The demands made on the performer by the Piano Sonata No 1 and Moments musicaux of Sergei Rachmaninov are considerable, requiring an exceptionally rare breed of pianist: one responsive to the emotional extremes so characteristic of this composer while remaining in complete technical command of the tumultuous piano writing. Steven Osborne is one such, and May's Record of the Month again demonstrates his powerful affinity with the great Russian. Any new recording from Alice Coote is a special event, and doubly so when the results are as appealing as in 21 Songs by Schubert. This is a highly collectable album of some of the greatest and best-loved Lieder in the repertoire, including Erlkönig, Der Tod und das Mädchen, Der Musensohn, Auf dem Wasser zu singen, the 'Serenade' from Schwanengesang, and other favourites. Julius Drake is the most attentive of accompanists.

And for something completely different, the Vivaldi & Piazzolla mandolin seasons present a unique—and hugely enjoyable—take on a certain set of Italian baroque violin concertos and a twentieth-century response to them. So convincing is the virtuoso mandolin playing of Jacob Reuven, it's tempting to imagine that the works might have been conceived in this form, while Omer Meir Wellber's direction and continuo (employing accordion, as well as harpsichord), plus the enthusiastic contribution of the Sinfonietta Leipzig, add to the exuberance of an album like no other.

The ongoing series dedicated to choice selections of our all-time favourite recordings—ones you might possibly have missed? This time: Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 by Charles Ives from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Andrew Litton (‘these performances represent all that's best about American orchestras and conductors’—MusicWeb International), The Tallis Votive Antiphons from The Cardinall's Musick (‘the whole production is exemplary’—MusicWeb International), and String Quartets by Zoltán Kodály from the Dante Quartet (‘superbly played and recorded, these readings are of the highest order’—BBC Music Magazine). If you don’t know them already, a track from each is included on our monthly sampler which is free to download.

Plangent saxophone tones from Christian Forshaw weave beguilingly above and among the voices of Tenebrae this month. Entitled When sleep comes, this new Signum album—under the direction of Nigel Short—effortlessly spans the music of a millennium in a sequence of evening meditations, and represents the fruition of a long-cherished dream.

Now the green blade riseth is an appealing programme of choral music for Easter from King's College Choir Cambridge and Director of Music Daniel Hyde on the choir's own label. Here is a choir riding high and this new album is a treat. Imaginative hymn-accompaniment comes from Paul Greally, while Matthew Martin puts the world-famous organ through its paces in the anthems and show-stopping voluntary.

The prevailing season of the Church is also the subject of the latest release from St John's College Choir Cambridge. Recorded live in their home chapel in 2018, Eastertide Evensong is a celebration of musical riches, all the more welcome after the austerities of Lent. Andrew Nethsingha conducts (and contributes the informative and engaging commentaries).

It takes a particular hardiness of soul to face the vertiginous challenges of Schubert's Violin Sonata, Fantasie & Rondo on period instruments, but—as fortepianist Alasdair Beatson notes—'there are myriad rewards for those who so adventure'. The sparkling violin is that of no less a figure than Viktoria Mullova, and this is the duo's debut album for Signum Classics. Emmanuel Despax also tackles well-known repertoire in relatively unknown guise, here performing the Chopin Piano Concertos in contemporaneous chamber versions and in the company of the string principals of the Chineke! orchestra.

Oliver Davis' Air is a seventh Signum album dedicated to the music of this hugely successful film, television and ballet composer. The wide-ranging programme includes works for the unusual quartet of The Hanke Brothers, songs (performed by Grace Davidson and Jeremy Budd), a suite for violin (Kerenza Peacock) and orchestra, and a new ballet score. Paul Bateman conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.