If there is any truth whatsoever in the legend of Bach's Goldberg Variations being commissioned as a cure for sleeplessness, then insomniacs should look elsewhere: wide-eyed astonishment is a much more likely response to Pavel Kolesnikov's new recording. The pianist's 'searching originality' (Gramophone) brilliantly illuminates this peak of the keyboard repertoire, making November's Record of the Month a major addition to the catalogue. In the next instalment of their universally acclaimed cycle, Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Symphony Orchestra arrive at Vaughan Williams Symphony No 5 & Scenes adapted from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Not only is this a glorious account of this most radiant of twentieth-century symphonies, but, as throughout the series, the coupling offers another example of some fascinating and very unfamiliar RVW; here, the composer's first thoughts on a subject which was to occupy him throughout his creative life.

Tavener No longer mourn for me & other works for cello is another essential release: Steven Isserlis's homage to a composer with whom he had a profoundly personal, as well as professional, bond. This collection of late works—as Isserlis himself notes, among the most powerfully beautiful Tavener composed—is a fitting tribute, and the guest list features some particularly distinguished artists, not least Omer Meir Wellber conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. Our releases for the year conclude with two albums from a wonderful choir new to Hyperion's roster. It is a particular pleasure to welcome The London Oratory Schola Cantorum and their director Charles Cole, who present Sacred treasures of Christmas and Sacred treasures of Spain; two programmes of predominantly sixteenth-century choral masterworks by Lassus, Victoria, Palestrina and others, repertoire routinely to be heard at the London Oratory and central to its celebration of the liturgy.

Three turbulent symphonies (by J C Bach, Vanhal and, of course, Haydn) are interleaved with vocal flights of fancy (Gluck and Mysliveček) in a second volume of Sturm und Drang. This Signum Classics series from The Mozartists, director Ian Page and, here, mezzo Ida Ränzlöv continues to thrill.

On their own label, The Choir of King's College Cambridge has recorded Bruckner Mass in E minor & motets. Accompanied by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in the glorious acoustic of their 'home' chapel, this final recording under the direction of Sir Stephen Cleobury comes highly recommended.

The festive season begins early on Signum Classics with a trio of choral albums to cheer the darkening evenings. Queen's College Choir Oxford has recorded A Ceremony of Carols, the programme enfolding Britten's perennial favourite with an inspiring sequence of works old and new; Be all merry is a further trademark confection from the multi-faceted University College Dublin Choral Scholars; while A winter's night introduces to the label Winchester College Chapel Choir in an ambitious programme of Christmas music for choir, brass quintet and organ.

For their own label The Hallé Orchestra and Sir Mark Elder have recorded Vaughan Williams Job & Songs of travel. This is a series which continues to win the highest praise, and this new release—featuring two of the mature composer's landmark pieces—deserves the widest audience. The eminent soloist is Neal Davies.

The London Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor François-Xavier Roth turn their attention to Debussy La mer & Ravel Rapsodie espagnole. Recorded live at the Barbican in 2018 and 2019, this luxurious new LSO Live album also includes Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.

On Signum Classics this month we have the second album in a thrilling series from the Britten Sinfonia under the baton of Thomas Adès—Beethoven Symphonies 4-6 & Gerald Barry's Viola Concerto & The Conquest of Ireland—another startling pairing which in these hands just seems to make sense. The Calidore String Quartet has recorded works by Schumann, Shostakovich and Caroline Shaw. Entitled Babel, the album explores the power of music to enhance and even replace more 'normal' channels of human communication.

The Tallis Scholars’ Josquin Mass cycle may have spanned the longest period of any project in the history of recorded music, with over 33 years having elapsed between the first album in the series (which won for Gimell the Gramophone Record of the Year Award in 1987) and this final instalment. As ever, Peter Phillips conducts this most illustrious of groups.