Featured today
Spotlight. Rococo Charm — Gerald Fenech heartily recommends music by Boccherini, played by Steven Isserlis and friends. '... truly glorious performances ...'
Twenty-five years ago today
The Sound of Spaces — An investigation by composer and sound installation artist Jeff Talman (published 20 November 1999)
Twenty years ago today
Ensemble. A worthy winner — The Donatella Flick Conducting Competition 2004, reviewed by David Wilkins (published 20 November 2004)
Anniversaries
Johan Helmich Roman (1758); Daniel Gregory Mason (1873); Anton Rubinstein (1894); Margaret Sutherland (1897); Wilhelm Stenhammar (1927); Francesco Cilea (1950); George Guest (2002); H C Robbins Landon (2009); Arthur Butterworth (2014); Levine Andrade (2018)
Today's background image
Derived from the circa 1742-46 oil-on-canvas painting The Piazza San Martino, Lucca by Italian vedutista and printmaker Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780)
Recent Articles
Ensemble. Heights of Agility — Mike Wheeler listens to Beethoven, Brahms, Messiaen and Mozart from Martin Owen and Anna Tilbrook
Classical music news. Imogen Holst and John McCabe — News of a rediscovered concerto and a new book
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney — Total Control
Spotlight. A Brilliant Issue — Gerald Fenech wholeheartedly recommends madrigals by German composer Johann Grabbe. 'Emma Kirkby's glowing soprano alone makes this recording not only an absolute delight but also a listening experience in a class of its own.'
Classical music news. Handel's Messiah — A selection of forthcoming performances
Ensemble. Winning Effect — Mike Wheeler is impressed by a collaborative J S Bach and Vivaldi concert
Spotlight. A Labour of Love by All Concerned — Gerald Fenech is impressed with music by Sweelinck played on recorders. 'The Royal Wind Music, a flute consort of Renaissance recorders of all pitches, are a constant delight throughout ...'
Spotlight. Made from Rarer Stuff — Keith Bramich is intrigued by unusual Christmas carols collected in Herefordshire. '... clear, stylish and sympathetic performances.'
Spotlight. Creating out of Nothing — Gerald Fenech recommends polyphony from the Belgian ensemble Graindelavoix. '... compelling ardour and moving beauty ...'
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney — Heaven and Hell
Classical music news. The Planets - Out of Darkness — John Challenger's new organ transcription of Holst's 'The Planets' is available in several formats
Karynx — A classical music word search puzzle by Allan Rae
Ensemble. Crushing Tragedy — Ron Bierman has mixed feelings about San Diego Opera's production of Puccini's 'La bohème'
Spotlight. Highly Prized — Gerald Fenech passionately recommends Anita Cerquetti singing Verdi. '... one of the greatest voices of the twentieth century ...'
Spotlight. Most Welcome — Geoff Pearce listens to William Walton's complete songs. 'I was very impressed with the originality of this prgramme.'
Spotlight. Fascinating and Powerful — Gerald Fenech highly recommends Marc-André Hamelin's recent Hyperion recording of Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata. '... inspirational performances overflowing with arresting pianism.'
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney — Hard Time
Ensemble. Unusually Memorable — Ron Bierman was in the audience for Mendelssohn, Bruch and Tchaikovsky from Paul Huang and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antonio Méndez
Classical music news. November 2024 Newsletter — Our November 2024 PDF newsletter has just been published
Ensemble. Sheer Originality — Mike Wheeler is engrossed by Walton, Bliss and Holst from Guy Johnston, Andrew Manze and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bird Has Flown — Peter King says farewell to his favourite BBC Radio 3 'Saturday Breakfast' host, Elizabeth Alker
Spotlight. Emotional Joy and Gladness — Gerald Fenech warmly recommends Christmas music from the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. 'An enthralling compilation, flawlessly performed, that should prepare the listener for the celebrations of Christmastide, even at this early stage.'
Classical music news. Finland and the Finnish — International Opera Awards, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Timo Mustakallio and Mirjam Helin Singing Competitions
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney — Joy!
Ensemble. A Varied and Fascinating Evening — Keith Bramich experiences music by Noriko Koide, Saint-Saëns, Prokofiev and Bartók from pianist Mao Fujita and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Elim Chan, live at the Helsinki Music Centre in Finland
Spotlight. Strikingly Individual — Keith Bramich finds the music of Moses Pergament haunting, strange and sad. 'All the performances here are excellent.'
Ensemble. Utterly Gripping — Mike Wheeler is pleased to hear Sheku Kanneh-Mason, John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London performing music by Kenneth Hesketh, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov
Classical music news. Autumn in Finland — John Storgårds conducts a special concert in Lapland
Spotlight. An Interesting and Varied Release — Geoff Pearce recommends Hanni Liang's album of piano music by women composers. 'I was very impressed with the originality of this prgramme.'
Spotlight. A Compelling Issue — Gerald Fenech strongly recommends a new recording of music by Gustav Holst and his contemporaries. '... performances are as charming as they are abundantly sensitive.'
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney — Kids' Stuff
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