Sinkovsky's the star in an evening of baroque pearls.

In some ways, this recording is quite a departure for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. In other ways, it isn’t. Who else but an ensemble specialising in historically-informed performances on period instruments could bring such innate understanding to the Baroque underpinnings of Grieg’s From Holberg’s Time – Suite in the Olden Style and Mendelssohn’s early String Symphony No 3 in E Minor? As for the ABO’s other novel offering – Paganini’s fiendishly difficult Violin Concerto No 4 – there’s a real lightness, crispness and suppleness required here that makes a HIP technique perfectly suited to Paganini’s OTT showmanship. This is especially the case with the ABO’s guest director and soloist, Netherlands-based violinist Shunske Sato. Concertmaster of both Concerto Köln and the Netherlands Bach Society, Sato is equally at home on modern and historical instruments. He is also clearly equally at home in repertoire as diverse as the three aforementioned works, here recorded live last year by Classic FM at Sydney’s City Recital Hall. The Grieg is given a delightful freshness, a newly-minted quality, by contrasting a generous use of portamenti with a parsimonious application of vibrato throughout. This lends a luminous clarity both to the lyrical movements such… Continue reading Get…

The ACO and Slava Grigoryan are among the artists getting a nod at Australia's independent recording awards.

A compelling physical spectacle with a rich soundtrack.

A unique take on end-of-year carols, Noël! Noël! has plenty for both jaded Christmas concert-goers and lovers of Christmas nostalgia.

With the mien of a rock star and the technique of a virtuoso, Avital is a stunning performer.

The Israeli virtuoso talks all things mandolin, image problems and purifying where the Nazis determined the Final Solution. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

★★★½☆ Snippets from Australia’s future choristers and a provocative Mozart Requiem. 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

★★★★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

★★★★☆ This Christmas cracker offers something more substantial than the usual festive fare. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and countertenor Andreas Scholl feature in latest Bond installment. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in