Vocal - Classical Explorer

I Am Hera: The delights of soprano Hera Hyesang Park

This singer, more than most, achieves a level of purity of utterance that is to be cherished

Élégie: Anita Rachvelishvili on ravishing form on Sony

I was pretty much knocked out the one and only time I believe I have heard Anita Rachvelishvili: as the gypsy Azucena in Verdi's Il trovatore at the Royal Opera Hosue, Covent Garden in 2016. Here on Classical Explorer we also encountered her previously as part of Dutch National Opera's

Early Music

Byrd 1588: Psaumes, Sonets & Songs of sadness and pietie

As the first complete recording of the 1588 collection, these discs obviously have huge musicological value; they hold immense treasures, too

German Baroque

Buxtehude: Membra Jesu Nostri

One of the most purely beautiful recordings to come my way in some time, this acts as a salutary reminder of the genius of Dietrich Buxtehude (c 1637-1707). This is Passion music par excelllence, supplemented by offerings by Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) and Lüdert Dijkman (c 1645-1717). Buxtehude, organist at the

Schubert

Schubert: Three Song Cycles

A fine set of performances here from Christoph Prégardien, a singer who has impressed in Schubert at the Wigmore on more than occasion (with James Bailieu here and with Christoph Schnackertz here). It is tremendous to have the three great Schubert song-cycles in one place from him: and, as we

Mahler

Mahler's Song of Lamentation: Das Klagende Lied

A valuable addition to Gielen's Mahler, and a valuable addiiton to to Das Klagende Lied's discography

Baroque

Tiranno: Kate Lindsey at her majestic best

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

Vocal

Heart & Hereafter: The Songs of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

I enjoyed soprano Elizabeth Llewelyn's contributions to Chelsea Opera Group's Boito Mefitofele in 2019, in Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony at the Barbican in 2017 and - heart-stoppingly - as Magda in Puccini's La Rondine at Opera Holland Park (also 2017); it is remarkable to think that this is her

Graupner

More Graupner! Cantatas (and an opera)

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

Vocal

Isolation Songbook

This is a remarkable project fronted by one of the foremost singers in front of the public at the moment, Helen Charlston. The isolation felt by many because of the CoVID lockdowns has been felt particularly keenly by musicians, that itinerant segment of the population who depend on audience contact

Early Music

Rebirth: Sonya Yoncheva sings Stradella, Monteverdi, Strozzi and ... Abba!

Born from the "global cataclysm" of CoVID, this disc offers both hope and joy

Monteverdi

Il delirio della passione: Anna Lucia Richter sings Monteverdi

This disc would be the ideal for an introduction to the music of Monteverdi. No fusty history lesson of a disc, it is a vibrant, muscologically-informed celebration of the Master

Vocal

Im Abendrot: Matthias Goerne and Seong-Jin Cho (at sunset)

An absolutely unmissable disc for lovers of the late-Romantic Lied

Vocal

Chère Nuit: French Songs from Louise Alder and Joseph Middleton

Louise Alder herself describes this programme as "wildly varied"; she has also said that she hopes that the album paints "pictures of a French evening, of mystery, intrigue, discovery, seduction, love, and blissful night"

Bach

Bach from Philippe Herreweghe

Magnificently recorded in Waalse Church, Amsterdam, this is unmissable ...

Vocal

Lise Davidsen stuns on Decca

A major soprano returns:

Vocal

The Miller's Daughter: Andrè Schuen in Schubert

Previously on Classical Explorer, we looked at a fabulous Schubert recital by Klaudia Tandl and Niall Kinsella, who were joined by Gabriele Jacoby in Schubert's Women. Here, though, we begin our exploration of the song-cycles: Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang, occasioned by the release on Deutsche Grammophon of a

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

Vocal

Where All Roses Go: Apollo5 in Romantic mood

A wonderful, generously filled disc that will surely bring great joy and solace

Early Music

Lassus' matrimonial marathon: Le nozze in Baviera

The disc's journey from religiosity to bawdiness is both involving and fascinating

Schubert

Schubert's Women: a Lieder recital with a difference

Schubert's Women is at once a self-contained offering and also an invitation to seek out more

Vocal

Der Rosenband: Richard Strauss meets Latvia

A new disc from the Latvian label Skani (itself a division of the Latvian Music Information Centre) concentrates on fin-de-siècle, Art nouveau songs by Richard Strauss and two Latvian composers, Alfrēds Kalninš (1879-1951) and Jānis Medinš (1890-1966). Recorded at the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja, Lavtia, Der Rosenband was

Vocal

Strong Son of God: Songs of Faith, Love and Nonsense

Previous posts on Classical Explorer have centred around Somm Recordings' releases of string quartets - and indeed, there will be more. But let's pause and celebrate his vocal music in this brand new release from baritone Roderick Williams and tenor James Way, with Andrew West on piano. Stanford's vocal music

Vocal

English Songs à la française, with love from Canada

What a lovely idea! Songs with English texts set by French composers sung by British Columbia born (now New York resident) baritone Tyler Duncan and his wife, pianist Erika Switzer. Venezuelan-born French composer (he moved to paris while still a child) Reynaldo Hahn's music has a beautiful, fragrant sense of

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