Ugly, unnatural and ghastly: John Malkovich becomes a music critic

John Malkovich in The Music Critic

Malkovich delivers critical spleen

Malkovich’s oratory in The Music Critic

Alexey Igudesman leads musicians, while Malkovich looks on

John Malkovich

By Kurt Gottschalk, 05 November 2023

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“it’s nonsense when you’re in a creative field to think that everything you do will be adored”

Lawrence Dunn, 17th December

From Buxtehude, Bach and Handel, to contemporary composer Liza Lim, we take a tour of the myriad forms of composers’ handwriting and calligraphy – and how music makes itself on the page.

Songs from home: Magdalena Kožená in conversation

Elena Luporini, 10th November

Awarded with the 2025 Antonín Dvořák Award together with her husband Sir Simon Rattle, Magdalena Kožená talks about the richness of Czech music, language barriers, and the importance of reading programme notes.

The art of memory: classical music for mourning

Danny Riley, 28th October

From fulfilling funerary functions, to eulogising friends and fellow artists, or lamenting the waste of war: here are some of the finest examples of music written in mourning.

Fresh air and Swiss classics: Olga Scheps returns to Andermatt

Elodie Olson-Coons, 23rd September

The German pianist makes a return to Switzerland to tour Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto with conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer, in a William Tell-inspired programme that delves into the heart of Swissness.

Discovering Dvořák’s musical home in Bohemia

Frank Kuznik, 30th May

We take a trip to Antonín Dvořák’s birthplace, the composer summer hideaway Vysoká, and other spectacular cultural destinations in Central Bohemia.

Celebrating 25,000 reviews on Bachtrack

David Karlin, 28th May

Bachtrack’s 25,000th review marks 15 years of global classical music and dance coverage. Discover in-depth, professionally edited reviews in multiple languages from 37 countries – and tip your hat to our wonderful editors and reviewers.

Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.