Latest News: Classical, Recording of the Week
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Recording of the Week,
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London 13th September 2024
Myriad details abound in this luxury recording of the duo's second hit musical, given in all its uncut glory with Don Walker's original orchestrations and a powerhouse central performance from Nathaniel Hackmann as the volatile carnival-barker Billy Bigelow.
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Recording of the Week,
Dvořák Symphonies from the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov 6th September 2024
The Czech Philharmonic and their Chief Conductor present Dvořák’s final three symphonies, showing their stylistic mastery of this repertoire with performances that are full of warmth, grace, and class.
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Recording of the Week,
Sokolov plays Purcell and Mozart 30th August 2024
In his new live recital Grigory Sokolov brings his unmatched musicianship and command of the piano to the music of Purcell and Mozart, followed by encores which are far more than celebratory extras. This is music-making to be treasured and another indispensable addition to the catalogue.
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Recording of the Week,
Smetana and Schubert from Trio Bohémo 23rd August 2024
The award-winning young Czech piano trio makes an assured, eloquent debut on Supraphon with Smetana's sole work in the genre and Schubert's late Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat.
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Recording of the Week,
Klaus Mäkelä conducts Shostakovich 16th August 2024
Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in fresh readings of three Shostakovich symphonies, demonstrating a level of insight into widely recorded music that makes this new release an indispensable addition to the catalogue.
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Recording of the Week,
Isata Kanneh-Mason plays music by the Mendelssohns 9th August 2024
Both Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn are celebrated in glittering style on this new album from Isata Kanneh-Mason, also featuring the London Mozart Players directed by Jonathan Bloxham.
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Recording of the Week,
Joana Mallwitz conducts music by Kurt Weill 2nd August 2024
For her debut album on Deutsche Grammophon, Joana Mallwitz conducts the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in characterful performances of the composer's two symphonies, alongside a vivid account of his satirical stage work, The Seven Deadly Sins.
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Recording of the Week,
Aigul Akhmetshina's debut album on Decca 26th July 2024
The Bashkortostan-born mezzo turns in finely-characterised snapshots of Carmen, Rosina, Cenerentola, Charlotte and Romeo, with a multi-hued voice that glows from top to bottom and atmospheric support from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on top form under Daniele Rustioni.
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Recording of the Week,
The Past & I: 100 Years of Thomas Hardy 19th July 2024
Two substantial elegies for Hardy and his first wife Emma by up-and-coming composer Arthur Keegan bookend this mesmerising recital from mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean, guitarist James Girling and the Ligeti Quartet, which also includes Keegan's arrangements of Hardy settings by Imogen Holst, Benjamin Britten and others.
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Recording of the Week,
Eric Coates from John Wilson and the BBC Philharmonic 12th July 2024
Replete with memorable melodies and piquant orchestral detail, this delightful series of Coates's orchestral works continues today with a fourth instalment including a zany symphonic fantasy on Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the dance-inspired Four Centuries Suite.
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Recording of the Week,
Mishka Rushdie Momen - Reformation 5th July 2024
Mishka Rushdie Momen makes a highly enjoyable Hyperion debut, playing Renaissance keyboard music on a modern Steinway grand piano, with subtlety of tone and phrasing that brings new perspective to the music of Byrd, Sweelinck, Gibbons and Bull.
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Recording of the Week,
Meyerbeer's Le prophète from Mark Elder and the London Symphony Orchestra 2nd July 2024
This weird and wonderful opera about a Flanders innkeeper who is radicalised into religious extremism really catches fire on a live recording from last year's Aix-en-Provence Festival, with the London Symphony Orchestra on barnstorming form and American tenor John Osborn at the top of his game in the demanding title-role.
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Recording of the Week,
English Song Recitals from Robin Tritschler and James Gilchrist 21st June 2024
Tritschler joins forces with Malcolm Martineau, Sean Shibe and Philip Higham to pay tribute to Peter Pears on Signum, whilst Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook bring unaffected eloquence to a collection of songs by Roger Quilter on Chandos.
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Recording of the Week,
Magdalena Kožená performs orchestral songs by Martinů, Dvořák, and Hans Krása 14th June 2024
The Czech mezzo presents an enchanting selection of songs in which she demonstrates her impressive range of tone colours, with sumptuous support from the Czech Philharmonic and Simon Rattle.
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Recording of the Week,
Sibelius and Prokofiev Violin Concertos from Janine Jansen & Klaus Mäkelä 7th June 2024
Engaging from the very first notes, these powerful new recordings of much-loved repertoire make for a great introduction if you don’t know these works - and an inspiring new perspective if you do.
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Recording of the Week,
Beethoven's Triple Concerto from Benjamin Grosvenor, Nicola Benedetti and Sheku Kanneh-Mason 31st May 2024
A charming, music-first performance by three young musical stars with a legendary orchestra, and a glimpse of Beethoven's wider influences and capacity for elegance.
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Recording of the Week,
Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque: The Muses Restor’d 24th May 2024
An exciting exploration of a moment of transition in British music - the glory days of the consort tradition, the emerging Baroque, and beautiful folksong adaptations.
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Recording of the Week,
Florent Schmitt's ballet, La tragédie de Salomé 17th May 2024
Normally only performed as a cut-down symphonic suite, Alain Altinoglu and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra present the rarely-recorded full-length version of a work much admired by Stravinsky.
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Recording of the Week,
Four Hands - Alexandre Tharaud & Friends 10th May 2024
The French pianist is joined by an array of distinguished guests (including Beatrice Rana, Bertrand Chamayou, Philippe Jaroussky & Víkingur Ólafsson) for a programme ranging from Bach to Piazzolla.
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Recording of the Week,
Tippett's A Child of Our Time from the late Andrew Davis 3rd May 2024
A long-term champion of Tippett's music, the British conductor leads a meticulously-detailed account of his wartime oratorio with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and soloists Pumeza Matshikiza, Dame Sarah Connolly, Joshua Stewart and Ashley Riches.
