October 2010
Exclusive interview: Hilary Hahn
Richard Morrison meets the outstanding young American violinist. Plus you can hear her perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 on your free cover CD!
Nikolaj Znaider
The violinist on using the 'right' instrument for his recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto
Unexpected composers
The famous writers, poets, scientists, actors and politicians who also penned music
Alexander Scriabin
Russian virtuoso pianist Yevgeny Sudbin writes exclusively about his composing hero
On Sale Date:
31/08/2010
Issue Number:
14 
On the Cover Disc
Korngold and Mozart Violin Concertos
The dazzling American violinist Hilary Hahn performs Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis. Meanwhile violinist Andrew Haveron raises his bow for Korngold's Violin Concerto in D, again with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, this time under the baton of Jiři Bĕlohlávek.
This issue's BBC Music choices
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Wagner: Parsifal
Mariinsky Orchestra & Chorus/Valery Gergiev
'Gergiev's reading evokes a rapt quality and an authentic spirituality'
CHAMBER
Ireland: Violin Sonatas Nos 1 & 2; Cello Sonata
Lucy Gould (violin), Alice Neary (cello), Benjamin Frith (piano)
'Ireland's passionate Violin Sonatas are here given splendid advocacy'
CHORAL & SONG
Heggie: Songs
Jake Heggie et al
'Jake Heggie's own fluent piano playing supports world-class singers'
DVD
Brahms • Chopin • Scriabin: Piano works
Vassily Primakov (piano); dir. David Starobin
'Reveals Primakov as a serious artist with fabulous pianistic skills'
INSTRUMENTAL
Louis Couperin: Keyboard suites
Christophe Rousset (harpsichord)
'Rousset plays Louis Couperin with energy and dramatic flair'
JAZZ
Larkin's Jazz
Including Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller
'This four-disc set compiled by Philip Larkin authorities is a gem'
ORCHESTRAL
Bartók: Piano Concertos
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano); BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda
'Exciting and dynamic accounts of Bartók's Piano Concertos'
OPERA
R Strauss: Scenes from Elektra, Die Frau ohne Schatten & Salome
Atlanta SO/Donald Runnicles
'Christine Brewer sails through these testing Strauss soprano roles'
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Classical Music Competition Guide
The most exciting classical music competitions.
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We present forthcoming seasons from a variety of companies
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For beginner, amateur or professional musicians.
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A wide range of classical music festivals to suit all tastes.
Latest blogs
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'