Classical Music

Classical Album Reviews: Jordan Bak’s “Cantabile: Anthems for Viola” and Charles Martin Loeffler’s “Forgotten Sounds”

June 29, 2024
Posted in , , ,

 Two discs: Jamaican-American musician Jordan Bak celebrates music for the viola and a reconstruction of Charles Martin Loeffler’s abandoned Octet.

Opera Album Review: A Devilishly Good First Recording for Louise Bertin’s “Fausto”

June 26, 2024
Posted in , , ,

Much praised by Berlioz and others, this Italian opera (composed for the great mezzo María Malibran) brings a notable female composer out of the shadows.

Concert Review: Sister Act — The Naughton Piano Duo at Rockport

June 22, 2024
Posted in , , ,

In truth, recordings don’t capture the Naughtons’ symbiotic flair — the performance at Rockport revealed them not only to be a superb piano duo, but a significant cut above.

Opera Album Review: A Major New Opera that the Met Has Ignored — Tobias Picker’s “Awakenings”

June 22, 2024
Posted in , , ,

This world-premiere recording lets us hear one of the most effective recent operas, based on the famous book by Dr. Oliver Sacks.

Classical Music Album Review: Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy — A Fabulous Four-Hand Team

June 18, 2024
Posted in , , ,

Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy’s debut CD is breathtaking, released a few months after the pair’s acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall earlier this year.

Concert Review: Third Coast Percussion at the Rockport Music Festival

June 17, 2024
Posted in , , ,

It has been nearly 20 years, but Third Coast Percussion has managed to retain its uncanny freshness and vitality.

Opera Album Review: Cyrille Dubois Does French Opera Arias — A Major Release to Treasure

June 3, 2024
Posted in , , ,

French opera arias, many recorded for the first time, by the enchanting tenor Cyrille Dubois. The vocal treasures here include a stirring 1842 denunciation of slavery in the Caribbean.

Classical Album Review: Experiential Orchestra’s “American Counterpoints” — Fine Music Hiding in Plain Sight

June 1, 2024
Posted in , , ,

There’s no question that either the violinist or the orchestra are completely at home with Julia Perry’s larger style or the notes: this is about as confident and secure a first recording as they come.

Concert Reviews: Chamber Music Roundup — Radius Ensemble and Chameleon Arts Ensemble

May 30, 2024
Posted in , , ,

Two Boston-area chamber music ensembles recently ended their seasons. Each embraced the present in its own distinctive way.

Classical Album Review: Skylark’s “Clear Voices in the Dark” — Music from a Time of Turmoil

May 20, 2024
Posted in , , ,

Part of the pleasure of reviewing Skylark’s performances is to spread the word: this vocal ensemble is nothing short of amazing.

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives