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Good music from Good Friday

These thoughts appear around Good Friday, the day when Christians reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection three days later, on Easter Sunday. That’s also a red letter day for many youngsters who can then indulge in … Read More →

V-J Kiss

When the last shot has been fired

Depictions of life and strife have been central to a number of our recent releases: Weinberg’s expansive Symphony No. 8 Polish Flowers (Naxos 8.572873) with its roots in World War II, for example, and Mohammed Fairouz’ chamber-scale commentary on a … Read More →

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Egypt – ancient and modern

With its epic setting in ancient Egypt, Verdi’s opera Aida was first performed, appropriately, at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on Christmas Eve, 1871. The conductor was Giovanni Bottesini, whose Messa da Requiem (Naxos 8.572994) was among our new … Read More →

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Podcast: Composer Mohammed Fairouz talks with Gail Wein about his new CD of chamber and vocal music, Native Informant

Mohammed Fairouz’s music is distinctive for his blending of western and middle-eastern sonorities. He talks about how a musician can have the same effect as a storyteller, and tells us about a lullaby for a newborn baby…and a 300-year-old violin. … Read More →

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International Women’s Day – a report from the music department

As the posting of this week’s blog coincides with International Women’s Day, let’s kick off by quoting Frédérique Petrides, the female violinist, conductor, teacher and publisher who was a pioneering advocate for women in music. Born in Belgium in 1903, … Read More →