Naxos Classical Spotlight

Naxos of America
  • 4.7 (18)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Naxos Classical Spotlight

Naxos Classical Spotlight explores the world of classical music. Along the way host Raymond Bisha shares the stories about the music, and the musicians who make it.

  1. Sheer Bliss

    6 HR. AGO

    Sheer Bliss

    Knighted in 1950, Sir Arthur Bliss was Master of the Queen’s Music in Great Britain from 1953 until his death in 1975. Raymond Bisha introduces a new album comprising both original works for brass band and arrangements of others for the ensemble that represent the breadth of the composer's output, from pieces of royal association (Welcome the Queen) to music for the concert hall (Kenilworth), the ballet stage (Adam Zero and Checkmate) and the cinema (Things to Come). John Wilson conducts the famous Black Dyke Mills Band, a highly distinguished contributor to the rich heritage of British brass bands. Bliss himself readily acknowledged the astonishing virtuosity of such highly disciplined amateur players, noting that “their rules are nearly as rigid as those of football teams!”

    20 min

  2. OCT 18

    Maria Herz (1878-1950). An overdue renaissance of an extraordinary musician.

    Raymond Bisha introduces the world premiere recordings of remarkable orchestral works by Maria Herz. Born in Germany, a resident of England and, her final resting place, the United States, her life was beset not only by two World Wars and ravages of the Spanish Flu, but also the attendant anchors of being a female, Jewish composer. Only two of her works were published in her lifetime. Now that her estate of manuscripts has been replanted in the Zurich Central Library, the renaissance of her engaging music has begun.

    20 min

  3. OCT 15

    Rebeca Omordia and African Pianism

    Join Rebeca Omordia as she continues her exploration of African piano music with her new album African Pianism, volume 2.  It is a collection of music that combines European music with the traditional music of many different countries in Africa.  The results are by turns joyous, beautiful and challenging as this music shows how classical music can be enriched by embracing other cultures. This multicultural heritage is also part of Rebeca’s own background, raised in Romania by a Romanian mother and a Nigerian father.

    35 min

  4. OCT 11

    The VOX Elite Recordings: Susskind and Semkow conduct Rimsky-Korsakov and Smetana

    Raymond Bisha's podcast spotlights two classic recordings in the Vox Audiophile Edition that were first released in the mid-1970s and feature two former music directors of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in their prime – Walter Susskind, who directs orchestral extracts from Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride, and Jerzy Semkow, who leads a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, one of the most popular suites in the entire orchestral canon.

    20 min

  5. OCT 4

    Bruckner's Symphonies. All Versions. Part 4.

    Marking the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth, this is the final podcast in Raymond Bisha's four-part survey of Naxos' project to record all 18 versions of the composer's 11 symphonies. With movements performed by the Bruckner Orchester Linz under conductor Markus Poschner, together with observations from Bruckner scholar Paul Hawkshaw, this instalment features movements from Symphonies 8 and 9.

    51 min

  6. OCT 1

    Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, celebrating 45 years.

    For all who have heard it, the sound of the choral ensemble The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers is unforgettable and beautiful.  This podcast features an interview with Harry Christophers, and music by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis and Arvo Pärt, from their album The Deer’s Cry.  On the eve of their US tour, this podcast celebrates their 45th anniversary.

    31 min

  7. SEP 27

    Bruckner's Symphonies. All Versions. Part 3.

    Marking the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth, this is the third podcast in Raymond Bisha's four-part survey of Naxos' project to record all 18 versions of the composer's 11 symphonies. With movements performed by the Bruckner Orchester Linz and the ORF Radio Vienna Symphony Orchestra, plus annotations from music scholar Robert Simpson, this instalment features movements from Symphonies 6 and 7.

    40 min

  8. SEP 20

    Bruckner's Symphonies. All Versions. Part 2

    Marking the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth, this is the second podcast in Raymond Bisha's four-part survey of Naxos' project to record all 18 versions of the composer's 11 symphonies. Featuring movements performed by the Bruckner Orchester Linz and the ORF Radio Vienna Symphony Orchestra, plus annotations from conductor Markus Poschner and Bruckner scholar Professor Paul Hawkshaw, this installment features movements from Symphonies 3, 4 and 5.

    52 min
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4.7
out of 5
18 Ratings

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Naxos Classical Spotlight explores the world of classical music. Along the way host Raymond Bisha shares the stories about the music, and the musicians who make it.

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