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Classical music news. January 2024 Newsletter — Watch and listen to our January 2024 video newsletter - Twenty-five Years
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Classical Music Daily newsletters and podcasts (updated 1 January 2024)
Twenty-five years ago today
Harmony - functional and dysfunctional — Professor Mellers has a reputation for writing about music with exceptional perception. We are delighted that a new study of harmony in its development during the 19th century has been written for our opening issues. (published 2 January 1999)
Twenty years ago today
Ask Alice — On first love and Art, with classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh (published 2 January 2004)
Anniversaries
Mily Balakirev (1837); Michael Tippett (1905); Alberto Zedda (1928); Paul Freeman (1936); Orrett Rhoden (1961); Helmut Müller-Brühl (2012); Bob Gilmore (2015); Anthony Goldstone (2017); Andrew Downes (2023)
Today's background image
Derived from the 1856 painting Fireworks by French artist Henri Pierre Léon Pharamond Blanchard (1805-1873)
Recent Articles
Classical music news - Bruckner Year 2024 — Celebrating Anton Bruckner's two-hundredth birthday
Spotlight. A Very Pleasant Discovery — Geoff Pearce recommends music by František Tůma. '... one wonders why Tůma is not more widely known.'
Ensemble. No Lack of Stylistic Variety — Mike Wheeler listens to music for two harps and various percussion from the Chroma Harp Duo
Ensemble. Mercurial Switches of Mood — Mike Wheeler is impressed by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Beethoven and J S Bach/Myra Hess played by Japanese pianist Yu Kosuge
Learning How to Play Again with 'The Nutcracker' — Jeffrey Neil shares some thoughts about Tchaikovsky's ballet, following a visit to Oakland Ballet's production in California, USA
Ensemble. Teasing Musical References — Mike Wheeler celebrates Christmas with the Sitwell Singers and conductor Dexter Drown
Spotlight. Very Interesting Listening — Gerald Fenech recommends a recording of the 1741 version of Handel's 'Messiah'. 'Soloists and chorus sing with a lyrical intensity that is impeccable throughout and Felix Koch keeps a tight rein on proceedings ...'
Maybrick — A classical music word-puzzle by Allan Rae
Spotlight. Polish and Sensitivity — Stephen Francis Vasta listens to music for piano and orchestra by Anton Rubinstein. 'The performance is excellent ...'
Ensemble. An Undisclosed Narrative? — Mike Wheeler was delighted with music by Chabrier, Saint-Saëns, J S Bach and Rachmaninov from Bruno Philippe, Chloé van Soeterstède and the Hallé Orchestra
Spotlight. Overwhelmingly Compelling — Gerald Fenech is inspired by Eberhard Klotz's organ transcription of Bruckner's Symphony No 8. '... with every new release Albrecht's playing becomes more inspired and imaginatively alive.'
Classical music news - December 2023 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news. New Year's Eve from Berlin — The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's 2023 New Year's Eve concert will be broadcast live to around three-hundred-and-fifty cinemas across Europe
Spotlight. Colourful Orchestration and Melodic Nature — Geoff Pearce listens to three works by Richard Strauss. '... if you are fond of Richard Strauss's music, you will not be disappointed ...'
Ensemble. Lots to Enjoy — Mike Wheeler was at Derby Concert Orchestra's Christmas Concert
Spotlight. Warmth and Sonoric Exuberance — Gerald Fenech heartily recommends Tugan Sokhiev conducting brass arrangements of well-known overtures. '... exhilarating, spectacular, absorbing.'
Allan Rae: 5 Concerti — Richard Meszto introduces five works, referencing, in particular, the vast landscapes of Canada
Classical music news. New Releases for January 2024 and Later — Browse a selection of new recordings
Ensemble. Innocence Leading to Empathy — Ron Bierman experiences the mariachi opera 'The Miracle of Remembering'
Ensemble. Expressive Variety — Mike Wheeler listens to Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin from Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi
Classical music news. Melissa Gregory — An Australian mezzo has won the 2023 Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers' Competition
Spotlight. Synergies of Tradition — John Dante Prevedini is impressed by the Christmas music of Patrick Hawes. '... meticulously conceived across every perceptible dimension ...'
Ensemble. Sheer Irrepressible Confidence — Mike Wheeler listens to Mozart and Haydn choral music
Spotlight. A Window into the Glories of the Past — Geoff Pearce listens to Adrian Boult conducting Berg, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams. '... truly inspired performance.'
Ensemble. Piquant Stylistic Contrast — Mike Wheeler listens to the chamber group Serenata
Spotlight. Incandescent Music-making — Gerald Fenech urges you not to miss Haitink's recordings of Bruckner's Te Deum and Eighth Symphony. 'Awesome in every way.'
Spotlight. Colourful and Exciting — Geoff Pearce listens to early orchestral music by Sergei Rachmaninov conducted by Leonard Slatkin. '... this reissue is most welcome ...'
Ensemble. Spellbinding Musical Effect — Lucas Ball is impressed by Brahms and Wagner in Worcester Cathedral
Spotlight. Overwhelmingly Thrilling — Gerald Fenech is impressed by Ivan Repušić's recording of Verdi's 'I lombardi alla prima crociata'. 'Another triumph in Repušić's ongoing cycle of early Verdi in excellent sound and annotations.'
Ensemble. Vertical and Horizontal Threads — Mike Wheeler listens to Sinfonia Viva's wind principals playing music by Maddy Aldis-Evans and Musorgsky
Classical music news. December 2023 Newsletter — Our December 2023 PDF newsletter, 'Time and Time Again', has just been published
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NEWLY SPONSORED: Ensemble. Last Gasp of Boyhood. Roderic Dunnett investigates Jubilee Opera's A Time There Was for the Benjamin Britten centenary.
