Classical Explorer (Page 2)

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Arne Nordheim's hyper-dramatic 'The Tempest' Suite

Arne Nordheim's hyper-dramatic 'The Tempest' Suite

This is a phenomenal disc - and if it's your introduction to Nordheim, what a way to start!

Mozart, made in Manchester: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet triumphs

Mozart, made in Manchester: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet triumphs

Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s cycle of Mozart piano concertos has been bubbling along nicely (as has his cycle of Haydn Keyboard Sonatas). Bavouzet clearly likes complete cycles: he has also recordec complete Debussy (for Chandos) and Ravel (for Dabringhaus und Grimm - and only £17.62 on Amazon currently!). His

Wagner’s “The Rhinegold” at ENO

Wagner’s “The Rhinegold” at ENO

Musically, this is a fantastic evening, not to be missed. My personal jury, however, remains out as regards the production

The vocal music of Arnulf Herrmann

The vocal music of Arnulf Herrmann

This is a compelling disc - it draws you in, making repeated listening both necessity and pleasure

Brahms Complete Songs #3: Volkslieder & Volkskinderlieder

Brahms Complete Songs #3: Volkslieder & Volkskinderlieder

All in all, this is wonderful. The singers are superbly chosen, and perfect for this repertoire

Lully's Psyché from Versailles

Lully's Psyché from Versailles

Psyché (1678) is Lully's sixth tragédie lyrique (intreiguingly, Versailles staged Locke's Psyche recently as well; my review of that appeared in the June 2022 edition of the magazine Opera Now). This is also Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques’ 11th recording in their Lully cycle. Psyché is a “tragédie lyrique” in

Mozart from Minnesota: Walter Klien & Stanslaw Skrowaczewski

Mozart from Minnesota: Walter Klien & Stanslaw Skrowaczewski

This is a triumph of restoration, and the music chosen could hardly be heard in finer performances

Orchestra of the Swan: Earthcycle, and Echoes preview

Live Performance

Orchestra of the Swan: Earthcycle, and Echoes preview

Earthcycle. Orchestra of the Swan / David Le Page (violin) with Jackie Oates (folk singer). Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, 07.02.2023 Trad., arr. Le Page The Birds in Spring David Gordon Windigo Vivaldi (arr. Gordon) La Primavera (Spring), RV 269 Trad., arr. Le Page The Lark in the Morning David Gordon

Celibidache in Sibelius and Stravinsky

Celibidache in Sibelius and Stravinsky

Sergiou Celibidache (1912-96) is the greatest conductor you maybe haven’t heard of

Rued Langgaard: Symphony 2 & Piano Music

Rued Langgaard: Symphony 2 & Piano Music

Two fabulous discs, both stunningly recorded and played. Together, they make a great introduction to the music of Rued Langgaard

Music for archlute, guitar and harpsichord

Music for archlute, guitar and harpsichord

A lovely disc, beautifully recorded in Palermo, in February 2021. The rewards are many and varied ...

Paavo Järvi conducts John Adams

Paavo Järvi conducts John Adams

It is becoming increasingly evident that everything Paavo Järvi touches turns to sonic gold

The Chiaroscuro Quartet triumphs in Mozart's Prussian Quartets

The Chiaroscuro Quartet triumphs in Mozart's Prussian Quartets

There appears to be absolutely nothing negative to say about this disc from any angle

Monteverdi's “Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria” from Les Epopées triumphs

Monteverdi's “Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria” from Les Epopées triumphs

Taking its name from ancient poetic sagas, the group Les Epopées (literally, “The Epics”) is a group that celebrates the daring in performance be it in the massive variety of delivery in recitative (Fuget writes a whole essay on this subject in the booklet) or the ornamentation of the score.

The Beginning and the End: Mozart from Il Pomo d'Oro

The Beginning and the End: Mozart from Il Pomo d'Oro

The most auspicious beginning ever, surely, for a Mozart symphony cycle

Fuoco Sacro: A Search for the Sacred Fire of Song

Fuoco Sacro: A Search for the Sacred Fire of Song

A magnificent film. It is so much more than a documentary - and it really does repay repeated viewings

A Tale of Two Järvis (2): Paavo Järvi conducts Bruckner's Seventh

A Tale of Two Järvis (2): Paavo Järvi conducts Bruckner's Seventh

Paavo Järvi - clearly now a lean, mean Bruckner machine - offers a Bruckner Seventh to treasure

A Tale of Two Järvis (1): Neeme Järvi in Concert

A Tale of Two Järvis (1): Neeme Järvi in Concert

Revelations galore; and a chance to apprciate some little-known music by Wagner and Reger in superb performances

Schütz' beautiful Dafne

Schütz' beautiful Dafne

A stunning act of creative historial musicology, caught in a committed performance and fine recording

Emile Naoumoff plays Schumann

Emile Naoumoff plays Schumann

An amazing disc , one for pianophiles - and lovers of Schumann - the World over

Ethel Smyth and Delius String Quartets

Ethel Smyth and Delius String Quartets

What a great discovery this disc is - It is the Smyth that lingers most in the memory

Anna Fedorova plays Rachmaninov

Anna Fedorova plays Rachmaninov

This is highly significant, intelligent Rachmaninov playing from Fedorova, a pianist who is clearly a major, major talent

Beethoven for Three (2): Pastoral & Op. 1/3

Beethoven for Three (2): Pastoral & Op. 1/3

The performances are pretty much beyond criticism. Fascinating for the “Pastoral”; but the C-Minor Trio is a corker of a performance!

Repost: A Christmas Concert with Helen Donath

Repost: A Christmas Concert with Helen Donath

This is a lovely, heart-warming Christmas disc

Mozart's Magic Flute at Covent Garden

Mozart Die Zauberflöte. Cast; Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Maxin Emelyanychev. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 22.12 2022 Production: Director – David McVicar Revival Director – Angelo Smimmo Designer – John MacFarlane Lighting - Paul Constable Movement Director – Leah Hausman Cast: Tamino – Filipe Manu Pamina – Anna Prohaska First Lady – Alexandra