PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
SPONSORED: CD Spotlight. True Command - James Brawn plays Bach, Liszt, Musorgsky and Rachmaninov - recommended by Andrew Schartmann.
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Classical music news - Jason Phillips - American composer and combat veteran Jason Phillips has composed a symphony and completed his graduate studies at Arizona State University
Classical music news. Defining Our Field - Classical Music Daily's June 2021 Newsletter is a panel discussion led by John Dante Prevedini, and has just been published as a video podcast
Classical music news. Streaming, Downloads and CDs - Classical Music Daily's May 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast
Classical music news. Creativity, Innovation and Re-invention - Classical Music Daily's April 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast
Classical music news. Hang in there together - Classical Music Daily's March 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast
Ensemble. Appreciation of Nature - Maria Nockin reviews a 'Met Stars' online concert from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, featuring Anna Netrebko, Elena Maximova and Pavel Nebolsin
CD Spotlight. Highly Effective - Gerald Fenech listens to miniatures by William Mathias. '... splendid and sweetly unaffected performances ...'
Classical music news. Christopher Gabbitas Appointment - Former King's Singers member Christopher Gabbitas is to become Phoenix Chorale's next Artistic Director
Ensemble. Simply Glorious - Verdi's 'La Traviata', live in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Intelligence and Beauty of Tone - Maria Nockin experiences Puccini's 'The Girl of the Golden West' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera
Ensemble. Traditional Settings - Puccini's 'Tosca' in high definition at New York Metropolitan Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Unexpectedly Long - Mozart's 'Idomeneo' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fine Film - San Francisco Opera's 2008 film of Puccini's 'La bohème', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fine Rendition - 'Don Giovanni' live in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Sensitive Expression - Puccini's 'Manon Lescaut' live in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. An Asian Fairytale - Puccini's 'Turandot' live in HD from New York, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Melodic Gold - Bizet's 'The Pearlfishers' live in HD from New York, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Painterly Production - Alban Berg's 'Lulu', live in high definition from Metropolitan Opera, impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Close to Perfection - 'Il Trovatore' live in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Thought Provoking Combination - Iolanta and Bluebeard in high definition from New York, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Performance - Offenbach's 'The Tales of Hoffmann', live in HD from New York, impresses Maria Nockin
A Fabulous Concert - Rachel Barton Pine's solo Paganini impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Great Deal of Fun - Maria Nockin enjoys Rossini's 'Barber of Seville' in HD from New York
Ensemble. A Great Privilege - Mozart's Marriage of Figaro live in HD from the New York Met, experienced by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Wildly Beautiful - Witches dressed as village ladies of the 1950s as New York Metropolitan Opera begins its HD broadcast season with Verdi's Macbeth, described by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Truly Exquisite - Mozart's Così fan tutte, live in high definition from New York, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Passionate Tones - La bohème in HD from The Met, appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Spirited Reading - Traviata at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Guitar and Cello - Maria Nockin listens to Eliot Fisk and Yehuda Hanani
Ensemble. Lyrical Beauty - A new edition of Prince Igor, experienced live in HD by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Crisp Elegance - Chamber music in Arizona, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Stylish Women - Verdi's Falstaff in high definition, live from New York, by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Great Deal of Fun - Maria Nockin takes a whiff of an early Shostakovich opera
Ensemble. The Highest Artistic Level - Maria Nockin loved The Met's 'Eugene Onegin' streamed live in HD
Ensemble. Interesting and Dramatic - Liszt's Dante Symphony and Antonio Estévez's Cantata Criolla, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Totally Authentic - 'The Marriage of Figaro' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Big Splash - Maria Nockin watches 'Rigoletto' from the Met, live in HD
Ensemble. Monumental Effect - Three companies combine forces, experienced by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Close Encounters - Maria Nockin listens to Yehuda Hanani, Erin Keefe and Jeffrey Swann
Ensemble. Luscious Vocal Colors - 'Tosca' at AZ Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Beautifully Reverent - Carols from Phoenix Chorale, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Informative and Exhilarating - Chamber and instrumental music from China and elsewhere, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Most Versatile - Mozart's 'La Clemenza di Tito' live in HD, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Expanding the Tale - Charles Gounod's 'Roméo et Juliette', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Elegant as well as Functional - Thomas Adès' 'The Tempest' live in HD, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Silvery Tones - Maria Nockin was at the opening concert of Phoenix Chorale's 2012-13 season
