New Classical Tracks®

The male vocal ensemble Chanticleer has a new Christmas disc -- as their director explains, the disc takes its inspiration from their annual holiday concerts, and includes some special finds.

A sparkling new recording of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" will waltz the humbug right out of you.

On her new disc, mezzo Elina Garanca uses the character of Carmen as a starting point, but branches out into music with a gypsy connection, and music of Spain--an exploration that she describes with enthusiasm.

Youthful spirits and energy prevail on the new Mozart disc from violinist Lara St. John. It includes two solo concertos and the Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola--a piece she maintains is the greatest Mozart concerto of all.

Elgar's Violin Concerto turns 100 on Nov. 10. The work is daunting in its length, but intimate in its emotions. Violinist Nikolaj Znaider takes on its challenges on this centennial recording.

Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 ranks as one of the monuments of choral literature. Conductor Patrick Quigley, who interprets the work on a new CD, says he discovers new things in the score with every hearing.

This autumn is a busy time for composer Eric Whitacre. He's not only bringing out a new CD of his immensely popular choral works; he's also convening a 900-voice choir--on the Internet.

Jack Gallagher is a composer whose name will be unfamiliar to many--but that may change with this new release of his music by a major orchestra and a major conductor.

A new two-disc set of Bach flute sonatas is a delight. There's a mathematical precision to the music of Bach, an evocation of gears and machinery, and of myriad intricate pieces meshing together. But somehow, all this precision results in something that's not at all mechanical. In fact, it's downright sensuous.

On his new disc, pianist Evgeny Kissin joins with a youthful orchestra to explore the moods of Mozart's concertos--sometimes lyrical, sometimes stormy and dramatic.