Music
The music of innocence
Michael Henderson on the splendour of carols
That’s what I call music
Albums of the year? What a good question. Some years we can answer it, some years we can’t. The essence…
Beauty without consolation
Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata is thrilling and brain-twisting. Its nickname derives from the fact that it was published as a sonata…
Notes on a scandal
While the airwaves resonate with celebrations of Britten’s birth, I cannot help thinking that what was happening in Paris at…
Remembering John Tavener
When I first met John Tavener in 1977, he was still largely known for his dramatic cantata The Whale, which…
Trivial moaning
There is much to be said for Schadenfreude. (If it was edible, it would be a meal in a very…
Conduct becoming
Michael Henderson talks to the youthful conductor Daniel Harding, who realises that the older he gets the more he has to learn
Singing under cardboard
To undertake a concert tour of New Zealand’s cathedrals at the moment is to be constantly reminded of the destructive…
Dangerous liaison
It’s taken 40 years, but I’ve finally developed a taste for the one type of classical music that I couldn’t…
First impressions
First impressions always count, and they are almost always wrong. This is particularly pertinent if you review albums for a…
Spaced out
Does London need another concert hall? Or, to put it more precisely, does London need another chamber music hall? The…
Theological warfare
How many battles have been fought over sacred music throughout history? The noise you make when you worship is a…
Love rekindled
How and when do you become ‘a fan’, exactly? You can usually spot pop stars who are losing touch with…
It ain’t half hot
Gossip that an orchestral player fainted while performing in the Albert Hall during the recent heatwave points to a strange…
‘I adore the stage’
Michael Kennedy salutes the mezzo-soprano Janet Baker,who celebrates her 80th birthday next week
J.J. Cale’s vision
‘I don’t really like most of the music you play,’ said the tall blonde woman with whom I share my…
Old friends
Mention of the 70th anniversary of Composer of the Week brings to mind a distinguished list of long-running programmes on…
Neglected maverick
When I was in my late twenties I discovered the joy of drinking alone. Well, perhaps ‘joy’ is putting it…
Fat boys slim
Don’t worry, I’m not going to go on about Glastonbury. I wasn’t there, I never have been and, unless forced…
French disconnection
One of the many cultural initiatives to have come out of France in the past 50 years — and therefore…
Greatest show on earth
Yes, I’m sorry, the Stones at Glastonbury really were that good and if you weren’t there I’m afraid you seriously…
The Wright stuff
Kate Chisholm talks to the director of the BBC Proms about the challenges of coming up with 75 nightly programmes
