Baroque - Classical Explorer

Nicola Benedetti: Baroque

Benedetti is on radiant form in performances that are impeccably in style yet contain a real zest for life; a gift indeed

Baroque

Tiranno: Kate Lindsey at her majestic best

Just. Don't. Miss. This. One.

Graupner

More Graupner! Cantatas (and an opera)

Two beautifully complementary releases then, revealing different sides of this fascinating composer.

Baroque

Discovering Bernardo Pasquini

This is music brought vibrantly alive; it is musicology of the highest order, leading to performances of both spirit and integrity

Baroque

Il Labirinto Armonico: Three Violin Concertos by Locatelli

The excellence of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, with a contunuo group that includes a lute, is never in doubt; neither is Gringolts' stunning virtuosity. But it is Locatelli that leaves the most lasting impression, just as it should be ...

Baroque

Settecento: Baroque Instrumental Music of the Italian States

A fascinating, intelligently programmed disc; well worth the investment

Baroque

Purcell Royal Odes from The King's Consort

I can't help wondering if this is one of the crowning achievements of lockdown music

Baroque

Exploring the lesser-known works of Frescobaldi

The more one listens, the more this music gives back

Baroque

Telemann Christmas Cantatas

If you're looking for an alternative to the expected Christmas playlist, this might well be what you're looking for

Baroque

Revelatory Legrenzi: 'Compiete,' Op. 7

This is one of the most significant Baroque releases I have come across this year

Baroque

An Oratorio for Christmas: Bach's Weihnachts-Oratorium

The Christmas Oratorio is a piece like no other

Baroque

Bassoon Cantatas: the revelations of Christoph Graupner

This is actually the third disc on cpo of cantatas by German Baroque composer Christoph Graupner (1683-1760): there has already been one on that label of Epiphany Cantatas, and another of "Solo and Dialogue" Cantatas, plus sundry others of his music. Not only that, but cpo led the renaissance of

Baroque

Versailles Double: Lully and Lalande - a grotto and some fountains

Versailles - surely one of the most beautiful places on Earth - threads through today's post like a golden ray of light. As we turn our attention to Lully's George Dandin, notice the opulent surroundings this video was recorded in while you enjoy the wonderfully tight performance: George Dandin, ou

Bach

A Tale of Two Goldbergs; or, a Tale of Two Opposites

Two high-profile pianists have released their interpretations of Bach's Goldberg Variations, on two major labels, Hyperion and Deutsche Grammofon. Pavel Kolesnikov, on Hyperion, presents a performance that is shot full of integrity, and often revelatory, on one disc. The other, Lang Lang, offers two performances, one live and one studio,

Baroque

Cafe Zimmermann with Damien Guillon: Lamento

The appeal of this ravishing disc is twofold: one, the astonishing countertenor Damien Guillon, who we have perviously met in the Classical Explorer post on Masaaki Suzuki's incredibly powerful Bach St Matthew Passion and St John Passion; and two, the exploration of music by a number of fascinating composers, including

Baroque

Buried Treasures: Graun's opera, "Polydorus"

This is one of those operas that is hard to excerpt simply because you end up wanting to excerpt everything

Scarlatti

A Cornucopia of Scarlatti from Lucas Debargue

Swimming in Heaven: Lucas Debargue's Scarlatti

Baroque

The stunning world of Salvatore Lanzetti

Unforgettable Baroque music delivered with consummate artistry

Baroque

Geminiani Concerti grossi, Op. 2

There is such warmth, such gentilité and such energy here that one can't help but be captivated

Record Label Focus

Label Focus: Alpha's ferocious curiosity

A look at a label that likes to explore ...

Vivaldi

Vivaldi Con Amore

Bracing Vivaldi from Tafelmusik and Elisa Citterio (violin)

Baroque

Masaaki Suzuki and Bach's St Matthew Passion

Some works can consume an artist. One thinks of Furtwängler's Beethoven Ninths (plural). And while the recording industry usually isn't in a position these days to support re-recordings by artists of works they have previously put down for posterity (unlike, say, in the Karajan/DG era), there are exceptions. The

Vocal

Pergolesi's beautiful Stabat Mater from Christophe Rousset

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater in F minor is one of the glories of the Baroque period. Fact.