I think the British reviewers/critics haven't figured out yet that now-a-days the sun does set on the British Empire. Some might say that it not only sets but no longer rises! :-)
Re request, you might like to look at some old threads posted in this forum that are listed for easy reference under the category 'Best Of'.
Another pulp reference without the British slant is the "All Music Guide to Classical Music". It has recommendations for good recordings as well as biographies of the composers, conductors, performance, and orchestras. Music recommendations are mostly for performance I think, but it is surely a good place to start looking for straight ahead performances and incidental information.
Re request, you might like to look at some old threads posted in this forum that are listed for easy reference under the category 'Best Of'.
Another pulp reference without the British slant is the "All Music Guide to Classical Music". It has recommendations for good recordings as well as biographies of the composers, conductors, performance, and orchestras. Music recommendations are mostly for performance I think, but it is surely a good place to start looking for straight ahead performances and incidental information.