George Flynn in Chicago - Esdras Mugatik looks forward to a concert on 27 January 2019
Anniversaries: Henk Badings; Ivan Karabits; Tomaso Albinoni; François-Joseph Gossec; György Cziffra
Today's concert: Britten Sinfonia - Britten, Mahler and Brahms; London, UK
Festivals, competitions and masterclasses: Valletta International Baroque Festival (11-26 January); Valletta, MT
Ensemble. Collective Talent - Mike Wheeler marvels at The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
CD Spotlight. Rich and Varied - Songs by Robin Holloway, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Performances are full of expressive variety and sensitivity, complimenting the composer's thoughts with undiluted commitment.'
CD Spotlight. A Deep Understanding - John McCabe's 'lost' Australian recording, commended by Geoff Pearce. 'The music is unfamiliar, but interesting, full of surprises and variety, and the fine piano playing is insightful and committed.'
CD Spotlight. Very Weird - Orchestral music by Witold Lutoslawski, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'This is meaty music through and through and, admittedly, for some this may be off-putting.'
Ensemble. The Touch of Gatti - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Wagner and Mahler from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome
CD Spotlight. Distractingly Unusual - Peter Navarro-Alonso's Goldbergs re-invented, heard by Keith Bramich. 'It's certainly clever, but I'm not sure what it gives us that we don't already have.'
Amazingly Kind - Keith Bramich marks the passing of South African-born composer John Joubert, who died on 7 January
Somewhat Delayed Reviews - The Beauty of Italy Captured in Sound - Arabella Teniswood-Harvey plays piano music from Italy, impressing Richard Meszto
CD Spotlight. Melting Ice - Music from glaciers by Matthew Burtner, recommended by Keith Bramich. '... a slightly romanticised account of the effects of climate change in the far north, which doesn't affect the pure beauty, and often sadness, of these vivid and intriguing natural sound recordings and ideas.'
Profile. No Vulgar Commercialiser - George Colerick tells the story of Louis Jullien, a French impressario, composer and conductor famous in London in the nineteenth century
2019 Music Festivals - Keith Bramich invites you to add classical music festivals to our online listings
Profile. A Gold Mine - Roderic Dunnett visits Birmingham to talk to John Joubert
Write for us - Editor Keith Bramich's comments and tips on contributing to this online magazine, twenty years on
CD Spotlight. Majestic Feelings - Leon McCawley plays Schubert, admired by Anett Fodor. 'His unique touch, articulation, expressive dialogue between hands and outstanding technique are admirably illustrated in virtuoso passages which demonstrate his remarkable sense of style. This recording offers many memorable moments for the listener.'
Ensemble. Simply Glorious - Verdi's 'La Traviata', live in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, heard by Maria Nockin
Tempo Calculated - Teun Van de Steeg finds evidence of a missing link in our perception of music
Ensemble. Skills and Elegance - Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's new production of 'Swan Lake' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi
Classical music news - Theodore Antoniou (1935-2018); more ...
Classical music news - Tan Dun; more ...
Ensemble. Bouncy Vitality - The Sitwell Singers' Christmas concert, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Nicely Alert - Sarah Beth Briggs and James Lisney in Nottingham, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Insane Buffoonery - George Colerick investigates the musicals of Florimond Hervé, a man of many parts
CD Spotlight. Beautifully Realized - Richard Harwood's EMI debut, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'Harwood never once strives for effect ...'
Ensemble. Punchy Treatment - Derby Choral Union at Christmas, heard by Mike Wheeler
Classical music news - Raven Wilkinson (1935-2018); more ...
CD Spotlight. Episodic Nature - Music by Roger Rudenstein, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... clearly committed music-making by all those involved.'
Ensemble. Extreme Tension - Janácek's 'Kát'a Kabanová' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Zesty Singing - Edward Turner conducts Handel's 'Messiah' at Derby Cathedral, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Collective Flair - Haydn, Bartók and Dvorák from the Zelkova Quartet impress Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Vienna at Santa Cecilia - Manfred Honeck conducts, and Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience
Classical music news - 2019 Grammy Nominations; more ...
