Guardian Music — (Decca)Soprano Danielle de Niese's debut disc for Decca was a collection of Handel arias, presumably designed to capitalise on her success in the Glyndebourne production of Giulio Cesare. If this follow-up is intended to demonstrate that De Niese is ... more info

Guardian Music — (RCA, three CDs)As he approaches his 80th birthday next month, Nikolaus Harnoncourt shows no sign of reining in his insatiable musical curiosity. Harnoncourt is one of the true pioneers of period-instrument performances in the 1960s and 70s and a mus... more info

Buffalo News, New York — Most conductors, quizzed about their childhoods, remember the first time they heard Mozart or Mahler. The high-profile young conductor Michael Christie-- who is coming to town to conduct the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in two concerts this weekend... more info

Guardian Music — Symphony Hall, BirminghamThe Academy of St Martin in the Fields is celebrating its half-century by touring Europe with Murray Perahia as pianist/director. This concert at Birmingham's Symphony Hall – given 50 years to the day since the Academy... more info

Guardian Music — Alfred Brendel quit while he was, magisterially, ahead. These CDs from farewell concerts in Vienna and Hanover include one concerto and a complete solo recital and show Brendel as one of the supreme pianists of our time. The deliberately un-virtuosic... more info

Buffalo News, New York — The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is launching its two-week-long Viennese Festival this weekend with music by Mozart, Beethoven, Fritz Kreisler and Joseph Marx. more info

Guardian Music — The Russian man-mountain is boxing's only known classical fan. Which piece should he choose to accompany his entrance to the ring?Looking forward to the big David and Goliath fight tomorrow night: the Hayemaker, Britain's David Haye, up against the B... more info

Guardian Music — Classic FM has announced its Children's Hall of Fame. Now Roger Wright, the controller of Radio 3, has sent me a rival list – and it contains some great music for all agesClassic FM has just announced its Children's Hall of Fame, a chart voted... more info

Guardian Music — Breathe a sigh of relief. The most anticipated album in the history of recorded music is, at last, seeing the light of day. Yes, Dannii Minogue's The 1995 Sessions will soon be with usForget Second Coming! Ignore Chinese Democracy! Laugh in the face ... more info

Guardian Music — Ever wondered what 37 different-sized wine glasses would sound like if they were played? Well, so did science boffin Benjamin Franklin in the mid-1700sWhat is it? The glass harmonica, or "armonica", is a beautifully steampunky spinning instrument mad... more info