Classical Music Daily — recent articles — page 2

 

Ensemble. Inventive Programming — Mike Wheeler listens to music by Vaughan Williams, George Walker and Tchaikovsky

Spotlight. Engaging, Interesting and Thoughtful — Endre Anaru is inspired by Francesco Cera's performance of The Well-Tempered Clavier: Part 1, Book 1. 'He gives voice to the voices and instead of just a dry plain reading we hear an enlivened elocution. It is as if he recited the music for us.'

Ensemble. Judiciously Balanced — Mike Wheeler listens to a recital by Petr Limonov

Classical music news. National Contemporary Orchestra — The USA has a new professional orchestra

Classical music news. Solomon's Knot — Brown University's Lindemann Performing Arts Center opened recently, and Bach's Magnificat opens the Christmas season at London's Wigmore Hall

Ensemble. Baba-Yaga's Whistle — Mike Wheeler is impressed by Lyadov, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Rachmaninov from Pavel Kolesnikov and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko

Ensemble. Thoroughly Enjoyable — Ron Bierman listens to a concert given by Latonia Moore and J'Nai Bridges, with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and conductor Bruce Stasyna

Spotlight. An Entrancing Programme — Gerald Fenech strongly recommends eighteenth century music for harp, played by Xavier de Maistre. 'At times mystical, at others immensely relaxing and uplifting, this is music coming down from above that soothes the soul and calms the mind.'

Classical music news. November 2023 Newsletter — Our November 2023 PDF newsletter, 'Beautiful, Powerful Music', has just been published

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.'

Classical music news. New Releases for November 2023 and Later — Browse a selection of new recordings

A Treasure Trove — Roderic Dunnett explores the substantial catalogue of Regent Records

Spotlight. Forty Years in Showbusiness — Gerald Fenech unreservedly recommends a new recording of Aled Jones, duetting with his younger self. '... a thrilling and vibrant journey of melodic invention.'

Ensemble. An Outstanding Concert — Ron Bierman listens to chamber music by Haydn, Ravel, Mendelssohn and Dvořák from Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon

Ensemble. Magical Effect — Mike Wheeler listens to Mozart, Richard Strauss and Gustav Holst from Sinfonia Viva

Spotlight. Most Innovative and Interesting — Music for horn, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. '... one cannot help but be impressed with the performances, the power of the music and what it is expressing ...'

The Magnanimity of Michael Tilson Thomas — Jeffrey Neil reflects on a performance of Beethoven's Choral Symphony

Spotlight. A Sparkling New Edition — Ravel's complete ballet 'Daphnis et Chloé', strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a thrilling and vibrant journey of melodic invention.'

Melikyan — A classical music word-puzzle by Allan Rae

Ensemble. Propulsive Energy and Contemplative Interludes — Mike Wheeler listens to the Coull Quartet

Spotlight. Complex and Interesting — Songs for tenor, violin, cello and percussion, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. '... the tenor, Brian Thorsett, has an admirable technique ...'

Spotlight. A Glorious Listening Experience — Seven orchestral works by Camille Saint-Saëns, warmly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a thrilling and vibrant journey of melodic invention.'

Ensemble. Superb and Imaginative Playing — Roderic Dunnett marks Thomas Trotter's forty years as Birmingham City Organist by reviewing a special anniversary recital and investigating the artist's large output on the Regent Records label

Ensemble. An Uncanny Cool and Relaxed Demeanour — Malcolm Miller is impressed by the London recital of young Chinese-Canadian pianist Kevin Chen

Classical music news. A Competition, a Resignation and a New Opera — The Global Music Education League's competition returns to China after a four-year break, Martyn Brabbins resigns from English National Opera with immediate effect, and excerpts from Jaap Nico Hamburger's new opera 'Ariella' are to be performed across Canada

Spotlight. A Fine Recording — Geoff Pearce listens to cello sonatas by Evan Fein and Johannes Brahms. '... I particularly enjoyed the new sonata by Evan Fein.'

Spotlight. Gorgeously Resplendent Playing — Gerald Fenech finds Andris Nelsons' recordings of Bruckner's symphonies simply outstanding. '... all the mystery and grandeur of these works are exposed in translucent music making.'

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.'

Spotlight. Dance Rhythms and Vibrant Melodies — Gerald Fenech listens to an unusual combination of works by Antonín Dvořák. '... Dvořák's Piano Concerto is made to sound as convincing as the composer might have wished.'

Ensemble. Particularly Engaging — Mike Wheeler listens to Elgar, Anna Clyne, Ravel and Beethoven from Jess Gillam, Ben Gernon and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Spotlight. Evocative and Quite Compelling — On the basis of the two works heard here, Geoff Pearce believes that Emily Howard's music will stand the test of time. '... the assembled forces have done a splendid job in delivering a rather startling performance.'

Classical music news. Obituary — Maurice Bourgue (1939-2023)

Spotlight. Groundbreaking Extremes — Gerald Fenech unreservedly recommends recordings of eighteenth century 'sturm und drang' music. 'Ian Page and his Mozartists deliver performances of the highest artistic standards ...'

