Olli Mustonen: Not just a pretty pianist
The Finnish keyboard wizard on his Second and Third Symphonies and being a pupil of Rautavaara aged eight.
The Finnish keyboard wizard on his Second and Third Symphonies and being a pupil of Rautavaara aged eight.
Celebrated Finnish pianist reveals himself as a vibrant symphonist.
English tenor Allan Clayton discusses A Winter’s Journey, a new staging of Schubert’s mournful song cycle Winterreise, and explains why he is drawn to bleak work and outsider roles.
Our December Recording of the Month is an album of songs by Respighi, a composer not especially known for his vocal writing. Ian Bostridge and Saskia Giorgini talk to Clive Paget
Luminous and characterful, Respighi’s uncharted side is revealed in the richest of lockdown discoveries.
From Igor Levit to Stephen Hough the piano takes centre stage this month, but there are vocal pleasures too with Respighi songs and Christian Gerhaher’s complete Schumann.
A movingly intimate, poignant, quietly mesmerising Müllerin.
English duo throws some light on the bleak midwinter.
English duo throws some light on the bleak midwinter.
Tenor makes a refreshing change on Bostridge’s French odyssey.
English tenor Ian Bostridge, the Brodsky Quartet, Irish-Canadian mezzo Wallis Giunta and Austrian clarinettist Andreas Ottensamer are among the artists heading to the Sydney Opera House next year.
Bostridge takes us on a nightmare ride through Zender's refracted Schubert.
Renowned conductor Antonio Pappano is best known as music director of the Royal Opera House, but he is also a very fine pianist. Songs on texts by William Shakespeare finds Pappano accompanying the equally renowned English historian and tenor Ian Bostridge on an expansive collection featuring composers across five centuries who have set Shakespeare’s texts and musical dramatic devices, very few of which are stand-alone songs, to music. Not surprisingly, English composers are a strong presence: these include Morley, Byrd and their contemporary John Wilson, whose Take, o take those lips away is a highlight. Quilter’s Come away, death is mysterious and affecting, greatly impressing and influencing Warlock, who is also featured here, along with Britten and Tippett. Bostridge is commanding throughout, and justly famous for his attention to detail and extraordinarily nuanced delivery. The recording is glorious: rich, spacious and resonant. The final track on this collection, When that I was and a little tiny boy (Anon.), sung a cappella by Bostridge, is nothing short of extraordinary, from both performance and recording perspectives. The sumptuous packaging contains meticulously researched and detailed liner notes by Christopher Wilson, and includes all song texts. This is an excellent and beautifully… Continue reading…