Over in Bobigny ...

Proserpine contains the essence of Lully: : dances, Prologue, Gods, Goddesses, Elysian Fields, spectacle, and much more

The Haydn yesterday (The Mozartists, Sturm und Drang 4) reminded me of this Haydn post - repertoire that deserves to be in currency. I remember seeing an LP set for Haydn's "Baryton Trios" in the 198...

The Mozartist's projected seven-volume series of works from the "Sturm und Drang" period (early 1760s-late 1770s) is exemplified by this disc. The fire and high emotion of the cover painting says it a...

The Rautio Piano Trio has previously impressed on the Resonus label: we covered two of the three trios of Beethoven's Op. 1 on this disc, with the balance of Op. 1 (Op. 1/3), and the Trios Opp. 11 and...

A fascinating programme: the Adés and Walton in particular shine

The "Enigma" is interesting, certainly, but it is The Kingdom that makes this a vital acquisition.

Whispers of old in a Modernist wind.

This should have been a great disc, I loved Dylan Perez's playing when he appeared with Nicky Spence at Thaxted, My Father's Son, Baritone Julien Van Mellaerts and Perez appeared in Opera Holland Park...

An excellent, if not game-changing, recording.

Performances shot through with a sort of dark light that seems immersed in Silvestrov.

... it feels as if we are in an earlier, Golden Age of pianism.

Conductor Pawel Kapuła is the real deal

BEIJING, CHINA (Sept. 8, 2026) — The Beijing Music Festival (BMF) today announced programming for its 29th edition, taking place October 9–20, 2026, at venues across Beijing. Under the theme Beijing C...

... includes the only song I know about picking your nose

Elgar Variations on an Original Theme. Op. 36, ‘Enigma‘ (1888/9) Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877/8) Elgar and the Berliner Philarmoniker? Well, there is precedent of the orchestr...

Elgar Variations on an Original Theme. Op. 36, ‘Enigma‘ (1888/9) Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877/8) Elgar and the Berliner Philarmoniker? Well, there is precedent of the orchestr...

Øyvind Torvund Symphonic Poem No. 1, “Forest Morning” (2019, first Proms performance) Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D major (1933) Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (1935/6), excerpts The first thing to n...

Volume Two of Hélène Mercier and Louis Lortie's series of Debussy piano duets on Chandos launches with one of the most famous openings of all, that of the Prélude de l'après-midi d'une faune, after Ma...

From Opera Rara: Sunday 4 October, 4pm, The Bridgewater Hall  aul Daniel, conductor | Chorus of English National Opera  On Sunday 4 October, Opera Rara launches its 56th season with the UK premiere...

The music is the very definition of the disc's subtitle, "British Light Classics"

A contemporary masterpiece

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ Elizabeth Watts (soprano); Jennifer Johnston (mezzo); Brighton Festival Chorus; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Mandle Cheung (conductor). Alexandra Palace Theatr...

This was a semi-staged version of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos; Laurent Pelly is the director at Glyndebourne (see my review here: Ariadne auf Lewes), and, while I enjoyed his Donizetti La fille...

What a life the Labèques have led: a life saturated in music, and making music together for over half a century. A life celebrated here in this wonderful three-CD set, a recorded journey that began un...

Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts, op. 5 (Requiem, 1837) Julien Henric (tenor); BBC Symphony Chorus; London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 15.08...

Mandle Cheung’s story is certainly extraordinary ... London awaits with bated breath

A notable disc of first-published works

A refreshing take on a symphony that should get out more

Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements (1942-5) Berg Violin Concerto, "Zum andenken eines Engels" (1935) Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, Sz 116 (1943, rev. 1945) Back at the Proms, players from Juil...

Respighi - Church Windows. Rossini - Stabat mater. Federica Lombardi - soprano; Chiara Amarù  - mezzo; Dave Monaco - tenor; Nicola Ulivieri - bass; Epiphoni Consort; BBC Chorus & Symphony Orchestra; ...

Brilliant performances of music that is, for all its allusions, connections and intelliectualisms, intensely moving

All four concertos here are World Premiere recordings

This is the traditional VPO concert at Schönbrunn, conducted in 2026 by Lorenzo Viotti and with bass-baritone Bryn Terfel as guest. It took place on June 19, 2026. As the title of the accompanying bo...

PROMS 2025: From the Alps to the Auvergne Tjøgersen, Canteloube, R. Strauss Louise Alder (soprano); London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor), Wilson Ng (offstage conductor). Royal Al...

A terrific revival

Gustavo III was written for the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Gustavo III by Eugene Scribe was the chosen subject (1833), a play about the assassination of the King of Sweden in 1792 by noblemen led by ...

A great disc, but perhaps the dervishes should dervish more

We've met Philip Moore (born 1943) a couple of times on Classical Explorer previously: A Fugal Flourish on "Personent Hodie" on Christmas Bells, and one of his 21 settings of the Evening Service on An...

To my count, this is the eighth post on Classical Explorer featuring playing by Emanuel Despax: he is worth the focus, for sure, a rare meeting of musical sensitivity and high technique. ThePiano Qui...

indispensable for all Jessye fans - and just to be reminded of that voice is a treat

“Fine old days”: Boerio (probably)'s 1673 comic intermezzo We are in the world of the commedia dell'arte here. In the early 1670s, soon after Venetian opera became established in Naples, a series o...

YouTube video by TheCoralVEVO

Jury honours the finalists with one Second Prize and two Third Prizes, reaffirming the exceptionally high artistic standards of the international conducting competition Press Release: July 2026  ● Th...

A stunning, beautiful, impactful release