Colin Clarke

20th Century

Three Operas in One: Puccini's Il Trittico

This is a fascinating Trittico; Grigorian and Welser-Möst triumph

Christmas

A Lullaby Carol: Christmas at Christ Church

A terrific Christmas disc, and the perfect complement to Ein stille Nacht Osterreich, covered very recently!

Christmas

Ein stille Nacht Österreich

As Christmas discs go, this is a departure from the norm, for sure; refreshing and powerful

Bach

Bach Christmas Oratorio

Gardiner reminds us of the eternal profundity of the Christmas story

19th Century

The Violin Sonatas of Emilie Mayer

... do try this chamber music disc; you will not be disappointed

Repost: Suor Angelica at ENO

NB: I'm reposting this, as one of next week's posts will be a full Trittico from Vienna .... Puccini Suor Angelica (sung in English, traans. Amanda Holden). Cast; Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Corinna Niemeyer. Coliseum, London, 27.09.2024 Production:  Director: - Annelese Miskimmon

Christmas

Edward Nesbit's Nativity: A different take on Christmas

With a distinctive harmonic palette, Edward Nesbit brings a new individuality to Christmas

Respighi's “Maria Egiziaca” on video at last

Ottorino Respighi’s ‘mystery in three episodes’, Maria Egiziaca (Saint Mary of Egypt) started out as a concert triptych. Some have suggested its dramatic/symphonic slant puts it midway between oratorio and opera, but stagings are fairly common; its premiere in 1932 in New York was in secular, concert format.

Christmas

Christvesper Dresden 1624: Rogier Michael's little-known gem

The Christvesper is like a magical Christmas tapestry

Schoenberg

Arnold Schönberg's lushest works: the OSM triumphs

Another Pentatone triumph: the OSM at the height of their powers under their dynamic Music Director

Christmas

News of Great Joy: Christmas from St John's College, Oxford

A lovely, heart-warming Christmas disc

Violin

Meet violinist Eudice Shapiro: Concerto Soloist, Quartet Leader, Studio Musician

Valuable recordings of a bygone era!

Franck

The indefatigable Daniel Barenboim in Franck and Fauré

An important release, and a fine and imaginative coupling

Italian Baroque

The continuing resurgence of Nicolai Porpora: L'Angelica from Martina Franca

Porpora's L'Angelica is a wonderful piece, full of invention

Jack Frost: A Winter Story

A Christmas tale to warm the heart here. Debbie Wiseman and Alan Titchmarsh isn't a combination that immediately springs to mind, but here it is, and a very successful one at that. Titchmarsh has a natural affinity for storytelling, and Wiseman's music is atmospheric and naturally

Puccini

Puccini's “Il Tabarro” from Florence

Denis Krief maximises the static staging in a triumph of imagination

21st Century

Set The Wild Echoes Flying: Pip Eastop's remarkable take on Britten

Many horn players will consider this a superhuman achievement from Eastop. Utterly remarkable

The Strasbourg Philharmonic in Paris: Khachaturian & Prokofiev

Khachaturian, Prokofiev Nemanja Radulović (violin); Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg / Aziz Shokhakimov (conductor). Philharmonie de Paris, France, 26.11.2024 Khachaturian  Violin Concerto in D minor (1940)  Prokofiev    Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100 (1944)  A rare opportunity to hear the Khachaturian Violin Concerto live bought me to Paris:

The Philharmonia in Italy

Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms Martin Helmchen (piano); Philhamonia Orchestra / Alessandro Crudele. Teatro Petruzzelli Bari, Italy, 26.11.2024   Beethoven Fidelio – Overture, Op 72 (1814)  Mozart Piano Concerto No. 16 in D, K 451 (1784)  Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1885)  This was the first of two concerts

The launch of the National Opera Studio Academy

The National Opera Studio (NOS) is thrilled to announce the launch of the National Opera Studio Academy, a transformative programme designed to identify and nurture emerging operatic talent from across the UK. Applications are now open for this inaugural initiative, which will provide free training and guidance for singers aged

Baroque

Musica Gloria's UK debut in snowy Edinburgh

Amazing to think this is Musca Gloria’s first visit to the UK; may there be many more

News item: the Kanneh-Masons and Through the noise launch music initiative

Through the noise launch music education initiative with Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason as part of homecoming tour  Highlights include: * Landmark tour from 26 November – 3 December, visiting 7 cities across the UK and reaching up to 10,000 people * Showcasing classical music in unexpected venues including two shows at London

Opera

The Delights of Donizetti: Elixir at ENO

A wonderful night out, full of young talent

Wolf-Ferrari: Il segreto di Susanna from Berlin

Wolf-Ferrari's short opera is perfect for a one-night coupling, as Opera Holland Park have proved both this year, with Pagliacci (review), and, in 2019, with Tchaikovsky's Iolanta (review). Susanna's secret? As you can see from the disc cover, she smokes. The plot? Gil (baritone

Montréal's Orchestre symphonique conquers London

Habibi, Beethoven, Berlioz Javier Perianes (piano); Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal /  Rafael Payare. Barbican Hall, 19.11.2024 Iman Habibi Jeder Baum spricht (2020)  Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15 (1795, revised 1800)  Berlioz Symphonie fantastique (1830)  Launching their 2024 European tour at London’s Barbican Centre, the