MOURN: FIGURE and Alkanna Graeca at Stone Nest
The London venue Stone Nest seems to be a hub for innovation: in March 2024, I attended a performance of Our Mother, starring Emma Kirkby and with the same ensemble as here, FIGURE. That was […]
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A real festival programme: varied lineups in music by Mozart, Britten, Shostakovich & Brahms at Hatfield House Music Festival
Frank Bridge, Benjamin Britten, Ethel Bridge by Unknown photographer snapshot print NPG x15184 © National Portrait Gallery, London Mozart, Britten, Shostakovich, Brahms; Musicians of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Hatfield House Music Festival […]
Still remarkably youthful himself, Chromatica Orchestra’s new chief conductor Oliver Cope sees their role as developing the next generation of musical talent
Oliver Cope Oliver Cope was recently appointed as chief conductor of Chromatica Orchestra, making him one of youngest conductors in the country to hold a titled position with a professional orchestra. He was a prize-winner […]
Music in anxious times: Hatfield House Music Festival opens with a captivating evening of music from the time the house first opened
Musicians preparing for the opening concert of Hatfield House Music Festivalunder the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth I in the Marble Hall Music which pleaseth myne ear: Thomas Morley, John Dowland, William Byrd, Tobias Hume, […]
Horn trios and a ‘trio’ on Chandos: Brahms, Ligeti, Mozart, Schumann
The Brahms Horn Trio is probably the most famous of this genre. Martin Owen is a fin ehornist, and Fancesca Dego needs on introduction, and neither does Martin Owen. Alessandro Taverna is new o me, […]
%20Graham%20Boulton.jpeg?w=510&resize=510,510&ssl=1 "Celebrating John Joubert at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in advance of his 2027 centenary")
Celebrating John Joubert at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in advance of his 2027 centenary
John Joubert [photo: Graham Boulton] Next year is the centenary of Birmingham’s pre-eminent composer John Joubert (1927-2019). Born in South Africa, John Joubert wrote over 180 works, ranging from operas and orchestral music to choral […]
More Kalevi Aho: Concertos
This is the second post on music by Kalevi Aho (born 1949): we reported on the Stenhammar Quartet’s recording of String Quartets Nos. 1-3 here. There should be more, and will doubtless be. Aho is […]
Das verratene Meer: Henze’s sea opera
This is a major release, which widens our appreciation of the operas of Hans Werner Henze and reminds us, simultaneously, of his stature. At Classical Explorer, we have previously looked ay a Naxos disc that […]
O’Hare Music Centre, Britten Pears Arts’ new hub for music education, participation and artist development
Students on the Advanced Young Musicians Programme [Photo: Britten Pears Arts] Britten Pears Arts’ O’Hare Music Centre has opened up in the newly refurbished Britten Pears Building at Snape Maltings. As part of phase 1 […]
Emad Zolfaghari is the first viola winner in Windsor Festival International String Competition’s history
First prize winner, Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari performing at Windsor Festival International String Competition 2026 [Photo: Julian Guidera] This year’s Windsor Festival International String Competition celebrated its 10th anniversary and, for the first time, the final on […]
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.jpg?w=160&resize=160,160&ssl=1 "Only love can bear the burden of truth: Ben Parry & Garth Bardsley on their new opera that premieres at Snape this Saturday")
