At Glyndbourne, more “Other Demons” than “Love”

The haunting, unsettling opening moments of the Glyndebourne premiere of Peter Eˆtvˆsí ìLove and Other Demonsî promised much, with sensitive playing by the solo celesta and harp, flutter-tongued flutes, and jarring bass stings.

SZYMANOWSKI: Songs, Op. 31 and Op. 49.

The lyricism characteristic of the instrumental music of Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is at the core of his songs, and the two collections found on this recording represent his vocal music well.

Karajan on DG, EMI

The 100th anniversary of his birth inevitably produces a flood of releases from the catalog of conductor Herbert von Karajan.

SMETANA: Dv? vdovy (The Two Widows)

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) is, perhaps known best for his opera The Bartered Bride (1863, rev. 1870), a touchstone of comic opera fused with eastern-European nationalism and, as much as that work has much to offer, his other efforts deserve attention.

HINDEMITH: Mathis der Mahler

Premiered in 1938 in Zurich, Mathis der Maler was then the most recent of Paul Hindemithís provocative operas.

STRAUSS: Der Rosenkavalier ó Hamburg 1992

Der Rosenkavalier (‘The Knight of the Rose’): Komˆdie f¸r Musik in 3 acts.

Medieval Christmas

The festal days of Christmas, New Yearís, St. Stephen and St. Thomas Becket are rich in musical celebration, and this recording from the Orlando Consort brings together a wide range of organa, motets, chansons, and carols to remind us of that fact.

An operatic Hamlet faces slings and arrows

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/477976

Festival diary: Strange music, odd wallpaper

http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Festival-diary-Strange–music.4388565.jp

Edinburgh festival: Valery Gergiev – a Tsar on the side of the masses

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/08/14/bmgergiev114.xml