Classical music

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD collecting Boulez-led performances of works by, modern composers like Varese, Ligeti, and Webern. Schwartz says you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guide to this often difficult music.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new release of Thompson's musical character studies of friends, artists, and musicians, called Portraits and Self-Portraits.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a compact disc re-release of Pablo Casals' performance of Schubert's "String Quintet in C," which was recorded while the cellist was living in self-exile in Prades.

The Sony Classical label has begun issuing 50 CDs of the works of composer and conductor Pierre Boulez. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews three offerings, with Boulez conducting works by Varese, Ravel, and Schonberg.

Classical music critic reviews Creators' Records, which compiles historic recordings from 1877-1903 of legendary operas sung by the original performers.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says Russell Sherman's performances of these compositions are both technically accomplished and narratively powerful. A new recording has been released by the Albany Records label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of "Flavio" on the Harmonia Mundi label. He says it's perhaps the best performance of the opera since Handel's own time.

Kent Nagano conducts the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. He's known for performing lesser known, experimental works, including pieces by Olivier Messiaen and Frank Zappa. Contrary to many other musicians, he doesn't place much value in recordings, and believes the only way to fully appreciate a work is to witness it performed live.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says a new recording of the ballet, performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Bernard Haitink, lacks sexiness and uniqueness -- but the orchestra's precision allows the musicians to shine.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz has nothing but praise for two new CDs on the Pearl label, which feature recordings by the great violinist, Joseph Szigeti. Later in his career, Szigeti's developed a reputation for flagging technique and questionable intonation, but Schwartz says these performances should restore his reputation as a master musician.