Featured today
Ensemble. Winning Effect — Mike Wheeler is impressed by a collaborative J S Bach and Vivaldi concert
Twenty-five years ago today
CD Spotlight — Rain Waves - Peter Dickinson reviews concertos by Bond, Ott and Tower (published 14 November 1999)
Twenty years ago today
Fascinating suggestions — 'The Beethoven Violin Sonatas: History, Criticism, Performance' from the University of Illinois Press, reviewed by Robert Anderson (published 14 November 2004)
Anniversaries
Gaspare Spontini (1774); Fanny Hensel (1805); Aaron Copland (1900); Aleksey Zhivotov (1904); Theodor Leschetizky (1915); Lisa Otto (1919); Peter Katin (1930); Manuel de Falla (1946); Nektarios Chargeishvili (1971)
Today's background image
Derived from a 1725 engraving of Antonio Vivaldi by François Morellon de La Cave (1696-1768) - a painter and engraver of Huguenot origins who settled in The Netherlands
Recent Articles
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
Classical music news - October 2024 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Spotlight. Enjoyable and Colourful — Geoff Pearce discovers the music of Richard Stöhr. 'The orchestral playing by Sinfonia Varsovia and direction by Ian Hobson are excellent ...'
Ensemble. Compelling Performance — Mike Wheeler listens to Robert Schumann, Schubert and Chopin, played by Turkish pianist Can Çakmur
Ensemble. Thoughtfully Put-together — Mike Wheeler attends a music and poetry event and concludes that further similar events would be well-received
Classical music news. Paraorchestra — A Bristol-based orchestra is to perform at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music in the UK and at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Spotlight. Quite a Challenge — Geoff Pearce enjoys Dobromir Tsenov's performances of L'ubomir Pipkov's piano music. 'Tsenov's commitment, stylish playing and clarity of execution are outstanding ...'
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