CENTRAL ENGLAND: Mike Wheeler's concert reviews from Nottingham and Derbyshire feature high profile artists on the UK circuit - often quite early on their tours.
DISCUSSION: Defining Our Field - what is 'classical music' to us, why are we involved and what can we learn from our differences? Read John Dante Prevedini's essay, watch the panel discussion and make your own comments.
New Focus Recordings, based in New York City, USA, is an artist-led independent collective label which features releases in contemporary music of many kinds, as well as new approaches to older repertoire.
Not to be confused with Focus Recordings of Indiana, the label was founded on 15 September 2003 by guitarist Dan Lippel, composer Peter Gilbert and composer/engineer Ryan Streber, formed around the production of the catalogue's first five titles, and with the desire to have creative control over all elements of the recording and post-production process.
Since 2012, New Focus Recordings has been distributed by Naxos of America.
Further information: newfocusrecordings.com
CD Spotlight. Time and Space - Geoff Pearce recommends accessible contemporary music for cello by French composer Dominique Lemaître, played by Dan Barrett. 'All the artists involved, and especially cellist Dan Barrett, produce truly inspirational music making.'
CD Spotlight. Unconventionally Scored - Quartets by Roger Reynolds and Peter Lieberson, heard by Howard Smith. 'These performances can hardly be faulted ...'