A selection of 'Chicago' articles

Spotlight. A Complete Triumph - Gerald Fenech is exhilarated by the Philadelphia Orchestra's recording of symphonies by Florence Price and William Dawson. '... a vibrant energy that makes the music sound as fresh and exciting as when it was first heard.'

Classical music news - Pacifica Quartet - The Pacifica Quartet returns as Don Michael Randel ensemble-in-residence at Chicago University

Classical music news - September 2023 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

CD Spotlight. Stunning Performances - Gerald Fenech reviews two discs of music by American composer Florence Price. 'This is music overflowing with an abundance of melody, tinged with sadness and regret, which is crying out to be heard.'

Ensemble. An Important Voice - Mike Wheeler listens to Florence Price and Dvořák

CD Spotlight. Sheer Effectiveness - Joseph Bologne's opera 'L'Amant Anonyme', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Craig Trompeter and his team deliver some truly memorable performances full of vocal brilliance imbued with passion and excitement ...'

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

Classical music news. Obituary - Easley Blackwood (1933-2023)

Ensemble. Great Panache - Mike Wheeler listens to the Aquinas Trio

Ensemble. Paths of Excellence - Giuseppe Pennisi reports via live stream on the Ravenna Festival Mozart/Da Ponte Trilogy

Profile. Imaginary Folklores - Robert McCarney talks to Azorean pianist Diana Botelho Vieira and reviews a recent concert in Spain

CD Spotlight. Some Delicious Playing - Geoff Pearce listens to Stravinsky. 'The BBC Philharmonic's performance is fine indeed ...'

Ensemble. Songs from the Shows - Mike Wheeler enjoys a 'Strictly Musical' evening at Buxton Opera House

Classical music news. Obituary - Bernard Haitink (1929-2021)

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

Classical music news - Dreams of a New Day - Cedille Records announces new releases for 2021

Classical music news - Refugee Orchestra Project - New commissions are up and running in Lidiya Yankovskaya's project which demonstrates the importance of refugees to the United States cultural scene

CD Spotlight. The Sweetness of Life - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to harpsichord music by François Couperin. '... the key note is B flat major which at the time was an experimental, almost avant-garde tonality. Jory Vinikour shows it very well and demonstrates how Couperin was ahead of many other harpsichordists.'

CD Spotlight. Incandescent - Gerald Fenech listens to the second Naxos disc of Charles-Marie Widor's organ symphonies. 'Wolfgang Rübsam provides irrepressible playing in these two early but much enterprising works.'

CD Spotlight. The Host and the Guest - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė listens to a celebration of Eastern and Western musical cultures. '... truly striking performances.'

Ensemble. Beethoven Summitry - Paul Lewis' high altitude performance dazzles his Chicago audience, reported by Barbara Sealock

CD Spotlight. The Harpsichord's Newest Reincarnation - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė listens to twentieth century harpsichord concertos. 'Not many harpsichord players are as multifaceted and expressive as Jory Vinikour when interpreting modern music.'

CD Spotlight. Something of Rare Beauty - Twentieth century oboe sonatas by York Bowen, Petr Eben, Henri Dutilleux, Eugène Bozza, Francis Poulenc and Camille Saint-Saëns, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'What a fantastic and inspiring team Alex Klein and Phillip Bush make.'

Classical music news. Call to Action - ICSOM is supporting the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the fifth week of their strike

Ensemble. Pin-point Delicacy and Precision - Mike Wheeler is impressed by the Eblana String Trio

George Flynn in Chicago - Esdras Mugatik looks forward to a concert on 27 January 2019

CD Spotlight. In the Loft - The Chicago music scene in 2007, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'With chamber music writing of this calibre American audiences can rest assured; their future is in more than capable hands.'

CD Spotlight. A Huge Showcase - American soprano Patrice Michaels impresses Paul Sarcich. 'Plenty of good things here ...'

CD Spotlight. Consistently Inventive - Viola d'Amore concertos by Vivaldi, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Rachel Barton Pine gives committed performances full of virtuosic brilliance ...'

CD Spotlight. Alternative Worlds - Jewish cabaret music surprises Gerald Fenech. '... those who decide to take the plunge will be rewarded with riches aplenty.'

CD Spotlight. Out of the Ordinary - Eighth Blackbird's 'Meanwhile', heard by the late Howard Smith. '... an ear-catching feather in Cedille's musical cap.'

CD Spotlight. Charming and Delightful - Overtures by Maurice Greene, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Performances are unfussy but persuasive ...'

CD Spotlight. Irrepressible Delights - Piano trios from the 1890s, heard by Howard Smith. '... compelling feeling and technical assurance ...'

CD Spotlight. A Mixed Bag - Ian Hominick plays Clementi, heard by Andrew Schartmann. 'At times, his playing is sensitive and exact.'

CD Spotlight. Unerring Artistry - Wendy Warner plays Haydn and Mysliveček, recommended by Howard Smith. '... her beguiling performances are alive with consistent ebullience ...'

