NEWLY SPONSORED: Ensemble. Last Gasp of Boyhood. Roderic Dunnett investigates Jubilee Opera's A Time There Was for the Benjamin Britten centenary.
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PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
Classical music news. Appointments - New (and existing) jobs for members of the international classical music community
Ensemble. Unstoppable Panache - Mike Wheeler listens to Amy Dickson and Martin Cousin
Ensemble. A Welcome Opportunity - Mike Wheeler listens to the recital 'Colour My Song' at the 2022 Buxton Festival
CD Spotlight. Superbly Enjoyable - Early chamber music by Peter Dickinson impresses Malcolm Miller. '... a welcome addition to a select repertoire is Dickinson's Four Duos for flute and cello, brightly played here by Rosanna Ter-Berg and Lydia Hillerudh ...'
CD Spotlight. A Serious Treat - Brass band works in memoriam, heard by Paul Sarcich. '... the bands are the best of Wales and play demanding music with utter professionalism.'
Ensemble. A Dynamic Entity - Malcolm Miller reports on the 2016 BPSE Beethoven Chamber Music Competition
Great Ideas - Malcolm Miller reports on the 2014 BPSE Intercollegiate Competition, and winner Mihai Ritivoiu
Ensemble. Utterly Idiomatic - Roderic Dunnett listens to vocal and choral music in Kiev
Ease of Technique - Malcolm Miller listens to the competitors at the 2013 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
An Uplifting Concert - Malcolm Miller was at the 20th Intercollegiate Beethoven Piano Competition
Of Bagatelles and Weightier Matters - Julian Jacobson reports on the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Beethoven Senior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Ensemble. Fascinatingly Varied - The Eblana String Trio and David Curington at Derby Chamber Music, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Musical Outlooks - Bill Newman attends a selection of concerts at London's Wigmore Hall
Confident and Artistic - Thomas Hicks wins first prize in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's annual Junior Competition, reported by Julian Jacobson
CD Spotlight. Distinct Insights - Dejan Lazic plays Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... a crisp, vernal, excellently deliniated performance ...'
Protect and Survive - Mike Wheeler was at the Annual Conference of the Association of British Orchestras
CD Spotlight. Sovereign Advocacy - Haydn, Hummel, Leopold Mozart and Neruda trumpet concertos, recommended by Howard Smith. '... expect nothing but the best ...'
CD Spotlight. Instinctive Artistry - Jill Crossland plays Mozart and Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... a distinctive, beautifully considered performance.'
Ensemble. Fun with the Slides - Haydn, Shostakovich and Beethoven from The Aves Quartet, heard by Mike Wheeler
Real Individuality - Julian Jacobson was at the 2010 Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Ensemble. Mix-and-match - Ensembles from the Royal Northern College of Music, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Glowing Performances - Music by Koechlin and Jongen, recommended by Howard Smith. '... a truly outstanding recital ...'
Ensemble. Beautifully Expressive - The Isolani Quartet, heard by Mike Wheeler
A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members
Potential and Achievement - The sixteenth Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition, experienced by Julian Jacobson
Prizewinner's Recital - Malcolm Miller applauds Julian Clef at London's Foundling Museum
Ensemble. Highly Promising - Rossini, Schubert and Beethoven from the Derby Concert Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Great Promise - Malcolm Miller reports from the 2008 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
Ensemble. Faultless Unanimity - A concert by the Roberts Quartet, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Deeply Involving - Emile de Roubaix and the Maraini Quartet play Mozart, Szymanowski and Brahms, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
A Name to Remember! - Mikhail Shilyaev at St Martin-in-the-Fields, reviewed by Malcolm Troup
Incandescent conviction - Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven in Littleover, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble - imperial grandeur. Roderic Dunnett is impressed with a new production of 'The Queen of Spades'