RICHARD ALLAIN : ‘When I'm Gone’ – choral works performed by Laudibus (Chamber Choir) and National Youth Choir of Great Britain, c. Mike Brewer. Delphian DCD34026.

CECILIE ØRE: A. – a shadow opera. Joachim Calmeyer, Anneke von der Lippe, Tilman Hartenstein, Henrik Inadomi, Lakis Kanzakis, Rob Waring (voices). Aurora ACD 5034.

BETH ANDERSON ‘Swales and Angels’: March Swale1; Pennyroyal Swale1; New Mexico Swale2,1,3; The Angel4,1,5,6,8; January Swale1; Rosemary Swale1; Piano Concerto6,1,7,3,8. 1Rubio String Quartet, 2Andrew Bolotowsky (fl, picc), 3David Rozenblatt (perc), 4Jessica Marsten (sop), 5Joseph Kubera (vc, pno), 6André Tarantiles (hp), 7Darren Campbell (bass), c. 8Gary M. Scheider. New World 80610-2.

RAGNHILD BERSTAD: Anstrøk for violin and cello1; Krets for orchestra9; Respiro for clarinet and tape2; Zeugma for ensemble3; Toreuma for string quartet4; Verto for voice, cello & percussion5,6,7; Emutatio for voice, chorus and orchestra5,8,9. 1Kyberia, 2Lars Hilde (cl), 3Affinis Ensemble, 4Arditti String Quartet, 5Berit Ogheim (voice), 6Lene Grenager (vc), 7Cathrine Nyheim (perc), 8Oslo Chamber Choir, 9Norwegian Radio Orchestra c. Christian Eggen. Aurora ACD 5021.

TAILLEFERRE: Works for piano. Cristiano Ariagno (pno). Timpani 1C1074.

‘Sweetly I Rejoice: Music based on Songs and Hymns from Old Icelandic Manuscripts’ by HILDIGUNNUR RÚNARSDÒTTIR, MIST THORKELSDÒTTIR, THÒRDUR MAGNÚSSON, JÒN GUDMUNDSSON, ELÍN GUNNLAUGSDÒTTIR and STEINGRÍMUR ROHLOFF. Gríma Vocal Ensemble. Marta Gudrún Halldórsdóttir (sop), EThos String Quartet. Instrumental Ensemble c. Gunnstein Òlafsson. Smekkleysa SMK31 (2-CD set).

‘I Start My Journey’: Sacred music by Anon, SMÁRI ÓLASON, ELÍN GUNNLAUGSDÒTTIR, STEFÁN ÓLAFSSON, JAKOB HALLGRIMSSON, BARA GRÍMSDÒTTIR, HRÒDMAR INGI SIGURBJÖRNSSON, GUNNAR REYNÍR SVEINSSON. Kammerkor Sudurlands c. Hilmar Örn Agnarsson. Smekkleysa SMK17.

‘New Zealand Women Composers’. DOROTHY KER: The Structure of Memory. JENNY McLEOD: For Seven. GILLIAN WHITEHEAD: Ahotu (O Matenga). ANNEA LOCKWOOD/Lontano: Monkey Trips (1995). Lontano c. Odaline de la Martinez. LORELT LNT116.

SPAIN-DUNK: Phantasy Quartet in D minor. BEACH: String Quartet in one movement. SMYTH: String Quartet in E minor. Archaeus String Quartet. Lorelt LNT114.

SAARIAHO: Du cristal…a la fumée1–3; Nymphaea4; Sept Papillons2. 1Petri Alanko (alto fl), 2Anssi Karttunen (vlc), 3Los Angeles PO c. Esa-Pekka Salonen, 4Kronos Quartet. Ondine ODE 1047-2.

ADÈS: Piano Quintet1. SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet D667, The Trout2. Thomas Adès (pno), 1Arditti Quartet, 2members of the Belcea Quartet, 2Corin Long (db). EMI 7243 5 57664 2 7.

POPOV: Symphony No. 1, op. 7. SHOSTAKOVICH: Theme and Variations, op.3. London Symphony Orchestra c. Leon Botstein. Telarc CD-80642.

SALLINEN: The Palace Rhapsody, op. 72.1 AHO: Tristia.1 RAUTAVAARA: A Soldier's Mass, op. 40.2 KANTELINEN: Ghosts.2 The Guards' Band c. 1Elias Seppälä, 2Raine Ampuja. Alba ABCD 170.

Eli Zion – from St Petersburg to Jerusalem: Music from the ‘New Jewish School’. David Geringas (vlc), Jascha Nemtsov (pno). SWR and Hännsler-Classic CD 93.122.

I just received my copy of the January issue of Tempo, and with it the results of the Masterpiece Poll.