Is the Stenhammar 2nd symphony a great work? Listen to Lindberg’s account and you will realise that it is. And why shouldn’t it be? The first movement has all the autumnal romance you’d expect...

Author: Rachel Cusk Title: Kudos Published: 2018Rachel Cusk’s works are important pieces of literature, in fact so important that they are the kind of books that could stand the test of time.  Kudos is the third...

This is Brahms as it should be. Bold, grand, shamelessly romantic. Of course, Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin have given us first-rate symphony cycles of Schumann, Beethoven and lately Elgar, not to mention Barenboim's...

First the good news: This Shostakovich album by Nelsons is better recorded than the previous releases in this set (symphonies 5, 8, 9 and 10). But even though improved, the sound leaves something to...

Title: Heredirary Director: Ari Aster Release date: 2018So much has already been written about Hereditary: for some, it’s the new Exorcist, for others it’s a combination of The Shining and Rosemary’s Baby. Of course, on its...

Title: There There Author: Tommy Orange Published: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018This is Tommy Orange's debut novel and what a debut it is. What we have here is a fictional account of the lives of different Native Americans (mainly) living...

One could argue that admiration and jealousy between friends have existed since the beginning of time, but the burst of social media has exacerbated this phenomenon to new heights. Take Louise: an introvert, intelligent,...

"Bruckner's Eighth Symphony is the zenith of symphonic writing." — Sergiu Celibidache Is this the best symphony ever written? Quite possibly: even if it is nearly impossible to pick just one greatest symphony, Bruckner's 8th...

It's no surprise that this disc is immediately accessible and a joy to listen to. Lindberg's own compositions have always been a rewarding experience, not only focusing on technique (as many contemporary works do)...

A lot has been written about this book. Its title is Asymmetry, and this applies to its structure, content and meaning. The first part deals with the relationship between Ezra, a world-renowned writer in...