London choir marks 10th year with new Christmas CD

London choir marks 10th year with new Christmas CD

Sep 23, 2025 | News

One of the UK’s foremost recording choirs, The London Choral Sinfonia marks its 10th anniversary – and a decade of album recordings – with On Christmas Night, a festive collection of classic carols in vivid new orchestrations to be launched on 21...
Malcolm Arnold Festival celebrates 20th year

Malcolm Arnold Festival celebrates 20th year

Sep 23, 2025 | News

’20 for 20’ is the theme of the 20th Malcolm Arnold Festival this year when performances of all 20 of the composer’s Concertos for solo instruments take place in the composer’s hometown of Northampton over the course of the weekend 18-19 October 2025. Directed by Paul...
EDWARD COWIE: Because They Have Songs

EDWARD COWIE: Because They Have Songs

Sep 23, 2025 | CD reviews

Gerard McChrystal saxophonesRichard Shaw piano métier     mex 77122  ‘Why do birds sing? – Because They Have Songs.’ Edward Cowie (b. 1943) takes that answer from an African text as the title for the fourth in his series of compositions inspired...
BLISS: Miracle in the Gorbals | Metamorphic Variations

BLISS: Miracle in the Gorbals | Metamorphic Variations

Sep 23, 2025 | CD reviews

BBC Philharmonic OrchestraMichael Seal conductor Chandos CHSA 5370 Well – in a word, this is superb. You only need to listen to the opening of the ballet to hear timpani thwacks which, were you playing the recording on an LP, would have the stylus jumping out of the...
BEAUTY VEIL’D: Dare, Howell, Matthay, McEwen

BEAUTY VEIL’D: Dare, Howell, Matthay, McEwen

Sep 23, 2025 | CD reviews

The Berkeley Ensemble stringsSimon Callaghan pianoTom Wraith cello EM RECORDS EMR CD091 Marie Dare is a new name to me; if her Phantasy Quintet of 1933-4 starts with a surging Baxian theme, it soon relaxes into something rather more suave and loosely pastoral, with a...