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Wednesday 25 April 2018

1901 portrait of Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) by John Singer Sargent  A scene from Shostakovich's 'Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District' at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. Photo © 2018 Luciano Romano  Igor Stravinsky: Music for Piano Solo and Piano and Orchestra. Peter Donohoe, piano. © 2018 SOMM Recordings  Maria José Siri in Riccardo Zandonai's 'Francesca da Rimini' at Teatro alla Scala, Milan. Photo © 2018 Brescia/Amisano  Bertrand de Billy, who conducted Verdi's 'Luisa Miller' at New York Metropolitan Opera on 14 April 2018  Celso Albelo in Bellini's 'I Puritani' at Teatro Massimo di Palermo. © 2018 Rosellina Garbo  W A Mozart: Musical Diary 1784-1791. © 2018 SP Books

                

 

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* Classical music news - The Prison; more ...

* Anniversaries: Luis Herrera de la Fuente; Astrid Varnay; Jacob Avshalomov; Die Gezeichneten; Mei Baojiu; John Foulds

* Today's concert: Puccini: Madama Butterfly; Copenhagen, DK

Recent Articles

Ensemble. Blood and Orgasms - Dmitri Shostakovich's 'Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District' in Naples, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Divisive and Enigmatic - Piano music by Stravinsky, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Peter Donohoe has always been an ardent admirer of the composer, and these interpretations reveal this sincere attachment.'

Ensemble. A Rare Bird - Riccardo Zandonai's 'Francesca da Rimini' at La Scala, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Appealing and Dramatic - Verdi's 'Luisa Miller' live in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Revival or World Premiere? - 'I Puritani in Palermo', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Book review. An Elegant Publication - Mozart's Musical Diary, 1784-1791, read by Daniel Schorno

Classical music news - Oxford Lieder Festival; more ...

CD Spotlight. Endlessly Intriguing - Music by John William 'Blind' Boone, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'John Davis' adroit (Steinway) performances are consistently well-judged ...'

Classical music news - Brook Street Band; more ...

CD Spotlight. Particularly Satisfying - Music by Erkki-Sven Tüür, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... for those who enjoy contemporary music, and like to hear something new and refreshing, Tüür ticks all the boxes.'

CD Spotlight. A Life-enhancing Work - Gustav Mahler's Symphony No 9 impresses Gerald Fenech. '... Harding's handling of the inner angst of the music is faultlessly revealing.'

CD Spotlight. Exemplary Performances - Martin and Martinu choral music pleases Geoff Pearce. '... beautiful music, lovingly performed ...'

CD Spotlight. An Outstanding Selection - Music by Christoph Graupner, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Exquisitely beautiful music, superbly performed, sumptuously recorded and splendidly packaged.'

CD Spotlight. Grace and Beauty - Music by Bartók for Piano and Orchestra, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'I would recommend this disc for a great recording of the Piano Concerto No 3 ...'

CD Spotlight. Adeptly Handled - String Quartets by Elgar and Delius, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. 'From the soft yet unified opening attack, we know that the Villiers Quartet will serve the score well.'

CD Spotlight. Invaluable and Timely - Nicola Porpora's 'L'Amato Nome', enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. 'Stile Galante deliver performances that are sensitive, intelligent and beautifully controlled with the singing in particular being stylish and elegant yet consistently expressive and linguistically meticulous.'

Classical music news - Berwang Music Holidays; more ...

Ensemble. Protests in Rome - A mixed reception for 'Cav and Pag' at Teatro dell'Opera, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - Musica in Villa; more ...

Classical music news - Michel Sénéchal (1927-2018); more ...

Profile. Power and Agility - Ron Bierman talks to Cuban-American soprano Elaine Alvarez

Ensemble. Well Conveyed - Stainer, Tavener, Ireland, Matthew Martin and Vaughan Williams from Derby Choral Union, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Deep Impression - Less well-known music for oboe and piano played by James Turnbull and Libby Burgess, appreciated by Mike Wheeler

Classical music news - La petite mort - April 2018 Newsletter (PDF, 968kb); New Sorabji Editions; A New Orchestra; more ...

CD Spotlight. Nebulous - The Ahn Trio, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... this shallow programme lacks any lucid direction or musical focus.'

CD Spotlight. Deep Emotions - Keyboard music by J S Bach impresses Anett Fodor. 'Simone Leitão plays with a sharply honed, flawless technique and her sense of style is highly refined.'

Classical music news - Lívia Rév (1916-2018); Nikolai Kaufmann (1925-2018); more ...

Ensemble. A Compelling Production - Verdi's 'Un Ballo in Maschera' at Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Choral Interventions - Wagner's 'Der fliegende Holländer' at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. An Enthralling Issue - Songs by Nikolai Medtner impress Gerald Fenech. 'This fine set includes 54 songs, so there are riches aplenty for one to savour and enjoy.'

Ensemble. Hugely Promising - Frank Zielhorst steps in as Principal Conductor of Sinfonia Viva, impressing Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. An Exciting Whirlwind - Constantinos Carydis conducts Russian and Greek music in Rome, impressing Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - José Antonio Abreu (1939-2018); Dejan Bravničar (1937-2018); Dilbar Abdurahmonova (1936-2018); Ariel Bybee (1943-2018); Irwin Hoffman (1924-2018); Otomar Kvěch (1950-2018); more ...

