Colin Clarke

Contemporary

Pasture & Storm: the music of Sadie Harrison

A vitally important disc, full of humanity and compassion while remaining uncompromising in its musical delivery

Oliver Mears' Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House

Verdi's Rigoletto was premiered at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice, on March 11, 1851. Written to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, itself based on Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse (wherein Rigoletto was called Triboulet); it is set in Mantua in the 1500s.

News Item: The Anthology of Recorded Music releases Partch: The Bewitched

The Anthology of Recorded Musi Releases The Bewitched A Digital Re-Release of Harry Partch’s The Bewitched (1955) with New Artwork and Liner Notes, Paired with a Newly Commissioned Composition, Block (2022), by Taylor Brook On New World Records “an exuberant score on its own abstract terms” – Los Angeles Times

Orchestral

Josef Bohuslav Foerster: Orchestral Works

Lovers of Czech music should not hesitate ...... .

Piano

A Star is Born: Liszt's Transcendental Studies from Alim Beisembayev

A necessary purchase for all lovers of piano music. Alim Beisembayev is the real deal

Beethoven

What was Beethoven's Op. 1?

A wonderful release; future instalments are eagerly awaited

Handel

A Messiah from Versailles: Hervé Niquet conducts

There is a plethora of Messiahs around anyway (any advances on a collective noun for Messiahs?), so why another. Read on ... Recorded in the glorious chapel of Versaillles, this is a ompletely rethought Messiah - in complete and utter contrast to a Messiah at he Festival Hall on Saturday, 4

Trumpet

A Trio of Trumpet Concertos

A vitally important disc for its recognition of the work of Timofei Dokshizer, and an incredible showcase for Merkelo.

Christmas

A Quartet of Christmas Cantatas by Ernst Wilhelm Wolf

A very valuable disc in terms of repertoire, and beautifully performed

Weill Violin Concerto & Symphony No. 2

Admirers of the music of Kurt Weill need not hesitate

Poulenc

Poulenc's Les Animax modèles, complete on Chandos

I can see awards coming this disc's way. Performances, recording and presentation seem beyond criticism

Piano

Khachaturian's works for piano and orchestra

Sughayer is the perfect pianist for this repertoire, and this is an ideal, varied, programme.

Handel

Handel's Messiah: John Nelson conducts

A terrific interpretation of Handel's evergreen masterpiece

An heroic pastoral: Lully's Acis et Galatée from Les Talens Lyriques

Jean-Baptiste Lully's “heroic pastoral” Acis et Galatée was his last completed opera, findshed short months before his death in 1687. It was conceived as an entertainment to be included in the festivities organised by Louis-Joseph de Bourbon, Duc de Vendôme, and his friends Charles-Auguste, Marquis de La Fare,

Christmas

The Dawn of Grace: Christmas Music from Somerville College, Oxford

A fine disc, imaginatively programmed, superbly performed and held in a wonderful recording

Opera

Lisette Oropesa: French Bel Canto Arias by Rossini and Donizetti

A simply wonderful disc. The spectrum of emotions is vast, teh programming inspired

Solo Piano

Leif Ove Andsnes plays Dvořák on Sony Classical

While pretty much ebverybody knows the “New World” Symphony, Dvořák's solo piano music is rarely heard outtseie of the Czech Republic. Even his magnificent Piano Concerto (which will be the subject of a future post) has never really taken off, despite a magnificent recording by Sviatoslav Richter and

François Couperin

The Sphere of Intimacy: Cyrille Dubois, Christophe Rousset, and François Couperin

This is a little miracle of.a disc, pefectly planned and executed

Puccini

Puccini's La bohème directed by Stefan Herheim

Herheim’s work is massively stimulating, possibly verging on genius, although traditionalists beware!

Christmas

The First Nowell: Christmas Carols Through the Ages

If you are looking for an inexpensive Christmas disc that mixes familiar and unfamiliar, all in impeccable performances and captured in a supreb recroding, look no furthe

Piano

Igor Levit in Henze's (and Wagner's) Tristan ... and more!

A terrific release - emotionally demanding, for sure, but I for one would not have it any other way

Opera Featured

Marina Viotti and Christophe Rousset's stunning tribute to Pauline Viardot

A superb disc, and a true showcase for Marina Viotti. One of the most brilliant, thought-provoking opera recital discs out there

Christmas

Wishes and Candles: American Christmas Music

It's that time of year again .. and this is a great way to launch our Christmas reviews

Beethoven

Sunwook Kim plays late Beethoven on Blu-ray

Sunwook Kim is one of the finest interpreters of Beetoven around today

Bach

Bach Masses, together at last: The Sixteen

The performances are faultless, the spirit magnificent.