Classical Reviews
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Shostakovich from Kirill Karabits, Oleg Tsibulko and the Russian National Orchestra
17th Jul 2020
A new recording of Shostakovich's complex 'Babi Yar' symphony with bass Oleg Tsibulko gets to the heart of a work that's often seen as all politics and no emotion.
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Paul Lewis plays Beethoven's Bagatelles
10th Jul 2020
The British pianist's survey of Beethoven's complete output in the genre (plus the Fantasia Op. 77 and three opus-less Klavierstücke) radiates wit, warmth and wisdom.
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William Alwyn's Miss Julie from Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra
3rd Jul 2020
Real-life husband-and-wife Anna Patalong and Benedict Nelson star in the English composer's 1977 opera, based on Strindberg's great naturalistic drama from 1888.
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Byrd and more from the Magdalena Consort and friends
26th Jun 2020
The Magdalena Consort, Fretwork and His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts join forces for a second volume of English verse-anthems presented in glorious instrumental Technicolor.
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Massenet's Cendrillon from Glyndebourne
19th Jun 2020
Danielle de Niese and Kate Lindsey bring real psychological depth to Cinderella and Prince Charming's relationship in Fiona Shaw's astute and sparkling production, with John Wilson supplying fairy-dust aplenty from the pit.
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Rimsky-Korsakov from Vasily Petrenko and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
12th Jun 2020
As on their recent series of Strauss tone poems, the Russian conductor and his Norwegian orchestra prove themselves master story-tellers on this trio of showpieces from the late 1880s.
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Barricades from Jean Rondeau and Thomas Dunford
5th Jun 2020
David enjoys the début recording of Jean Rondeau and Thomas Dunford's harpsichord-lute duo, featuring a selection of French Baroque treasures with vocal cameos from Marc Mauillon and Lea Desandre.
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Shostakovich from Alina Ibragimova
29th May 2020
The Russian-born violinist brings searing intensity and muscular tone to the two concertos, backed to the hilt by Vladimir Jurowski and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov'.
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Sean Shibe plays Bach Lute Suites
22nd May 2020
The award-winning young Scottish guitarist's third solo album on Delphian sees him turn to the music of JS Bach, with a highly varied triple-bill of suites for solo lute.
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Vincerò! Piotr Beczała sings Verismo
15th May 2020
The Polish tenor is at the top of his considerable game in arias by Puccini, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Cilea and Giordano.
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Grigory Sokolov performs music by Beethoven, Brahms, & Mozart
8th May 2020
The Russian pianist presents a collection of sublime performances of music by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart, recorded live at recitals across Europe in 2019.
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Howells from David Hill and the Bach Choir
1st May 2020
David Hill leads the Bach Choir and BBC Concert Orchestra in a masterful new recording of Howells's monumental Missa Sabrinensis - a rarely-heard masterpiece ripe for revival.
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Nuits from Véronique Gens and I Giardini
24th Apr 2020
The French soprano explores the themes of night and dreams on this beguiling programme of mélodies from the Belle Époque, given here in atmospheric new arrangements for voice and piano quintet by Alexandre Dratwicki.
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Nuits
Véronique Gens (soprano), I Giardini
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François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles perform Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
17th Apr 2020
The French conductor and ensemble return to the music of Ravel, with his orchestration of Mussorgsky's piano suite alongside a dazzling performance of La Valse.
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Purcell's Fairy Queen from Paul McCreesh and Gabrieli
10th Apr 2020
A glorious return to the Restoration stage, with a semi-opera if anything even more vivid than King Arthur - featuring a cast of gods, fairies, peasants, poets and... monkeys?
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Korngold's Violin Concerto from John Wilson, Andrew Haveron and the RTE Concert Orchestra
3rd Apr 2020
A bracing, unsentimentalised take on the composer's most popular work, plus an exuberant account of the youthful String Sextet from the Sinfonia of London Chamber Ensemble.
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Víkingur Ólafsson performs piano music by Debussy and Rameau
27th Mar 2020
The Icelandic pianist releases his third album on Deutsche Grammophon: an exquisitely-performed programme of music by Debussy and Rameau.
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Beethoven from Chen Reiss and Matthias Goerne
20th Mar 2020
The Israeli soprano is sparkling and technically fearless in a programme of arias with the Academy of Ancient Music, whilst Goerne's song-recital with Jan Lisiecki is an altogether darker affair.
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Three world premiere recordings of works by Erkki-Sven Tüür
13th Mar 2020
Paavo Järvi conducts the Estonian Festival Orchestra in three works by his long-time friend and musical collaborator Erkki-Sven Tüür - the 'Mythos' symphony, 'Incantation of Tempest' and 'Sow the Wind...'
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Erkki-Sven Tüür: Mythos
Estonian Festival Orchestra, Paavo Järvi
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Two world premiere recordings of music by Thomas Adès
6th Mar 2020
Thomas Adès conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in performances of two of his own works: the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, and Totentanz.
