Music
A collection that provides a fascinating bit of context for how Andris Nelsons has developed as a conductor over the last decade-plus, and an honest, mostly flattering, tribute to a much-loved conductor, the late Mariss Jansons.
It may sound oxymoronic, but the Bosstones scream, shout, and agitate for common decency.
Diana Tishchenko’s a violinist well worth keeping an eye on; Jun Märkl leads the MSO in brisk, shapely readings of pieces by Saint-Saëns; Françoix-Xavier Roth and Les Siecles come up with some winning Berlioz.
John Nelson’s La Damnation de Faust is a triumph; you will rarely encounter Villa-Lobos played with greater understanding or in better sound than here; Paavo Järvi and his orchestra’s survey of Messiaen orchestral works early and late is resplendent.
While Samantha Fish shines with her guitar work on the new album, she impressed more with her singing live.
Five tunes that will make it impossible to have a Blue Christmas.
A fresh, bracing take on Beethoven as a dramatist, Tesla Quartet serves up refreshingly direct and emotionally-complex performances of Mozart, and flautist Emmanuel Pahud has crafted an ear-catching, unpredictable program.
Our expert music critics serve up their usual highly eclectic round-up of the year’s most memorable.
Billy Strings is deservedly catching fire with a unique blend of mind-snapping talent as a guitarist, deep appreciation for tradition, appetite for improvisation and experimentation, and ever-improving songwriting.
Top Classical Concerts and Recordings of 2019
Classical music continued to thrive, locally and globally, in 2019.
Read More about Top Classical Concerts and Recordings of 2019