CD Spotlight. A Very Joyous Disc - Brahms arranged by Kenneth Woods impresses Alice McVeigh. '... this is an excellent performance representing a useful, joyful and even inspired addition to the orchestral repertoire.'
So Much, for So Many. R Murray Schafer's 'My Life on Earth and Elsewhere', read by A P Virag
A Seasoned Champion of New Music. Argentinian-American pianist Mirian Conti in conversation with Andrew Schartmann
CD Spotlight. On Buoyant Form - Orchestral music by Andrew Downes, heard by Roderic Dunnett. '... varied, innovative, involving and absorbing.'
CD Spotlight. View from the Celli - Philip Sawyers' Symphony No 3 impresses Alice McVeigh. 'Pummelled strings rise turbulent beneath great brass chords: the entire fisting orchestra soars, confident, triumphant and united at last.'
Ensemble. A Great Start - Freddie Meyers' new opera A Sketch of Slow Time impresses Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. Unjustly Neglected - In this specially extended feature, Armstrong Gibbs' re-discovered 'Passion according to St Luke' impresses Roderic Dunnett
CD Spotlight. A Fantastic Collection. Penelope Cave Panorama CD. Little-known harpsichord gems, strongly recommended by Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. A view from the pit - John Joubert's Jane Eyre, praised by Alice McVeigh
CD Spotlight. An Encyclopedic Recital - Elizabeth Moak plays Judith Lang Zaimont, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... a stature of compelling merit.'
CD Spotlight. Pure Magic - James Brawn's continued Beethoven Odyssey, awaited by Andrew Schartmann. '.. generating excitement with raw textures ...'
CD Spotlight. Well Realized - Varda Kotler and Israel Kastoriano - recommended by Geoff Pearce. '.. partnership and sensitivity ...'
CD Spotlight. True Command - James Brawn plays Bach, Liszt, Musorgsky and Rachmaninov - recommended by Andrew Schartmann. 'The "Promenade" ... is like butter in Brawn's hands.'
Ensemble. Melting Rhapsody - Malcolm Miller enjoys Jack Liebeck and Danny Driver's 'Hebrew Melody' recital, plus a recital by David Aaron Carpenter
An Integral Part - Lindsey Wallis looks forward to the Canadian Music Centre's tribute concert to composer Roberta Stephen
CD Spotlight. Masterful Handling - Volume 3 of James Brawn's Beethoven, praised by Andrew Schartmann. '... his interpretive choices are exquisite.'
CD Spotlight. Perfect Indeed - More Beethoven from James Brawn, recommended by Andrew Schartmann. '... a profound - almost spiritual - connection to the music ...'
CD Spotlight. Masterfully Controlled - James Brawn's Beethoven Odyssey impresses Andrew Schartmann. '... the movement bubbles over with excitement ...'
CD Spotlight. Uncommon Piquancy - Music for two cellos, heard by Howard Smith. '... riveting effect.'
Letter to Louise Talma (Never Sent) - by Jenna Orkin
Think of Something Beautiful - Malcolm Miller pays tribute to contralto Sybil Michelow (1925-2013)
DVD Spotlight. Olympic Scale - Charles Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Musically the performance deserves all the applause it gets.'
CD Spotlight. A Fascinating Recording - John Joubert's string quartets, heard by Alice McVeigh. 'The Brodskys throw themselves into the lament for Shostakovich ...'
CD Spotlight. Most Remarkable - Jamaican pianist Orrett Rhoden, heard by Bill Newman. '... one of the finest on disc ...'
CD Spotlight. Beautifully Apt - Choral music by Herbert Howells, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Howells at his finest.'
Vocal Glory - Massenet's Manon in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
An Outstanding Evening - Bill Newman listens to American pianist Rorianne Schrade
George Flynn in Chicago - Esdras Mugatik looks forward to a concert on 27 January 2019
