Dove (arr. Dove/Lyon) The Monster in the Maze Music Makers of Sheffield (including Ensemble 360, Consone Quartet, Bridge Ensemble, Sheffield Hub Senior Strings, Sheffield Youth Choirs and singers of Sheffield) / John Lyon (conductor). Crucible Theatr, Sheffield, 02.04.2024, 11am Production:  Director – Rosie Kat  Designer – Fenna de Jonge  Lighting

Here on Classical Explorer, we met the Sitkovetsky Trio (Alexander Sitkovetsky, violin; Isang Enders, cello; Wu Qian, piano) before in works by Ravel and Saint-Saëns. This is volume three of their ongoing Beethoven piano trios series on BIS, and features the so-called “Ghost” Trio (Op. 70/1) and

G. Mahler, A. Mahler Sasha Cooke (mezzo); Philharmonia Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 24.10.2024 Gustav Mahler Blumine (1888)  Alma Mahler Four Songs from Fünf Lieder (1910, orch. D. & C. Matthews)  Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 5 (1902)  This was a wonderful programme, on paper. Gustav

Southbank Centre announces Classical Music Spring/Summer 2025 with bold new premieres and commissions The Southbank Centre and its family of six Resident Orchestras – Aurora Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Orchestra – today announce the Classical Music Spring/Summer 2025

Unsuk Chin, Bartók, Debussy, Ravel Bertrand Chamayou (piano); BBC Symphony Orchestra / Dinis Souza (conductor)  Unsuk Chin Alaraph, ‘Ritual of the heartbeat’ (2022, London premiere)  Bartók  Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz 119 / BB 127 (1945)  Debussy La mer (1903-5)  Ravel  Boléro (1928)    Premiered in Basel in 2023, Unsuk Chin’s

Se in 14th-century Siena, Italy, Francesco Cilea’s opera Gloria, performed here in its 1932 revised edition, contains the tragic story of two lovers caught up in a conflict (between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines: of course, Gloria is a Guelph and her love Lionetto, a Ghibelline). The libretto

This is a joy. Delian exoticism at its finest: previously on Classical Explorer, we reported on a performance of his more famous Lakmé via Chelsea Opera Group at Cadogan Hall; now we preset a luxuriously recorded Hassan. This is the complete incidental music, including spoken contributions from Zeb Soames (who

Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School; Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Clelia Cafiero (conductor). London Coliseum, 3.10.2024 Production:  Original director – Sir Jonathan Miller  Revival director – Crispin Lord  Designer – Isabella Bywater  Lighting designer – Jean Kalman  Revival Lighting director – Marc Rosette  Translation

It's tempting to call this Jonas Kaufmann's love affairs: he is very much the main protagonist here (along of course its Puccini himself). This follows on from his first Puccini album in 2015 – Nessun Dorma. Part of the celebrations for the composer’s 2024 anniversary year,

Superb Foss from Buffalo

From the desk of PR2 agency in Dresden, Germany: Dresden receives federal funding for the construction of a Richard Wagner Academy and the establishment of an international center of excellence for Romantic orchestral and opera practice Dresden, September 25, 2024. The state capital of Dresden is receiving a grant of