It has often been said that over the last half-century or so orchestras have begun to sound more and more alike. As the instruments themselves have grown in sophistication, evolved to be more flexible and capable of…

A recent conversation with Vasily Petrenko once again brought home to me just how much at odds our impressions of Russian music can be when shared with those closer to its source. We were discussing his recent…

Sleeping Beauty – A Dramatic Symphony? Alarm bells start to ring. One of the greatest classical ballets in the repertoire – some might say the greatest – surely needs no reinvention. And however well you think you…

During the best part of the last year we’ve come to appreciate, indeed rely upon, the technology, endeavour, and resource that has kept the music coming through lockdown after lockdown and seen a comparatively new phrase become…

Like many I was thoroughly absorbed by John Bridcut’s touching film about Bernard Haitink – The Enigmatic Maestro. Not entirely sure about the title because what you see is surely what you get with Haitink: a decent,…

Capitalising on Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and the CBSO’s ‘Record of the Year’ triumph at this year’s Gramophone Awards this purely digital release – a growing trend – gives notice of a two-CD release (scheduled for March next year)…

Hard on the heels of the thrilling John Storgards/ BBC Philharmonic account on Chandos comes another performance I was lucky enough to experience live in December of last year. And a marked distinction in approach is immediately…