Updates from the world's leading classical music label
In this podcast Raymond Bisha introduces an album of sacred choral music by Philip Stopford in which all the items were composed between 2013 and 2022 and are heard in their world premiere recordings. Beautifully crafted, memorable, colourful and deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition, Stopford’s works are immediately attractive and widely admired in the Read More …
Working amidst political and personal setbacks, Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–96) flourished as a composer, admired by Shostakovich and championed by the leading Soviet musicians of the day. His death in Moscow in 1996, however, went largely unnoticed. More happily, his extensive catalogue has recently secured an increasing number of performances and recordings, witness this Naxos release Read More …
This podcast presents pianist Giorgio Koukl in conversation with Raymond Bisha at the end of a five-year project to rehabilitate the complete works for piano solo and duo by Vittorio Rieti (1898–1994). Virtually self-taught, Rieti went on to establish his composing credentials, becoming the only Italian composer, for example, to be invited to write ballet Read More …
In this episode, Jens and Joe dive into the forgotten reels of Shostakovich’s film music, tackling anything from Italian partisans to Austrian invaders along the way – and wondering why everyone knows Prokofiev’s Ivan the Terrible, but not The Fall of Berlin. Plus: a well-earned shoutout to Dave at Dave’s Classical Guide. Other Episodes: Classical Read More …
Vol. 27 in the Naxos Music of Brazil series features music by César Guerra-Peixe (1914–1993). In this podcast, Raymond Bisha discusses the life and music of the composer, known as the ‘Brazilian Bartók’ on account of his ethnomusicological research, with conductor Neil Thomson. Describing Guerra-Peixe as an “extremely prolific, incredibly rounded, complete musician”, Thomson also Read More …
Raymond Bisha introduces the latest instalment in the Capriccio label’s exploration of rarely performed or recorded symphonic works by Miklós Rózsa, outlining his maturation not only into one of the most successful film composers of all time, but also the creator of equally fine concert works. The album’s programme comprises his Rhapsody for Cello, in Read More …
The GRAMMY Award-winning team of composer Michael Daugherty, conductor David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony returns with a new album comprising a set of remarkable works exploring associations with flight and space exploration, both tragic and triumphant. In this podcast, the composer explains the context and inspiration behind the three works on the programme: Read More …
Easter marks the high point of the Christian year. It cannot be surprising, then, that some of the greatest compositions in classical music have been written to mark this feast. When today’s concert halls give a nod to Easter, Bach dominates programming. In their latest podcast, Jens and Joe explore some gems beyond Bach, from Read More …
Italian composer Goffredo Petrassi’s reputation was established in 1932 when his Partita (8.572411) won critical acclaim. Three years later he premiered the first of his eight Concertos for Orchestra which secured his reputation outside of Italy. Raymond Bisha delves into a new release of the first three of those concertos performed by the Orchestra Sinfonica Read More …
Franz Joseph Haydn has long been a focus of admiration for conductor Sir Simon Rattle. In this podcast conversation with Raymond Bisha, we hear excerpts from his recent recording of the composer’s oratorio The Creation, “the last masterpiece that this amazing man wrote.” A clear candidate for one of the maestro’s Desert Island Discs, Sir Read More …