This rather nice compilation of approachable, broadly “pastoral” English music released by SOMM is a delight. The music is the very definition of the disc’s subtitle, “British Light Classics”. Geoffrey Bush’s Rhapsody for clarinet and […]
Anyone who thinks Modernist music can’t be beautiful in and of itself should hear this. Hushed, caressing, Ian Wilson’s Voces amissae (Lost Voices) is a contemporary masterpiece. Lost Voices sets poetry by Serbian poet Dragina […]
Mahler: Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ Elizabeth Watts (soprano); Jennifer Johnston (mezzo); Brighton Festival Chorus; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Mandle Cheung (conductor). Alexandra Palace Theatre, London, 21. 08.2026 Interviewing Mandle Cheung revealed a tech entrepreneur housing […]
This was a semi-staged version of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos; Laurent Pelly is the director at Glyndebourne (see my review here: Ariadne auf Lewes), and, while I enjoyed his Donizetti La fille du régiment, […]
What a life the Labèques have led: a life saturated in music, and making music together for over half a century. A life celebrated here in this wonderful three-CD set, a recorded journey that began […]
Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts, op. 5 (Requiem, 1837) Julien Henric (tenor); BBC Symphony Chorus; London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 15.08.2026 In a BBC Radio 3 […]
On Friday, August 21 2026, Mandle Cheung will conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with the Brighton Festival Chorus and soloists Elizabeth Watts and Jennifer Johnston in Mahler’s mighty Second Symphony at a sold-out Alexandra Palace […]
Press release from Saanen: On Monday, August 10, 2026, pianist Hayato Sumino was honored with the fifth Olivier Berggruen Prize during his recital at the Saanen Church. The concert was part of the 70th anniversary […]
A fine idea, really well realised by Anna Geniushene on the Fuga Libera label. Following on from an album of lullabies, this focuses on the first-published works of major composers, “an exploration of first steps” […]
It is Mendelssohn’s Third and Fourth Symphonies that get all the attention. Yes, there is power in nicknames (Scottish and Italian respectively), but the fifth has one too and I can count performances I’ve heard […]
