classical cds

I love Naxos’ pithy summary of the plot of Donizetti’s much-loved opera: Country boy Nemorino is determined to win the haughty Adina’s heart, but she refuses to give him the time of day. Can Doctor […]

The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris has been much in the news recently thanks to its re-opening after the tragic fire. Although named as “Bach to Notre-Dame,” this disc – Notre-Dame organist Olivie Latry’s first […]

Recently, we covered two operas extracted from Puccini’s Il trittico: at ENO: Suor Angelica (review here) and, on DVD from Florence, Il tabarro (review here). So it is only right we consider the full deal […]

This is a beautifully-recorded mix of traditional and contemporary works on teh much-respected Avie label that celebrates the choir’s musical heritage, It begins with a carol by William Walton, Make we joy now in this […]

This is a live recording of the 2023 Christmas concert in Leuven (it’s an annual event). These concerts present Austrian music (Leuven lies between Vienna and Salzburg) composed between the 16th and 19th centuries. The […]

Bach’s Weihnachtsoatorium is a cycle of six cantatas performed one six days (or, in one concert as here). This is a two disc plus on Bluray please from DG (the Bluray shows the concert at […]

The French composer Emilie Mayer (1812-83) has already appeared once on Classical Explorer via her Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1843), via a concert from the ever-impressive Insula Orchestra. Now there is a chance […]

NB: I’m reposting this, as one of next week’s posts will be a full Trittico from Vienna …. Puccini Suor Angelica (sung in English, traans. Amanda Holden). Cast; Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera […]

It is nice to hear the choir of my old college, King’s College, London, in so vibrant form; the composer here, Edward Nesbit, is currently lecturer in composition there. Christmas music is traditionally reflective: the […]

Ottorino Respighi’s ‘mystery in three episodes’, Maria Egiziaca (Saint Mary of Egypt) started out as a concert triptych. Some have suggested its dramatic/symphonic slant puts it midway between oratorio and opera, but stagings are fairly […]