Gramophone Magazine

This month’s cover feature marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, given at the Lucerne Festival when she was 13. After recording core repertoire for Deutsche Grammophon, Mutter has commissioned many composers to write new works, and Alpha Classics are releasing four albums that feature some of these, by composers from Thomas Adès to Unsuk Chin, and Jörg Widmann to André Previn. Lindsay Kemp meets her.

A long-lost student opera by Umberto Giordano, the Italian composer best known for Andrea Chénier, has recently been rediscovered. Marina – a story of love, loyalty and fatal consequence set against the backdrop of conflict between Montenegro and Serbia, received its first performance for almost 140 years and is now released on Decca Classics, with Eleonora Buratto and Freddie De Tommaso taking the main roles. Flora Willson takes up the story.

Drawing on personal experience, Jack Pepper discusses the varied criteria of composing music for royalty, and talks to composers including James MacMillan, Errollyn Wallen and Paul Mealor about fulfilling highly specific commissions for state occasions.

Our annual Orchestra of the Year Award returns as we reveal this year's shortlist of outstanding ensembles whose recorded achievements have earned them a place in contention – and invite readers to cast their votes for the eventual winner.

Among our regular features, Musician and the Score sees conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste delve into his interpretation of Sibelius's Fourth Symphony, while Icons celebrates the artistry of legendary horn player Barry Tuckwell. Our series on Contemporary Composers turns its attention to Joe Hisaishi, examining the wider concert music of the composer best known for his unforgettable Studio Ghibli film scores.