Orchestral - Classical Explorer

Sir Adrian Boult: A Musical Legacy

A salutary reminder of the greatness of this most English of conductors

The return of Currentzis: Beethoven Seventh

There are very few discs that, when they arrive, cause one to drop everything, head to the player and listen straight away. This is one such disc. Regular readers may remember that, some nine months ago, Classical Explorer began its journeyings with Currentzis' Beethoven Fifth. Currentzis is probably the only

Orchestral

The Curious World of C. P. E. Bach

Johann Sebastian had a lot of children - a lot. Most of them unsurprisingly composed to a greater or lesser degree: we think of Johann Christian Bach (J. C. Bach, 1735-82), the so-called "London Bach" most readily perhaps, for, his gallant, supremely well shaped music, itself a rich vein to

Orchestral

George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra: The Forgotten Recordings

This is a major release of historical recordings that at once reminds us of the stature of George Szell and his superb Cleveland Orchestra while also filling out our picture of their collaboration. The monolingual booklet comprises an extended essay by Lani Spahr on Szell himself. We hear how Szell

Orchestral

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 1: two new rivals

You wait for ages, then two turn up at once ...

Mahler

Mahler's Unfinished: The Tenth Symphony

This Mahler 10 puts the Minnesota Orchestra up there as one ofthe World's great orchestras

Violin

Paris: Hilary Hahn plays Chausson, Prokofiev & Rautavaara

The choice of music is exquisite; the result, fully satisfying ...

Orchestral

Encountering Bruckner's Sixth Symphony

Bruckner's score holds great treasures if we only give it a chance ...

Contemporary

The World Was Once All Miracle: The Defiantly Eclectic World of Raymond Yiu

If you like music that is intriguing, entertaining, challenging, sophisticated and sometimes outrageous, you'll like this

Respighi

Respighi's "orchestral interpretations" of Bach and Rachmaninov

Composers interacting with other composers' music is a fascinating subject. From virtuoso 19th century pianists transcribing Bach organ works for the piano to the likes of Wendy Carlos and Leopold Stokowski, each offers us an opportunity not only to revel in the new but to remind ourselves of the strengths

Clarinet

Caprices & Laments

A great combination of pieces, brilliantly performed with great understading

Orchestral

Islands of Happiness: a Trio of Serenades from Zurich

A trio of serenades that will appeal to afficionados and newcomers alike

Orchestral

New Year's Day 2021 from Vienna with Riccardo Muti

A beacon of light for today's world

German Baroque

Musical kaleidoscopes: Telemann Overture Suites in first recordings

Kaleidoscopic Telemann, in all his richness and vivacity

Orchestral

Timelapse: Orchestra of the Swan

Based in Stratford-upon-Avon and founded in 2005, the Orchestra of the Swan has an adventurous approach to programming and the dissemination of its music. When I heard the ensemble in Stratford-upon-Avon, the programme consisted of a heady mix of Max Richter, Undine Smith-Moore, Rameau and Copland; Classical Explorer also covered

Orchestral

More than an Iron Foundry: the music of Alexander Mosolov

If you were expecting gritty dissonances with this disc, you'll be disappointed: it is full of fascination and, yes, joy

Italian Baroque

Manfredini: Twelve Concertos, Op. 3

Once in a while a composer comes along who you just have to ask why don't we hear more of him? Francesco Manfredini is one such

Violin

Martinů and Bartók from BIS

A wonderful disc. The repertoire choices could hardly be bettered ...

Italian Baroque

Per la notte di Natale: Italian Christmas Concertos

The period instrument Danish group Concerto Copenhagen has appeared on a variety of labels; they offer impeccably polished, beautiful performances of the most famous of instrumental Christmas music here under the direction of Lars Ulrik Mortensen. The idea of the "Christmas Concerto" is native to Italy. Nice to have such

Sibelius

Complete Sibelius Symphonies from Minnesota

A little while ago, Classical Explorer looked at Sibelius' Kullervo and, with it, Osmo Vänskä's second recording in the single-disc format. All of which coincides nicely with the release of the four-SACD boxed set from BIS of Vänskä's latest Sibelius cycle (which includes Kullervo; but to avoid repetition, please follow

Mahler

Youth's Magic Horn ... Boulez conducts Mahler

A little while ago, Classical Explorer undertook a comparison post of five recordings of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. Just one disc today: but what a coupling, Mahler's setting of texts from Des Knaben Wonderhorn (Youth's Magic Horn) and the Adagio from the Tenth Symphony. In some senses the

Piano

An American Celebration: Gershwin, Harbison, Tower, Piston

Glorious Americana in powerful performances

Clarinet

Reawakened: Clarinet Concertos from England and Scotland

The title of this disc is lovely and perfectly apt: a reawakening of music that really deserves currency. There is a rich vein of gems to be mined in the catalogue of English music, and in fact Robert Plane has provided one of the finest recordings of one of the

Britten

Britten Sinfonia da Requiem in a remarkable performance from Birmingham

The Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has already made huge waves in the record industry, what with her Weinberg DG recording receiving the coveted Gramophone "Record of the Year" Award, 2020. She signed an exclusive Deutsche Grammofon contract in 2019 (another coveted honour). Gražinytė-Tyla is at the head of the City

Orchestral

Images from the Great Siege: Alexey Shor on Naxos

Music that can conjure myriad images