Articles by Norman Lebrecht
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic brings forth a dazzling recording of Shostakovich’s “Leningrad Symphony”
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Valentin Silvestrov
Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov’s enigmatic and disturbing ‘Naive Music’ gets a new recording from pianist Elisaveta Blumina
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – The Edge of Light
Norman Lebrecht reviews a remarkable recording of little-known piano music by Olivier Messiaen and Kaija Saariaho
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Lionel Bringuier & Nelson Freire
In collaboration with Brazilian soloist Nelson Freire, Wunderkind Lionel Bringuier conducts the 2010 BBC Proms concert in a stirring new DVD release
Norman Lebrecht’s Album of the Week – Béla Bartók: Kossuth
Norman Lebrecht reviews a new recording of Kossuth, a rare and distinctive turn by Béla Bartók into mainstream romanticism.
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Valentina Lisitsa
Youtube sensation Valentina Lisitsa has put out the finest recording of Rachmaninov’s piano concertos in decades. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Satie & Compagnie
In a hypnotizing new recording from Mirare, pianist Anne Quéffélec performs the soothing chillout music of Frenchman Erik Satie–don’t listen while driving.
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – The Coral Sea
Six works by five living British composers for soprano saxophone – you’re shaking your head, but “The Coral Sea” is one of the musical delights of the year
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Scarlatti Illuminated
Domenico Scarlatti has always been overshadowed by his contemporaries Bach and Handel. A new recording of his solo sonatas brings his gorgeous music front and center.
Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – Andrzej Panufnik
The works of Polish emigre Andrzej Panufnik course with passion and political subtext. Norman Lebrecht reviews a new recording of Symphonies 7 and 8.
CD of the Week – Dinu Lipatti
Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti died of cancer at age 33, but left behind a treasure trove of adventurous, intellectually satisfying piano music. Norman Lebrecht reviews a new double-CD of Lipatti’s work.
CD of the Week – Elgar, Carter: Cello Concertos
Jacqueline du Pré’s performance of Elgar’s cello concerto is so legendary that few artists have dared to challenge it. Now Alisa Weilerstein does so, in an astonishing new recording. Norman Lebrecht reviews
CD of the Week – Alexandre Tharaud plays Mauricio Kagel
2013 gets off to a smashing start with Alexandre Tharaud’s wild new recording of the works of postmodernist composer Mauricio Kagel. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
Norman Lebrecht’s Album of the Year
It’s been a bumper year for vocal recitals, but Norman Lebrecht has selected the best of the bunch–and the best album of 2012
CD of the Week – Voyages-Reisen
A compelling new recording of compositions for the viola da gamba, an ancestor of the cello, is just the antidote to predictable radio classical fare
CD of the Week – Fazil Say
The embattled Turkish composer Fazil Say releases a symphony rooted in the sounds of his homeland. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week – The Irish Piano
Too little is known about the importance of Irish composer John Field on 19th century music. An exciting new CD brings his wide influence to light.
CD of the Week – Portuguese Love Songs
An English traveller once described the Portuguese love ballad as ‘the most seducing, the most voluptuous music imaginable.’ A new CD reminds of us its delights.
CD of the Week – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Recomposed
You may wonder if Vivaldi’s overexposed Four Seasons needs a new recording, but Max Richter’s inspired recomposition gives the hoary old favorite a shot in the arm
CD of the Week – Carl Nielsen
New for classical music lovers is an invigorating recording of the symphonies of Danish composer Carl Nielsen, as well as a trio of dazzling piano recitals. As always, Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week – Anu Komsi
Norman Lebrecht reviews a five-star recording from the extraordinary Finnish soprano Anu Komsi
CD of the Week – Glenn Gould: The Schwarzkopf Tapes
The deeply unlikely pairing of pianist Glenn Gould and soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was deemed a flop when it took place in 1966–now some of the never-before-published recordings have come out, and they’re well worth the wait.
CD of the Week – Jon Lord
Jon Lord, the founder of Deep Purple, brings out a concerto that fuses elements of classical music, rock, and ballad singing. Norman Lebrecht reviews the results.
CD of the Week – Stephen Hough
A CD of piano recitals dubbed “The French Album” stars an English pianist and includes pieces by Bach and Liszt. Norman Lebrecht sorts out the confusion.
