classical cds

As mince pies are now freely available, it’s time. The first of the Chrimbo crop is here, and there’s a steadily-building pile of discs behind this one. Released November 1, this Alpha disc views Christmas […]

Having just returned from the Azrieli Prizes concert in Montréal (report to be published in Classical Music magazine), this post seems relevant. As a piece by the the elder statesman of the composers there, Josef […]

Florence Price 1887-1953) and Leo Sowerby (1895-1968) were contemporaries in 1930s and 1940s Chicago. This is major release in the continued appreciation of their music. Both composers deserve as much airtime as possible. As to […]

Here on Classical Explorer, we met the Sitkovetsky Trio (Alexander Sitkovetsky, violin; Isang Enders, cello; Wu Qian, piano) before in works by Ravel and Saint-Saëns. This is volume three of their ongoing Beethoven piano trios […]

G. Mahler, A. Mahler Sasha Cooke (mezzo); Philharmonia Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 24.10.2024 Gustav Mahler Blumine (1888)  Alma Mahler Four Songs from Fünf Lieder (1910, orch. D. & C. Matthews)  […]

Here’s the company intro to this disc: Sibelius studied the violin in his youth, and actively entertained the prospect of a career as a professional violinist for much of his student life. After graduating from […]

The music of Amy Beach rarely if ever fails to impress, and to delight. Her expression seems so natural, so unforced, her vernacular so charmingly American, imbued with the warmth of both heart and hearth, […]

What an opportunity this is! As the Khachaturian Competition in Armenia (Yerevan) consistently proves, Aram Khachaturian (1903-78) is a composer to be reckoned with (see my review of that competition in 2021 here). He is […]

There is a long association between the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School, and this disc shows just how succssful it is. Together, they present a varied selection of Stravinsky’s music, valuable in […]

Southbank Centre announces Classical Music Spring/Summer 2025 with bold new premieres and commissions The Southbank Centre and its family of six Resident Orchestras – Aurora Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestra of […]