Hyperion Records

Hyperion's Record of the Month for November 2012 presents that most perfect of chamber works the Schubert String Quintet in a richly rewarding new performance by the Takács Quartet and Ralph Kirshbaum; it is complemented by the D703 Quartettsatz. A 58th volume in our Romantic Piano Concerto series welcomes to the catalogue works by Sigismond Thalberg (200 this year!) and Johann Peter Pixis, Howard Shelley and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra doing the not-inconsiderable honours.

Ex Cathedra and Jeffrey Skidmore make a welcome return with sublimely understated Gabrieli Sacred Symphonies, for which they are joined by His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts and Concerto Palatino, while a second volume of CPE Bach Keyboard Sonatas finds Danny Driver on characteristically immaculate form.

Differently mischievous vocal albums introduce to the label the fantastic Elizabeth Watts in a sixth volume of Richard Strauss Songs, Roger Vignoles at the keyboard for a programme centred on the publisher-bashing Op 66 Krämerspiegel, and Zak Ozmo and his unbridled L'Avventura London for a delicious exploration of 18th-century Portuguese Love Songs.

Re-issued this month are John McCabe's 1995 recording of Hindemith Ludus Tonalis & Suite 1922 and Winchester Cathedral Choir's three-disc Stanford Sacred Choral Music survey, now available as a boxed-set.