A heady mix of Russian passion and French Polish, plus the best of February’s classical and jazz concerts

Nikolai Lugansky plays the 2nd concerto of Rachmaninov – Gregory Massat Graigue Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Bristol Beacon ★★★★☆ Live the difference. French orchestras really sound French, which we in this country can occasionally enjoy thanks to a French government scheme that supports orchestras that want to raise the flag abroad. The visitors currently on tour … Read more

Why contemporary musicians misinterpret Gershwin’s masterpiece

Experimenting with modern music: composer George Gershwin – Evening Standard/Getty Images Around the turn of 1924, all of musical New York was stunned at the prospect of an ‘Experiment in Modern Music’. The venue was the extremely luxurious Aeolian Hall, and the famous Paul Whiteman Band performed. It wasn’t quite the first experiment in combining … Read more