Essential holiday listening includes a Britten rarity, stunning recordings of Elgar and Tippett, a pair of oddball operas, and three outstanding discs of orchestral music by women.

In a nail-bitingly close contest, an independent label carries off the top prize.

This month, Roderick Williams gussies up English songs, Ravel and Arnold receive ardent advocacy, and a trio of suppressed Jessye Norman recordings sees the light of day.

An ample second helping of Gipps suggests the first was no flash in the pan.

Clarinet stars in more discoveries from an overlooked composer.

Neglected English composers receive much-needed world premieres.

A neglected English composer gets some sparkling treatment.