Happy “birth”- day to Wigmore Hall (inasmuch as bricks and mortar are birthed). On the hall’s actual 125th anniversary, it was Lise Davidsen and the equally astonishing collaborative pianist James Baillieu who did the honours: […]
The Tears and Fire of the Muses, Claudio Monteverdi Revolution Hespèrion XXI; Soloists of La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Wigore Hall, 1pm, 26.05.2026 Samuel Scheidt Pavan dolorosa, SSWV 41; Courant dolorosa, SSWV 47. Monteverdi Lamento […]
Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniušas at Wigmore Hall The Wigmore Hall’s 125th Anniversary Festival is shaping up well: in one day, the venue offered Jordi Savall at lunchtime and Asmik Grigorian in the evening, both […]
When is a sonata for four not a sonata for four? in the Baroque, of course, where Trio Sonatas are similarly à 4 (cos continuo). Here is a sequence of Sonate a quattro, brilliantly performed […]
ENSEMBLE 360 . Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield, 19.05.2026 Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24, “Spring”. String Quartet in C minor, Op. 18/4. Septet, Op. 20. After the challenging but infinitely enriching Beckett/Feldman concert […]
Feldman & Beckett: Words & Music Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, covered several times over the years by Classical Explorer, seems to exude a ferocious curiosity that spills over into the most remarkable concert programming. The […]
There is a lot to be said for Hee-Young LIm and Nathalia Milstein’s approach to Rachmaninov. Composed in the aftermath of the disaster of the premiere of Rachmaninov’s First Symphony, the Sonata for Piano and […]
What a treat – a coupling as effective as it is rare. Who would have thought Einojuhani Rautavaara and Bohuslav Martinů make such wonderful disc fellows? And yet, they do! Good to see Rautavaara again […]
A dialogue between eras, an interior path, a musical reflection on the fragility of our aesthetic benchmarks: so promised Paris Conservatoire-trained pianist Nour Ayadi for this Scala Music release. This is Ayadi’s second album for […]
Britten Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 (1940) Bernstein Symphony No. 2, “The Age of Anxiety” (1948/9, rev. 1965) Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (1893) Denis Kozhukhin (piano); London Symphony Orchestra / […]
