classical music

The soprano Lesley Garrett, 70 in April, has been contemplating retirement on the How To Be 60 podcast: ‘My husband says I’m only at my happiest when I’m singing. He says he worries about my […]

From the last Lebrecht Album of the Week for 2024: What’s the point in having a centenary if it doesn’t restore a reputation? A hundred years have passed since the German-Italian Busoni died in Berlin […]

Jiří Pánek, who died on December 19 aged 77, was an outstanding Czech violinist, happy to be leading great orchestras. But when the opera house in Pilsen ran into difficulties, someone had to grab hold […]

From the Times newspaper today: The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is teaming up with the city’s grime and hip-hop artists for workshops and a concert next year as it attempts to create a […]

From our agony aunt’s mailbag: Dear Alma, This happens every year.  Beginning of December, the principal bassoon asks where I’m gonna be for Christmas. At home, I say. Alone? he checks. When I nod he says, […]

In tonight’s Lebrecht Interview, the conductor Mirga Grazinte-Tyla remembers the night the Russians tried to reimpose their rule on her native Lithuania. Mirga ran barefoot into the night behind her father, who was determined to […]

From a Russian glamour magazine: Vasily Sokolov told his colleagues that he bought a bottle of non-carbonated water at the buffet near the historical stage, took a sip, but spat out the contents because instead […]

The distinguished harpsichoprdist and fortepianist Colin Tilney has died at the age of 91. Tilney worked as a repetiteur at Sadlers Wells opera and made numerous akbums. He performed on the recording Stravinsky conducted of […]

In tonight’s Lebrecht Interview on BBC  Radio 3, I talk to David Pountney about a career that has involved pivotal roles as director of productions at Scottish Opera and English National Opera, and general director […]