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Wretches Like Us: Berg's Wozzeck at Southbank

Wretches Like Us: Berg's Wozzeck at Southbank

Cast: Wozzeck – Stéphane Degout Marie – Annette Dasch Captain – Peter Hoare Doctor – Brindley Sherratt Drum-Major – Christopher Ventris Andres – Eirik Grøtvedt Margret – Kitty Whately Fool – Adrian Thompson First Apprentice – Callum Thorpe Second Apprentice – Dominic Sedgwick London Voices; Tiffin Boys’ Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner. Projections by Ilya Shagalov. Royal Festival Hall,

Rafael Payare extends his time in Montréal

Rafael Payare extends his time in Montréal

Rafael Payare, who Classical Explorer has covered in Montréal and in London, and on disc, has extended his tenure for a further five years with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM). is contract was due to end in the spring of 2027 and now is extended through the 2031/2

Dresden's historically-informed Wagner: Musicologist Kai Hinrich Müller in conversation about the Nagano Ring

Dresden's historically-informed Wagner: Musicologist Kai Hinrich Müller in conversation about the Nagano Ring

Authentic Wagner!

Salome #2: from Bethnal Green to Bergen

Salome #2: from Bethnal Green to Bergen

A remarkable recording - a new modern standard. for Salome

A Vision in a Dream: Gregson Concertos

A Vision in a Dream: Gregson Concertos

Chandos has done Edward Gregson proud in this release.

For John Cage: the Zen-like composed silence of late Feldman

For John Cage: the Zen-like composed silence of late Feldman

The late music of Moton Feldman (1926-87) is like no other

The Chosen One: Leipzig's Got Talent!

The Chosen One: Leipzig's Got Talent!

So did the right man win?

Filippo Gorini at Wigmore Hall

Filippo Gorini at Wigmore Hall

Beat Furrer Studie IV (2025, UK premiere) Schumann Davidbündertänze, Op. 6 (1837) Stefano Gervasoni Sonata for Piano (2024, UK premiere) Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110 (1821/2) Good to see Filippo Gorini, whose recordings of Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge and late Beethoven

Two Razumovsky Quartets on BIS

Two Razumovsky Quartets on BIS

Absolutely to the high standard of the Chiaroscuro's previous Beethoven releases

NYO Collide: film, ballet and opera

NYO Collide: film, ballet and opera

Joe Hisaishi Howl's Moving Castle: Merry-go-Round + Cave of Mind Wagner Tristan und Isolde: Prelude und Verklärung Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet: excerpts The National Youth Orchestra's Festival Hall concert (following on from the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester two days earlier) brought fascinating programming and the orchestra'

Gangsta Salome: Richard Strauss in Bethnal Green

Gangsta Salome: Richard Strauss in Bethnal Green

Perhaps fittingly, there is an establishment by the name of “Satan’s Whiskers” a hop, skip and a jump from York Hall. Richard Strauss’ Salome is a visceral juxtaposition of the good (or is that Good?: John the Baptist) and the bad (the seductress, spoiled-brat Salome) and everything in between

In Paradisum: Gabriel Durliat

In Paradisum: Gabriel Durliat

This is a lovely album. Programming is carefully consdered. The disc opens with a beautiful performance of Durrliat's own transcription of the "In Paradisim" from Fauré's Requiem. The tempo is perfect, and a sense of supra-emporal wooder suffuses. Durliat's tone is peace:

Ruth Gipps on Chandos: Violin Concerto & Fifth Symphony

Ruth Gipps on Chandos: Violin Concerto & Fifth Symphony

A incredibly valuable disc: I can't imagine these performances bettered

Martha Argerich : the DG Chopin set

Martha Argerich : the DG Chopin set

A fine reminder of Argerich's genius

Elsa Dreisig: Invocation

Elsa Dreisig: Invocation

A most interesting release

The return of Alpesh Chauhan: fine Tchaikovsky on Chandos

The return of Alpesh Chauhan: fine Tchaikovsky on Chandos

This is shaping up to be a series of major importance

Martha Argerich and Dong Hyek Lim at the Royal Festival Hall

Martha Argerich and Dong Hyek Lim at the Royal Festival Hall

Katfreitagszauber, one day early.

Andrew Downes' "A St Luke Passion" (and other choral works)

Andrew Downes' "A St Luke Passion" (and other choral works)

On 27th March 2026, the record label Prima Facie released the premiere recording of Andrew Downes’ A St Luke Passion of 1993 (Op. 50) with the Philharmonia Voices and Orchestra under David Trippett. This is the first album in a trilogy of recordings of the large-scale choral works of Midlands

An "authentic" Rigoletto in Paris: Le Cercle d'Harmonie triumphs

Live Performance

An "authentic" Rigoletto in Paris: Le Cercle d'Harmonie triumphs

Rhorer cut to the heart of Verdi.

Exquisite, tender Schumann from Tiffany Poon

Exquisite, tender Schumann from Tiffany Poon

Here Hong Kong-born pianist Tiffany Poon reveals her close affinity to Schumann - the only real comparison I can think of is someone whom I consider one of the greatest Schumann pianist of all time, Yves Nat. Yet her way is different, individual, as if she is privy to all

Handel in Shoreditch: a Tamerlano triumph

Handel in Shoreditch: a Tamerlano triumph

A triumph, most of all for Handel, and specifically Tamerlano, which has for too long been in the shade of the operas that surround it, Giulio Cesare and Rodelinda

News Post: Pianist Burkard Schliessmann's new label

News Post: Pianist Burkard Schliessmann's new label

[Mechelen, 4 March 2026]— Evil Penguin Classic proudly announces that internationally acclaimed pianist Burkard Schliessmann is joining the label’s distinguished roster of artists. Our collaboration will start off with a Fryderyk Chopin album presenting a new interpretation of 24 Préludes Op. 28 and Prélude in C sharp Minor Op.

A Tale of Seven Climates: Tansy Davies’ The Passion of Mary Magdalene

Live Performance

A Tale of Seven Climates: Tansy Davies’ The Passion of Mary Magdalene

A major new work

After Kosky's Siegfried - Kosky's Don Giovanni from Vienna

After Kosky's Siegfried - Kosky's Don Giovanni from Vienna

After Kosky's Siegfried at Covent Garden last week (you can read my review here), I thought it a good idea to have a look at his Don Giovanni from Vienna. Here's the promo reel: As you can see, there is a real dystopian element: instead of

Nagano's eye-opening Mahler

Nagano's eye-opening Mahler

Hildegard of Bingen O vis aeternitatis Mahler Symphony No. 2 in C minor, ‘Resurrection’ (1888-94) Kent Nagano (conductor); Jane Archibald (soprano); Christina Bock (mezzo); Phiharmonia Chorus & Orchestra Royal Festival Hall, London , 19 March 2026 There was a time when London’s walls were papered with Mahler 2's;