Latest News: Classical
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 28th January 2022
Haydn and Mozart from Basel, gangster tragedy in the South Polish Highlands, chamber music and songs by Martin Suckling, and arrangements of Vaughan Williams and Maconchy for piano duet.
Interview,
Julian Azkoul on Renewal
The artistic director of United Strings of Europe talks to Katherine about the ensemble's genesis and future plans, and their new recording of works by Caroline Shaw, Joanna Marsh, Osvaldo Golijov and Felix Mendelssohn (out now on BIS).
BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - February 2022 Choices
Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by French pianist Alexandre Kantorow's 'absorbing interpretation' of Brahms's Piano Sonata No. 3 on BIS...
Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - January 2022
January heavyweights include anthologies celebrating the legacies of Clemens Krauss, Pierre Boulez and Fou Ts'ong, plus Haydn collections from Sir Neville Marriner and Giovanni Antonini.
Interview,
Fedor Rudin on Edison Denisov
The violinist talks about his recent album of works by Russian composers - Shostakovich, Prokofiev and the more rarely-encountered Edison Denisov.
Recording of the Week,
Paul Lewis plays Brahms
The British pianist's interpretations of the final four sets of solo piano works are a revelation, capturing all of the poetry and drama of the music and often emphasising its kinship with Debussy and Rachmaninov.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 21st January 2022
French song from Roderick Williams and Roger Vignoles, the 2022 New Year's Day Concert from Vienna on CD, Schubert from Iestyn Davies and Joseph Middleton, and Bob Chilcott's Circlesong.
Awards,
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2022: Shortlist
The nominations are just in and voting is open...
Coming Soon,
Bach Passions from Raphaël Pichon and John Eliot Gardiner
Other upcoming highlights for the spring include a Strauss collection from Andris Nelsons, an autobiographical new recording from 97-year-old pianist Ruth Slenczynska, and Weinberg from Gidon Kremer.
Awards,
International Classical Music Awards 2022
The ICMA results were revealed this morning, with winners including recordings from Alina Ibragimova, Jakub Józef Orliński, Lars Vogt, and Frank Peter Zimmermann.
Interview,
Marc-André Hamelin on CPE Bach
The Canadian pianist talks to Katherine about delving into a 'fascinating trove of treasures' for his latest recording on Hyperion - and how CPE Bach turned out to be the first composer whose music he performed in public...
Recording of the Week,
Locke consort works from Fretwork
The acclaimed consort mark the 400th anniversary of Matthew Locke's birth with a selection of his consort works from the twilight of the English consort tradition.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 14th January 2022
Handel from Sandrine Piau, United Strings of Europe's second album Renewal, Morricone film-scores reworked for violin and orchestra, and the physical release of Florence Price's Symphonies No. 1 & 3 from Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Interview,
Bojan Čičić on Adriatic Voyage
The Croatian violinist talks to Katherine about his Presto Award-winning recording of 'Seventeenth-Century Music from Venice to Dalmatia', released on Delphian last summer and featuring music by composers including Francesco and Gabriele Usper, Ivan Lukačić and Tomaso Cecchino.
Obituary,
Maria Ewing (1950-2022)
The American opera-singer, a riveting actress whose repertoire encompassed soprano and mezzo roles, has died aged 71.
Obituary,
Francis Jackson (1917-2022)
The British organist, choirmaster and composer, who wrote many pieces of well-loved church music as well as a biography of Edward Bairstow, has died aged 104.
Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - January 2022
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by Lise Davidsen and Leif Ove Andsnes's 'beautifully unaffected and honest' Grieg recital on Decca.
Recording of the Week,
Grieg from Lise Davidsen and Leif Ove Andsnes
The two Norwegians do their countryman proud in a programme which includes Haugtussa, Five Songs by Otto Benzon, and the Six Songs Op. 48.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 7th January 2022
Telemann from Antoine Tamestit, a transatlantic recital from Tom Poster and Elena Urioste, a tribute to a Czech horn virtuoso from Teunis van der Zwart and Alexander Melnikov, and Brahms from Michael Collins and Stephen Hough.
Interview,
Jaime Martín on his second career
The Spanish conductor talks to Katherine about swapping his flute for a baton, his recent recording of Mozart Wind Concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra, and taking up his new role as Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra this season.