Advanced Search


FOLLOW US ON
Composers• Artists• Orchestras/Ensembles• Catalogue• Editions/Series• News• About Us• Subscribe to Newsletters• Reviews
LISTEN TO US ON
  • Composers
  • Artists
  • Orchestras/Ensembles
  • Catalogue
  • Editions/Series
  • News
  • About Us
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • Reviews
  • FOLLOW US ON
  • LISTEN TO US ON

  1. Classical Music Home
  2. News

News
Features
In the Studio
Interviews
Naxos News
Podcast
Sounds Interesting
Thought for the Week

2022
2021
2020
2018
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Sounds Interesting: Oxymoron for Orchestra
December 31, 2021

This podcast from the Naxos Sounds Interesting series focuses on a selection of concertos written not for household-name soloists, but for the collective virtuosity of an orchestra’s serried ranks.
(Read more)

Podcast: Weinberg’s comprehensive keyboard catalogue
December 24, 2021

In this week’s podcast, Raymond Bisha introduces the 4-CD collection of the complete piano works of Mieczysław Weinberg — from teenage mazurkas written in his native Poland through to his last works for the instrument composed in Moscow.

(Read more)

Leonard Balada receives XVIII SGAE Prize
December 17, 2021

Naxos sends its congratulations to Catalan composer Leonardo Balada, who has won this year’s XVIII SGAE Prize for Ibero-American Music ‘Tomás Luis de Victoria’. Organised by the SGAE Foundation, the award recognises Balada’s substantial contribution to the enrichment of the musical heritage of Ibero-American communities through his creative work and “for the universality of his musical language.”

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Counter-tenorism.
December 17, 2021

The human voice, Nature’s ‘instrument’, is a flexible piece of equipment. Men singing in the female sex’s natural register or ‘modal voice’ is usually referred to as a counter-tenor, sometimes a male soprano.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: December’s in the ayre.
December 03, 2021

Although city centres and shopping complexes have for some weeks been ringing with the sound of musical Christmas jollies, this blog presents the reverse side of the coin, with a small selection of works that reflect a less traditional side of the month of December.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Sounds effective.
December 01, 2021

Whatever the instrument, mastery of performance technique is a daunting challenge. But spare a thought for string players who probably suffer at the hands of exploitation more than others.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: A Frame of Gnomes
November 19, 2021

The nearest I’ve ever got to a gnome is by eyeing its dictionary definition

(Read more)

ICMA 2022 nominations
November 16, 2021

Recordings from Naxos and its affiliated labels were among the recently announced nominations for the 2022 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA).

(Read more)

Podcast: A forgotten treasure. Marin Alsop discusses Hindemith.
November 12, 2021

This podcast features Marin Alsop in conversation with Raymond Bisha following the release of her first album for Naxos as chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Alexander Zemlinsky (1871–1942).
November 05, 2021

2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Zemlinsky, the Austrian composer, conductor and teacher.

(Read more)

Sounds Interesting: Sounds disastrous
October 29, 2021

This podcast from the Naxos Sounds Interesting series introduces a selection of classical music items associated with natural disasters, from Biblical times to modern eras.

(Read more)

Podcast: Paired to perfection. Tianwa Yang plays Prokofiev’s violin concertos.
October 22, 2021

Violinist Tianwa Yang marks her fifteenth year as one of Naxos’ leading artists with a new album featuring Prokofiev’s two violin concertos.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Earworms for bookworms.
October 15, 2021

I recently registered with my local library and duly received a plastic card that gives me borrowing rights.

(Read more)

Podcast: A centenary special – Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Complete Symphonies and Dances
October 08, 2021

An introduction to the Symphonies and Dances of composer Malcolm Arnold featuring conductor Andrew Penny who recorded all these works for Naxos.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021)
October 01, 2021

Amid the busy world news scene last month, the announcement of the passing of the Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis on 2 September at the age of 96 escaped my attention.

(Read more)

Podcast: Mapping a musical monument. Giltburg’s Beethoven 32.
September 24, 2021

Raymond Bisha presents an overview of Boris Giltburg’s project to learn and record all of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas, which are now released in a 9-CD boxed set edition following their inception as critically acclaimed digital releases.

(Read more)

Classical Music News: From the Naxos Blog: Gershwin whingers.
September 17, 2021

I’ve always found it intriguing how a quality composition is seemingly indestructible when it’s pressed into new clothes by skilled arrangers.

(Read more)

Podcast: Versatilité sans frontières. Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint–Georges (1745–1799).
September 10, 2021

Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was a brilliant swordsman, athlete, violin virtuoso and gifted composer, with a claim to being the most talented figure in an age of remarkable individuals.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Day in, day out.
September 03, 2021

If there’s a man for all seasons, is there a music for all days? The answer seems to be ‘yes’, so off we go.

