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American mezzo Susan Graham (above) has just finished recording her first disc for Onyx a label she has joined following several critically acclaimed releases for Warner Classics. Graham has completed an album of French melodies accompanied by Malcolm Martineau.

Violinist Nikolaj Znaider will increase his conducting commitments with an appointment as principal guest conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Music director Thomas Dausgaard has created the role in order to expand upon the orchestra's exploration of different programmes with a variety of...

Joel Smirnoff, the first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet, is to leave the group to become president of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Smirnoff, who has been a Quartet member since 1986, will continue performing with the group and teaching at the Juilliard School during 2008-09 while...

One of the largest boxes at the Royal Albert Hall is up for sale for £1 .2m from Harrods Estates. In the Grand Tier, on the same level as the Royal Box, not only does the 20-seat space give the owner automatic access to most performances but there is also room for a 10-seat dining table. Harrods...

English National Opera spokesman responding to a concerned newspaper critic who saw a parrot swinging on a perch in the Coliseum production of Der Rosenkavalier

Shop talk Best sellers Classicmania, Luxembourg 1 Rameau Une symphonie imaginaire Les Musiciens du Louvre MinkowskiArchiv Produktion 2 Beethoven Vn Conc. Romances Zimmermann; ECO / Tate EMI 5 4 3 Paganini. Spohr Violin Concertos Hahn; Swedish Rad SO / Oue DG Bach Violin Concertos Hahn; Los...

Berlioz himself had romantic complications, at one point even planning to break into his fiancée's home and kill her. Do you think there is any self-reference in this opera?