Ensemble. Opulent Tone - Anna Netrebko in Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore' live in HD from New York, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Gothic Ambience - A fine performance of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor' at Arizona Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. First Class - San Francisco Opera's film of Puccini's 'La bohème', seen by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Dramatic Singing - 'Peter Grimes' live from Milan in HD, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Major Treat - Maria Nockin listens to soprano Amber Wagner
Ensemble. A Charming Performance - Gluck's 'Orfeo ed Euridice' at Arizona Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Beautiful Discourse - Chamber music from Lydia Artymiw, Arnaud Sussman, Toby Appel and Yehuda Hanani, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Particularly Sumptuous - Verdi's 'Aida' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Energy and Fire - 'Close Encounters with Music' from Scottsdale, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Wonderfully Unusual - Vivica Genaux and Europa Galante, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. An Interesting Ambience - Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Believable Characters - Handel's 'Rodelinda' at New York Metropolitan Opera, reviewed from the HD transmission by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Most Interesting - 'Satyagraha' by Philip Glass, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Date with the Devil - Gounod's 'Faust' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Saturday Delight - 'Don Giovanni' from New York Metropolitan Opera in HD, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fine Representation - Donizetti's 'Anna Bolena' at New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Vocal Passion - Maria Nockin makes a virtual visit to Covent Garden for Verdi's 'Macbeth'
Ensemble. A Complete Delight - Wagner's 'Die Walküre' at New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed in HD from Arizona by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Very Credible - Verdi's 'Il Trovatore' from New York Metropolitan Opera in HD, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Rapturous Beauty - Richard Strauss's 'Capriccio', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Donizetti's 'Lucia di Lammermoor', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Riveting Characterization - Verdi's 'Otello' at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Emphasis on Personalities - John Adams' 'Nixon in China', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Opulent and Effective - Puccini's 'Turandot' in Arizona, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West' at the movies impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Stunning Artistry - New York Metropolitan Opera's Verdi's 'Don Carlo' transmission, seen and heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Positively Enchanting - Phoenix Opera's 'The Magic Flute', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Comedic Talents - Metropolitan Opera's 'Don Pasquale', live and in HD at the movies, by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Brisk and Powerful - 'Carmen' in Tucson, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Exquisite Performance - Metropolitan Opera's live HD transmission of 'Boris Godunov', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Admirable Precision - Maria Nockin reviews Arizona Opera's 'The Pirates of Penzance'
Ensemble. Unmitigated Fun - Covent Garden at the cinema, experienced by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Beautifully Managed - Music for flute and guitar, heard by Howard Smith. '... reflective and purposeful ...'
Ensemble. Hilariously Funny - Arizona Opera's 'The Barber of Seville', appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fascinating Afternoon - Mozart's 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail' live from Barcelona, enjoyed by Maria Nockin in Arizona
Ensemble. Consummate Skill - 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Truly Memorable - A concert of arias at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Close to Perfection - Verdi's 'Simon Boccanegra' broadcast from New York Metropolitan Opera, by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Bouquet of Bohèmes - Maria Nockin reviews one opera at two different venues
Ensemble. A Thrilling New Option - 'Il Trovatore' from Barcelona, experienced in Arizona by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Magnificent Performances - 'Salome' from Arizona, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Sizzling Rendition - 'Carmen' from Phoenix Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fine Rendition - 'Così fan tutte' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Different Rendition - Puccini's 'Tosca' on the big screen, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Luxurious Textures - Sacred music from the Phoenix Chorale, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Rare Treat - Verdi's 'Aida' from Prescott, reviewed by Susan Hampton
Ensemble. Thoroughly Enjoyable - An Arizona winter treat of Verdi's 'Aida', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Musical Gem - Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Profile. Rich Musical Experiences - American conductor Joel Revzen talks to Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Weekend - 'Tosca' and 'Mikado' in Arizona, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Three Questions before the First Night - Carson Cooman talks to Judith Lang Zaimont about her Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes