The titles charm, intrigue: 'Farewell to my Silbermann Clavier, in Rondo form', 'L'Aly Rupalich', 'La complaisante' … but C P E Bach Sonatas & Rondos is no mere omnium gatherum, rather a brilliantly planned and flawlessly executed homage to this most radical of Bach's sons. Not that anything less should be expected of a new release from Marc-André Hamelin: this may be Hyperion's Record of the Month for January, but listeners are unlikely to encounter a finer keyboard recital all year. Equally appealing piano writing—of a very different style and sensibility—is on offer in volume 6 of The Complete Mendelssohn Solo Piano Music, the last in Howard Shelley's important series. This has simply been a revelation throughout, and Shelley's playing has set the standards by which this little-known area of the composer's output will come to be judged.

The Florentine Renaissance is a fascinating programme of sacred and secular songs from fifteenth-century Florence, including works by Dufay, Binchois and Isaac. The shifting cultural and artistic perspectives of the period—from the patronage of Cosimo de' Medici in the 1430s to Savonarola's 'bonfire of vanities' in the 1490s—are persuasively rendered by the four immaculate voices of The Orlando Consort.

The ongoing series dedicated to choice selections of our all-time favourite recordings—ones you might possibly have missed? This time: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin from Alina Ibragimova (‘an absolutely compelling set of performances’—The Guardian), A French Baroque Diva – Arias for Marie Fel from Carolyn Sampson and Ex Cathedra (‘the whole production has provided me with hours of pleasure’—International Record Review), and A Bach Album from His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts (‘a special recommendation for a most delightful and unusual disc’—Gramophone). If you don’t know them already, a track from each is included on our monthly sampler which is free to download.

New albums on Signum Classics bring us Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin in a new recording by star countertenor Iestyn Davies and pianist Joseph Middleton, and, from the Houston Chamber Choir, Circlesong by Bob Chilcott. With important contributions from the Treble Choir of Houston, the composer describes the work as 'a life-cycle piece based on First Nations poetry from North America'.

The viols of Fretwork have recorded The Flat Consort by Matthew Locke for Signum. There are five suites in the collection, fantasias and dances intricately woven together into minor miracles of intimate chamber music. Rich bass continuo comes from the archlute and theorbo of David Miller and the harpsichord of Silas Wollston.

A new release from 1equalmusic sees The Song Company of Australia join forces remotely with British ensemble Tonus Peregrinus for a lockdown concept album. Taking in all kinds of music, Known Unknown ranges from silence in John Cage’s capable hands, via Steve Reich’s early minimalist masterpiece, to Tears for Fears’ late 20th-century classic. The unknown tracks by Antony Pitts and young Australian composer Bernie Van Tiel explore imagined and dreamed worlds both far and near.