A student of Haydn, a masonic brother of Mozart and a fine composer in his own right, Paul Wranitzky (1756-1808) left behind 45 symphonies that are at long last stepping out of the shadows thanks to ongoing recordings and increased access to published scores. Raymond Bisha introduces Vol. 8 in Naxos' series of Wranitzky's orchestral works, which includes the Grand Characteristic Symphony for Peace with the French Republic, completed in Vienna with eager anticipation in 1797. The symphony happily survived, but the peace negotiations sadly failed, and the war resumed in 1799.

John Rutter is the most acclaimed composer of Christmas carols alive today, while the Black Dyke Band occupies the highest rank in the worldwide brass band community. Raymond Bisha introduces a new album that bridges these two pinnacles in arrangements for brass of Rutter's celebrated seasonal works, together with three in their original choral versions, representing a span of some sixty years of Rutter's captivating output.

George Frederic Handel was one of the leading composers of the baroque, especially known for his Italian operas. When he presented his dramatic oratorio Israel in Egypt in 1739 it flopped. It has since returned to favour, and this recording by Apollo’s Fire shows why this turnaround has happened. Put simply, the music is stunning.