  

Sponsored Features

Philip Sawyers: Symphony No 3 / Songs of Loss and Regret / FanfareCD 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.'

Isabella Pitman and Tom Lowen in Freddie Meyers' new opera 'A Sketch of Slow Time'Ensemble. A Great Start - Freddie Meyers' new opera A Sketch of Slow Time impresses Alice McVeigh

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs. Photo: The Armstrong Gibbs SocietyEnsemble. Unjustly Neglected - In this specially extended feature, Armstrong Gibbs' re-discovered 'Passion according to St Luke' impresses Roderic Dunnett

Panorama 1919-2013 - Penelope Cave. © 2016 primafacieCD Spotlight. A Fantastic Collection. Penelope Cave Panorama CD. Little-known harpsichord gems, strongly recommended by Alice McVeigh

John Joubert and April Fredrick at the first performance of 'Jane Eyre'. Photo © 2016 Catherine GosneyEnsemble. A view from the pit - John Joubert's Jane Eyre, praised by Alice McVeigh

Art Fire Soul - Piano works of Judith Lang Zaimont. Elizabeth Moak. © 2011 Judith Lang ZaimontCD Spotlight. An Encyclopedic Recital - Elizabeth Moak plays Judith Lang Zaimont, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... a stature of compelling merit.'

James Brawn - A Beethoven Odyssey Volume 4. © 2015 James BrawnCD Spotlight. Pure Magic - James Brawn's continued Beethoven Odyssey, awaited by Andrew Schartmann. '.. generating excitement with raw textures ...'

L'Heure Romantique - Varda Kotler and Israel KastorianoCD Spotlight. Well Realized - Varda Kotler and Israel Kastoriano - recommended by Geoff Pearce. '.. partnership and sensitivity ...'

James Brawn in Recital. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Bach-Busoni; Liszt; Rachmaninov. © 2013 MSR ClassicsCD Spotlight. True Command - James Brawn plays Bach, Liszt, Musorgsky and Rachmaninov - recommended by Andrew Schartmann. 'The "Promenade" ... is like butter in Brawn's hands.'

Jack Liebeck. Photo © 2014 Phillip CohenEnsemble. Melting Rhapsody - Malcolm Miller enjoys Jack Liebeck and Danny Driver's 'Hebrew Melody' recital, plus a recital by David Aaron Carpenter

Roberta Stephen. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Music CentreAn Integral Part - Lindsey Wallis looks forward to the Canadian Music Centre's tribute concert to composer Roberta Stephen

A Beethoven Odyssey, Volume 3 - James Brawn. © 2014 MSR ClassicsCD Spotlight. Masterful Handling - Volume 3 of James Brawn's Beethoven, praised by Andrew Schartmann. '... his interpretive choices are exquisite.'

A Beethoven Odyssey, Volume 2 - James Brawn. © 2013 MSR ClassicsCD Spotlight. Perfect Indeed - More Beethoven from James Brawn, recommended by Andrew Schartmann. '... a profound - almost spiritual - connection to the music ...'

A Beethoven Odyssey, Volume I - James Brawn. © 2013 MSR ClassicsCD Spotlight. Masterfully Controlled - James Brawn's Beethoven Odyssey impresses Andrew Schartmann. '... the movement bubbles over with excitement ...'

A Tale of Two Cellos - Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd WebberCD Spotlight. Uncommon Piquancy - Music for two cellos, heard by Howard Smith. '... riveting effect.'

Louise Talma (1906-1996)Letter to Louise Talma (Never Sent) - by Jenna Orkin

Sybil Michelow (1925-2013)Think of Something Beautiful - Malcolm Miller pays tribute to contralto Sybil Michelow (1925-2013)

Charles Gounod: Roméo et Juliette. © 2011 Bel Air MediaDVD Spotlight. Olympic Scale - Charles Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Musically the performance deserves all the applause it gets.'

John Joubert: String Quartets 1, 2, 3. Brodsky Quartet. © 2012 Somm RecordingsCD Spotlight. A Fascinating Recording - John Joubert's string quartets, heard by Alice McVeigh. 'The Brodskys throw themselves into the lament for Shostakovich ...'

Orrett Rhoden performs works for piano by Galuppi, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms, Ravel and Rhoden / Bob Marley. © 2011 Dexter RecordingsCD Spotlight. Most Remarkable - Jamaican pianist Orrett Rhoden, heard by Bill Newman. '... one of the finest on disc ...'

Howells: Requiem; Take him, earth, for cherishing. Choir of Trinity College Cambridge / Stephen Layton. © 2012 Hyperion Records LtdCD Spotlight. Beautifully Apt - Choral music by Herbert Howells, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Howells at his finest.'

Anna Netrebko in Massenet's 'Manon' at New York Metropolitan Opera. Photo © 2012 Ken HowardVocal Glory - Massenet's Manon in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Rorianne Schrade. Photo © Christian SteinerAn Outstanding Evening - Bill Newman listens to American pianist Rorianne Schrade

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