Sep 25, 2025 | CD reviews
Clarinet fantasies from England and Ireland Robert Plane clarinetBenjamin Frith piano MPR 118 mikepurtonrecording.com At first glance this might seem to be a disc aimed at a somewhat small group of enthusiasts. However, in addition to the Fantasias on the themes from...
Sep 25, 2025 | CD reviews
Villiers QuartetLucy Cox soprano Charlie Draper Ondes Martenot Resonus RES10364 The story of Ailsa Dixon (1932 – 2017) is, sadly, not an unusual one. A composer of great promise, who happened to be a woman, studied at Durham University in the 1950s. She had to...
Sep 24, 2025 | CD reviews
London Symphony OrchestraSir Antonio Pappano Conductor LSO0900 This is hardly unfamiliar territory, I would think, for most BMS members, so there is not much point in indulging in too much description. Since stepping down as Music Director of the Royal Opera House Sir...
Sep 24, 2025 | CD reviews
BBC Symphony OrchestraGeorge Vass conductorClare Hammond piano BIS-2604 In 1943 Walton revised his 1927 Sinfonia Concertante, reducing the orchestra and simplifying the piano part. I must confess to preferring the original which seems to have more meat on its bones....
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...
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...
