A selection of 'Europe' articles

Spotlight. Creating out of Nothing - Gerald Fenech recommends polyphony from the Belgian ensemble Graindelavoix. '... compelling ardour and moving beauty ...'

Spotlight. In the Shadow of War - Geoff Pearce listens to piano concertos by British composer George Lloyd. '... there is much to be gained from this set ...'

Spotlight. Imagination, Humour and Depth - Gerald Fenech listens to oboe concertos by eighteenth century German composer Ludwig August Lebrun. 'Nancy Ambrose King's flawless technique allows the music to flow with a strong sense of drama ...'

Classical music news - Clayton Stephenson - The 2022 Cliburn finalist has been awarded a 2024 Avery Fisher career grant

Profile. It's Art - Ron Bierman talks to Amerian opera director Kyle Lang

Learning How to Play Again with 'The Nutcracker' - Jeffrey Neil shares some thoughts about Tchaikovsky's ballet, following a visit to Oakland Ballet's production in California, USA

Profile. Big Roles - Ron Bierman talks to American soprano Michelle Bradley

Classical music news - Music, Migration and Mobility - Malcolm Miller previews a new exhibition in London about émigré composers

Classical music news. The Birth of Chords - Watch Marina Frolova-Walker's lecture, which discusses the system that has dominated western music since the seventeenth century

Classical music news. September 2022 Newsletter - Our September 2022 PDF newsletter has just been published

Defining Our Field - John Dante Prevedini asks what is 'classical music' to us, why are we involved and what can we learn from our differences?

Summer Festivals in Europe - Giuseppe Pennisi investigates the fast-evolving festival scene

CD Spotlight. Absolutely Superb - Early music from Northern Europe, highly recommended by Geoff Pearce. 'These are truly great performances of less familiar music, and all musicians featured are of the finest quality.'

CD Spotlight. Specially Reconstructed - Music for ancient giant horns, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... for those who wallow in the joys of past cultural mysteries and their unraveling, this issue is a must.'

CD Spotlight. Polyphonic Masterpieces - Music from the Baldwin Partbooks, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'The Marian Consort's delivery is clean, unembellished and wholly uplifting ...'

CD Spotlight. Euro Folk Champions - The Apollo Chamber Players, impress Howard Smith. '... this scantily adorned traditional music derives straight from the heartbeat of regions in Southern, Eastern, and Central Europe.'

DVD Spotlight. Blocks of Snow - 'Cavalleria rusticana' and 'Pagliacci', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... not always marooned in frozen wastes.'

DVD Spotlight. Admirable Intentions - Gillian Rogell teaches chamber music, observed by Howard Smith. 'It's all fairly basic stuff ...'

Ensemble. The Quality of Mercy - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the 2011 Aix-en-Provence Festival and reports on four of the six operas

CD Spotlight. Uncommonly Addictive - Choral music by Eriks Esenvalds, recommmended by Howard Smith. '... exciting music of the utmost graciousness.'

Ensemble. Artistic Freedom - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the sophisticated music festival in a Tuscan mountain convent and stays for the full three days

Ensemble. Intense Confrontation - Verdi's 'Ernani' - more revolutionary than patriotic, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Orchestral Nuances - Thanks to a sparkling 'Barber of Seville', Giuseppe Pennisi rediscovers the beauty of Rossini's orchestration

Ensemble. Rewarding Performances - Arizona Opera's 'The Abduction from the Seraglio', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. New Ideas - Malcolm Miller enjoys the Meitar Ensemble in concert and reports on the conference 'Art Musics of Israel'

Ensemble. A Tad More Sensual - Simon Keenlyside sings Don Giovanni with the Cleveland Orchestra, appreciated by Kelly Ferjutz

CD Spotlight. Distinct Insights - Dejan Lazic plays Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... a crisp, vernal, excellently deliniated performance ...'

Ensemble. Happy Melodies - Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia' delights Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Instinctive Artistry - Jill Crossland plays Mozart and Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... a distinctive, beautifully considered performance.'