(Read more)

Podcast: The string quartets of Jurgis Karnavičius (1884–1941).
August 27, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces the second volume of string quartets by the Lithuanian composer Jurgis Karnavičius (1884–1941), recorded by the Vilnius String Quartet on the Ondine label.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: High scores.
August 20, 2021

It might seem improbable that something as solid and stolid as a mountain could be inspirational to composers.

(Read more)

Podcast: Jazz idioms, classical structures. Symphonic works by Nikolai Kapustin (1937–2020).
August 13, 2021

Significantly influenced by his experience of playing in some of the earliest Soviet jazz bands, Nikolai Kapustin trained as a pianist at the Moscow Conservatory but subsequently devoted himself to composition.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: F sharp major, of all keys!
August 06, 2021

Western composers uniformly embraced the system of tonality for some two centuries, until it found itself challenged by a radical alternative system called atonality around the year 1900.

(Read more)

Sounds Interesting: The barbers of the quill.
July 30, 2021

This podcast from the Naxos Sounds Interesting series introduces a selection of classical music items associated with male personal grooming experts, either by profession or name.

(Read more)

Podcast: Music of Brazil. The Villa-Lobos violin sonatas.
July 23, 2021

Raymond Bisha prefaces his latest podcast with this introduction: “Heitor Villa-Lobos, the prolific Brazilian composer of some 2,000 works, conductor, cellist, guitarist and music educationalist, wrote his three violin sonatas between 1912 and 1920.

(Read more)

Podcast: Camille Saint-Saëns. A symphonic collection.
July 16, 2021

French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) is remembered as someone who could spin melodies as easily as he breathed.

(Read more)

In the Studio: JoAnn Falletta records William Walton’s ‘Facade’
July 15, 2021

In July of 2021, I finally met with an all-star cast at the Virginia Arts Festival to work on a pandemic delayed project—the first complete recording of the Walton Facade, including the appendix of four poems that had never been captured on recording.

(Read more)

In the Studio: Rosemary Tuck meets Albert Ketèlbey in the mystical land of Oz
July 12, 2021

Long before Madonna’s lucrative three-word ‘Like a Virgin’ spin-offs, Albert Ketèlbey had his own attention-grabbing four-word version: In a Chinese Temple Garden, In a Monastery Garden and my favourite of all, In a Persian Market.

(Read more)

Podcast: The Power of Tower
July 09, 2021

With multiple GRAMMY nominations and wide critical acclaim to her credit, Joan Tower’s latest album in the Naxos American Classics series demonstrates why she is so often performed, and why she is such a respected person among American composers.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Musical discoveries U–Z
July 02, 2021

We reach the final instalment of our alphabetical collection of composers whose music has been somewhat neglected as the years have rolled by, with this blog casting a spotlight on Galina Ustvolskaya, Francesco Maria Veracini, Peter von Winter, Iannis Xenakis, Isang Yun and Joaquim Zamacóis.

(Read more)

Podcast: Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy (1744–1824). Piano sonata premieres.
June 18, 2021

Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy ran one of the finest salons in pre-revolution Paris.

(Read more)

Naxos artist Julian Lloyd Webber included in The Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours List
June 15, 2021

All at Naxos send their warmest congratulations to Julian Lloyd Webber following his inclusion in The Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours List on the 11th of June.

(Read more)

2021 OPUS Klassik Awards – nominees announced
June 12, 2021

Recordings from the Naxos label are among the recently announced nominations for the 2021 OPUS Klassik Awards, Germany’s most prestigious awards body for classical music.

(Read more)

Podcast: Liszt’s musical makeovers.
June 11, 2021

From composer to transcriber to performer — less instantaneous than modern transmissions, but it’s how many works first came to be known by music lovers before the dawn of the age of technology.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Musical discoveries P–T
June 04, 2021

Continuing our alphabetical spotlighting of less well-known composers and their works, this week’s blog visits Italy, Poland and Guatemala and presents music from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

(Read more)

Podcast: Dancing elegance, melodic flow. Overtures by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber.
May 28, 2021

Daniel-François-Esprit Auber (1782–1871) was one of the most famous composers of the 19th century.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Musical discoveries K–O
May 21, 2021

Karłowicz, Lipiński, Magnard, Nepomuceno, Ohzawa. These are the composers who give us our next alphabetical tranche of unfamiliar names and neglected outputs that deserve a more frequent airing.

(Read more)

Podcast: Introducing guitarist Mabel Millán. From lyrical beauty to dramatic virtuosity.
May 14, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces Spanish guitarist Mabel Millán in her debut album for Naxos.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Musical discoveries F–J
May 07, 2021

This is the second instalment in our alphabetical sifting through composers whose profiles are sadly more obscure than their quality compositions often deserve.

(Read more)

Sounds Interesting: Alma. Her life, loves, lieder.
April 30, 2021

This podcast from the Naxos Sounds Interesting series focuses on Mahler’s wife, Alma.

