Classical music

Fresh Air's classical music critic, Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Prokofiev violin music with violinist Gil Shaham. (Deutsche Grammophon)

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new two-cd set of a 1962 performance of the opera "Susannah." It features the legendary American soprano Phyllis Curtin. The cd set is available on the VAI label. Schwartz is Classical Music Editor of the Boston Phoenix.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the long awaited reissue of Virgil Thomson's "Four Saints in Three Acts," (RCA Victor)

Mezzo-Soprano Lorraine Hunt. She appeared in Peter Sellars' productions of Handel and Mozart. Hunt has been called the "reigning Handel diva of our day." Hunt's Handel recordings can be found on the Harmonia Mundi label. Her latest is "Handel: Ariodante."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the latest recording by mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt: "Handel's Ariodante" on the Harmonia Mundi label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of live performances from the 1959 Salzburg Festival, including the late Erica Morini playing Mozart's Violin concerto No. 5, conducted by George Szell with the French National Radio and Television Orchestra. (on Sony)

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews Yo-Yo Ma's album "Concertos from the New World."

Pianist and composer Leon Fleisher. The 67 year old musician was a child prodigy. Thirty years ago he lost the use of his right hand, because of a disability, (later diagnosed as "repetitive stress syndrome") and so he began to play the left-hand repertory. Last year he made a "two-handed" comeback. It culminated with a performance on January 13, with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall. He credits the increased movement in his right hand to the deep message therapy, rolfing. (Interview by Barbara Bogaev)

Arranger and baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan died Saturday, January 20th, from complications due to surgery. He was 68. We will rebroadcast a 1989 interview with him. Mulliagn was an innovator in modern jazz orchestration. Early in his career he was staff arranger for Gene Krupa's big band. In 1949 he collaborated with Gil Evans and Miles Davis in the Nonet. The nine-piece band shook up jazz arrangers and launched the era of so-called cool jazz. He achieved international acclaim when he started a "pianoless" quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker in the early 1950's.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording by Maria Joao Pires and Augustin Dumay of Mozart and Brahms sonatas on the DG label. Schwartz is Classic Music Editor for the Boston Phoenix.