RegularsEditor'schoiceBestnew recordings of the month 4 Musical month Concert highlights to Febru.lry 5 5 From where I sit 'Marinaded' in opera: Amanda Holden 23 Singertalk Requiem for Nimbus 25 Readers' letters Demise of the small retailer 26 Collection Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues 28 US Section (US edition only) Paean for Robert Helps; Steven Mackey interviewed ; reviews and new releases A1-A15 Take 5 2001's Verdi operas reassessed 33 Take 5/2 This year's top DVD recommendations 36 Reputations Tribute to Leontyne Price 38 Replay Westminster treasures and old Voxes 41 Hindsight Life at Gramophone 70,50 and 30 years ago 138

Features_Ifill,;.•MagdalenaKozena is making a reputation for championing unpopular music 8 Interview Maria Bayo rises to the demands of Rossini 13 Interview Maurizio Pollini 'Pianist of his t ime' 15 Interview Chanticleer Puzzling out Tavener 16

NewsProblemsatWarners, EMI's Great Conductors series and andante. com opens its 'musicroom' 18

ReviewsOrchestralClassicBeecham reissues, Naxos'sJohn Field series continues and superb Mozart from Solomon 44 Chamber Rare recording of legendary duo Menuhin and Britten, inventive Martinu string duos and trios 58 Instrumental John Toll's final testament, superb early Scriabin from Stephen Coombs and the Pollini Edition 62 Vocal Delightful songs from a neglected French songstress and a 'fabulous' tribute to Victoria de los Angeles 68 Opera Bahm's last Fidelio, Kozemi's superb new recital disc and unmissable Tchaikovsky arias from Juli a Varady 78 DVD An unexpectedly superb Aida 88 Book reviews Behind the fac,ade: Walton's letters 93

AudioNewsIsdigitalradio ready for take-off?

Feedback Your hi-fi questions answered

Tests & Re.ports Home cinema - making sense of speakers and set-up 101 Reoc A3 103 Technics SLPG5 105 Tivoli Audio Model One Table Radio 108 Rotel RCD1070 110 Denon AVR-1602 112 Marantz PM4200 114 B&W DM601S3 116

96

99

DataSubscriptions 34 Classifieds 120 New releases 125 Recommended recordings 128 UK label directory 133 Reviews index 136 Advertisers' index 137

@rarnophone February 2002 3