(Read more)

Podcast: Music networking on the Inca Trails.
April 23, 2021

In this podcast, Raymond Bisha takes us on a journey across South America, making musical stops in the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Musical discoveries A–E
April 16, 2021

This is the start of a 5-part series highlighting the distinctly engaging music of less well-known composers.

(Read more)

Podcast: Archivo de Guatemala. Where indigenous styles meet courtly life.
April 09, 2021

Raymond Bisha’s latest podcast finds him in conversation with world-renowned guitarist and lutenist Richard Savino who introduces his debut recording for Naxos that also features his renowned ensemble El Mundo.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Easter pegs
April 02, 2021

Places of Christian worship the world over will be marking the Easter Story at this time, no doubt with many performances of sacred music that vividly portray the central scenes of Jesus’ execution on the cross, his entombment, and his subsequent resurrection.

(Read more)

2021 Classical Woman of the Year: Marin Alsop
March 30, 2021

Naxos is pleased to relate the announcement that Marin Alsop, one of the label’s major recording artists, has been named Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today, the popular American classical music radio programme.

(Read more)

Podcast: Colour-contrast-surprise. The symphonies of John Abraham Fisher (1744–1806)
March 26, 2021

Described as having ‘natural genius’, John Abraham Fisher was a significant figure in London during the second half of the 18th century.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: All the fun of the fanfare.
March 19, 2021

A fanfare is a flourish of trumpets or other similar instruments, used for military or ceremonial purposes, or music that conveys this impression.

(Read more)

Naxos receives 2 GRAMMY Awards
March 16, 2021

Naxos is delighted to be among the recipients of this year’s GRAMMY Awards, announced on 14 March.

(Read more)

Podcast: Piano music by Aram Il’yich Khachaturian (1903–1978), ‘mouthpiece of the entire Soviet Orient’.
March 12, 2021

Aram Il’yich Khachaturian once described how he “grew up in an atmosphere rich in folk music, popular festivals, rites joyous and sad, events in the lives of people always accompanied by music… deeply engraved in my memory, that determined my musical thinking.”

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Magic moments.
March 05, 2021

Do you recall hearing a particularly affecting piece of music for the first time, maybe as a younger newcomer to the world of classical music?

(Read more)

Podcast: Villa-Lobos and the art of choral transcription.
February 26, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces a new album of choral transcriptions by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959) that forms part of Naxos’ Music of Brazil series.

(Read more)

Video interview: a choral conversation with composer Alexander Campkin
February 24, 2021

The young British composer Alexander Campkin has already received over 90 commissions from organisations such as The Royal Opera House, The London Mozart Players, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Aldeburgh Music and The BBC Performing Arts Fund.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: Judgement day.
February 19, 2021

There are as many interpretations of pieces of classical music as there are pairs of ears – that’s inner ears for conductors, and physical ears for audiences.

(Read more)

Podcast: Orchestral works by Žibouklé Martinaityté – a textural magician.
February 12, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces a new album of orchestral works by Žibouklé Martinaityté (b. 1973).

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: A centenary’s outs and ins [2]
February 05, 2021

Picking up from our last blog that featured musicians who died a century ago, in the year 1921, we consider a selection of singers, instrumentalists and composers who were born in that year.

(Read more)

Sounds Interesting: In the wrong place at the wrong time.
January 29, 2021

This podcast from the Naxos Sounds Interesting series spotlights a collection of unfortunate musicians who became hostages of war at the outbreak of the First World War and whose story is as inspiring as the music that sustained them.

(Read more)

Podcast: Hit and bliss. Dame Evelyn Glennie performs mallet percussion concertos.
January 22, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces a new album of 21st-century mallet percussion concertos performed by virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong under Jean Thorel.

(Read more)

From the Naxos Blog: A centenary’s outs and ins
January 15, 2021

Following the 2020 global Beethoven birthday bash, I’m going to run the risk of anniversary fatigue by dwelling on what comes in its wake: 2021 and a collection of milestones marking the centenaries of either the births or deaths of a number of composers and artists.

(Read more)

John Georgiadis (1939–2021)
January 08, 2021

John Georgiadis, the British violinist, conductor and Naxos artist, has died at the age of 81.

(Read more)

Podcast: The art and craft of John Adams.
January 08, 2021

Raymond Bisha introduces a programme of orchestral music by the Pulitzer and Erasmus Prize-winning American composer John Adams.

(Read more)

Podcast: Bruckner’s Latin motets. Devotions of distinction.
January 01, 2021

Choral music formed an important part of Anton Bruckner’s output throughout his career, even though the genre was widely underappreciated by a public more inclined to large-scale symphonic and operatic works.

(Read more)





Contact Us• Distributors• Licensing• Subscribe to Newsletters



Privacy Policy | Terms of Use