This is a collection of longer features, normally investigating their subjects in extra depth.  Read them when you have extra time.

 

Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics

Inspiring Joy - Jeffrey Neil talks to American composer Jenny Wei about the use of new technologies

Classical music news. January 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our January 2024 video newsletter - Twenty-five Years

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

The Political Symphony - Jeffrey Neil asks some searching questions about classical music and protest

Spotlight. Engaging, Interesting and Thoughtful - Endre Anaru is inspired by Francesco Cera's performance of The Well-Tempered Clavier: Part 1, Book 1. 'He gives voice to the voices and instead of just a dry plain reading we hear an enlivened elocution. It is as if he recited the music for us.'

A Treasure Trove - Roderic Dunnett explores the substantial catalogue of Regent Records

Ensemble. Superb and Imaginative Playing - Roderic Dunnett marks Thomas Trotter's forty years as Birmingham City Organist by reviewing a special anniversary recital and investigating the artist's large output on the Regent Records label

Classical music news. October 2023 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our October 2023 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Artificial Intelligence

Ensemble. A Magnificent Undertaking - Roderic Dunnett was at Adrian Partington's 2023 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

Spreading Light and Making Darkness Vanish - Luiza Catrinel Marinescu remembers her classmate, the Romanian pianist Eugen Alcalay and explores the pianist's mother's book 'Rhapsody in black and white with Leonard Bernstein'

Ensemble. Extra Joys - Salieri at Bampton, enjoyed by Roderic Dunnett

Classical music news. August 2023 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our August 2023 one hour video newsletter - The Creative Spark

A Fresh, Different View - Roderic Dunnett previews Adrian Partington's 2023 Gloucester Three Choirs Festival

Profile. A Spiritual Journey - Roderic Dunnett takes an extended look at the career of English composer Ian Venables, and listens to a recent performance of the orchestral version of his Requiem

Ensemble. A Treat - Roderic Dunnett is dazzled by Rossini's 'La Cenerentola' at Neville Holt Opera

Music as a Form of Magic - Larry Sitsky: Late Piano Pieces - Second Series 2022-2023

Ensemble. Brilliance, Ingenuity and Excellence - Roderic Dunnett listens to Handel's 'Agrippina'

Quality or Taste? - Béla Hartmann discusses quality in the Arts

Profile. Big Roles - Ron Bierman talks to American soprano Michelle Bradley

Classical music news. October 2022 Newsletter - Our October 2022 MP3 newsletter has just been published

Ensemble. Noteworthy and Sometimes Momentous - Roderic Dunnett visits the UK's Garsington Opera for Britten's 'The Turn of the Screw'

Ensemble. Stunningly Staged and Sung - Longborough Festival Opera's 'Die tote Stadt', extolled by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. A Triumph - Roderic Dunnett listens to two one-act operas

Classical music news. July 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our July 2022 newsletter - Youth Involvement in Classical Music

CD Spotlight. Powerful Drama - Roderic Dunnett listens to 'Der Freischütz' from René Jacobs and the Freiburger Barockorchester. '... a whispering, confidential or, where needed, overawing and commanding performance ...'

Classical music news. June 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our June 2022 newsletter - a special feature on women composers

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.'

Classical music news. April 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our April 2022 newsletter

Classical music news. March 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2022 newsletter

CD Spotlight. A Series of Polished Gems - Roderic Dunnett listens to chamber, instrumental music and songs by Gerard Schurmann. 'This is one of the most enchanting, fragile, flawless song cycles I have ever heard, anywhere.'

CD Spotlight. Sparkling Joy - Gerald Fenech listens to four volumes of Danacord's series of recordings by Danish conductor Thomas Jensen. '... all Jensen's interpretative genius is captured with electrifying vividness.'

