Featured today
CD Spotlight. A Catalogue of Dreams — Gerald Fenech listens to Adolphe Adam's ballet 'La jolie fille de Gand'. 'Andrew Mogrelia and his Queensland ensemble play with real gusto, and the music is made to sound less lightweight than it really is.'
Twenty-one years ago today
CD Spotlight — From rags to riches. '... clear purpose and technical prowess.' Peter Dickinson's music, with Basil Ramsey (published 28 January 2001)
Anniversaries
Ferdinand Hérold (1791); Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov (1935); John Tavener (1944); Gailene Stock (1946); Reynaldo Hahn (1947); Trevor Hold (2004)
Today's background image
Derived from a nineteenth century Strasbourg scene, showing l'église Saint-Guillaume
Recent Articles
CD Spotlight. Multiple Aesthetic References — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to music by Alessandro Perini. '... an excellent reading ...'
CD Spotlight. New Facets of Vital Importance — Little-known music by George Enescu, highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Passionate and exciting performances complement an invaluable addition to the Enescu discography.'
CD Spotlight. Music as Manifesto — John Dante Prevedini listens to contemporary music by Nastasia Khrushcheva. '... genuinely powerful and positively transformative ...'
CD Spotlight. Absolutely Superlative — Gerald Fenech listens to Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' from 'The Ring on the Rhine'. 'The performance eschews grandeur from beginning to end, and both singers and orchestra respond magnificently.'
CD Spotlight. Lovely and Very Effective — Music from Central and Eastern Europe for cello and piano, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... very gifted, skilful and inspired ...'
CD Spotlight. Magical Stuff — Gerald Fenech listens to Eric Coates' 'Springtime Suite' and other orchestral works. 'Andrew Penny and his Slovaks deliver some absolutely gorgeous performances full of warmth, charm and grace ...'
Ensemble. Káťa Enthralls Rome — Giuseppe Pennisi experiences a Janáček first performance in Italy's capital
CD Spotlight. The New Civic Composer — John Dante Prevedini listens to music by young Canadian Daniel Pelton. '... a remarkable collaboration uniting forces across Calgary's entire musical landscape despite extraordinary logistical hurdles.'
CD Spotlight. Vivacious Performances — Music from Scotland, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... a spectacular album full of inspirational melodies that go straight to the heart.'
Ensemble. An Italian Creation — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Giuseppe Carpani's Italian language version of Haydn's oratorio
CD Spotlight. Sex, Jealousy and the Sea — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Hans Werner Henze's 'Das verratene Meer'. '... an excellent reading ...'
CD Spotlight. Highly Imaginative — Fantasies by Sousa, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... the music is as exciting and entertaining as one would wish for.'
CD Spotlight. The Ultimate Recording — François-Xavier Roth's recording of Debussy's 'Pelléas et Mélisande', recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... all are truly outstanding ...'
CD Spotlight. Music of the Utmost Beauty and Originality — Gerald Fenech listens to Thomas Jensen conducting music by Jean Sibelius. '... full of fire, passion and, above all, authority ...'
CD Spotlight. Underground Virtuosity — John Dante Prevedini listens to viol consort suites by Matthew Locke. 'Locke's imitative counterpoint shines through with a crispness and clarity ...'
Ensemble. Musical Fairy Tales — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to ballet music in Rome
CD Spotlight. Suggestive Interweavings — Twentieth century harpsichord concertos by Falla, Poulenc and Bacarisse, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... a highly enjoyable issue, full of imaginative music ...'
Classical music news - December 2021 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world lost last month
CD Spotlight. A Love Story in Two Quartets — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to music by Janáček, played by the New Zealand String Quartet. '... an excellent reading ...'
Ensemble. A Sonic Silk Road — Music for guitar, for erhu and for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, heard by Adam J Sacks
CD Spotlight. Absolutely Riveting — Gerald Fenech listens to Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante and Violin Concerto No 5. '... the Pochekin duo exudes brilliance, virtuosity and an ebullient sense of occasion ...'
CD Spotlight. True to the Composer's Original Intentions — Schubert's Octet, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... the sound is detailed and crisp, and the balance is good.'
Ensemble. Nicely Contrasted — Mike Wheeler listens to Christmas music from Derby Bach Choir, Derventio Brass and Old Vicarage School Choir
CD Spotlight. Uniquely Gifted — Schubert's symphonies, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'A deluge of unending beauty that goes straight to the heart, gloriously performed and recorded.'
Classical music news. Taiwan's New Landmark — Taipei Performing Arts Centre is to open in Summer 2022
Classical music news. January 2022 New Releases — Browse a large selection of new recordings
Ensemble. Neatly Characterised — The Cann Twins play Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms, Johann Strauss II, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin and Jeffrey Reid Baker, heard by Mike Wheeler
Cleavage Pianists: Let's Be Fair — Esdras Mugatik argues the case for the music
Ensemble. Hugely Enjoyable — Bernstein, Marsalis and Musorgsky from Nicola Benedetti, Cristian Măcelaru and the Hallé Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Different 'Nutcracker' — Giuliano Peparini's staging of Tchaikovsky ballet, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi and his grandson
CD Spotlight. Dash and Swagger — Gerald Fenech listens to Arthur Sullivan's 'Victoria and Merrie England'. '... playing of the highest order ...'
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