Classical music

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new album featuring the Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini playing four scherzis of Chopin.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "2 x Winterreise," a reinterpretation of a series of 24 poems by Wihelm Mueller set to the music of Schubert.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two recent reissues of violinist Joseph Szigeti playing Bach. Lloyd says that Szigeti was one of the 20th centuries Bach pioneers.

Composer John Corigliano, Composer-in residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His composition "Symphony No. 1" is Corigliano's personal statement about the AIDS crisis. The first three movements of the Symphony are dedicated to three of his lifelong musician-friends who died of AIDS. Corigliano was inspired to write the composition after seeing the AIDS memorial quilt. (Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim -- on the Erato Label, #2292-45601-2).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Opera Finales performed by soprano Josephine Barstow. (on the Decca label).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the restored score of Voltaire's "Candide," conducted by Leonard Bernstein a year before his death.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new collection of works by French composer Charles Koechlin ("Kuhch-LAN") performed by Boston Symphony flutist Fenwick Smith. (The album's called "Music for Flute" and it's on the Hyperion label).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new release by conductor Craig Smith. Smith is best known as the conductor of Peter Sellars' controversial stagings of Mozart operas. His new recording is of a series of motets by German composer Heinrich Schutz (rhymes with "putz"). It's performed by the Chorus of Boston's Emanuel Church, and it's on the Koch International Label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a reissue of an album of Mozart and Beethoven Duos and Sonatas.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tells us about a new release of some early performances by New York Philharmonic Conductor Sir John Barbirolli.