A selection of 'bassoon music' articles
Ensemble. Hoisting the Mainsail - Mike Wheeler experiences sea shanties and wild winds from the wind principals of Sinfonia Viva
Spotlight. Musica Sine Rhetoricis - John Dante Prevedini discovers a valuable release of new chamber music for guitar. '... an astonishing diversity of creative voices ...'
Spotlight. Fresh and Varied - Geoff Pearce is glad to come across the wind music of British composer Brian Elias. '... the performances are superb ...'
Ensemble. Irresistibly Jolly - Mike Wheeler enjoys Sinfonia Viva's performance of Mozart's 'Gran Partita'
Ensemble. Delightfully Unusual - Ron Bierman listens to some 'Fantastic Tales' at the La Jolla Music Society's Summerfest
Classical music news. March 2023 Newsletter - Our March 2023 PDF newsletter has just been published, along with some extra classical music news and our February 2023 classical music obituaries
CD Spotlight. Effective and Uncomplicated - Geoff Pearce listens to chamber music by New Zealand composer Eric Biddington. 'These performances are a great testament to the Christchurch music making scene and to the composer who has been an important part of it.'
CD Spotlight. Thoroughly Delightful - Geoff Pearce listens to chamber music by Poulenc. '... the performers are all very fine ...'
CD Spotlight. Just Irresistible - Orchestral music by Franz Lachner, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... memorable ... magical ... mesmerizing ...'
CD Spotlight. A Very Special CD - Band music by John Philip Sousa, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Sensitive and engrossingly passionate performances ...'
Ensemble. Fresh and Appealing - Mike Wheeler listens to the Françaix Wind Trio
CD Spotlight. Delightful and Colourful - Geoff Pearce recommends a new Chandos recording of music by Henri Dutilleux. 'This music will delight all who hear it ...'
Ensemble. Relaxed and Exuberant - Mike Wheeler listens to Cavendish Winds playing Mozart, Danzi, Debussy, Arnold, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bozza, Ligeti and Gershwin
CD Spotlight. Contrast and Energy - Modern wind chamber music, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'This is an enjoyable disc with quite a diversity of styles, performed by musicians of high calibre. I think most people who listen to these works will enjoy them.'
CD Spotlight. Interesting and Entertaining - Geoff Pearce listens to music by Paul Reale. '... a fantastic disc ...'
Classical music news. A Warm Day in Winter - Naxos has released a CD of chamber music by American composer and bassoonist Truman Harris, written for his orchestral colleagues
Classical music news. Adrian Williams - The English Symphony Orchestra announces Adrian Williams as its John McCabe Composer-in-Association for 2019/20
CD Spotlight. Superbly Played - Nineteenth century music for bassoon and piano, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'For bassoonists, this disc is indispensable. Bravo.'
CD Spotlight. Absolutely Delightful - Woodwind music by Scott Pender, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. 'This is a fine, enjoyable disc, and the performers are all first class.'
Ensemble. An Attractive Sound-world - Mike Wheeler listens to the Thorne Trio
CD Spotlight. An Interesting Disc - Chamber music associated with Frans Preumayer, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... the performances ... were truly marvellous by all concerned.'
Dancing Energy - Haydn, Mozart and Paul Patterson from Adam Mackenzie, Emily Pailthorpe and Sinfonia Viva impress Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Feral Wildness - Music by Osias Wilenski, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'Lauded for his compositional style, Wilenski's unique works range from narrative symphonic poems and operatic spin-offs to instrumental miniatures.'
Ask Alice - In praise of the bassoon, with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh
CD Spotlight. A Real Discovery - Eastern European music for bassoon and piano, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... great performances from Maria Wildhaber and her colleagues ...'
Ensemble. Reaching Out - Mendelssohn, Mozart, Berlioz and Ravel from James Feddeck and the Cleveland Orchestra, heard by Suzanne Torrey
CD Spotlight. Expressive Power - Vivaldi oboe concertos, heard by Robert Anderson. '... faultlessly delivered ...'
Ask Alice - On listening or playing, musicians' creativity and Sue Frankel's Caractacus Pots, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
CD Spotlight. Inventive Partnerships - Music by Justin Rubin, heard by Patric Standford. '... much attractive music ...'
Ensemble. Intensely Gripping - Bizet, Richard Strauss and Vaughan Williams from Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Vivid Contrasts - Mike Wheeler listens to Pinchas Zukerman and the Royal Philharmonic
CD Spotlight. Joyously Guiltfree - Haydn's 'Creation', heard by Robert Anderson. 'Haydn is on top form throughout ...'
Ask Alice - On personnel problems in orchestras, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
CD Spotlight. Chicago Baroque - Trio Settecento's A German Bouquet, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... very fine performances of some rarely heard but attractive music ...'
Ensemble. Sparks Really Flew - Mike Wheeler listens to the Denner Ensemble
Ensemble. Invigorating Performance - Sinfonia Viva plays Judith Weir, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Discoveries Ahead - Malcolm Miller samples 'The World of Jewish Music' in London
A Model of Clarity - A new score of Elgar's 'Mina', appraised by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. A Nice Blend - Mendelssohn, Haydn and Beethoven from the Derby Concert Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Jaw-Dropping Technique - Sharon Bezaly plays Gubaidulina, Beamish and Takano, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... a beautiful tone at any volume in any octave ...'
Ensemble. A Gala Atmosphere - Maria Nockin reports from Los Angeles Opera's opening night 'L'Elisir d'amore'
Ensemble. Sing ye to the Lord - Roderic Dunnett was at the 2009 Hereford Three Choirs Festival
Balancing Act - Beethoven in E flat, with Julian Jacobson and friends
CD Spotlight. Diversely Experienced - Music for bassoon, harpsichord and double bass, impresses Howard Smith. '... an outright "tour de force".'
CD Spotlight. Faultless Performances - Beethoven from The Nash Ensemble, welcomed by Howard Smith. '... a class of its own.'
Ensemble. Exceptional Gifts - Lawrence Budmen reports from the 2009 Miami International Piano Festival
Ensemble. A Delightful Afternoon - Lawrence Budmen listens to the Chameleon Musicians
CD Spotlight. Eminently Competitive - Mozart works for clarinet, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... Paul Dean demonstrates his exemplary fluency ...'
Ensemble. A Passionate Attraction - The Cleveland Orchestra in Miami, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Record Box. Almost Supersonic - Vivaldi recorder concertos, enjoyed by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight. An Unexpected Pleasure - Wind Concertos by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, enjoyed by Ron Bierman. 'Strongly recommended ...'
CD Spotlight. Unfamiliar Territory - Mike Hall plays baroque music on alto trombone, reviewed by Malcolm Tattersall. '... a voyage of discovery ...'
CD Spotlight. Conjuring tricks - The first in a new series of Vivaldi bassoon concertos, admired by Robert Anderson. 'The virtuosity of Tamás Benkócs is a constant wonder ...'
CD Spotlight. Opportunity to shine - Concertos for Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's centennial, appreciated by Ron Bierman. '... filled with romantic gestures and crowd-pleasing virtuosity.'
Record box. Golden tone - Keith Bramich listens to the bassoon virtuoso Gwydion Brooke