Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1 (DG477 6021)
Twenty years after he recorded Brahm's Piano Concerto No 1 with Bernstein, Krystian Zimerman returns to the work; this time with Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmoniker. The Polish virtuoso says he listened to more than 80 different recordings to settle on the precise pulse. The result is an immaculate performance.

Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Ashkenazy 3CDs (Decca 475 6832)
The acclaimed pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy explores one of the foundation stones of Western music: Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. He conveys the sheer scale and variety of the pieces with sterling articulation and expressiveness.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt/VPO/Gruberova - Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte DVD (DG 073 4237)
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, one of the most distinguished opera directors and stage designers, was just completing this work when he died. Featuring the Vienna Philharmonic, under Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the production unites a cast of internationally acclaimed singers including Edita Gruberova, Teresa Stratas and Delores Ziegler. This includes a bonus documentary.