Ensemble. Unlocking Operatic Dimensions - John Dante Prevedini reviews the cinematic horror opera 'Cesare, Child of Night' by Jonathan Beard, Stewart Schill and Michael Cramer, and then interviews Jonathan Beard and Stewart Schill

Classical music news. November 2021 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our November 2021 newsletter

Classical music news. Defining Our Field - Classical Music Daily's June 2021 Newsletter is a panel discussion led by John Dante Prevedini, and has just been published as a video podcast

Classical music news. Streaming, Downloads and CDs - Classical Music Daily's May 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Ensemble. In the Easter Egg - Giuseppe Pennisi takes a critical look at two April 2021 performances of Verdi's 'La Traviata'

Profile. Donald Nally - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to American choral conductor Donald Nally, director of The Crossing

Classical music news. Creativity, Innovation and Re-invention - Classical Music Daily's April 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Classical music news. Hang in there together - Classical Music Daily's March 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Classical music news. Singing in Cars? - Classical Music Daily's February 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

CD Spotlight. A Superb Set - The complete symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Octogenarian Brazilian conductor Isaac Karabtchevsky's performances are fine and show no lack of passion or vigour.'

Classical music news. Upgrading to the Visual - Classical Music Daily's January 2021 Newsletter has just been published in a new video podcast format

Classical music news. Personal, Political and Social Lockdown - An assortment of short news items, plus 'Seven Deadly Sins', Classical Music Daily's December 2020 Newsletter, just published in a new audio podcast format

Profile. From Live Performance to Live Streaming - Anett Fodor continues her series of interviews with some of our era's most interesting artists, and today she talks to British pianist Leon McCawley about some of the new challenges to artistic life

Profile. Until Dawn - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to Austrian composer, violinist and lecturer Thomas Wally

Multiple Minds - The Concert Music of Mark Arnest: A Preliminary Investigation into the eclectic American composer, by Gordon Andrew R

Profile. Beautiful Things - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to Croatian-American musician and peace activist Nenad Bach, who finds the power of music undeniable, like the power of love

Life Under Quarantine - Suggestions for the classical musician, from Gordon Andrew R

George Flynn on CD: An Overview - Esdras Mugatik explores the work of this American composer

Profile. Universality of Emotion - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to American composer Rain Worthington

The Ballets Russes - George Colerick tells the story of the early twentieth century ballet company

Profile. Tragic Expression - George Colerick discusses Georges Bizet, as the most vital French opera composer since Berlioz

Profile. A Silver Age - George Colerick writes about Franz Lehár, probably the greatest twentieth century composer of operettas

Profile. A Controversial Figure? - George Colerick investigates the younger Franz Liszt

Profile. Spectacular Productions - George Colerick explores the rise and decline of French composer Charles Gounod

Portraits. Zoltán Kodály: Part II - by Anett Fodor

CD Spotlight. A Stupendous Disc - Roderic Dunnett listens to countertenor duets by Purcell and Blow. 'The music is sensationally beautiful and touching - and so are the performances.'

Portraits. Zoltán Kodály: Part I - From the Academy to His First Success, by Anett Fodor

Ensemble. Packed With Good Things - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

Ensemble. In Many Respects a Success - Longborough Festival Opera's wacky production of Cavalli's 'La Calisto', reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

Profile. Only the Screen - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to the Belgian singer and conductor Tore Tom Denys

Profile. Music Speaks for Itself - An interview with the composer Paul Carr, by Anett Fodor

Interpretation and Aporias - Richard Meszto considers Michael Kieran Harvey's recent doctoral dissertation

Profile. Genuine Artistic Perspectives - George Colerick discusses the music of Sergei Prokofiev with reference to the Soviet authorities

A Perfect Fool - George Colerick discusses Gustav Holst and his Richard Wagner parody

Ensemble. High Jinks - Roderic Dunnett enjoys Opera Warwick's production of Offenbach's 'La vie Parisienne'

CD Spotlight. Gorgeously Sung - Choral music by Richard Allain, heard by Roderic Dunnett. 'The music is undoubtedly beautiful, without exception.'

Profile. Prodigious appetite for repertoire - Ron Bierman talks to coloratura soprano Alisa Jordheim

CD Spotlight. Dazzling Symphonies - Symphonies by Ruth Gipps, recommended by Roderic Dunnett. 'It conveys as much energy and artistry and expressiveness today as it did the day it was written.'

Profile. No Vulgar Commercialiser - George Colerick tells the story of Louis Jullien, a French impressario, composer and conductor famous in London in the nineteenth century

Profile. A Gold Mine - Roderic Dunnett visits Birmingham to talk to John Joubert

Tempo Calculated - Teun Van de Steeg finds evidence of a missing link in our perception of music