Intimate and Finely Judged

The mystery of ORLANDO BLOOM's 17th Century consort anthems persists, but his work lives anew and in beauty in CHAINS OF GOLD by the MAGDALENA CONSORT, FRETWORK and HIS MAJESTYS SAGBUTTS and CORNETTS
by David McGee
 

 
 

Fashioning a More Thoughtful World

Scottish classical guitarist SEAN SHIBE, playing with lovely clarity and thoughtfulness, adds his own innate sense of the elegant to a trio of BACH lute compositions he has seamlessly transposed to his own instrument.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Latinate Cello

On the enticing ALVORADO, OPHELIE GAILLARD, better known as a baroque and classical cellist, convincingly performs a wide variety of Spanish and Latin American music by Piazzolla, Jobim, Villa Lobos and other greats.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Deep Roots Elite Half-Hundred of 2017 (Part 2)

Part 2 of the Elite Half-Hundred of 2017 features albums by JUNIOR SISK & THE RAMBLERS, DENNIS JOHNSON, DUDLEY TAFT, MUSICA SECRETA, RAPHAEL PICHON & PYGMALION, MAC WISEMAN and others.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Guitar Majesty

A set of delightfully evocative pieces for guitar duos composed by KEMAL BELEVI comprises a fine new album by DUO TANDEM, incisively reviewed by ROBERT HUGILL
by David McGee
 

 
 

Catherine (of Aragon) and Henry (VIII) Dancing? Imagine!

The ROSE CONSORT OF VIOLS, with mezzo-soprano CLARE WILKINSON, are dazzling on a new disc of music drawn from some of the earliest manuscripts surviving from the turn of the 16th Century.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Classical Perspectives: Richly Sophisticated

In life he was eclipsed by the shadow of his great pupil, Henry Purcell, and ensuing centuries have seen the 17th century composer JOHN BLOW nigh on to completely forgotten. Until this glorious moment.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Half-Lights and Misty Streetscapes

'HALF LIGHTS and MISTY STREETSCAPES': ROBERT HUGILL reviews two introspective, atmospheric, haunting gems: pianist-composer MELISSA PARMENTER's MESSAPICA and the intriguing ECHO COLLECTIVE's THE SEE WITHIN.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Beyond Arcady and Bethlehem

A must-hear event for choral music lovers: ONLY A SINGING BIRD by the NATIONAL GIRLS CHOIR of Scotland, with sensitively rendered songs by MICHAEL HEARD and others.
by David McGee