From Stephen Hough to Gautier Capuçon and Joseph Calleja: The best albums of the year

Beginning with Beethoven’s 250th, here are two exceptional albums by British artists of core repertory that have rarely sounded better. Stephen Hough’s complete set of the Piano Concertos (Hyperion) is impeccable in taste, judgment and, of course, virtuosity.

The conductor, Andrew Manze, used to be best known as a baroque violinist but now devotes himself to conducting. On this brilliantly recorded Pentatone album with his band, the North German Radio Philharmonic, he sheds new light on Beethoven’s 5th and 7th.

Three complete Beethoven boxes appeared in celebration. The best bargain is the 90-CD Naxos box, at about £105. The musicians may not be as well known as those on the DG/Decca or Warners sets but there isn’t a dud here.

Great melodies that sweep you away, and some glorious singing, are to be found on Joseph Calleja’s Mantovani tribute, The Magic Of Mantovani (Decca). You need tin ears not to melt at the first few bars of Charmaine.

John Williams and the Vienna Philharmonic (DG), playing a splendid selection of his movie music, will also sweep you away.

If movie music is your scene, Somm has issued a generously filled Volume 2 of the Scottish, light-music maestro Iain Sutherland’s wide-ranging collection, all beautifully played.

John Wilson has made some first-class recordings this year. I especially like the second volume of his Eric Coates Orchestral Works on Chandos.

Also full of good tunes is the cellist Gautier Capuçon’s wide-ranging collection Emotions (Warners). Cohen’s Hallelujah has never sounded better.

Finally two bumper boxes. New Year’s Concert: The Complete Works (Sony) features every piece of music played in a New Year’s Day concert for the past 80 years.

Also Sir John Barbirolli: The Complete Warner Recordings. This year was also the 50th anniversary of the death of Barbirolli, perhaps the finest British conductor ever. Warners has remastered all 109 of his CDs.