Featured today
CD Spotlight. Star of the North — Gerald Fenech strongly recommends Meyerbeer's 'L'Étoile du Nord' on Naxos. 'Vladimir Jurowski conducts the piece with natural gusto and sparkling flair ...'
Twenty years ago today
Profile — And your compere is Paula Robison! Bill Newman talks to the American flautist, campaigner and announcer of the Spoleto Festival's mid-day concerts (published 24 May 2002)
Anniversaries
Semiha Berksoy (1910); Joan Hammond (1912); Sadao Bekku (1922); Konrad Boehmer (1941); Ryosuke Hatanaka (2012); David Weiss (2014)
Today's background image
Derived from an 1831 lithograph of a performance of 'The Ballet of the Nuns' from Meyerbeer's opera Robert le Diable by French artist Jules Arnout (1814-1868)
Recent Articles
Ensemble. A Crash Between Worlds — Adam J Sacks describes something entirely new, combining Brahms and Radiohead
CD Spotlight. Shooting and Madness — Geoff Pearce listens to a powerful opera about the Vietnam War. 'This disk will shock you like very few other recordings ...'
CD Spotlight. A Scintillating Operatic Rarity — Gerald Fenech's discovery of the year is possibly Danish composer Horneman's opera 'Aladdin'. 'Another stylish re-issue in a series that is experiencing a highly deserved renaissance.'
Ensemble. Major Success for a Young Orchestra — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Mozart, played by the Canova Chamber Orchestra
CD Spotlight. Solace to Listeners — Patrick Maxwell listens to a box set of John Barbirolli's Elgar recordings for Warner Classics. '... a musical artefact which still tells us how Britain's most famous composer really can sound like ...'
Ensemble. In Full Command — British harpist Lucy Nolan plays music by Marcel Tournier, Benjamin Britten, Sally Beamish, Paul Patterson, Tsvetlina Likova and Astor Piazzolla, heard by Mike Wheeler
Profile. Suffering and Delight — Ron Bierman talks to conductor Rafael Payare
Classical music news. Obituary — Teresa Berganza (1935-2022)
CD Spotlight. Very Infectious — Gerald Fenech listens to several recent recordings of British music. 'Another stylish re-issue in a series that is experiencing a highly deserved renaissance.'
CD Spotlight. An Unexpected Kinship — Stephen Francis Vasta listens to Susanna Mälkki conducting Bartók. 'The Helsinki Philharmonic sounds good, with expressive reeds and resonant strings ...'
Ensemble. Merging Scores with Care — Giuseppe Pennisi enjoys the ballet 'Il Corsaro'
Ensemble. Becoming One — Mike Wheeler listens to music by Raphael Clarkson, Cecilia McDowall, Beethoven, Bartók, Preetha Narayanan and Mozart to celebrate Sinfonia Viva's fortieth anniversary
Profile. A Dramatic Entrance — Matt Spangler and Lucy Mauro shine a light on an American classical pioneer
Classical music news. The Book of Moments — Heresy Records releases Chinese pianist Ji Liu's eighteen hour 'Sonata Fantasy, The Book of Moments', which honours frontline pandemic workers
Ensemble. Absolute Ravel — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to music by Maurice Ravel played by Neapolitan pianist Roberto Cominati
Ensemble. Stewards of Creation — Haydn's 'The Creation' marks Harry Christophers' final concert with Boston's Handel and Haydn Society, heard by John Dante Prevedini
Ensemble. The Complete Shostakovich String Quartets — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Quartetto Prometeo in Rome
Ensemble. Suggesting the Possibility of Renewal — Beethoven, Brahms, Vaughan Williams and Walton from Boris Giltburg, Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Dance or Die — Gerald Fenech enjoys a disc exploring the influence of Italy on Austrian and German composers. '... performances full of rhythmic energy, explosive colours and, above all, harmonic ingenuity.'
CD Spotlight. Truly Gripping, Attractive and Alluring — Johann Mattheson's oratorio 'Joseph', highly commended by Roderic Dunnett. '... an outstanding performance in every way, and indeed a perfect introduction to Mattheson's fresh and vital writing ...'
CD Spotlight. Borrowing Music by Other Composers — Gerald Fenech unreservedly recommends the compilation opera 'Caio Fabbricio'. '... brilliant performances from both singers and players ...'
Ensemble. Winter and Spring — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to orchestral music in Rome
CD Spotlight. Bright and Pleasing Music — Geoff Pearce listens to works by Eric Biddington. 'The orchestra is solid, the brass section is particularly impressive and the recording does full justice to this bright and pleasing music.'
Classical music news. May 2022 Newsletter — Our May 2022 PDF newsletter has just been published
CD Spotlight. Simply Outstanding — John Eliot Gardiner's nine CD Purcell set, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... renditions out of the ordinary, where Gardiner's expressive ardour and unbridled intensity allow him to reveal all the gracefulness, subtlety, pathos and nobility of Purcell's uniquely human music.'
CD Spotlight. Masterly Playing — Boris Giltburg plays two very different Beethoven piano concertos, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... brilliantly supported by Vasily Petrenko and his Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra ...'
CD Spotlight. Rather Joyous in Effect — Geoff Pearce listens to 'Lėti' by Gintas K. '... different pitched bells and a rather strange crackly background.'
CD Spotlight. Passion, Intensity and Verve — Gerald Fenech listens to Giordano's 'Siberia'. '... full of emotional warmth and heartfelt fidelity.'
CD Spotlight. Fascinating Listening — Music by Wolfgang Rihm, recommended for those who enjoy the challenges of listening to contemporary music, by Geoff Pearce. 'The performers here really excel and do this music justice.'
CD Spotlight. Positive Dramatic Strength — Gerald Fenech listens to Schubert overtures. 'Performances are wonderfully alive in Schellenberger's hands, and the gloriously melodic music truly sparkles with a youthful exuberance that makes your spirit soar.'
Classical music news. Music Competitions — Here are details of various music competitions taking place during the coming months
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