Bruno Monsaingeon directs this profile of pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who died in 1997. Footage of Richter in concert combines with his own diary readings and interviews with colleagues including Glenn Gould and Arthur Rubinstein.

This definitive encyclopaedic work explores the origins of percussion through the development of the early drums and xylophones right up to the wide range of modern instruments and the sounds they make. James Blades covers these early developments globally from China and the Far East, India and Tibet, the early civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia through to mediaeval and renaissance Europe. He continues to examine the role of percussion in the classical and romantic orchestras and finally looks at the ways composers have pushed the boundaries in modern music. Each chapter has its own photographs, illustrations and bibliography and there are comprehensive indices referencing all the composers and works discussed. This extended edition includes two important new chapters. The first covers the rise of the solo percussionist and is written by the world's leading practitioner and one of Blades' former pupils, Dame Evelyn Glennie, who also contributes a new Foreword, while recent developments in orchestral percussion are covered by Neil Percy, Head of Timpani and Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music and Principal Percussionist of the London Symphony Orchestra.

(Boosey & Hawkes Voice). 60 songs, with extensive historical introductory notes. Includes all art songs originally composed for voice and piano published by Boosey & Hawkes. The content is the same for the High Voice and Medium/Low Voice volumes, with newly published transpositions as necessary. Contents: The Birds * A Charm of Lullabies (5 songs) * Evening, Morning, Night * Fish in the Unruffled Lakes (6 songs) * The Holy Sonnets of John Donne (8 songs) * On This Island (5 songs) * Sechs Holderlin Fragmente (6 songs) * Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo) * Songs from the Chinese (6 songs, transcribed for voice and piano) * Winter Words (8 songs plus 2 songs cut from the cycle) * Two Ballads (duets).

The A Z of String Players surveys the lives, careers and recordings of over 300 string players from the past and present. Many great string players who have made recordings are included, from Accardo to Zukerman. The text covers artists from the earliest recording processes to contemporary, cutting-edge technology. In this clear and straight-forward publication, the artists are listed alphabetically, with a summary of their career, notable recordings, biography and critical appraisal of their recorded legacy. In addition, four compact discs present a selection of recordings from 69 artists. This package will appeal to enthusiast and scholar alike as a readable, informed and fascinating work of reference.

Benjamin Britten's opera, composed to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. He took as his starting point Lytton Strachey's 'Elizabeth and Essex'. Sarah Walker and Anthony Rolfe Johnson star.

Live performance of Benjamin Britten's three string quartets by the Belcea Quartet, recorded in June 2014 at Paris's Studio Davout.

Director Tony Britten's drama documentary examines the acclaimed composer's lifelong commitment to pacifism. Using a dramatic narrative to explore the development of Britten's pacifist beliefs during the time he spent at the liberally progressive Gresham's School in Norfolk between the years of 1928-1930, the film charts a time which marked a crucial period of the composer's personal and musical development. Interwoven throughout are contemporary performances of the composer's works and contributions from, amongst others, conductor and composer Joseph Horovitz, cellists Anita Lasker Wallfisch and Raphael Wallfisch, and Britten's agent for many years, Sue Phipps. John Hurt narrates.

Andris Nelsons leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in this 50th anniversary performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. The piece was commissioned to mark the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, which was built after the original fourteenth-century structure was destroyed in a World War II bombing raid in 1940. 50 years after its premiere it returns to the cathedral to be performed, as it was on its first airing, by the the City of Birmingham Orchegstra, Chorus, and Youth Chorus. The featured vocalists are Erin Wall, Mark Padmore and Hanno Müller-Brachmann.

Steuart Bedford conducts the Britten-Pears Orchestra in this production of Benjamin Britten's opera, recorded on the beach at the Aldeburgh Festival. The performance stars Alan Oke as the eponymous character with Giselle Allan as Ellen Orford and David Kempster as Captain Balstrode.

David McVicar's acclaimed production of Benjamin Britten's chamber opera, recorded live during its premiere run at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2001. Paul Daniel leads the English National Opera, with performances by Sarah Connolly, Christopher Maltman, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Mary Nelson.