Featured today
CD Spotlight. An Epic Undertaking — Hänssler Classic's C P E Bach edition, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... an exhilarating collection of C P E Bach's works ...'
Twenty-one years ago today
Rejected Reviews or, works that got away — Trevor Hold returns with a final series of music you will not know, dragged from oblivion. 24. John Taverner's 44-part motet, 'The Cryes of London' (published 26 October 2000)
Anniversaries
Domenico Scarlatti (1685); Johan Helmich Roman (1694); Peter Cornelius (1874); Bill Newman (1932); Jacques Loussier (1934); Christine Brewer (1955); Hans Knappertsbusch (1965)
Today's background image
Derived from a pastel portrait of C P E Bach from around 1733 by German musician and painter Gottlieb Friedrich Bach (1714-1785)
Recent Articles
Classical music news. November 2021 Newsletter — Watch and listen to our November 2021 newsletter
CD Spotlight. After the End of the Reign of Terror — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to 'La fille de Madame Angot' by Charles Lecocq. '... not only a musicological revival but also nearly two hours of very enjoyable listening.'
Classical music news. Obituary — Bernard Haitink (1929-2021)
CD Spotlight. Welcome back Lord Berners — Gerald Fenech listens to two stage works by an enigmatic English composer. 'Soloists and chorus deliver some flawless singing, and their great attention to the text creates a sense of reverential homage to the sacred.'
Ensemble. A Masterly Balance — Mike Wheeler listens to J S Bach, Liszt and Schubert from Emmanuel Despax
Ensemble. Last of the Samurai — Adam J Sacks discusses the new Opera Hong Kong/Slovene National Theater Maribor co-production of Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly'
Ensemble. Love and Religion — Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Rome's first performance of Verdi's 'Giovanna D'Arco' since 1972
Ensemble. Highly Effective — Chamber music from members of Sinfonia Viva, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Balancing Intimacy with Incisiveness — A new recording of Rossini's 'Petite messe solennelle', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Soloists and chorus deliver some flawless singing, and their great attention to the text creates a sense of reverential homage to the sacred.'
CD Spotlight. Dreams and Tales — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to piano music by Musorgsky and Scriabin played by Michele Campanella. '... the different touch from previous renderings makes this CD very well worth listening to.'
CD Spotlight. Rococo Charm — Boccherini quintets, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'These are finely polished scores and Les Ombres oblige with some sparkling virtuosity that is a pleasure for the senses.'
Ensemble. Intimacy and Intensity — Ian Bostridge and Imogen Cooper at the Oxford Lieder Festival impress Patrick Maxwell
CD Spotlight. A Treasure for Posterity — Complete operas and fragments by Modest Musorgsky, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'This is a unique musical document of inestimable historic value and staggering interpretative beauty.'
Ensemble. Not Just a Recital — Giuseppe Pennisi reviews a concert in Rome dealing with contrasted passions of love
Spontaneous Creativity — Some distinguishing features of Korea's traditional music, by Simon Farrugia
Ensemble. A Triumph of Mahler and Hrůša — Giuseppe Pennisi was at one of the opening concerts of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's new season
CD Spotlight. A Connection with Mahler — Music by Penderecki, recommended by Geoff Pearce. 'The Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot, conducted by Wojciech Rajski, is magnificent.'
Classical music news. Training in Vienna — The second group of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Academy students is beginning its training
Ensemble. Water Under the Bridge — Mike Wheeler welcomes Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra back to Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall for the opening of the new season
Ensemble. A Modern Thriller — Giuseppe Pennisi was at a performance in Rome of the Italian version of Gian Carlo Menotti's 'The Medium'
Ensemble. A Zest for Rebirth — John Dante Prevedini reports on the opening of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's new season, including a performance of John Williams' Violin Concerto No 2
Ensemble. A Star is Born — Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Enrico Saverio Pagano and Orchestra Canova
Classical music news. Paloma O'Shea Competition — Register by 18 October 2021 to take part in the 2022 Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition
CD Spotlight. Miniature Gems — Light music by Ronald Binge, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... brimming with lilting music that is as dramatic as it is evocative, colourful and harmonically exquisite ...'
Classical music news. Newsletter and October 2021 New Releases — Watch and listen to our October newsletter, and browse a large selection of new recordings, plus a book, a film and various concerts
CD Spotlight. Orientalism in Paris — 'La Princesse Jaune', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi. '... an excellent vehicle for discovering a little known facet of Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns.'
CD Spotlight. Something of a Mystery — Gerald Fenech listens to music by Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. 'Michael Halász gives lively performances that sparkle with a "joie de vivre" that is consistently uplifting ...'
CD Spotlight. The Depths of the Singular — John Dante Prevedini listens to Victoria Jordanova's 'Kernel & Grit'. '... musical storytelling ... can be about the creative potential of something as humble as an unwatered seed or a layer of dust.'
CD Spotlight. Vaughan Williams and English Folk Songs — Simon Farrugia recommends Albion Records' astonishing new recording. 'The freshness of sound presented in this album gives a new dimension to Piazzolla's music ...'
Classical music news - September 2021 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news. The Ideal Bridge — Michele Mariotti is to make his debut at Vienna State Opera with The Barber of Seville
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