WHAT’S ON

Pianist Freddy Kempf, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, Saturday. Beethoven’s Pathetique and Waldstein piano sonatas and works by Liszt. Box office: 0191-443 4661.

REVIEWS

The Northern Sinfonia: Unknown Britten (NMC NMCCD140)

The Sinfonia conducted by Thomas Zehetmair presents no less than eight previously unrecorded works on a CD spanning the length of Benjamin Britten’s career. It includes a Clarinet Concerto orchestrated by Colin Matthews and In memoriam Dennis Brain; an anguishing work for four horns and strings, written after the instrumentalist was killed in a car crash. Soprano Sandrine Piau gives a brilliant interpretation of Les illuminations. Highly recommended.

The Sibelius Edition Vol 9: Chamber Music II (BIS)

Sibelius is most remembered for his symphonic works, yet he produced an impressive body of chamber works. This five-CD set focuses on chamber music for instrumental combinations other than quartets and piano trios and violin and piano which are carried on other sets. This series is a must in all Sibelius collections.

Works here range from his ealiest composition – 24-bar long Vattendroppar – to more mature works.