RESOUNDING ECHOES: From August 2022, Robert McCarney's regular series features little-known twentieth century classical composers.
Spotlight. Beautiful Stuff - Gerald Fenech admires vocal music from sixteenth century Guatemala. '... I could not but admire the sheer passion and enthusiasm of the Alvarado and Abramovich duo in their performances of this exceptional and plaintive repertoire ...'
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney - The Be All and End All
Spotlight. Together - Keith Bramich listens to Arnaud Fillion's 'Kune'. 'surprisingly accessible, varied, mostly traditional sounding and upbeat.'
Classical music news. Maria João Pires - The Portuguese pianist has been awarded the 2024 Praemium Imperiale 2024
Chocallo - A classical music word search puzzle by Allan Rae
Ensemble. A Fascinating Mix - Mike Wheeler listens to a joint concert by Derby Cathedral Choir and Sinfonia Viva
Classical music news - January 2024 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Spotlight. Considerable Variety - Geoff Pearce listens to music by Harry Ore, played by Zhaoyi Long. 'Zhaoyi Long's playing generally was beautiful and she brought the character of these pieces to life.'
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'
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Per Giuseppe
CD Spotlight. Unjustifiably Neglected - Gerald Fenech is impressed with orchestral music by Carlos Gomes. 'I encourage you to invest in this beautiful album which will definitely sweep you off your feet.'
Profile. Imaginary Folklores - Robert McCarney talks to Azorean pianist Diana Botelho Vieira and reviews a recent concert in Spain
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Artificial Prejudices
CD Spotlight. A Mexican Knees-up - A reconstructed seventeenth century Christmas in Mexico City, heard by Keith Bramich. '... the street ensemble is never far away.'
Ensemble. An Exciting New Partnership - Mike Wheeler listens to Dinis Sousa and the Royal Northern Sinfonia
CD Spotlight. A Real Adventure - Christmas in seventeenth century Mexico, conjured up by Siglo de Oro, Patrick Allies and friends, greatly impresses Keith Bramich. 'Siglo de Oro's performances here are superbly well-blended, joyously fresh and optimistic, seemingly flowing over and through the listener, sweeping them along in a stream of Mexican-tinged Renaissance splendour.'
Classical music news - Eleonora Perretta - A young Neapolitan guitarist wins the 2020 Mottola Guitar Competition in south-east Italy
CD Spotlight. Gentle and Tender Stravinsky - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to violin and piano music by the Russian master. '... a new and beautiful reading ...'
CD Spotlight. Undoubtedly Colourful - Music by Poulenc and Koechlin, heard by Paul Sarcich. 'Odradek and the Bambergers have produced clean, well-balanced recordings and treated both composers with great sensitivity. The orchestral playing is first rate.'
Classical music news. Obituary - Nello Santi (1931-2020)
Classical music news. February 2019 Classical Music Obituaries - A look at some of the figures who have passed away during February 2019
CD Spotlight. A Splendid Compendium - Iberian concertos and sonatas, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... finely and eloquently played by an ensemble that is passionately committed to creating a sound world that never ages.'
Is this the meaning of my Life? - In Leonard Bernstein's anniversary year, George Colerick tells the story of the opera 'Candide', one of the twentieth century's great musical satires
Ensemble. An Odd Couple? - Music from Japan and Portugal at Rome's 'Opus' Festival, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. Feisty and Wiry - Music by Fernando Lopes-Graça, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Performances are wholly committed ...'
Ensemble. High Fives - Mike Wheeler listens to Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra and to the NAC Wind Quintet
Ensemble. Household Rituals - Contemporary and modern music at Aix-en-Provence, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. Riveting Stuff - Spanish early music in the new world, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'All thirty tracks have a charm of their own ...'
Ensemble. Original but Controversial - 'Sicilian Vespers' as conceived by Verdi, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Exuberantly Florid Writing - Mike Wheeler listens to António Teixeira's Te Deum
Ensemble. Full of Irony - Shostakovich's 'The Nose', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. An Icy Reception - Giuseppe Pennisi describes the 2010 Parma Verdi Festival's stormy beginning
CD Spotlight. A Vigorous Spirit - Music by Matthew Taylor, heard by Patric Standford. '... skill and personality in equal measures ...'
Ninety Stars are Born - Giuseppe Pennisi tours Austria with a young Italian symphony orchestra
Music for Musicians Only? - The public turns a deaf ear to improvised music. As for classical music, Jan Dahlstedt claims that having abandoned improvisation, classical music entered a sidetrack from which it has never escaped, thus badly stifling creative progress. If he is guilty of heresy or may have a point, read on and judge for yourself.
Rui dos Reis - Jennifer Paull interviews and investigates the Portuguese composer-pianist
Ensemble. A Sense of Evolution - Malcolm Miller at an evening of music and drama celebrating 350 years of Jews in Britain
Record Box. Noble and Poetic - Sequeira Costa plays Chopin, reviewed by Bill Newman
Ensemble. In Nimble Fashion - Ohio Light Opera's 'The Queen's Lace Handkerchief', reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
CD Spotlight. Refreshing repertoire - Portuguese wind music played by the Galliard Ensemble, appreciated by Patric Standford. '... brilliantly played.'
Iberian discovery - Malcolm Miller enjoys a Nancy Lee Harper recital of unfamiliar music
Ensemble. An American in Portugal - Malcolm Miller attends Nancy Lee Harper's recital of Portuguese piano music in London
Record box - Unexpectedly vivid. Basil Ramsey experiences the music of Portuguese composer Joly Braga Santos