Pygmalion, the period instrument ensemble led by visionary French conductor Raphaël Pichon, again leads the way with an incisive and inspired account of the Bach ‘St. John Passion’ in its final 1749 version.
Another Superlative Passion from Raphaël Pichon and Pygmalion Read More »
Ambition, regicide, fratricide, false accusations, betrayal, conspiracies, love, honor — and that’s just Act 1 of Leonardo Vinci’s ‘Artaserse,’ a 1730 opera seria with a sensational libretto by Metastasio. Chicago’s Haymarket Opera Co.’s production was a popular and critical hit on stage in 2025. Now, with the same cast, it’s a compelling new recording.
Murder, Betrayal, and Countertenors Aplenty in Haymarket’s ‘Artaserse’ Read More »
A rewarding new biography on Henry Purcell brings the composer’s life and times into one slender volume. At the book’s center is an up-to-date dictionary — accessible to non-specialists — that mentions well-known collaborators and a range of musicians, political events, performance practices, relevant musical terms, and more.
Henry Purcell From All Sides Read More »
In a splendid new recording, soprano Hannah De Priest and period-instrument ensemble Les Délices offer pastoral dreams of Arcadia in cantatas and instrumental works by Rameau, Handel, Louis Lefebvre and others.
Arcadian Dreams from Cleveland Read More »
Lost until 2015, Telemann’s set of 12 Fantasies for viola da gamba were composed in the mid-1730s, about the time he published his often-heard fantasies for flute and for violin. Now Polish viola player Michał Bryła has smartly transcribed and brilliantly recorded the gamba fantasies. For Baroque violists looking for new solo repertoire, this is a rather stunning find.
New Viola Repertoire from Telemann Read More »
