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Classical music news - September 2024 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney - What's in a name?
Classical music news - July 2024 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Spotlight. Three Surprises - Gerald Fenech recommends music by Mozart played by the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice. '... a diverse survey of Mozart's occasional music in excellent sound quality and attractive presentation ...'
Classical music news - June 2024 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics
Spotlight. Absolute Brilliance - Gerald Fenech recommends Warner Classics' forty-two disc set of recordings by Paavo Berglund. '... a precious treasure-trove packed with musical diamonds that took twenty-seven years to complete.'
Spotlight. A Romantic Piano Master - Esdras Mugatik listens to Shura Cherkassky. '... a magical capacity to differentiate levels of sound ...'
Melikyan - A classical music word-puzzle by Allan Rae
Spotlight. East meets West - Geoff Pearce enjoys music from Türkiye and its neighbouring countries. 'Immediately one is struck by the sensitivity, technical proficiency and joy of these two performers, flautist Nicole Esposito and harpist Çağatay Akyol.'
Ensemble. Captivating Performance - Mike Wheeler listens to Khachaturian, Mozart, Robert Schumann and Sibelius from Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer
Ensemble. Breathtaking Energy and Commitment - Mike Wheeler listens to Filarmonica Braşov
CD Spotlight. Full of Colour - Geoff Pearce enjoys music by Alberto Hemsi. 'The performers show a real affinity with this music and deliver a sparkling and vivacious performance that is full of character at every turn.'
Ensemble. Winter and Spring - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to orchestral music in Rome
CD Spotlight. An Exquisite Compilation - A selection of popular orchestral music, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Spiritedly performed and superbly recorded ...'
Classical music news - March 2021 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Ensemble. Bohème dated 1896 - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Puccini, broadcast from Teatro Regio Torino in Italy
CD Spotlight. Ready for a Revival - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to 'Phèdre' - a rare opera by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne. 'The distinct feature of Lemoyne's opera is the weight and importance given to the protagonist. The role is sung by the Dutch soprano Judith van Wanroij: it fits her perfectly as can be felt in her initial major arias, with chorus as well as with other members of the cast.'
CD Spotlight. Highly Enjoyable - Gerald Fenech listens to film music played by Iain Sutherland and the Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra. '... brought to light with the utmost conviction.'
CD Spotlight. Out of the Ordinary - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to a new recording of Verdi's 'Otello'. '... a new and beautiful reading ...'
Ensemble. A Vivid Sense of Theatricality - Mike Wheeler listens to Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Khachaturian from Peter Donohoe and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yuri Simonov
Ensemble. Sex and Power in Pesaro - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a new production of 'Semiramide' at the Rossini Opera Festival
Classical music news. Giovanni Sollima - The first performance of Giovanni Sollima's 'Tarantulae Cadenzas' took place at the Küstendorf Klasik Russian Music Festival in July 2019
Ensemble. From the Poignant to the Zany - Russian-born musicians Yulia Northridge and Ekaterina Shetliffe, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. A Powerful Statement - Khachaturian from Dmitry Yablonsky and the Russian Philharmonic, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The orchestra and conductor are superb, and committed to bringing out the very best of this music ...'
Ensemble. With You, Armenia - Giuseppe Pennisi was present when La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra visited Rome
CD Spotlight. Altogether Impressive - Khachaturian for violin and piano, heard by Robert Anderson. '... fine listening when interpreted as idiomatically as here.'
CD Spotlight. A Valuable Sampling - Armenian music, heard by Howard Smith. '... South Caucasian music performed by a team of its best authenticated exponents.'
CD Spotlight. Ebullient Temperament - Unfamiliar delights from Trio Solis, recommended by Patric Standford. '... a superb recording of very fine ensemble playing.'
Ensemble. Informative and Exhilarating - Chamber and instrumental music from China and elsewhere, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Orchestral Story-telling - Mike Wheeler listens to Strauss, Rimsky-Korsakov and Khachaturian from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
CD Spotlight. Elegaic Melancholy - A new recording from Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble, exceeds Howard Smith's highest expectations. '... beyond criticism ...'
Masks - Jennifer Paull continues her investigation of musical and theatrical masks
Masks - Jennifer Paull investigates a layering of musical and theatrical masks, with the omnipresent eerie reminder of the gas mask
CD Spotlight. A Striking Urgency - Schnittke and Ginastera from the Choir of St Ignatius Loyola, reviewed by Howard Smith. 'Not quite what one might expect.'
Ensemble. Terrifying Vitality - Khachaturian's 'Spartacus' at the Cairo Opera House impresses Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight. A Curate's Egg - Tangos and fantasies, explored by Howard Smith. '... good in parts.'
Ensemble. High Spirits - Freddy Kempf and the Moscow Philharmonic, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Glorious Melody - British Youth Opera's 'La Rondine', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Postlude - Jennifer Paull writes on the 25th Anniversary of the death of Cathy Berberian
Ensemble. A Degree of Truth - A spring remembrance concert for the Armenian victims of 1915, reviewed by Bill Newman
High Jinx and Haute Couture - On the anniversary of Cathy Berberian's birth, Jennifer Paull investigates the legendary musician's extraordinary talents in humouristic performance, and her equally astounding wardrobe
Ensemble. Pervasive influence - A return visit to London by the Verdehr Trio, reviewed by Peter Dickinson
Cathy Berberian: Legacy - On the 40th anniversary of 'The Miniskirt Affair', Jennifer Paull sets the mood of the 1960s into which Cathy Berberian's imaginative style of recital programming shook the conventional rafters of 'classical music' through sheer daring - her legacy to music-making
Cathy Berberian - Never knowingly misunderstood - Jennifer Paull questions the focus of the lens of musical history
Cathy Berberian - A musical Columbus - On what would have been Cathy Berberian's 80th birthday, Jennifer Paull explores the life of the artist who died way too soon
Editor's Inbox - More readers' letters
Armenian music in America - by Gordon Rumson
CD Spotlight. Less is more - Tigran Mansurian's 'Monodia', appreciated by Rex Harley. 'The performance is exemplary.'
Ensemble. An eclectic program - Lawrence Budmen is impressed by Canadian/Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian
CD Spotlight. Instant impact - Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... above praise.'
Profile - A musical enchantress. On the anniversary of Cathy Berberian's death, Jennifer Paull remembers the legendary singer who cast musical spells
CD Spotlight - The essential acorn. 'The Armenian orchestra under Tjeknavorian gives a competent performance throughout ...' The music of Glinka, with Robert Anderson