New post - a revealing interview with conductor Francesco Cilluffo about the little-known Delius work The Magic Fountain, which he will oversee at Wexford Festival Opera later this month: arcana.fm/2025/10/11/f...

A playlist to mark Arvo Pärt's 90th birthday: arcana.fm/2025/09/11/a...

A review of last night's BBC Proms concert: Boulez & Mahler from the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra under Hannu Lintu: arcana.fm/2025/08/05/p...

A review from the Three Choirs Festival - Richard Whitehouse on Howells and Bliss: arcana.fm/2025/08/03/t...

Finally, Richard Whitehouse appraising the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo - with Augustin Hadelich the soloist in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto: arcana.fm/2025/07/28/p...

A memorable Friday night Prom from Alexandre Kantorow and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Maxim Emelyanychev conducting Beethoven 5: arcana.fm/2025/07/27/p...

Next up, Richard Whitehouse reviews the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Boulez and Berio in last Wednesday's Prom: arcana.fm/2025/07/26/p...

Posting some reviews from the first week of the BBC Proms, beginning with Sean Shibe & the BBC Philharmonic under Anja Bihlmaier: arcana.fm/2025/07/24/p...

Richard Whitehouse reviews the first performance of Bliss's Viola Concerto from the Ryedale Festival - Timothy Ridout performing an orchestration by Philip Wilby with the Orchestra of @operanorth.co.uk: arcana.fm/2025/07/21/r...

Reviewed: Christian Ihle Hadland, Johan Dalene & Andreas Brantelid at @wigmore-hall.org.uk yesterday, playing Korngold and Ravel trios: arcana.fm/2025/07/08/d...

Richard Whitehouse reviews Fidelio @garsingtonopera.bsky.social: arcana.fm/2025/06/30/f...

On this day, 100 years ago - the world premiere of Prokofiev's Second Symphony. Buckle up! arcana.fm/2025/06/06/p...

On the 55th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ album here’s my recent short piece for arcana on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs: @punkandnewwave.bsky.social arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...

Here’s my short piece for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent Beatles book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs’: arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...

Memorable Beethoven and Schubert from Viktoria Mullova and Alasdair Beatson @wigmore-hall.org.uk: arcana.fm/2025/04/09/m...

Memorable Mozart, Mendelssohn & Mazzoli...all about the Ms from @philharmonialondon.bsky.social on Thursday: arcana.fm/2025/03/22/f...

By a very happy coincidence, here's a review of the new album from #RPSAwards winner, soprano Claire Booth: arcana.fm/2025/03/07/c...

Great to have a first performance of Bliss's Metamorphic Variations in an age - and confirmation of a recording, too! arcana.fm/2025/03/04/b...

Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of last night’s superb concert by Maria Schneider & Oslo Jazz Ensemble at @barbican.bsky.social performing pieces from her remarkable ‘Data Lords’ album considering digital and natural worlds. arcana.fm/2025/03/03/m...

Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of Susan Bullock and Richard Sisson’s superb concert at Bechstein Hall last Friday celebrating the Great American Songbook. arcana.fm/2025/02/23/b...

Clarinet-flavoured treats from the @philharmonialondon.bsky.social soloists yesterday: arcana.fm/2025/02/21/v...

I was asked to pick a ‘watershed’ musical moment from the last 10 years as part of @arcanadotfm.bsky.social’s 10th birthday celebrations. I chose Sebastian Rochford’s and Kit Downes’ ‘A Short Diary’. Here’s why: arcana.fm/2025/02/05/b...

A lively concert at Maida Vale yesterday: arcana.fm/2025/02/05/i...

Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of last Sunday’s terrific London Jazz Orchestra’s Vortex Jazz Club concert celebrating what would have been Kenny Wheeler’s 95th birthday. arcana.fm/2025/02/04/l...

Arcana @ 10 - David Gutman writes about his 'watershed moment', the Organ Concerto of Christopher Rouse: arcana.fm/2025/02/03/b...

Arcana @ 10 - Musical Moments: Stanford 'in G': arcana.fm/2025/02/02/b...

Happy birthday to us! arcana.fm/2025/02/01/a...

The return of Das Koolies - joyous news! arcana.fm/2025/01/23/d...

Here's a review of yesterday's @wigmore-hall.org.uk concert from the Juilliard String Quartet: arcana.fm/2025/01/21/j...

Richard Whitehouse reviews the latest concert in the Shostakovich & Weinberg series from Quatuor Danel at @wigmore-hall.bsky.social: arcana.fm/2025/01/17/q...

Switched On – Lightwave: Cités Analogues (Bureau B) by Ben Hogwood What's the story? In the story of electronic music – and especially that with a more experimental, ambient viewpoint – the name of Lightwave will not be known to many. Christoph Harbonnier and Christian Wittman released their first…

In appreciation – Elgar Howarth by Ben Hogwood This week we have learned the sad news of the death of Elgar Howarth at the age of 89. Howarth was a master of many disciplines, as this detailed obituary on the brass website 4barsrest outlines. Not only was he an inspired trumpet player, especially…

Switched On – Fennesz: Mosaic (Touch) by Ben Hogwood What's the story? The composition process for Christian Fennesz’s eighth album was relatively swift. Mosaic was written and recorded at the end of 2023 and completed in the summer of 2024, using a new studio space in the composer’s home city of…

On this day in 1945 – the world premiere of Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony The 13th January 1945 saw the world premiere of one of the 20th century’s best-loved symphonies, conducted by its composer at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. Sergei Prokofiev was the composer, with the USSR State…

On this day – Vassily Kalinnikov A slight liberty with 'on this day'...but a chance to bring one of Russia's lesser lights to the fore. Vassily Kalinnikov was born on 13 January 1866, and died on 11 January 1901 - a tragically early passing, thought to have been from tuberculosis. In that short…

Switched On – Ryan Teague: Chorale (self-released) by Ben Hogwood What's the story? Ryan Teague, the Bristolian soundsmith, has released a pair of instrumental compositions that suggest the influence of classical processes, combining simplicity and emotion. What's the music like? From its title,…

In appreciation – Colin Tilney by Ben Hogwood Image (c) Toronto Star via Getty Images Over Christmas we heard the sad news that pioneering harpsichordist Colin Tilney had died, at the age of 91. A pupil of the legendary Gustav Leonhardt, Tilney specialized mostly on the harpsichord but could also…

The Borrowers – The Beach Boys: Lady Lynda by Ben Hogwood What tune does it use? A choral piece by Johann Sebastian Bach, called Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring). It is the tenth movement of his cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and mouth and deed and life),…

A quick bit of Elvis on what would have been his 90th birthday...via the @royalphilorchestra.bsky.social: arcana.fm/2025/01/08/e...

A piece on the music behind the much-loved 'Vera' composed by Ben Bartlett: arcana.fm/2025/01/07/v...

First post of the year! Make sure you listen to the Judith Bingham piece at the bottom, too: arcana.fm/2025/01/06/e...