The spare, fragile beauty of Federico Mompou's Música callada has few parallels in music. And if a programme of 'silent music' depends for its effect on sympathetic musicianship of the highest order, on a pianist effortlessly able to inhabit and convey the essence of each of these twenty-eight miniature worlds, then there can be no finer advocate than Stephen Hough whose previous album devoted to this composer was hailed by Gramophone as 'revelatory'. February's Record of the Month promises further insight into a compositional voice like no other. A trio of twentieth-century Czech Harpsichord Concertos by Bohuslav Martinů, Hans Krása & Viktor Kalabis can only mean one thing: a sensational new release from Mahan Esfahani. These are performances which abundantly demonstrate the commitment this most charismatic of harpsichordists brings to everything he plays, of whatever style and from whatever period. Alexander Liebreich and members of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra provide immaculate support.

The Orlando Consort presents the Songs from Guillaume de Machaut's Remede de Fortune, the next in this continuing survey of the great fourteenth-century composer-poet. The remedy against Fortune's slings and arrows is of course Love, the pursuit and fulfilment of which is charted through seventy minutes of music which continues to astonish in its emotional and expressive range.

The ongoing series dedicated to choice selections of our all-time favourite recordings—ones you might possibly have missed? This time: Richard Strauss's Metamorphosen, Capriccio & Piano Quartet from The Nash Ensemble (‘I am lost in admiration at The Nash Ensemble's achievement here’—International Record Review), Erik Chisholm's Violin Concerto & Dance Suite from Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (‘surely music of this quality cannot go ignored for ever’—Classical Source), and Aleksandr Tikhonovich Grechaninov's Vespers from the Holst Singers and Stephen Layton (‘this serene, delectable music is irresistible and so is its performance’—Choir & Organ). If you don’t know them already, a track from each is included on our monthly sampler which is free to download.

An exciting collaboration on Signum Classics brings together two stalwarts of the label: The King's Singers and Fretwork. Entitled Tom + Will – Weelkes & Byrd 400 Years, their programme is a vibrant celebration of the lives and personalities of these musical titans of the early seventeenth century.

In 2021 the Hallé Orchestra marked the 50th anniversary of the composer's death with a ground-breaking film of Stravinsky’s The soldier’s tale, subsequently shown on BBC Four on Remembrance Sunday 2022. This album, on the orchestra's own label, features specially remastered audio of the highly acclaimed soundtrack, featuring principal players of the Hallé under Music Director Sir Mark Elder.

The Calidore String Quartet returns to the studio for Signum Classics to bring us Beethoven: The late quartets. This richly recorded triple album presents the composer's monumental final five quartets, among the last—and most profound—music he was to write, and here in performances as deeply committed as one could wish for.