CD of the Week: Bononcini
Norman Lebrecht reviews a new recording of the music of Handel’s contemporary Bononcini–but which Bononcini are we talking about? In addition are three notable CDs for John Cage’s centenary.
CD of the Week – Homage to Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould would have turned 80 next month; his legacy is celebrated with a diverse and sometimes instrumentally daring homage
CD of the Week – Nicola Benedetti
Wunderkind violinist Nicola Benedetti delivers her best album to date with this thoughtful selection of concertos and film themes
CD of the Week – Clifford Curzon
A teeming new multi-volume box-set from Decca showcases the magisterial piano performances of Clifford Curzon
CD of the Week – Arnold Schoenberg’s Songs
Who knew that the avant-garde Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg wrote so many songs? They’re brought together in a revealing new four-disc collection.
CD of the Week – Beethoven’s Viola
Violas are the most overlooked of instruments, but not by Beethoven–an intriguing new release brings together his music for the violin’s deeper-voiced sibling
CD of the Week – Ernest Bloch’s Hebrew Rhapsody
Natalie Clein delivers an extraordinary performance of Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo, in a disc featuring other classic Jewish music. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week: Sounds of the 30s
The amazing duo of Stefano Bollani and Riccardo Chailly return with the inter-war music of Ravel, Stravinsky, Kurt Weill, and Victor de Sabata.
CD of the Week – Arias for Guadagni
In his CD of the Week recommendation, Norman Lebrecht discovers the brilliant exception to a rule, an aria recital disc worth buying
CD of the Week — Vivaldi’s Chamber Sonatas
Against all expectations arrives a fantastic new recording of Vivaldi’s sonatas, courtesy of L’Estravagante. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week — Nikolai Medtner
These rare recordings illuminate the valuable contributions of the Russian composer (and contemporary of Rachmaninov’s) Nikolai Medtner
CD of the Week: Schubert String Quartets
The Artemis Quartet brings forth a brilliant recording of Schubert’s string quartets 13, 14, and 15 — that plus three notable new releases of the music of Shostakovich
CDs of the Week: New Names at the Piano
The steady rush of talented new pianists can be overwhelming. Norman Lebrecht helps locate the gold from the dross.
CD of the Week – A Rush of Mieczyslaw Weinbergs
Four new recordings celebrate the oft-forgotten Russian composer Mieczylaw Weinberg. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week – Philip Glass’s 9th Symphony
Philip Glass’s ninth symphony has some of the minimalist traits listeners will expect–but also a number of surprises
CD of the Week – Rachmaninov’s 5th Piano Concerto
In a clever ploy to extend the copyright of Sergei Rachmaninov’s music, Alexander Warenberg has fiddled with the composer’s second symphony to create a so-called “fifth” piano concerto. Norman Lebrecht reviews the results.
CD of the Week – Elgar Conducts Elgar
Every conductor tries to locate the key to Edward Elgar’s famous compositions — a new release lets listeners hear how Elgar interpreted himself
CDs of the Week – Gustav Mahler
A year after the centennial of his death, Gustav Mahler is still inspiring interesting performances. Norman Lebrecht listens to five newly released recordings.
CD of the Week – Henryk Mikolaj Górecki: Totus Tuus
Music from the adventurous Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Górecki finds a perfect match with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.
CD of the Week – Anton Rubinstein: Persian Love Songs
19th-century Russian composer Anton Rubinstein has always been justifiably overshadowed by Tchaikovsky, but a new recording of his Persian music proves a surprising delight
CD of the Week – Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Norman Lebrecht spotlights a striking new recording of a piece that has eluded musicians for years, Edward Elgar’s cello concerto
CD of the Week – Brahms performed by friends and colleagues
Arbiter Records gathers together some remarkable archival rarities of Brahms recordings. Norman Lebrecht reviews.
CD of the Week – Erik Chisholm: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Acquaint yourself with newly recorded Piano Concertos from the talented, eclectic, and little-known Scottish composer Erik Chisholm
CD of the Week – Renée Fleming: Poèmes
Renée Fleming sings “sensual French masterpieces” on a new album from Decca–but are the results as evocative as the billing?
CD of the Week – Debussy’s Clair de Lune
The great Natalie Dessay is at her best in this recording of Claude Debussy’s early piano suites
CD of the Week – John Cage’s Complete Piano Music
A bursting box set contains all of the piano music from the iconoclastic American composer John Cage
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