CD Spotlight. Quite Breathtaking - David Korevaar plays Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, admired by Howard Smith. '... lots to admire ...'

Ensemble. A Marvelous Job - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Wonderful Surprise - Los Angeles Opera's 'Rigoletto', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Soirées musicales - Mariella Devia and the Twilight of Bel Canto, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Memorable Night - The Israel Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ask Alice - On rodents, requiems and bow restorers, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Profile. Two Americans in Paris - Maria Nockin talks to Vivica Genaux and Lawrence Brownlee

CD Spotlight. A Delightful Spirit - Balkan music for flute and guitar, heard by Howard Smith. '... a near perfect blend of timbre and balance ...'

DVD Spotlight. Forthright Tempos - The Wihan Quartet plays Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... little to truly set their work apart ...'

CD Spotlight. Beautifully Managed - Music for flute and guitar, heard by Howard Smith. '... reflective and purposeful ...'

Ensemble. A Remarkable Event - Paul Sarcich visits the West Cork Chamber Music Festival

Ensemble. Indulging in Forbidden Consecutives - Mastersingers at the BBC Proms, reviewed by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Nearly a Male Lulu - 'Don Giovanni' in Aix-en-Provence, a black comedy of sex and loneliness, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Sisters Under the Skin - Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda' at Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Clearly Important - The seventh Klavessiinfestival held in Tallinn, Estonia, attended by Peter Howell

Profile. Real Meaning - Maria Nockin talks to American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham

Ensemble. A Masterly Performance - Massenet's 'Werther' on the psychotherapist's couch, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Winning Ensembles - Malcolm Miller was at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe Chamber Music Competition

Ensemble. A Top-notch Formation - Operas by Zemlinsky and Puccini, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Seldom Performed - 'Lulu' lands at La Scala, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ninety Stars are Born - Giuseppe Pennisi tours Austria with a young Italian symphony orchestra

CD Spotlight. Sterling Playing - Wendy Warner's interpretations of Popper and Piatigorsky, heard by Howard Smith. '... sovereign music-making deserving of the highest accolades.'

CD Spotlight. Mice in the Manger - A selection of Christmas music, enjoyed by George Balcombe. '... an amazing collection.'

Ensemble. A Sparkling Concert - Sabbath music from the Zemel Choir, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

CD Spotlight. Splendidly Performed - Baroque music for cello, recommended by Howard Smith. 'An exemplary CD ...'

CD Spotlight. Intense Expressiveness - Music from Venice, reviewed by George Balcombe. '... an amazing display of eighteen short pieces ...'

Ensemble. Unity of Conception - Malcolm Troup was at the BPSE Summer Festival in London

CD Spotlight. Towering Achievement - Beethoven's late string quartets impress Robert Anderson. '... full marks to these players ...'

Marvelously Gifted - Bill Newman listens to pianist Alexander Romanovsky

Ensemble. True Artistry - Howard Smith attends New Zealand's Music Fair of Japan 2009

Ensemble. Another Treat - Martinu's 'Mirandolina' at Garsington Opera, by Roderic Dunnett

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.

CD Spotlight. Perfection - Benjamin Britten folksong arrangements, recommended by Howard Smith. '... this release is worth several times it's weight in gold.'

An Unexpected Treasure - Jeanette Hanscome talks to author Helen Martens about her new book 'Felix Mendelssohn: Out of the Depths of His Heart'

Record Box. Full and Resonant - Violin concertos by Bohuslav Martinu, reviewed by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Podium Celebrity - Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra in Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

DVD Spotlight. Terrifying Intensity - Puccini's 'Turandot', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... brimful of imagination ...'

Profile. The Hungarian Nightingale - A meeting with Gisela Doráti, better known as 'Gizi', by Bill Newman

Reminiscent retrospectives - Trails and Euros, with Jennifer Paull

Second sight - The Tyrant as Hero. Wilfrid Mellers, reflecting on a Handel opera (concluded from last week)

Second sight - The Tyrant as Hero. Wilfrid Mellers, reflecting on a Handel opera