Classical Explorer

Gustavo III was written for the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Gustavo III by Eugene Scribe was the chosen subject (1833), a play about the assassination of the King of Sweden in 1792 by noblemen […]

Beethoven wrote a lot; and a lot sits under the radar today. Yes there are the nine symphonies, but there’s also a “Battle Symphony”; there’s all those sets of variations that aren’t on Diabelli; and […]

Ariadne auf Lewes: Strauss’ opera returns to Glyndebourne, transformed. Soloists; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Glyndebourne Opera House, 19.07.2026 Production: Director, Costume Designer – Laurent Pelly Set Designer – Massimo Tronacanetti Lighting Designer […]

In a week which included Richard Strauss’ Ariadne from Glyndebourne, it feels only right to reach for this from the pile: excerpts from Richard Strauss’s comic opera Die schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman), pre-produced as studio recordings […]

The booklet fo his Scala Music release is French only, but there’s an important opening paragraph by Michail Maiasky: The name “Hermitage” may seem paradoxical for a duo: Doesn’t the hermit want to go away […]

We’ve met Philip Moore (born 1943) a couple of times on Classical Explorer previously: A Fugal Flourish on “Personent Hodie” on Christmas Bells, and one of his 21 settings of the Evening Service on Andrew Nethsingha’s […]

To my count, this is the eighth post on Classical Explorer featuring playing by Emanuel Despax: he is worth the focus, for sure, a rare meeting of musical sensitivity and high technique. ThePiano Quintet in […]

After Pappano’s Tristan, Jessye’s Isolde: as part of Decca’s “The Unreleased Masters,” a selection of excerpts which “for various reasons, was never published”. Masur’s way with the Prelude is mobile, and climax-focused, the Leipzig Gewandhaus […]

After an all-Czech Wimbledon Ladies’ Final, a very much all-Czech symphonic release: Ondřej, Jiří, Jakub and Tomáš conspire to give is a very special disc of live performances. Ondřej Kukal (born 1964) is a graduate […]