Featured today
Ensemble. Brilliance, Ingenuity and Excellence — Roderic Dunnett listens to Handel's 'Agrippina'
Twenty years ago today
Ask DGriffs — A flood of correspondence for M&V's newly appointed 'agony uncle' (published 30 May 2003)
Anniversaries
Emil Reesen (1887); Benny Goodman (1909); Gustav Leonhardt (1928); Pauline Oliveros (1932); Zoltán Kocsis (1952); Britten: War Requiem (1962); Silvia Kind (2002); Elliot del Borgo (2013); Denise Shepherd (2014); Mady Mesplé (2020)
Today's background image
Derived from a detail from an anonymous circa 1740 drawing of Handel directing an oratorio - the cellist might be Andrea Caporale
Recent Articles
CD Spotlight. Quite Eclectic — Chamber music by Joachim Mendelson and Grażina Bacewicz, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... insight, commitment and verve.'
The Oblivionopolis Audio Quiz — Extracts from a dozen obscure twentieth century works ... can you guess the composers and the works?
CD Spotlight. A De-orchestration? — Keith Bramich listens to Richard Blackford's new version of Verdi's Messa da Requiem. '... Richard Blackford is a respected and experienced composer, and this is no mere thinning of the texture ...'
Ensemble. Undeniable Brilliance and Thrills — Ron Bierman listens to Brahms, Dvořák and Gity Razaz
Classical music news. Davidsbündler Feest — Celebrate the Davidsbündler Music Academy's successful first year
CD Spotlight. Contrasting Moods — Geoff Pearce is impressed by Dvořák from the Shaham Erez Wallfisch Trio. 'All three performers ... do full justice to the works they are presenting here ...'
Classical music news. June 2023 New Releases — Browse a large selection of new recordings
CD Spotlight. Immense Dramatic Power — Gerald Fenech listens to Berlioz. '... an interpretation overflowing with passion and flair ...'
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney — More corn than gold
Ensemble. Bold and Resolute — Roderic Dunnett is impressed by a performance of Amy Beach's Mass in E flat
CD Spotlight. Freshness and Vitality — Geoff Pearce explores the music of Paul von Klenau. '... a most welcome recording of music by what is today a relatively little-known composer.'
Ensemble. Byrd in Context — Mike Wheeler hears The Sixteen
CD Spotlight. Exceptional Poise and Musicality — Operatic arias played on trumpet, highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Matilda Lloyd performs these phenomenal pieces with a captivating enthusiasm and irresistible grace ...'
To Talk or Not to Talk — Béla Hartmann discusses whether or not musicians should speak out in public
CD Spotlight. More Operatic than Liturgical — Geoff Pearce listens to Mercadante's Messa Solenne. '... a most welcome recording of music by what is today a relatively little-known composer.'
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney — A hundred not out
CD Spotlight. Wonderful and Charming — Gerald Fenech listens to Isata Kanneh-Mason. '... the soloist's supreme mastery of each piece is unimpeachable throughout.'
CD Spotlight. A Rising Star — Benjamin Britten and Max Bruch violin concertos, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. '... Kerson Leong and the Philharmonia Orchestra provide a coherent and compelling account.'
Ensemble. A Tumultuous Climax — Mike Wheeler listens to Dvořák, Bruch, J S Bach and Rimsky-Korsakov from Daishin Kashimoto and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with its new chief conductor Kazuki Yamada
Ensemble. A Backwards Bohème — Adam J Sacks reports from Opera Philadelphia
CD Spotlight. A Marriage between Drama and Comedy — Gerald Fenech is impressed by recordings of five Mozart operas. '... I have never heard Mozart played with such finesse and beauty.'
Classical music news - May 2023 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney — Rough winds do shake
Classical music news. Rhythms of the Brain — Performance news from Iceland, New Zealand and Malta
CD Spotlight. Colourful and Free from Pretence — Geoff Pearce explores the music of Airat Ichmouratov. '... committed and convincing ...'
CD Spotlight. An Intriguing Snapshot — Keith Bramich listens to piano music by Robert Matthew-Walker. 'Mark Bebbington ... is exemplary here, bringing out all the contrasts and mood changes ...'
CD Spotlight. Jack-of-All-Trades — Gerald Fenech listens to recordings by the Danish conductor Emil Reesen. '... full of dash and spirit ...'
Ensemble. A World-class Orchestra — Mike Wheeler is impressed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor Eva Ollikainen
Classical music news. May 2023 Newsletter — Our May 2023 PDF newsletter has just been published
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney — The home country grown strange
Classical music news. The Pursuit of Musick — Some new publications and other news
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