Classical music news. Klein String Competition — Applications open on 1 November 2023 for the 2024 Irving M Klein International String Competition

Classical music news. World New Music Days — The International Society for Contemporary Music takes World New Music Days to South Africa for the very first time

Classical music news. New Releases for October 2023 and Later — Browse a large selection of new recordings

Classical music news - October 2023 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Classical music news - Hallelujah! — Enjoy performances around the world of Handel's 'Messiah' in December 2023

Spotlight. A Complete Triumph — Gerald Fenech is exhilarated by the Philadelphia Orchestra's recording of symphonies by Florence Price and William Dawson. '... a vibrant energy that makes the music sound as fresh and exciting as when it was first heard.'

Classical music news. October 2023 Newsletter — Watch and listen to our October 2023 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Artificial Intelligence

Classical music news - A New Worker-owned Cooperative — American classical recording company Soundmirror has transitioned to employee ownership

Classical music news - Echoes of the Ages — History in the making: orchestral performance in Iceland of instruments made entirely by Hans Jóhannsson

Classical music news - Quebec Appointment for Strategic Reflection — Composer Simon Bertrand is appointed as interim artistic director of the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec

Spotlight. A Gloriously Captivating Voice — Gerald Fenech listens to tenor Jonathan Tetelman singing Puccini. '... a must for all Puccini fans ...'

Spotlight. Shostakovich at his Sardonic Best — Geoff Pearce listens to symphonies by Dmitri Shostakovich connected to the year 1917. '... a very interesting and fine set.'

Spotlight. The Wild and the Mild — Gerald Fenech finds the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and conductor John Axelrod's new recording of contrasting versions of Robert Schumann's Symphony No 4 in D minor preciously invaluable. 'Performances, sound quality and presentation are a credit to the Orchid Classics label.'

Szymanowska — A classical music word-puzzle by Allan Rae

Spotlight. Beautiful, Powerful Music — Geoff Pearce marvels at this new recording of orchestral music by Mieczysław Weinberg. 'The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is on top form ...'

Spotlight. Imaginative and Colourful — Gerald Fenech finds the latest in Chandos Records' series of film music mouth-watering. 'Performances are consistently alive, vibrant and rhythmically exciting, and Marco Albonetti's virtuosity makes the music sound even more passionate and intense.'

Ensemble. 'Jazzy by Bollywood Standards' — Mike Wheeler is fascinated by the music of Supriya Nagarajan and Lucy Nolan

Spotlight. Plain Strange — Patrick Maxwell watches and listens to the new Deutsche Grammophon Blu-Ray disc of Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' from Bayreuth. 'The singing and the playing are largely excellent, but this is not the greatest production available ...'

CD Spotlight. Serious Dramatic Goals — Gerald Fenech listens to a unique recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma!'. 'A humdinger of an album, excitingly performed and superbly recorded.'

CD Spotlight. A Fine Interpreter — Geoff Pearce is impressed by Carlo Alberto Bacchi's recording of sonatas by Muzio Clementi. '... pianist Carlo Alberto Bacchi performs with assurance, grace and mastery.'

CD Spotlight. Exceptional Performances — Gerald Fenech unreservedly recommends Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos 26 and 27. 'This is superb music making from the first to the last note.'

Ensemble. Deep Friendships — Keith Bramich is impressed by Byron Wallis, Bérengère de Gromard and Jeanne Pinget's concert in memory of Malcolm Scott

Classical music news - Malcolm Arnold Festival — The eighteenth Malcolm Arnold Festival will run from 14-15 October 2023, live in Northampton, UK, with an online day on 29 October 2023

Classical music news - Ben Glassberg — British conductor Ben Glassberg will become Music Director of Volksoper Wien in January 2024

Classical music news - Pacifica Quartet — The Pacifica Quartet returns as Don Michael Randel ensemble-in-residence at Chicago University

Classical music news - The Compleat Busoni and other delights — A book launch, first performance and signing will take place this month in Canberra, Australia

CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording — Gerald Fenech finds William Vann's new recording of music by Parry revelatory. '... highly dramatic performances seething with passionate endeavour and glorious grandeur.'

Ensemble. A Magnificent Undertaking — Roderic Dunnett was at Adrian Partington's 2023 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

Classical music news - A Bridge Between Genres — Beethovenfest Bonn features the first appearance of Israeli-American conductor Yoel Gamzou's new kind of orchestra, bridging genres and playing 50% first performances

CD Spotlight. Expressive and Virtuosic — Music by Todd Mason, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. 'The Budapest Scoring Orchestra, conductor Péter Illényi and soloist Tosca Opdam are all very committed to this music and obviously enjoy performing it.'

CD Spotlight. An Enticing Disc — Gerald Fenech is impressed by the music of Handel and his London colleagues. 'Boundless enjoyment from beginning to end.'

CD Spotlight. Truly Unique — Patrick Maxwell pays homage to a 1955 Parsifal from the Bayreuth Festival. 'All these impressive voices, heard here in their prime, combined with Knappertsbusch's wonderful orchestra, make a sound which is truly intimate and doubly intense.'

 

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