Classical Reviews
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Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco with Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo
2nd Jun 2014
Katherine reviews a new recording of Verdi’s Giovanna d'Arco from last year’s Salzberg Festival, with Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo.
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Violin Concertos by Stanford and Milford
26th May 2014
David listens to Rupert Marshall-Luck’s performances of two unusual violin concertos, on the independent EM Records label.
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Sir Simon Rattle conducts Schumann
19th May 2014
Chris listens to the Berlin Philharmoniker's début recording on their own record label – the complete symphonies of Schumann, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.
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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)
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Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello sing Love Duets
5th May 2014
Katherine listens to the new CD of operatic love duets from husband-and-wife duo Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello.
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Shostakovich Cello Concertos from Truls Mørk
28th Apr 2014
David listens to gripping accounts of Shostakovich’s two Cello Concertos from Truls Mørk, with Vasily Petrenko at the podium.
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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.
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Berlin Comedian Harmonists
14th Apr 2014
The Berlin Comedian Harmonists brighten up Katherine's Monday morning.
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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.
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Jack Liebeck plays violin music by Kreisler
31st Mar 2014
Katherine enjoys Jack Liebeck and Katya Apekisheva’s performances of Kreisler’s flamboyant violin showpieces.
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Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2
24th Mar 2014
David rediscovers Mendelssohn's Lobgesang thanks to Pablo Heras-Casado and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in this week's newsletter.
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Decca Most Wanted Recitals
17th Mar 2014
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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.
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Gil Shaham plays Violin Concertos from the 1930s
3rd Mar 2014
The American violinist kicks off a new project exploring the decade with concertos by Barber, Hartmann, Berg, Stravinsky and Britten.
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Miloš plays guitar works by Rodrigo and de Falla
24th Feb 2014
The Montenegrin guitarist performs Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Fantasia para un Gentilhombre and Falla’s Homenaje a Debussy with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Jonas Kaufmann sings Wagner’s Parsifal
17th Feb 2014
The German tenor gives the performance of his career as Wagner’s ‘Holy Fool’ in François Girard’s production from the Metropolitan Opera, with René Pape as Gurnemanz and Katarina Dalayman as Kundry.
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CPE Bach Magnificat
10th Feb 2014
To mark the tercentenary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach’s fifth (and most prolific) child, Hans-Christoph Rademann directs the RIAS Kammerchor and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in a ‘punchy and agile’ account of his first large-scale choral work.
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New Year's Concert 2014
3rd Feb 2014
Daniel Barenboim conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in the traditional New Year’s Day programme of waltzes, polkas and marches from the Strauss Family and friends.
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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.
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Russian Choral Music from Tenebrae
13th Jan 2014
Nigel Short directs his award-winning British vocal ensemble in a programme of ‘Russian Treasures’, including excerpts from Rachmaninov’s Vespers and little-known gems which are rarely performed outside Russia.
Featured product
Russian Treasures: Tenebrae
Tenebrae, Nigel Short
