Olafsson’s account of Beethoven’s Op 109 is one of the most beautiful on record, the centrepiece of a recording that links the composer to Bach and Schubert
Directorial tweaks weaken the opera’s fervour and idealism, but Jennifer Davis’s Leonore and Christina Gansch’s Marzelline both impressed and in the pit, Alexander Soddy keeps things brisk
The pianist’s severe, analytical style engages with two of the most challenging works in the repertoire to produce a disc of compelling, muscular authority
With a programme of Haydn, Beethoven and Liszt, the Kazakhstan-born winner of last year’s Leeds Piano Competition confirmed that he is a musician to watch
Giving only their second ever performance, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra was highly impressive and deeply moving in a programme of Silvestrov, Chopin, Beethoven and Brahms