★★★★


Opus Arte OA1385D
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(OABD7323D)
Sierra • Avetisyan • Terfel • Pinkhasovich • Dufresne • Royal Opera Chorus • Royal Opera House Orchestra • Quatrini • Pelly
Recommended | MusicWeb International

‘The stand-out performance in this new Royal Opera Blu-ray is Nadine Sierra. …Her top notes are dazzlingly bright and her coloratura is in fine fettle.’
MusicWeb International


UNITEL Edition 811408
Also available on Blu-ray Video
(811504)
Volkov • Stundyte • Sulimsky • Thomas • Samoilov • Vienna State Opera Chorus • Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra • Gražinytė-Tyla • Warlikowski
Opera Choice | BBC Music Magazine

‘The opera’s main protagonists… deliver virtuoso performances. But the real stars are the Wiener Philharmoniker and Mirga Gražinyté-Tyla, who extract a formidable array of colours and textures.’
BBC Music Magazine



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