Latest stories
-
Colin Davis conducts the LSO in Haydn Symphonies
30th Jun 2014
James listens to Colin Davis and the LSO's sparkling, poised accounts of late symphonies by Haydn.
-
Sakari Oramo conducts symphonies by Per Nørgård
16th Jun 2014
Sakari Oramo and the Vienna Philharmonic take James on a trip to Denmark with two symphonies by Per Nørgård.
Featured product
Per Nørgård: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 8
Vienna Philharmonic, Sakari Oramo
-
Gustav Mahler
6th Jun 2014
James rifles through the huge amount of outstanding Mahler performances on disc, and offers his selection of the very best.
-
Paul Lewis's next project…
29th May 2014
The British pianist turns his attention to Schumann and Mussorgsky.
-
Chailly returns to Brahms
22nd May 2014
Following the huge success of his Brahms symphonies, the Italian conductor is currently recording the Serenades in Leipzig.
-
Edward Elgar
16th May 2014
James offers his thoughts on some of the very best recordings of the music of Sir Edward Elgar.
-
Paul Lewis plays Schubert Piano Sonatas
12th May 2014
James enjoys Paul Lewis's latest recording of Schubert - the turbulent piano sonatas written towards the end of his life.
Featured product
Schubert: The Late Piano Sonatas
Paul Lewis (piano)
-
Alban Berg
24th Apr 2014
James sifts through the music of Alban Berg and offers his recommended recordings.
-
Walton from Edward Gardner and Tasmin Little
21st Apr 2014
This week, James listens to Edward Gardner’s fiery rendition of Walton’s tempestuous Symphony No. 1 and Tasmin Little’s nimble account of his Violin Concerto.
-
Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex from the LSO
7th Apr 2014
James takes a trip to Ancient Greece with John Eliot Gardiner and the LSO’s muscular renditions of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex and Apollon musagète.
-
Richard Strauss
4th Apr 2014
This week James shares his thoughts on some of his favourite recordings of the works of Richard Strauss.
-
Gustavo Dudamel conducts a new oratorio by John Adams
10th Mar 2014
James explores The Gospel According to the Other Mary, excellent performances from Kelley O’Connor as Mary Magdalene and Tamara Mumford as Martha.
-
20th-Century Wind Quintets from Les Vents Français
27th Jan 2014
Emmanuel Pahud and company are on ‘beautifully burnished’ form in a 2-CD album of music by Paul Taffanel, Ligeti, Milhaud, Ibert, Ravel, Jolivet, Zemlinsky and more.
-
Claudio Abbado, 1933-2014
20th Jan 2014
-
2013 Goodbyes and Looking Ahead to 2014
30th Dec 2013
-
Works for Pedal Piano by Gounod
4th Nov 2013
For the 62nd volume of Hyperion’s The Romantic Piano Concerto series, Roberto Prosseda joins Howard Shelley and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana for the Concerto for pedal piano, Suite concertante and Fantaisie sur l’hymne national russe.
-
Brahms Symphonies from Chailly and Gergiev
14th Oct 2013
A complete cycle from the Gewandhausorchester on Decca impresses James with its ‘drive and determination’, whilst Gergiev offers ‘beefy, big-boned, muscular’ takes on Symphonies no. 1 & 2 with the London Symphony Orchestra.
-
Piers Lane Goes To Town: Piano encores and lollipops
2nd Sep 2013
The Australian pianist’s ‘pot pourri of pianistic palate-cleansers and party pieces’ includes music by figures as diverse as Dudley Moore, Percy Grainger, Billy Mayerl and Arthur Benjamin, as well as several pieces written especially for Lane.
Featured product
Piers Lane goes to town
Piers Lane (piano)
-
Rachmaninov from Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker
26th Aug 2013
The Berliners afford luxurious treatment to the choral symphony The Bells (with soloists Luba Orgonášová and Mikhail Petrenko), whilst Rattle’s spacious approach to the Symphonic Dances pays huge dividends.
-
Claudio Abbado conducts Schumann's Second Symphony
1st Jul 2013
On the cusp of his eightieth birthday, Abbado brings the chamber-like qualities of his Mozart recordings to the music of Schumann in performances which are shot through with vivacious sparkle and evident love for the music.
