German clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld (1856 – 1907) must have been one hell of a player. His artistry nudged a semi retired Brahms to write the seminal chamber work for the instrument, the Clarinet Quintet (1891), a fine trio and the two most famous sonatas for the instrument.

The same could be said for Austrian clarinettist Anton Stadler (1753 – 1812). His playing inspired Mozart to write an equally wonderful Clarinet Quintet (1789) and the instrument’s greatest Concerto (1791).

Andreas Staier, the German-born, Hanover and Amsterdam-trained pianist/harpsichordist is fast becoming the harmonia mundi go to man for recordings of modern instruments and the fortepiano.

For this recording of Schubert Trios, Staier is joined by Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie concertmaster, Daniel Sepec and Roel Dieltiens, cello. All three play period instruments. Happily, Staier's fortepiano, a copy of an 1827 Graf, sounds nothing like others I've heard -- poor tone and sounding hideously out of tune. Staier's piano sounds wonderful. And, in tune.

Many people consider the companion recording to this Beethoven 7 DG classic (Beethoven's 5th Symphony with the same forces) as not only the greatest Beethoven recording of all time but the greatest recording of all time. I'm inclined to agree. It's perfection in an imperfect setting. Have you heard it?

The Curzon Emperor Concerto is not only one of the finest performances on record of the great Concerto, it's one of the greatest performances on record, period. 

Sir Clifford Curzon is one of a handful of English pianists that can be compared with the best of the continent and the USA. I'd add Dame Myra Hess and Solomon to the mix. The difference between Curzon and many others that he made magic not only on stage but in the studio. No more than on this famous record. 

The 'dude', also known as Venezuelan conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, has a real affinity for this Russian music. He draws incredibly committed playing from the Vienna Philharmonic in a glorious sounding DG recording.

You can imagine a frosty Monday morning in Vienna. The orchestra members want to be home in bed and once again, the old warhorse Pictures at an Exhibition is on the stands. Again! It's at that moment the Vienna machine gets into gear. Dudamel is such a wonderful conductor, he could charm a great performance anytime, anywhere. But all musicians really outdo themselves, here.

Originally composed as a concertante for piano and orchestra, Stravinsky later cobbled it into the wonderful ballet Petrushka to satisfy a commission from Paris' Ballet Russe, the great impresario Diaghilev, in particular. After the grand success of his first ballet, The Firebird, the public wanted more from the young Stravinsky. Petrushka was also very successful and laid the groundwork for The Rite of Spring, an altogether different proposition.

This is the second album in a renewed partnership between Montreal's famous orchestra and Decca Records.

Although I have lived in Toronto, London and Victoria since, Montreal's my beloved hometown. The spectacular (and snowy) city is hard to remove from your DNA, even if you wanted. Montrealers don't. Some of my musical education was in Montreal. I have a lot of friends in the orchestra past and present.

It was nice to reacquaint myself with this superb  Gallic rendition of Symphonie Fantastique after the disappointment of Daniele Gatti's recent debut with his new orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [reviewed here].

Most complete cycles of symphonies present their difficulties. Most have a red headed step child. Even the most famous cycles, Karajan's first DG Beethoven set (still on sale by DG), has its spoilt kid, the Pastoral.

This is Daniel Barenboim's third kick at the can with Bruckner. Previous cycles with Chicago and Berlin were well played but had their fans and detractors. 

This complete set of Bruckner symphonies is in mono sound, taken from live Vienna performances in Jan/Feb 1953 by Radio Wien. Directing the Vienna Symphony (not the much more famous Philharmoniker) is Volkmar Andreae (1879 – 1962). He was a Swiss conductor who spent much of his time working in Austria, eschewing recording and disliking the jet set lifestyle of the international conductor. Hence, his lack of notoriety. He was also a composer and teacher of some note.

This is one of gems of my vinyl collection. It's not only a fabulous recording, it captures the magic a great conductor and orchestra can produce when musically aligned.

This is the debut release of Italian conductor Daniele Gatti's tenure as the seventh chief conductor of the great Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.

I've followed Gatti's career for a long time, since he conducted the Royal Philharmonic many years ago. Always an interesting musician, he managed a difficult orchestra and guided them to some wonderful recordings. His RPO Mahler 5 is a famous recording.

This 1960 recording sounds different than most of Art Pepper's west coast school recordings. Standards here, show tunes there from his famous records. But Smack Up feels different. A long drug sentence at San Quentin loomed over the sessions. That probably didn't help the general air of things.

This televised annual concert which began in 1939 to showcase the musical traditions of the great orchestra and Austria is considered the most important classical concert in the world, seen by over 50 million people in over 70 countries.

The repertoire is taken from the family of Johann Strauss and its contemporaries.

I was introduced to Nine Inch Nails by my twenty something son, who is a massive fan. Like a lot of kids in their early twenties, the concept of the music is easily as important as the melody, harmony and rhythm. Here’s where groups like Nine Inch Nails rule. Fronted by musical dynamo Trent Reznor, the ID, soundscape, sheer style of Nine Inch Nails (NIN) has jumped the cult shark. And, with Hesitation Marks, NIN’s first mainstream studio (Columbia) album since 2007, the public’s going to jump all over this.

Chet Baker's sad story is one of legend. From talented teenager (even Italian movie producers looked at him as a leading man) making records with the very best west coast jazzers to an ignominious death falling from an Amsterdam hotel after a life of heroin addiction.

This exceptionally refined artist can take his place among all the luminaries who have won the Chopin Competition, including Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini and Krystian Zimerman.

I watched the competition daily on YouTube and followed Seong-Jin Cho with great interest. I had my favourites, Charles Richard-Hamelin chief among them (and runner up), but Cho's wonderful musicianship won the jurors' hearts

I like the way violinist Isabelle Faust mix and matches her accompaniments on her wonderful recordings. Her modern violin playing with original instrumental groups such as the accompanying band here, Il Giardino Armonico. 21st Century fiddling, baroque bowing at times and HIP practice.

So, how does it work for Mozart's Salzburg Violin Concertos? 

This is becoming one of my favourite new releases. Who new way back in the 70s that DG vinyl releases would receive such raves? At the time, most DG LPs were best of the rest, far behind Bluebacks and RCAs.

Also cause for happiness, these early releases of two of DGs greatest roster members. I remember Abaddo's beginnings with the BSO and these early recordings. What a musician. And Argerich was a star from the beginning. A pair from musical heaven. And now the re release of their early gems.