The Works: Best of 2025

Since the beginning of 2025, The Works has been your weekly guide to the very best new classical releases. In that short time, we’ve showcased some truly great artists, witnessed the birth of incredible new music, and, in the case of our headline artist, listened afresh to works that have been underappreciated for far too long. Back in February 2025, pianist Alice Sara Ott placed the Nocturnes of 19th-century Irish composer John Field squarely back in the spotlight. Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon in beautiful close-mic’d intimacy, and treated to Ott’s forensic and sensitive playing, Field’s 18 atmospheric piano works were revealed once again as miniature miracles of musical portraiture. It’s not hard to see why Chopin was so moved on hearing them that he soon set about composing his own set of Nocturnes. As Ott told Apple Music Classical earlier in 2025: “There’s so much beauty that is still to be discovered, and this is just some if it.” Marvel at Ott’s mastery of expression and filigree virtuosity, and don’t forget to add your favourite tracks to your library.