Although Bizet's famous opera has cropped up before on Classical Explorer in the form of excerpts (Dmytro Popov's Hymns of Love on Orchid Classics and Freddie di Tommaso on his Decca disc, Il Tenore), this is our first coverage of the full piece. And it comes with quite some drama

For the third volume in their cycle of Schubert’s symphonies, Edward Gardner and the CBSO turn to the first and fourth symphonies. The First Symphony was composed in 1813 (at the age of 16!). One can clearly hear the voices of Haydn and Mozart, and Beethoven for that matter,

This is a remarkable performance of Poulenc’s La Voix humaine, featuring Véronique Gens on top form. Conductor Alexandre Bloch has quicksilver responses to Gens - and he needs them for Poulenc”s score. He is in complete control of the Orchestre National de Lille, of which he has been

We took on Furtwängler's Bayreuth in BIS's transfer previously here; now it's time for the Fourth Symphony, a performance live from Berlin on June 30, 1943 (previously thought to have been a 1945 recording). This excellent Furtwängler discography - well annotated - identifies no fewer than seven Furtwängler Fourths. Looking

Fantasy and Fury: Beethoven, Schnittke Lisa Batiashvili (violin); London Symphony Orchestra / Gianandrea Noseda (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 30.03.2023 Beethoven Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 (1806; cadenzas: Schnittke) Prokofiev Symphony No. 3 (1928) Quote the contrasting pair of pieces here, on paper; although perhaps Lisa Batiashvili’s inclusion

A fabulous disc, beuaitfully recorded and just as beautifully played. Borowicz has a true, natural feel for Alfvén’s music

Rafał Blechacz won the prestigious Chopin Competition in 2005; listening to these recordings, he sits at the top of the tree of young pianists presenting Chopin got he public toady. Although in his repertoire for years and years, he has chosen now as the time to release his readings of

This is a great programme of music by one of the most elusive composers to have ever lived. Alexander Scriabun (1872-1915) was a trail-blazer in his music, his heady chromaticism reaching out in the later piano sonsatas towards a very personal brand of post-tonalism. He is famous too for his

I find these Silesian Quartet performances impeccably aligned with the music

The Borletti Buitoni Trust has chosen young Italian pianist Filippo Gorini as the recipient of its biennial Franco Buitoni Award (£25,000) in recognition of his Sonata for 7 Cites project which will be launched in 2025. The Award will be officially presented by Ilaria Borletti Buitoni at a special