RESOUNDING ECHOES: From August 2022, Robert McCarney's regular series features little-known twentieth century classical composers.
LISTENING TO TCHAIKOVSKY: Béla Hartmann uses his knowledge of Eastern Europe to argue against the banning of all Russian culture following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
ARTICLES BEING VIEWED NOW:
- WNYC saves New Sounds - John Schaefer's radio programme is to continue, thanks to the support of listeners and major donors
- Choral music
- A Worthy Captain - Peter King marks BBC presenter Petroc Trelawny's move from dawn to twilight
- February 2023 New Releases - Browse a large selection of new recordings
- April 2025 Newsletter - 'Big Music', our April 2025 PDF newsletter, has just been published
Challenge Classics is a label of Challenge Records, founded in the Netherlands in 1994 by Hein van de Geyn, Anne de Jong and Joost Leijen. Artists include Ton Koopman, Jaap van Zweden, Christoph Prégardien, Isabelle van Keulen, La Petite Bande and Sigiswald Kuijken, Simone Lamsma, Liza Ferschtman, Jan Willem de Vriend, Hannes Minnaar and Angela Brownridge. The extensive catalogue includes a lot of chamber music, but also recordings of song repertoire and symphonic music.
Further information: www.challengerecords.com
CD Spotlight. Truly Breathtaking Music - Willem Jeths' Requiem, recommended by Geoff Pearce. 'Kelly God is phenomenal and James Gaffigan's direction of the very fine forces is inspired.'
CD Spotlight. Living in the Moment - Paul Sarcich explores the music of Pēteris Vasks. '... wonderfully luminous recordings of luminous music.'
CD Spotlight. Remarkable Sensitivity - Angela Brownridge plays Debussy Préludes, impressing Anett Fodor. '... her inexhaustible source of timbre, the delicate style and use of both pedals, as well as her excellent piano technique demand listeners' full attention.'
CD Spotlight. Highly Poetic - Angela Brownridge plays Chopin Ballades, heard by Lucas Ball. '... both technically and poetically impressive with a wide range of emotions ...'