Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano), Sholto Kynoch (piano)
BIS · BIS2704 · 62 minutes
Helen Charlston’s voice has this incredible depth to it — that "wine-dark mezzo-soprano" description from The Guardian feels exactly right, like something rich and ancient you want to sit with. She and Sholto Kynoch make a genuinely interesting pair here, with Kynoch stepping beyond the keys to speak and hum his way through the narrative, which gives the whole thing an almost theatrical intimacy. If you’re not already familiar with Werner’s folk-tinged writing, this BIS release is a pretty wonderful place to start.
“Charlston relishes Werner’s haunting, folk-inflected vocal lines, her wine-dark mezzo-soprano savouring every drop. Pianist Sholto Kynoch, who embellishes the narrative by speaking, humming…”
— The Guardian, 8th May 2026,4 out of 5 stars
Alina Ibragimova (violin), Cédric Tiberghien (fortepiano)
BIS · BIS2724 · 79 minutes
Alina Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien have such a remarkable musical rapport, and hearing them dig into this repertoire on fortepiano feels like eavesdropping on a genuinely private conversation between two musicians who completely trust each other. The Gramophone editors clearly felt the same pull — that phrase "colour, drama and thought-filled expressive detail" says it all, really. Andrew Keener’s recording captures everything with the kind of natural warmth that makes you feel like you’re right there in the room with them.
Awards:
- Gramophone Magazine — July 2026 — Editor’s Choice
“Everywhere is colour, drama and thought-filled expressive detail… the intimacy and sensitively weighted balancing of this conversation, and the natural immediacy of Andrew Keener’s capturing…”
— Gramophone Magazine, July 2026
Tamara Stefanovich (piano), Nicolas Alstaedt (cello), Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Christian Karlsen
BIS · BIS2684 · 82 minutes
BIS keeps delivering the goods, and this new release with Tamara Stefanovich, Nicolas Alstaedt, and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra under Christian Karlsen is exactly the kind of disc you want to stumble across on a lazy afternoon. Gramophone is raving about Alstaedt’s beautifully poised playing and the orchestra’s exquisite support, which honestly tracks — Karlsen has been quietly building something special with that ensemble. At 82 minutes you’re getting serious value alongside some genuinely exciting performances worth adding to your collection.
“Christian Karlsen and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra certainly sound as if they relished it… Alstaedt’s performance is beautifully poised, and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra provide exquisite…”
— Gramophone Magazine, July 2026
Boccherini Trio
BIS · BIS2708 · 62 minutes
Boccherini Trio brings a lovely warmth and intimacy to this BIS release that feels genuinely special — the kind of recording where you find yourself just sitting still and letting it wash over you. At 62 minutes it’s a beautifully paced listen, and BIS’s engineering, as always, puts you right in the room with the players. Keep an eye out for this one when it drops in June 2026.
Nils Schweckendiek, Joel Ward, Jukka Jokitalo, Veera Kuusirati, Elmeri Uusikorpi, Heikki Parviainen, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Helsinki Chamber Choir
BIS · BIS2742 · 58 minutes
BIS keeps delivering these quietly revelatory choral releases, and this one from the Helsinki Chamber Choir under Nils Schweckendiek is absolutely no exception — five stars from BBC Music Magazine says it all. At just under an hour, it’s the kind of disc you put on and suddenly realize you’ve been completely still for the whole thing. If their Saariaho release moved you, this one belongs right next to it on your shelf.
“As with Reconnaissance, the Helsinki Chamber Choir and Nils Schweckendiek’s stunning disc of Saariaho’s music released shortly after her death in 2023, this is compelling listening.”
— BBC Music Magazine, May 2026,5 out of 5 stars
Arte Dei Suonatori, Marcin Świątkiewicz
BIS · BIS2759 · 64 minutes
BIS keeps delivering the goods, and this latest release from Arte Dei Suonatori with harpsichordist Marcin Świątkiewicz is exactly the kind of thing that makes the label so easy to trust. The Polish period ensemble and their keyboard collaborator have a real chemistry together, and 64 minutes flies by when the playing is this alive and engaged. Keep an eye on June 2026 — this one’s going straight onto the list.
