Classical Explorer

The term “Metanoia” makes sense as applied to Franz Liszt: it refers to a change of life direction in response to a spiritual event or conversion. And here we have the move from Liszt the […]

My final prom of the 2026 season is officially labelled “Strauss’ s Four Last Songs” – that piece the clear intended draw – but held so, so much more, not least my introduction to conductor […]

A few years ago, BEIJING, CHINA (Sept. 8, 2026) — The Beijing Music Festival (BMF) today announced programming for its 29th edition, taking place October 9–20, 2026, at venues across Beijing. Under the theme Beijing Cappella, the Festival […]

Broadly coinciding with Aigil Akhmetchina’s debut as Dalila at Covent Garden (which ran May 13-June 3), and released just a couple of weeks ago on 21 August 2026, Muher fatal – which means femme fatale […]

Vache Baroque and Out of Chaos at The Vache, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks. I thoroughly enjoyed Vache Baroque’s UK premiere of Campra’s Le Carnaval de Venise last year in the lovely setting of the Chiltern […]

We need to hear more music by Amglo-Irish composer Ernest John (Smeed) Moeran (1894-1950). Arnold Bax referred to Moeran as “the last true Romantic”. His life was a toubled one: he was wounded in the […]

Elgar Variations on an Original Theme. Op. 36, ‘Enigma‘ (1888/9) Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877/8) Elgar and the Berliner Philarmoniker? Well, there is precedent of the orchestra in English music […]

As his Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem) in Pappano’s LSO performance proved conclusively (August 15), there are fewer if any better spaces to hold Berlioz’ monumental imagination.  From the religious to Goethe’s great work of […]

Øyvind Torvund Symphonic Poem No. 1, “Forest Morning” (2019, first Proms performance) Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D major (1933) Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (1935/6), excerpts The first thing to notice here is the title, taken […]

Last week’s five sold-out performances of The Magic Flute at Arcola Theatre (25 – 29 August, 2026, within the framework of the annual Grimeborn Festival, July to September) have shown how much impact such productions can make, even at small […]