David Robertson and Pierre-Laurent Aimard talk about Messiaen’s unique musical portrait of life, the universe and everything. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★★½ Dejan Lazić presents Ravel in remarkable performance with TSO. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

Three Australian pianists are among 32 competitors vying for first prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

We talk to the apostle of authenticity about his life and his Schubert recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★★½ Robertson delivers a tale well told, whichever way you look at it. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

The acclaimed musician has been presented with this year's Don Banks Music Award in honour of his contribution to music.

Classical performers are increasingly concerned with their looks… but isn’t it supposed to be about the music? Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★★½ Robertson’s opener did mean a thing ‘cos it sure had that swing. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

It’s not just hard work, says the musician described as the Paganini of his instrument. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★★★ Alondra de la Parra sweeps into QSO as Music Director designate. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★★½ The visiting virtuoso proves his acclaim as the “Paganini of the recorder”. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

Ryan Wigglesworth is making a name for himself as an accomplished conductor, composer and pianist. He is Composer in Residence with the English National Opera, for whom he is writing an opera for the 2017 season, and is Principal Guest Conductor of the Hallé orchestra, who feature on this recording. This album is the first full-length portrait of his compositions and demonstrates his prowess over a variety of mediums. Wigglesworth’s Echo and Narcissus: A Dramatic Cantata, for which the album is named, is a setting of text from Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid that had its premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2014. Wigglesworth on piano is joined by mezzo-soprano Pamela Helen Stephen, tenor Mark Padmore and two choruses of female voices. Stephen, augmented by chorus, is the narrator – her voice sumptuous and authoritative. The part of Echo is sung by a wistfully distant second chorus (heard mainly from offstage), while Padmore makes an anxious, keening Narcissus. The album opens with Augenlieder, a suite of four songs, settings of poems linked thematically by eye or gaze imagery, written for soprano Claire Booth. Wigglesworth conducts the Hallé,… Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a…