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Friday 19 October 2018

Louis Couperin: Nouvelles Suites de Clavecin. © 2018 harmonia mundi musique sas  The Aquinas Trio: Ruth Rogers, Martin Cousin and Katherine Jenkinson  Weinberg: Symphony No 13; Serenade for Orchestra. Siberian State Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Lande. © 2018 Naxos Rights (Europe) Ltd  Alek Shrader in Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's 'West Side Story'  Takehisa Kosugi (1938-2018)  Benedict Holland  Brahms: Piano Quartet No 2 in A, Op 26. English Symphony Orchestra. Orchestrated and conducted by Kenneth Woods. © 2018 Wyastone Estate Ltd

                

 

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* CD Spotlight. Profound Originality - Harpsichord music by Louis Couperin, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Christophe Rousset ... gives radiant performances full of charm and grace ...'

* Anniversaries: Jacqueline du Pré; Patricia Kern; Stephen Paulus; John Russell; Karl-Birger Blomdahl; Roland Dyens

* Today's concerts: Pre-release party for AyseDeniz's Beethoven Senses album; London, UK; The Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP); Boston, US; Cello and guitar duets spanning centuries and continents; London, UK

* Festivals, competitions and masterclasses: Wexford Festival Opera (19 October-4 November); Wexford, IE; Brecon Baroque Festival - Angels and Archangels (19-22 October); Powys, UK; MRF Music Festivals - choir and orchestra festival on Lake Garda (18-22 October); Lago di Garda, IT

Recent Articles

Ensemble. A Delightful Surprise - Beethoven, Turina and Schumann from the Aquinas Trio impress Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Fine Performance - Orchestral music by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'Serenade Op 47 No 4 ... represents a happier and undemanding part of the composer's output, written, I guess, to appease the authorities.'

Ensemble. Turning Point - Leonard Bernstein's 'West Side Story' begins Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's season, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - Takehisa Kosugi (1938-2018); John Tyrrell (1942-2018); Antonis Kontogeorgiou (1945-2018); more ...

Ensemble. An Upgrade - Sinfonia Viva's string section, directed by Benedict Holland, begins the Derby Folk Festival, heard by Mike Wheeler

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.'

Ensemble. A Magical Zauberflöte - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's autumn season

CD Spotlight. Addiction to Poetry - Debussy songs, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Two joyful hours from four of the most passionate advocates for Debussy you can find at present.'

Classical music news - Cultural Jail; more ...

Ensemble. Ulysses' Homecoming - Giuseppe Pennisi was expecting a graduate performance of Monteverdi, but experienced a masterpiece

CD Spotlight. Absolutely Gorgeous - Harpsichord music by François Couperin, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... Bertrand Cuiller gives magical renditions of a number of Ordres, displaying with vigorous energy all the colour of sounds, alliterations, double meanings and parodies that these works encapsulate ...'

Classical music news - Montserrat Caballé (1933-2018); more ...

Classical music news - The Naxos Ring; Bent Lorentzen (1935-2018); Caroline Charrière (1960-2018); more ...

CD Spotlight. Beautifully Executed - Todd Crow's Chopin Mazurkas, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'This disc contains some very fine performances ...'

Ensemble. Mixed Feelings - 'Attila' at the Verdi Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Safety-first Programme - Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn and Dvorák from Alexander Gavrylyuk, Karl-Heinz Steffens and the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Wild Extravagance - George Colerick investigates Berlioz, Fantasy and Literature

Ensemble. Abstract and Utterly Stylized - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences 'Le Trouvère', the last operatic staging in Parma's Teatro Farnese

Classical music news - Three Blind Mice - October 2018 Newsletter (PDF, 1.1Mb); Eric Lu; Katherine Hoover (1937-2018); more ...

Ensemble. When Verdi mimics Donizetti - 'Un Giorno di Regno' in Busseto, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Triumph for 'The First' Macbeth - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the 2018 Verdi Festival

CD Spotlight. Music Archaeology - Music played on the 'Aulos', heard by Gerald Fenech. '... this unique and exciting project is now at its consummation ...'

CD Spotlight. Subtlety in Detail - Leslie Tung plays Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn, impressing Anett Fodor. '... a rare and unusual musical find.'

CD Spotlight. Stellar Performances - Handel Cantatas, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... music of the utmost beauty, full of emotional outpourings that cover the whole spectrum of the human condition ...'

Ensemble. Musically Outstanding - Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' in dress rehearsal at Covent Garden impresses Alice McVeigh

Classical music news - Anna Christie; more ...

Ensemble. Almost a World Premiere - Gaspare Spontini's 'Le metamorfosi di Pasquale', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - Piotr Lachert (1938-2018); Bohumil Kulínský (1959-2018); more ...

Classical music news - David DiChiera (1935-2018); more ...

Ensemble. War and Peace - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the Sagra Musicale Umbra Festival

CD Spotlight. Woolly Publicity - The Flemish septet Aranis, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'There's no doubting Aranis' outright professionalism and faultless ensemble; and the fifty-five minute programme has a degree of variety.'

CD Spotlight. Double Meanings? - Seattle-based ensemble Torch, heard by Keith Bramich. '... the music sounds modern, jazzy, light and almost aleatoric-sounding.'

  
Jenna Orkin: Writer Wannabe Seeks Brush With Death - From the heights of greatness (the Juilliard School; musicians Rosalyn Tureck and Nadia Boulanger) via way-ward paths to the depths of wickedness these reminiscences will entertain and enlighten.

Sponsored Features

'My Life on Earth and Elsewhere' - R Murray Schafer. © 2012 The Porcupine's QuillSo Much, for So Many. R Murray Schafer's 'My Life on Earth and Elsewhere', read by A P Virag

Mirian ContiA Seasoned Champion of New Music. Argentinian-American pianist Mirian Conti in conversation with Andrew Schartmann

Andrew Downes - Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Ondřej Vrabec. © 2015 ArtesmonCD Spotlight. On Buoyant Form - Orchestral music by Andrew Downes, heard by Roderic Dunnett. '... varied, innovative, involving and absorbing.'

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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