Contemporary

A collection of 38 posts

String Quartet

(Preview) Painted Light: the Solem Quartet on Delphian

The Solem Quartet is at the top of its collective game throughout, as if the presentation of this music was propulsive force enough to light the music from within

Contemporary

Open Spaces: Garth Knox and the Ragazze Quartet

Contains a metaphysical meditation on the multiverse in music .. what's not to love?

Live Performance

Proms 2023: Beethoven's Ninth and Helen Grime at the Proms

A Proms Ninth to be remembered, for sure - but it is Helen Grime's music that reverberates on in the memory

Contemporary

More Enno Poppe: Prozession

This disc acts as a vital reminder of the importance of Enno Poppe’s music

21st Century

The vocal music of Arnulf Herrmann

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

Contemporary

Pasture & Storm: the music of Sadie Harrison

A vitally important disc, full of humanity and compassion while remaining uncompromising in its musical delivery

Piano

Igor Levit in Henze's (and Wagner's) Tristan ... and more!

A terrific release - emotionally demanding, for sure, but I for one would not have it any other way

Xenakis

Berlin Festival (4): Berlin Radio SO / Jurowski in Xenakis, Bartók and Mahler

The Xenakis and the Bartók, certainly, will live long in the memory

Contemporary

Berlin Festival (2): Berlioz, Adès, Barry

Stimulating fare from Adès, Kuusisto and the Berliner Philharmoniker

20th Century

Berlin Festival (1): Ensemblekollektiv Berlin / Enno Poppe

Musikfest Berlin 2022 is in full flow ... A phenomenal concert

Contemporary

Images from the Dark Land: George Crumb's Black Angels & Music for a Summer Evening

Dark music, certainly ... difficult music, definitely ... rewarding music, 100%

Contemporary

Thoughts about the Piano: Claudia Chan's fascinating programme

Buy this disc for Chan's performance of Xenakis' Evryali alone, then go on to peel away the other discoveries ....

French

Repost: Eric Tanguy Chamber Music: “In a Dream”

This is richly rewarding music, brilliantly played and recorded

Piano

L‘Oiseau rebelle: Contemporary Piano Music from Orléans

L’Oiseau Rebelle Music by Langgaard, Bertrand, Lourié, Stockhausen, Kabalevsky, Xenakis, C. P. E. Bach, Cardew, Rossini, Terentyev, C. Schumann and Cage plus Snoop Dogg. Mikhaïl Bouzine (piano). B RECORDS LBM 037 78 mins This is one of a series of discs released by prize-winners to the Orléans Festival of

Contemporary

Psappha Commissions

A remarkable disc that demands - and rewards - active listening. Every piece is a gem in its own right

Contemporary

Edmund Finnis and the Manchester Collective: Shades

Music with a fragile, utterly unique atmosphere

Birtwistle

Repost: Birtwistle Chamber Works (BIS)

A superb disc - the Nash Ensemble reminds us of their place at he top of the chamber tree, while Birtwistle's music remains as uncompromising and brilliant as ever

Contemporary

Visions and Utterances: Concert Review

An invaluable experience for Rebecca Saunders’ blistering new piece and George Walker’s fine Sinfonia No. 5

Contemporary

The Music of Ondřej Adámek

Two highly significant World Premieres caught for posterity

Contemporary

Henze from Vienna

One of Naxos' finest ... a celebration of the lyrical side of Hans Werner Henze

Contemporary

Repost: Interview with composer Xiaogang Ye

Ye's voice is brilliant, individual, his works perfectly crafted ...

Contemporary

News posting: Nneka Cummins wins the Liverpool Philharmonic's Rushworth Composition Prize

The Liverpool Philharmonic is delighted to announce Nneka Cummins as the winner of its annual Rushworth Composition Prize, establihed in 2015 by the Rushworth Foundation. It forms part of Liverpool Philharmonic’s continuing commitment to the commissioning and performance of new music as well and supporting home-grown talent. The competition

21st Century

The Beauty of Contemporary Music: Detlef Heusinger

In short, an expression of utmost beauty couched in modernist terms

Rebecca Saunders

Rebecca Saunders (II): Solo

Performances of the utmost commitment from members of Klangforum Wien; Saunders could hardly ask for finer accounts

Contemporary

The music of Pierre Boulez: Anthèmes +

A bargain for all lovers of Boulez, a straightforward invitation to explore for those who wish to take this leap into the Abyss ...