A Dazzling French Connection
After dazzling the opera world on stage last year, Belgium's SONYA YONCHEVA is doing it on record, with her debut album, PARIS, MON AMOUR--a different sort of French connection. Also: TRIO MEDIAEVAL.
Classical Perspectives
Lara St. John and Friends Do Schubert Right
The talented eccentric, LARA ST. JOHN, is back with a group of formidable friends with a 'Schubertiade,' an exciting exploration of 15 tunes written by Schubert and scintillatingly rendered on disc.
An Imaginative Exploration of The Sound-World of The Early Celtic Church
Music composer ROBERT HUGILL's review leads this appraisal of a fascinating, haunting new album exploring the sound of the early Celtic church.
‘Constantly Moving Between the Centuries…’
As they did on 2013's Mediterraneo, CHRISTINA PLUHAR & L'ARPGIATTA take a different approach, this time on the 17th century music of England's greatest composer, HENRY PURCELL
To The Birthday Bard, Ever Young at 450
Commemorating Shakespeare's 450th birthday, the ULSTER ORCHESTRA, under the direction of conductor JoAnn Falletta, offers two timeless Bard-related compositions by JOHN KNOWLES PAINE.
‘Please Enjoy This Album. Or Don’t! Whatever.’
Does classical music drive loiterers out of public places? Studies say so, and violinist GIL SHAHAM is counting on his music to further the burgeoning trend on MUSIC TO DRIVE LOITERERS AWAY. He hopes everyone enjoys the album. Or not. Whatever.
The Many ‘Worlds’ of Mandolinist Extraordinaire Avi Avital
Israeli-born mandolinist AVI AVITAL is blurring the classical-folk lines anew with BETWEEN WORLDS, featuring the work of 'classical composers inspired by folk music.'
A Fresh Take on Fibich
Among Czech nationalistic composers, Zdenek Fibich's work has been woefully overlooked. The Czech National Symphony offers a partial corrective on its new CD.
Melody and Drama from a Baroque Master
As part of CECILIA BARTOLI's Steffani Project, I BAROCCHISTI, under the direction of DIEGO FASOLIS, has recorded 'a first-class collection of instrumental suites and movements from Agosto Steffani's operas, DANZE E OUVETURES. Plus: News of Ms. Bartoli's complete Steffani Project available in a single box…
‘It Seethes Rather Than Boils’
On his new album, OVER LIGHT EARTH, Icelandic composer DANIEL BJARNASON mirrors the current climate--it seethes rather than boils and speaks to the mood of its time