Featured today
Politicians — Peter King discusses the gradual decline of classical music in UK politics and media
Anniversaries: Handel: Messiah (1742); William Sterndale Bennett (1816); John Blackwood McEwen (1868); Anita Cerquetti (1931); Cécile Chaminade (1944); Matthew Peaceman (1956); Jack Behrens (1968); Šimon Voseček (1978); Ralph Kirkpatrick (1984); Stephen Dodgson (2013); Aribert Reimann (2024); more >>
Twenty years ago today:
Music for the People — Amanda von Goetz talks to young violinist and composer William Harvey (published 13 April 2006)
Today's background image: derived from Samantha Gilmore's 2024 photo of The Strand, Townsville-Gurambilbarra, Queensland, Australia
Today's festival / masterclass
Seattle Bach Festival (Washington, United States of America)
Updated and Recent Articles
Ensemble. Allure and Menace — Mike Wheeler hears French music performed by Rebecca Bottone and the Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Bell
Adaskin — A classical music word search puzzle by Allan Rae
Spotlight. A Formidable Team — Geoff Pearce enjoys keyboard music by Viennese composer Marianna Martines. '... very fine, crisp playing ...'
Spotlight. Conceived on an Expansive Scale — Gerald Fenech explores volume two of Piano À Deux's France Revisited. '... remarkable energy ...'
Ensemble. Plenty to Think About — Mike Wheeler argues that Verdi's Requiem is not his 'greatest opera'
Resounding Echoes with Robert McCarney — An Image Problem
A Promising Future — Frances Forbes-Carbines visits the London Book Fair and explores the world of classical music books
Ensemble. An Enjoyable Production — Ron Bierman on Bizet's 'Carmen' in San Diego
Ensemble. An Audience Utterly Transfixed — Mike Wheeler is mesmerised by Ravel and Chopin from Russian pianist Anna Tsybuleva
Cardus on English Song — The late George Colerick wrote this over fifteen years ago, and we're republishing it on Neville Cardus' birthday
Worrying news? — Has the editor been kidnapped?
Ensemble. Come and Sing! — Keith Bramich visits Worcester to shout the word 'slain'!
Ensemble. A Revelatory Evening — Mike Wheeler was at Sinfonia Viva's celebration of Imogen Holst
Ensemble. The Consummate Entertainer — Paul Bodine hears Chinese pianist Lang Lang
Ensemble. Moving As One — Mike Wheeler listens to a viola and piano recital by Jeanette Szeto and Madeleine Brown
Ensemble. An Unfolding Drama — Lucas Ball experiences another recent performance of Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' from the UK's Midlands region
Ensemble. Despicable Oratorio-mongering? — Mike Wheeler was at a fine performance of Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' - a work which, according to both Mike and George Bernard Shaw, has a few problems
Bartók and Transylvania — The late George Colerick wrote this over thirty years ago, and we're republishing it on Bartók's birthday
Back to the USSR? — Béla Hartmann muses on musicians, other artists and the societal background against which their work is created, asking important questions about who is revered and who becomes blacklisted
Evasive Responses — Zecharia Plavin comments on a recent interview with the guardian knight of the twice bygone era, András Schiff
Ensemble. Exultant Determination — Mike Wheeler enjoys music by Britten, Rachmaninov and Walton from Denis Kozhukhin, Alpesh Chauhan and the Hallé Orchestra
Seeing (and Hearing) Fairies — Endre Anaru investigates and discovers a most successful publication by Marjorie T Johnson
Ensemble. Jaunty Performance — Mike Wheeler admires the playing of flautist Rachel Holt and harpist Lucy Nolan
Spotlight. Highly Disciplined — Glyn Môn Hughes is intrigued by contemporary British choral music performed by the Purcell Singers. '... dedication to diction, pitch and general musicality is razor sharp.'
Ensemble. A Slow-burn Approach — Mike Wheeler listens to Russian music played by Derby Concert Orchestra
Ensemble. A Musical Triumph — Roderic Dunnett investigates the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's recent production of Jacques Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld'
Spotlight. Gorgeous Sounds — Geoff Pearce listens to orchestral music by Xiaogang Ye. '... soundly prepared and directed by Dane Lam.'
Ensemble. Judiciously Varied — Mike Wheeler gives a critical appraisal of Opera North's production of Benjamin Britten's opera 'Peter Grimes'
Ensemble. Fresh and Iconoclastic Readings — Malcolm Miller appreciates Robin Ticciati and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's performances of Mozart's last three symphonies
The Piano Bench — Sandrine Erdely-Sayo's tragicomedy in four legs
Ensemble. A Hive of Conspiracy? — Mike Wheeler makes his first visit this year to Opera North, to see and hear Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro'
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