Hi,
I’m Colin Anderson, a writer on music and the editor of Classical Source.
Welcome to my Column, a bit of a blog: news, reviews, things to watch, and other posts to read; a mix of things. I hope you like the contents.
Cheers, Col
![Beethoven 250: Pollini 109-111 [Deutsche Grammophon]](https://www.colinscolumn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/poll-400x250.jpg)
Beethoven 250: Pollini 109-111 [Deutsche Grammophon]
In other words, Beethoven’s Final Three Piano Sonatas, Opuses 109, 110 & 111. Recorded live in Munich in June last year, with applause removed to allow a continuous sequence, Maurizio Pollini’s approach is essentially no-nonsense – fiery and direct – but, as the...
BBC Proms Statement
Like all cultural organisations, we at the BBC Proms are currently dealing with unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. We are still hoping that the Proms will be part of the summer this year, although that will involve adapting and changing the festival we...
Bruckner in Berlin
On Classical Source there are quite a few reviews of the Berliner Philharmoniker (usually by me), courtesy of the Digital Concert Hall’s live relays. Currently (during the exceptional circumstances of COVID-19) its archive is free of charge and open to all. With much...
Three Winners from Hyperion: Brabbins/Vaughan Williams, Hough/Brahms, Osborne/Prokofiev
Martyn Brabbins continues his unmissable Vaughan Williams Symphony Cycle (5-star reviews on Classical Source so far, see below) with Numbers 3 (A Pastoral Symphony) & 4, from 1922 and 1935 respectively, both premiered by Adrian Boult, pre-knighthood. Brabbins...
Chandos releases Eugene Goossens from Melbourne
Best remembered as a conductor, Sir Eugene Goossens (1893-1962) wrote quite a few pieces; here are his Opuses 62 (the 40-minute Symphony 2) & 63 (Phantasy Concerto, for violin and orchestra, lasting half-an-hour); both have four movements. Neither work is a...
In Praise of Donald Runnicles
I had my Total Hip Replacement surgery on March 4. I was very anxious for several days beforehand. Some much-needed succour came on Feb 27, a Radio 3 concert live from Glasgow, which embraced Bruckner 8 (BBC Scottish SO), a magnificent account led by Donald Runnicles,...
Some of my favourite conductors
Ernest AnsermetLeonard BernsteinHerbert Blomstedt - http://classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=16609Pierre BoulezSir Adrian BoultMartyn Brabbins - http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_prom_review.php?id=16722Semyon Bychkov -...
Sad news: composer Gerard Schurmann has died at the age of 96.