Ensemble. Searing Performances - J S Bach's 'St John Passion' from Music of the Baroque conducted by Jane Glover, enjoyed by Barbara Sealock

CD Spotlight. Unreservedly recommended! - Songs inspired by Billy Collins, heard by Howard Smith. 'The florid accompaniment with piano trio seemed wholly apt to me.'

CD Spotlight. Movingly Expressive - Music by Patricia Morehead, heard by Howard Smith. '... shifting depiction of battleground lunacy.'

CD Spotlight. Beautiful Tone - Music for flute and piano, admired by Ron Bierman. 'The romantic-flute repertoire has never sounded better.'

Ensemble. Sheer Triumph - Chicago's Music of the Baroque season opens with Beethoven and Mozart, reviewed by Barbara Sealock

DVD Spotlight. Seldom Equalled - Michelangeli plays Beethoven, Galuppi and Scarlatti, and impresses Howard Smith. 'His relentless perfectionism allows him spellbinding precision ...'

DVD Spotlight. Creative Ageing? - Biana Kovic's 'Virtuoso', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... there's little new here at all.'

DVD Spotlight. A Common Objective - The Ramallah Concert, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... a tremendous, emotional, not-to-be-missed experience.'

CD Spotlight. A Hint of Bitters - Music by William Ferris, heard by Howard Smith. 'Well worth investigating.'

Ensemble. Simple and Effective - A new production of Verdi's 'Nabucco' celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Delicate Mastery - Orchestral music by Glazunov, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... dashingly done ...'

Ensemble. Unmistakably American - William Bolcom's 'A View from the Bridge', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Marvelous Job - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Memorable Night - The Israel Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Heroes Step Up in Crisis - The Muti era lays claim to Chicago, by Barbara Sealock

CD Spotlight. Sheer Delight - Table music by Biber, recommended by Patric Standford. '... a superb and sensitive performance ...'

CD Spotlight. Glowing Performances - Music by Koechlin and Jongen, recommended by Howard Smith. '... a truly outstanding recital ...'

Ensemble. Bewildering Variety - 'The Love of Three Oranges' at Grange Park Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Profile. The State of the Art - Maria Nockin talks to soprano Christine Brewer

Profile. Encouraging Others - Maria Nockin talks to Stephen Costello and Ailyn Perez, the young couple singing Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet' this month at San Diego Opera

CD Spotlight. Chicago Baroque - Trio Settecento's A German Bouquet, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... very fine performances of some rarely heard but attractive music ...'

CD Spotlight. Sterling Playing - Wendy Warner's interpretations of Popper and Piatigorsky, heard by Howard Smith. '... sovereign music-making deserving of the highest accolades.'

CD Spotlight. Hauntingly Beautiful - Christmas music from Chicago a cappella, reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... I would have liked a little more grit ...'

CD Spotlight. Lyric Warmth - Jennifer Larmore sings Barber, Berlioz, Ravel and Britten, recommended by Howard Smith. '... a compelling disc ...'

CD Spotlight. Glittering Technique - Music by Gershwin for piano and orchestra, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... commendable drive and clarity.'

CD Spotlight. Utterly Absorbing - A sampler from Cedille Records, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... top quality standards.'

Highly Articulate - American dramatic soprano Christine Brewer talks to Robert Hugill

DVD Spotlight. Beyond Beauty - A film about Sergiu Celibidache, seen by Ioana Osoianu. 'There are no compromises.'

Ensemble. Refreshing Surprises - A concert in London by the Zemel Choir, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. A Dream-Travelogue of Intoxification - David Wilkins attends a concert at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire

Ensemble. Lightness and Transparency - New World Symphony, the American orchestral academy, ends its season with an all-Tchaikovsky programme, reported by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. A Surefire Winner - A recital by Lin Jiang and Benjamin Martin, recommended by Howard Smith. '... superbly performed.'

Record Box. An Evolving Technique - Music by Aaron Jay Kernis, recommended by Ron Bierman

Profile. Rich Musical Experiences - American conductor Joel Revzen talks to Maria Nockin

Record Box. Vibrant Presentation - A worthy memorial to William Ferris, reviewed by Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. A Curious Recital - Paul Calistus-Ashley plays Poulenc, Schubert and Dett, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... verve and sensitivity.'

CD Spotlight. Powerful and playful - Fritz Reiner conducts Bartók, admired by Robert Anderson. '... agonised intensity of utmost eloquence.'

CD Spotlight. Life and strife - Fritz Reiner's Tchaikovsky, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... Reiner's no-nonsense approach avoids any hint of emotional excess.'

CD Spotlight. Orchestral panoply - Respighi's Pines and Fountains, appreciated by Robert Anderson. 'Fritz Reiner has the right qualities for this music.'

Ensemble. Creative reinterpretation - The 'Missa Solemnis' in facsimile and performance. Malcolm Miller attended a conference and concert at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign