Latest stories
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Pumeza Matshikiza - Voice of Hope
4th Sep 2014
Katherine talks to the soprano about her new disc of opera arias and songs from her native South Africa.
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Benjamin Grosvenor - a postscript
13th Aug 2014
Following on from Monday's newsletter, I caught up with Benjamin over email to find out more about his new disc Dances - and whether or not he has two left feet…
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Benjamin Grosvenor - Dances
11th Aug 2014
Young British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor sets Katherine's toes tapping with his new disc, Dances.
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Music to commemorate the First World War
28th Jul 2014
Katherine listens to Anna Prohaska's Behind the Lines, a collection of songs spanning a wide historical period, but focusing primarily on the years of the First World War.
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Daniel Behle on Gluck's tenors
2nd Jul 2014
To mark the tercentenary of Gluck's birth today, Katherine talks to the German lyric tenor about his new disc exploring the composer's writing for high male voice.
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Julia Lezhneva on Alleluia!
8th May 2014
The phenomenal young Russian soprano talks to Katherine about her recent disc of motets by Vivaldi, Handel, Porpora and Mozart, and her plans for the future.
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Alisa Weilerstein on Dvorak
6th May 2014
The young American cellist tells us about her relationship with the Dvorak Concerto, which she's recently recorded for Decca Classics.
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Decca Most Wanted Recitals
17th Mar 2014
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Cecilia Bartoli sings Bellini’s Norma
20th May 2013
Giovanni Antonini recreates Bellini’s masterpiece as it would have been heard at its 1831 premiere, with period instruments, a light soprano Adalgisa, and a high mezzo in the formidable title-role – Bartoli, radiating neurotic intensity and raw pathos as the infanticidal Druid priestess.
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Julia Lezhneva: Alleluia
1st Apr 2013
The young Russian soprano makes her solo debut on Decca with cantatas by Handel, Mozart, Porpora and Vivaldi which showcase her scintillating coloratura, tonal clarity and warmth, and radiant middle register; Il Giardino Armonico and Giovanni Antonini accompany with panache.
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Wagner from Jonas Kaufmann and others
11th Feb 2013
Gergiev conducts an electrifying Walküre starring René Pape as Wotan, Nina Stemme as his rebel daughter, and Jonas Kaufmann and Anja Kampe as the Walsung Twins; Kaufmann’s solo album of opera scenes and the Wesendock-Lieder, meanwhile, is the best thing he’s ever done.
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Elgar & Carter from Alisa Weilerstein
4th Feb 2013
The American cellist worked closely with Carter (who died last year) whilst preparing his 2001 Cello Concerto, and brings a touching elegiac lyricism to the Japanese-influenced slow movement; her introverted and tender account of the Elgar is no less engaging.
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Mission: Cecilia Bartoli
15th Oct 2012
The intrepid Roman mezzo explores the music of Agostino Steffani - Italian composer, cleric, diplomat and spy – in a programme of blazing martial show-stoppers, coloratura pyrotechnics, long-breathed laments, and four delectable duets with countertenor Philippe Jaroussky.
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Max Emanuel Cencic on Handel's Alessandro
1st Sep 2012
The Viennese countertenor talks to Katherine about recording the title-role in Handel's 1726 opera.
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Rhapsody in Blue – Grosvenor and Kempf
6th Aug 2012
Two former BBC Young Musician of the Year prize-winners record Gershwin’s best-known work – Kempf as part of an all-Gershwin programme, Grosvenor alongside Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2.
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Two terrific Italian Renaissance reconstructions
18th Jun 2012
A new Venetian Coronation from Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort, and a reconstruction of a typical Italian Vespers programme from circa 1612 from Robert Hollingworth and I Fagiolini.
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Kathleen Ferrier
23rd Apr 2012
On the centenary of Ferrier’s birth, Katherine pays to tribute to the great Lancashire contralto and explores her legacy on disc via two comprehensive commemorative sets from Decca and EMI, which includes folksongs, Bach and Mahler.
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Kathleen Ferrier: The Complete EMI Recordings
Kathleen Ferrier (contralto), Gerald Moore (piano), Isobel Baillie (soprano), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Kathleen Ferrier (Orfeo), Greet Koeman (Euridice), Nel Duval (Amore) Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, Chorus & Orchestra of the Netherlands Opera, Bruno Walter, Herbert von Karajan, Charles Bruck
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Aleksandra Kurzak and Renée Fleming
20th Feb 2012
Up-and-coming Polish soprano Kurzak radiates ‘gioia’ in her debut solo album of operatic arias by Donizetti, Bellini, Puccini and others, whilst Fleming is on ravishing form in an all-French programme of orchestral song-cycles by Ravel, Messiaen and Dutilleux (the latter composed for her in 2007).
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Beethoven Symphonies from Thielemann and Chailly
23rd Jan 2012
Thielemann offers a cycle in the grand Germanic tradition with the Wiener Philharmoniker, whilst Chailly’s interpretations with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig emphasise lightness and freshness without ever sounding too hard-driven or breathless. James puts the case for each approach.
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Benjamin Grosvenor
18th Jul 2011
Fresh from his BBC Proms triumph last week, the eighteen-year-old British pianist makes a hugely impressive debut on Decca with a programme which includes Ravel’s formidable Gaspard de la Nuit and music by Chopin and Liszt.
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Benjamin Grosvenor: Chopin, Liszt & Ravel
Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)
