Featured today
Classical music news. New Releases for April 2024 and Later — Browse a selection of new recordings
Twenty-five years ago today
Fertile Soil — Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey (published 29 March 1999)
Twenty-one years ago today
Record box. Refined music — Ron Bierman listens to the music of Reynaldo Hahn (published 29 March 2003)
Anniversaries
Reginald Goss-Custard (1877); Charles-Valentin Alkan (1888); William Walton (1902); Alexandre Guilmant (1911); Charles Villiers Stanford (1924); Mei Baojiu (1934); Richard Rodney Bennett (1936); Carl Orff (1982); Maurice Jarre (2009); Robert Tear (2011); Krzysztof Penderecki (2020)
Today's background image
Derived from a photo of the left panel of the tempera on wood triptych Christ on the Mount of Olives by Italian painter Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506)
Recent Articles
Ensemble. A Generally Engaging Performance — Mike Wheeler listens to Elgar, Rachmaninov, Debussy and Dvořák in Derby Cathedral
Ensemble. Satisfyingly Impressive and Exciting — Ron Bierman listens to Musorgsky, Rachmaninov and Elgar in San Diego
Spotlight. Richness of Surprise — Gerald Fenech urges you to invest in this cycle of Haydn symphonies from Johannes Klumpp and the Heidelberger Sinfoniker. 'It's a joy for a lifetime.'
Zelman — A classical music word search puzzle by Allan Rae
Spotlight. Fling Wide the Gates — Keith Bramich listens to Delphian Records' new recording of John Stainer's 'The Crucifixion'. '... excellent and committed performance ...'
Classical music news - Clayton Stephenson — The 2022 Cliburn finalist has been awarded a 2024 Avery Fisher career grant
Spotlight. A Lovely, Lovely Issue — Gerald Fenech recommends music by Handel and Vivaldi from Daniel Sæther and Ensemble C4. '... up there with the very best ...'
Ensemble. Serious Emotional Turmoil — Mike Wheeler finds that the ending of Opera North's 'Così fan tutte' works brilliantly
Spotlight. Highly Imaginative — Gerald Fenech warmly recommends music by Manuel de Falla and Igor Stravinsky. '... an absolute joy.'
Classical music news - March 2024 Obituaries — Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news - A New Competition — The Tokyo Minato City International Music Competition and Workshop is being launched in 2024
Spotlight. Rare but Lovely — Gerald Fenech recommends Catalani's 'La falce'. 'Performances are excellent in every sense and Fabrizio Da Ros keeps things moving without undue fuss.'
Ensemble. A Sure Feel for Dramatic Pacing — Mike Wheeler reviews Opera North's Mascagni/Rachmaninov double bill
Spotlight. A Near Unforgettable Experience — Gerald Fenech praises Krijn Koetsveld and Le Nuove Musiche for their new Monteverdi recording. '... breathtaking precision and technical proficiency that are simply stunning.'
Ensemble. A Fascinating Mix — Mike Wheeler listens to a joint concert by Derby Cathedral Choir and Sinfonia Viva
Spotlight. A Winning Personality — Gerald Fenech strongly recommends music by Eugène Ysaÿe on the Avie Records label. '... passionate intensity and inspired brilliance ...'
Ensemble. All to Play For — Mike Wheeler listens to Bruckner's Symphony No 8 from Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra
Classical music news - Liberation Festival — Jersey's international festival of classical music and jazz runs from 9-18 May 2024
Classical music news - Wakkerstroom Music Festival — An annual classical music festival in South Africa begins later this month
Classical music news - Chandos Records — British classical record label Chandos Records has been acquired by Klaus Heymann, the founder of Naxos
Spotlight. Neither Romantic nor Modern — Gerald Fenech recommends Francesca Dego's new recording of violin concertos by Brahms and Busoni. '... splendidly recorded and annotated ...'
Classical music news - Kublai Khan — The first performances of Salieri's opera 'Cublai, gran kan de' Tartari' will take place in April 2024
Ensemble. Dazzling Virtuosity — Mike Wheeler listens to Valentin Silvestrov, Rachmaninov, Manuel de Falla and Musorgsky from Russian pianist Victor Maslov
Ensemble. A Terrific Concert — Ron Bierman listens to Gill Shaham and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rafael Payare
Classical music news - Turbulent Times — The Australian Youth Orchestra goes to Tasmania for its Autumn Season Concert
Spotlight. Fire and Brimstone — Gerald Fenech marvels at Alpesh Chauhan's new Tchaikovsky recording with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for Chandos. '... Chauhan's passionate approach is consistently vibrant, sensitive and fastidiously attentive to orchestral details.'
Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter — Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics
A Crack in Time? — A rare Leap Day editorial from Keith Bramich
Spotlight. Grammars of Space — John Dante Prevedini explores the music of composer and multi-instrumentalist Jérôme Descamps. '... a testament to the powers available to the resourceful composer-performer in the contemporary chamber idiom.'
Spotlight. Charmfully Invigorating — Gerald Fenech listens to eighteenth century composer Boismortier's 'Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse'. 'Matthias Maute and his Ensemble Caprice deliver performances of the utmost clarity ...'
Ensemble. An Almost Physical Impact — Mike Wheeler is impressed with the return of Dinis Sousa and the Royal Northern Sinfonia to play Prokofiev, Mozart and Beethoven
MORE ARTICLES