classical cds

This is a remarkable two-CD set comprised entirely of first releases including never-before-issued performances led by the renowned conductor Pierre Monteux. Among these is a legendary 50th Anniversary performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with the composer in attendance, given […]

Here is a 10th Anniversary Special Edition of Philip Glass Selected Etudes performed by the pianist and composer, Giusto Di Lallo.  This is interesting, as it presents a musicological, methodical approach to Glass’ music. Di Lallo poses a question to […]

We have met Musica Gloria on a number of occasions, most recently in live performance in Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, on the Etcetera label, they offer a selection of North German Cantatas from around 1700. This […]

This is an extraordinary reading of an extraordinary piece. Jérémie Rohrer came o the piece afresh, escheiwing recorded versions. He performs it at A = 430 Hz (which apart from its historical prescience, helps the […]

Hidden Mechanisms: Leith, Werner, Miller, Mustonen Manchester Collective. 4pm, Purcell Room, 09.02.2025 Oliver Leith  The big house (2021)  Héloïse Werner Hidden Mechanisms (2025, London Premiere)  Cassandra Miller Leaving (2011)  Olli Mustonen Piano Quintet (2014)    Manchester Collective has a […]

John Field – Nocturne No.17 in C, H 61Beethoven – Piano Sonata in G minor, Op.49/1John Field – Nocturnes: No.1 in E-flat, H 24; No.2 in C minor, H 25; No.4 in A, H 36; No.10 in E, […]

The Somm’s recording is quite bright, which suits Glass’ music well. Very even night hand melody include Eude No. 8: Giusto Di Lallo’s new album of  Philip Glass Selected Piano Etudes – 10th Anniversary Special […]

The first of two releases on the Somm label this weekend (in their “Ariadne’ series), this is also the first in their stunning ongoing Bruckner From the Archives series. It seems to have a twofold […]

After Alfvén, Borgstrøm. Hjalmar Borgstrøm (1861-1925) might not be the best-known of Scandic composers, although some of his most important works were performed in his native Norway until the Second World War. Now, with he […]

Continuing our ongoing survey of the symphonies of Hugo Alfvén (1872-1960), we reach the richly complex Fourth symphony in C-Minor, Op. 39 of 1919. The subtitle is, in Swedish, “Från Havsbandet”; in English, “From the […]