November 2009
Simon Keenlyside
Simon Keenlyside, one of the world's finest baritones, tells us why his love for wildlife is as strong as his passion for the operatic stage.
The Berlin Wall
Erik Levi describes how the Wall changed the face of musical Europe forever. Plus, we interview Kurt Masur
The forgotten pianos of Cuba
How hundreds of pianos, once provided by Communist Russia, are being rescued from ruin by an Irish charity
Composer of the Month
Rob Ainsley profiles the man who defined Spanish music
On Sale Date:
28/09/2009
Issue Number:
211 
On the Cover Disc
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Soloists Karen Cargill and Johan Botha are joined by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Donald Runnicles
This issue's BBC Music choices
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Arias from 18th-Century Napoli Pergolesi, Porpora, Vinci, Hasse Simone Kermes (soprano), Le Musiche Nove/Claudio Osele ‘Kermes shows herself a fearless risk-taker of uncommon artistic range’
CHAMBER
Ward Consort music for five and six viols Phantasm; with Emilia Benjamin (tenor viol), Mikko Perkola (bass viol) ‘Tudor viol music seldom sounds better than this’
CHORAL & SONG
Brahms • Schumann: Lieder Simon Keenlyside (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano) ‘Simon Keenlyside – a great singer at the peak of his powers’
DVD
Touch The Sound: A Sound Journey With Evelyn Glennie
A film by Thomas Riedelsheimer
Evelyn Glennie (percussion); with Fred Frith
‘This Evelyn Glennie film amply lives up to its dramatic opening’
INSTRUMENTAL
JS Bach Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin Alina Ibragimova (violin) ‘Alina Ibragimova’s accomplishment in Bach is awesome’
JAZZ
Empirical Out ’n’ In Nathaniel Facey, Julian Siegel (sax), Lewis Wright (vibes), Tom Farmer (bass), Shaney Forbes (drums) ‘Lively arrangements and compositions in an inspired album’
ORCHESTRAL
Brahms Symphony No. 3; Nänie; Gesang der Parzen, etc Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/Gardiner ‘John Eliot Gardiner at his best’
OPERA
Jonas Kaufmann Opera arias by Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven & Wagner Kaufmann (tenor); Mahler CO/Abbado ‘Kaufmann is the German tenor we have been waiting for’
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The most exciting classical music competitions.
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A wide range of classical music festivals to suit all tastes.
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This month's BBC Music choices
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Beethoven: String Trios, Op. 9 Nos 1-3
Trio Zimmermann
'The playing is dazzling, combining warmth and clarity'
CHAMBER
The Father, the Son and the Godfather: Trio Sonatas by JS Bach, CPE Bach, Telemann
'Compelling soloists with virtuosity and insight to burn'
CHORAL & SONG
Stimme der Sehnsucht: Songs by Mahler, Strauss, Pfitzner
Christianne Stotijn
'Stotijn takes the imaginative high ground from the start'
DVD
Pergolesi: Adriano in Siria
Marina Comparato, Lucia Cirill, Annamaria dell'Oste etc; Accademia Bizantina/ Ottavio Dantone
'Realised with vibrant, breathtaking musicianship'
INSTRUMENTAL
Mozart: Keyboard Music
Kristian Bezuidenhout
'Bezuidenhout brings out all the drama and intensity'
JAZZ
Michel Portal: Baïlador
Michel Portal, Ambrose Akinmusire, Bojan Z, Lionel Loueke, Scott Colley, Jack DeJohnette
'Portal confirms himself as one of the most impressive bass clarinet and soprano sax players'
ORCHESTRAL
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15
Royal Concertgebouw/ Bernard Haitink
'The Concertgebouw delivers sensationally taut playing'
OPERA
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Albert Dohmen, Georg Zeppenfeld etc; Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra & Choir/ Marek Janowski
'This Meistersinger is imbued with incessant vitality and energy'