Classical music

Classical music Lloyd Schwartz reviews a series of compact disc reissues featuring violinist Joseph Szigeti (si-GETT-ee).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the work of pianist Leonard Shure. Shure turns 80 this spring, and Lloyd says the older Shure gets, the he gets. Lloyd particularly recommends the recordings Shure made for Audiofon about a decade ago.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new series of early operatic recordings reissued on the Nimbus. Lloyd says Nimbus went to extraordinary lengths to re-record these vintage performances from the first half of the century, and the care shows.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz pays tribute to the late mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani (DEE-guy-tahny). DeGaetani died last September; Lloyd reviews her last album, just released by Bridge records. It contains works by Berlioz and Mahler.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new album of contemporary American music by pianist Ursula Oppens. It has music both commissioned and performed by Oppens. It's "Ursula Oppens Plays American Piano Music of Our Time" on the Music & Arts label.

Arranger and baritone saxophonist, Gerry (pronounced "jerry") Mulligan. He's been 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 recent recordings of three Mendelssohn string symphonies, all written in Mendelssohn's teens. They're performed by William Boughton and the English String Orchestra.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of 17th century composer Henry Purcell's "The Fairy Queen."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the recordings of music by composer, Sofia Gubaidulina (So-FEE-ah Goo-bye-DOO-lee-na). She's the Soviet Union's leading female composer.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Ferruccio Busoni's (fe-ROOCH-ee-oh boo-SONY) piano concerto, performed by Garrick Ohlsson accompanied by the Cleveland Orchestra. Lloyd says the concerto is one of the most ambitious works ever composed, and this new recording should revive interest in it.