Simon Heighes visits an unusual recording session at the Royal College of Music where students and early recording experts have teamed up to recreate Arthur Nikisch and the Berlin Philharmonic'€™s 1913 recording of Beethoven'€™s 5th Symphony. The original recording, one of the earliest one and most successful attempts to record an entire symphony using (close to) a full orchestra, used an acoustic horn to cut into a wax disc. Simon talked to participants in the 2014 re-enactment about the challenges of re-creating a recording process that pre-dated the use of electronic microphones.

Caroline Gill compares the available recordings of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and makes a personal recommendation.

Chris De Souza with a personal recommnedation from recordings of Schubert's 'Unfinished' Eighth Symphony

In a CD Review exclusive, Andrew McGregor talks to legendary pianist Alfred Brendel. Now retired from the concert platform, Brendel’s career stretched over six decades and saw collaborations with the leading conductors, singers and instrumentalists of the day. He shares with Andrew his memories of a fascinating career in an interview rich in insight and his characteristic dry humour

Harriet Smith recommends a recording from the available versions of Beethoven's Ghost Piano Trio.

John Deathridge recommends a version from the available recordings of Bruckner's 7th Symphony

Mark Lowther surveys the available recordings of Bach's four orchestral suites and makes his personal recommendation

Richard Wigmore with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schumann's negelected but deeply-felt Second Symphony

Simon Heighes compares recordings of Purcell's Ode Hail! Bright Cecilia and makes a personal recommendation

Richard Osborne compares recordings of Rossini's final opera and makes a personal recommendation