Colin Clarke

Live Performance

Génération @ Aix: A French evening

There was huge talent on stage on this particular evening

Charpentier, Leçons de Ténèbres from Les Arts Florissants at Wigmore Hall

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Leçons de Ténèbres Les Arts Florissants ./William Christie (director / organ) with Ilja Aksionov (tenor) and Padraic Rowan (bass-baritone). Wigmoe Hall, 16.04.2025 Missa Assumpta est Maria, H 11 (?1669): Prélude.  Troisième leçon de Ténèbres du Mercedi Saint, H 141 (? 1690)  Premier répons après la première leçon du

Sibelius and Barber Violin Concertos

I didn't have this on my bingo card for a potential disc of the year, but here we are. Here's a promo video: And, for all Renud Capuçon’s star status, it is Daniel Harding whose star shines brightest here. Together, Capuçon and Harding set the

More Lyatoshynsky Symphonies 4 & 5

After our recent trip to Waterloo for Lyatoshynsky Symphony No, 3, with the London Philarmonic under Vladimir Jurowski, I thought it was time to dig little deeper into the music of this composer, and on cpo, there is a recording of Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5: the Cracow Philharmonic is

Piano

MAESTRA: Piano Concertos by Julia Perry and Doreen Carwithen

Samantha Ege features here in works by Julia Perry and Doreen Carwithen: a stimulating pairing. The name of Julia Perry was new to me. This fascinating composer was born in Kentucky, USA, moved to Ohio, and trained at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, as well as Tanglewood, Juilliard, and

Live Performance

Prokofiev's rarely-heard Second Symphony in London

This was a truly momentous performance of Prokofiev 2

Live Performance

Héloïse Werner and friends at Wigmore Hall

A remarkable evening

Chamber

Merci: Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott's masterclass in friendship

A wonderful celebration of a.magnificent musical partnership

German Baroque

Heinichen and Telemann: Early Cantatas

The conjoining of Heinichen and Telemann results in the dream team you never knew you needed

News

News Post: Oxford Philharmonic update

An Oxford Phil season update

The return of Xiaogang Ye

Xiaogang Ye is no strange to Classical Explorer: nice to see a whole disc of his chamber music on the Resonus label. This music here, spans over three decades of Ye’s chamber works from 1989 to 2023. The album features a variety of ensembles and instruments, including the evocative

Telemann Paris Quartets, Volume 1: Six Quadri from the London Handel Players

My goodness, the quality in Telemann's works is high. Soon, we'll be looking at a disc of early cantatas (along with a work by Heinichen) on cpo, but t's time for chamber music: the first volume of "Paris Quartets" from the London

Sibelius

James Ehnes returns in Sibelius Violin Concerto

Violinist James Ehnes in exceptional form in music both familiar and unfamiliar

The London Philharmonic shine in Lyatoshynsky

Prokofiev, Mussorgsky (arr. Denisov), Lyatoshynsky. Matthew Rose (bass); London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 2.4.2025  Prokofiev   Selection from Semyon Kotko, Op. 81bis (1938-9/1943)  Mussorgsky (arr. Denisov) Songs and Dances of Death (arr. 1983)  Lyatoshynsky  Symphony No. 3 (1951)    Part of the LPO’s

Classical

Re-discovering Franz Anton Hoffmeister

A brilliant release

Opera

Lalo's "Le roi d'Ys": COG at Cadogan

May COG continue their good work  forever. A most enjoyable evening

Handel

Tales of Apollo & Hercules at the London Handel Festival

Splendid

Film music

Hildur Guðnadóttir in Concert

A most simulating evening

Mozart

'La finta giardiniera' from The Mozartists

A tremendous evening; one fervently hopes for a recording

Beethoven

"Beethoven Wars" in Aix-en-Provence: A Manga Space Opera

Mangalicious! A momentous project

The 'other' Scarlatti: Francesco, and the lions' den

Francesco Scarlatti (ed. Webber)– Il Daniele nel lago  de’ Leoni. Handel – Dixit Dominus, HWV 232.  Armonico Consort;, Christopher Monks (conductor).  Wigmore Hall, London, 10 January 2025  The rarest of the rare, perhaps, here: an oratorio by Francesco Scarlatti. And you thought Alssandro’s output was elusive. Francesco Scarlatti (1656-1721) was

Taster: Opera Rara's stunning new Simon Boccangra - 1857 version!

On  Friday 21 March, Opera Rara released the first ever studio recording of the original 1857 version of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra (ORC65). Follow the link for a cornucopia of Verdian deliciousness: aria after aria, including this, Amelia's Cavatina sung by the great Eri Nakamura: For this recording,

Piemontesi, Ticciati & the LPO: Schumann & Mahler

Schumann, Mahler Francesco Piemonesi (piano); London Philharmonic Orchestra / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 19.03.2025 Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 (1841/25)  Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901/2)  The young pianist Francesco Piemontesi rarely fails to impress. In May last

Bruckner Symphonies 8 & 9 from the Archives: Jochum & Sawallisch

This is Volume Six of Somm's Bruckner series; we looked at Volume One here. This contains the monumental Eighth Symphony. If thee is one orchestra the seems perfect for Bruckne, with its rich tradition, its creamy brass, its lush strings and its individualised woodwind, it is the Bavarian

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