Opera Rara's Donizetti Song Project is the latest in their alchemical mix of musicology and performance. But why say with Volume Four first? Because recently we heard Bellini's La straniella (see this post), and Donizetti sets part of the source text by Charles Vivto Prévost, Viscose

Britten, Shostakovich Augustin Hadelich (violin); Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra / Michael Sanderling (conductor). Kulturpalast, Dresden, 13.06.2025 Britten Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15 (1939)  Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 (1943)  Great programming here: a celebration of the famous meeting of Benjamin Britten with Dmitrii Shostakovich

Heinrich Heine. Paris. Musik Benjamin Appl (baritone); James Baillieu (piano); Barbara Auer (narrator); Jens Harzer (narrator); Helmut Butzmann (concept). Palais im Großen Garten, Dresden, Germany, 12.06.2025   Lieder with readings might be an Appl preference, when one considers his Alpha Classics disc, again with pianist James Baillieu, Forbidden Fruit.

Firstly, what a beautiful disc this is, from each and every angle: the performer, one of the most experienced tenors active today, James Gilchist, with a superb pianist, Anna Tilbrook, captured in Chandos' trademark excellence of recording. Secondly, what sevice to music itself. The output of Roger Quilter (1877-1953)

Bellini La strraniera (concert performance) Cast; Chorus and Orchestra of Chelsea Opera Group /. Stephen Barlow (conductor) Cadogan Hall, London, 01.06.2025 Cast:   Alaide (La straniera) - Helena Dix  Valdeburgo – Dan D’Souza  Isoletta – Geogia Mae Bishop  The Lord of Montolno – Kevin Hollnds  Osbirgo – Will Diggle  Arturo – Thomas Elswin  Prior

Aziz Shokhakimov's continuing success with the Strasbourg orchestra is exemplified in this recording. Good timing, too, given the Ravel celebrations this year. Recently, we covered a live performance in Strasbourg of Stravinsky's Rite could with are Debussy (Printemps) and a Mozart Piano Concerto. And here we

Edmund Meisel (arr. Morton) Battleship Potemkin Last year, Music in the Round celebrated 40 years, and included a performance of the film L'assassinat du duc de Guise with live music. This year upped the ante, with a realisation of Austrian-born Edmund Meisel's music (in an arrangement

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival (II) Mother Goose Ensemble 360. Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield, 18.05.2025 Ravel Mother Goose Suite (1908/11,arr. Farrington)  Farrenc Sextet in C minor, Op. 40 (1851/2)  Duruflé Prélude récitaif et variations Op. 3 (1928)  Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat, Op. 44 (1842)  From

Schumann Das Paradies und die Peri, Op. 50 (1843)  Mandy Friedrich (The Péri); Sebastian Kohlhepp (tenor); Agata Schmidt (alto); Samuel Hasselhorn (baritone); Clara Guilon (the young girl); Victoire Bunel (the angel); Julien Clément (Gazna); Lancelot Lamotte (the young man); Rosana Ribeio (choreography); , accentuis; Insula / Laurence Equilbey. La Seine Musicale, Paris,

Editorial by Hana Gubenko Not rarely one hears Those above; the government, the media, the educated, the rich, the refugees, the powerful and powerless, the doctors, teachers, bankers, the unvaccinated, criminals, transgender and transphobes, gays, homophobes, godly, atheists…  That list might be infinite.   It is a certain Them who threatens