Naxos International (Far East) Limited5B, Blue Box Factory Building, 25 Hing Wo Street, Tin Wan, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Tel: 2951 9557 Email: info@naxos.com.hk

MAY-JUN 2012NEW RELEASE GUIDE

THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:

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Great European Choral WorksThe All Star

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Manuel de FALLALa vida breve

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Carlo GESUALDO da Venosa (1566-1613)Madrigals Book 4Delitiæ Musicæ • Marco Longhini

Gesualdo’s Fourth Book of Madrigals contains some of the most inspired and anguished vocal works in the entire madrigal repertoire, written while the composer was tormented by remorse after the murder of his wife and her lover.

This collection is filled with technical innovation and extremes of expressiveness in its setting of highly dramatic texts. Unexpected dissonance, harmonic twists and elusive asymmetries all serve to dismantle the compositional rules of the period. Previous volumes in this series have been widely acclaimed. The Guardian described Book 2 (8.570549) as having “great beauty and lyrical force”.

Delitiæ Musicæ’s acclaimed survey of Monteverdi’s Madrigals and their previous volumes of Gesualdo make this Fourth Book of Madrigals self-recommending. MusicWeb International found that “repeated listenings only serve to reveal the depth and the beauty of Gesualdo’s achievement”, and Gramophone revelled in the series’ “upward trajectory”, both when describing the previous volume of Book 3 (8.572136).

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Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934)A Mass of LifePrelude and IdyllJanice Watson (soprano) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano) Andrew Kennedy (tenor) Alan Opie (baritone)The Bach Choir • Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra • David Hill

Long an admirer of Nietzsche’s poetry, Frederick Delius composed A Mass of Life while at the height of his powers, blending passages from Also Sprach Zarathustra into orchestral textures of great expressive depth and striking beauty. Written in his final years, the Prelude and Idyll sourced music from a long discarded opera, transforming a story of lust and vengeance into one which emphasizes the transience of life and love. David Hill’s previous BSO recordings include a “perfectly judged” Dies natalis by Gerald Finzi (The Guardian on 8.570417), while his Vaughan Williams Sancta Civitas (8.572424) was described as “thrilling… a great case for a neglected work”. (Classic FM)

Renowned for his fine musicianship, David Hill is widely respected as both a choral and an orchestral conductor. He became The Bach Choir’s ninth Musical Director in 1998; he is also Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers and Associate Guest Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. 8.572861-62 (2 CDs)

Gustav HOLST (1874-1934)Symphony in F major, Op 8, H47, ‘The Cotswolds’Walt Whitman – Overture, Op 7, H42Indra – Symphonic Poem, Op 13, H66Japanese Suite, Op 33, H126 A Winter Idyll, H31Ulster Orchestra • JoAnn Falletta

Gustav Holst’s youthful enthusiasm for Wagner is reflected in his ebullient Walt Whitman overture written in 1899. Shortly afterwards he composed the Cotswolds Symphony which embraces hints of contemporary British folk music but is dominated by the slow movement, a profound elegy for the utopian socialist William Morris. Though completed at college, A Winter Idyll shows real orchestral assurance. Indra is an accomplished tone poem revealing Holst’s interest in the legends of India, whilst the glittering and evocative Japanese Suite was written in response to a request from a Japanese dancer appearing in London.

The Ulster Orchestra is one of Northern Ireland’s cultural cornerstonesand since its foundation in 1966 has become one of the major symphony orchestras in the United Kingdom and Ireland. JoAnn Falletta was appointed Principal Conductor in May 2011, the orchestra’s twelfth but first female and first American to be appointed to the post. 8.572914

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992)Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorumLe tombeau resplendissant HymneOrchestre National de LyonJun Märkl

Olivier Messiaen’s uniquely distinctive and powerfully expressive musical voice drew strength from

religious faith and nature. A prestigious commission, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum commemorates the dead of two World Wars through the transcendence of Christ’s Resurrection. Scored for winds and percussion, the work is conceived for and conjures up vast spaces. Le tombeau resplendissant and Hymne are early works, but equally filled with mystery and symbolism. Fanfare magazine described Jun Märkl’s previous volume in this series (Poèmes pour Mi / 8.572174) as “the best recording around of a mesmerizing masterwork”.

With the ground prepared for it so well by the acclaimed first volume in the ONL Messiaen series, this new recording of Et Exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum has been keenly anticipated, all the more so because of the inclusion of two little-recorded works by this unique composer.

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Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b 1933)Fonogrammi • Horn Concerto ‘Winterreise’ •PartitaThe Awakening of Jacob • Anaklasis • De natura sonoris I • Urszula Janik (flute) • Jennifer Montone (horn) • Elżbieta Stefańska (harpsichord)Michał Pindakiewicz (electric guitar) • Konrad Kubicki (bass guitar)

• Barbara Witkowska (harp) • Jerzy Cembrzyński (double bass) • Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra • Antoni Wit

Each of these six orchestral works bears the imprint of Penderecki’sgreatness as a composer. Fonogrammi alternates piquant sonorities, pulsating vehemence and moments of great intimacy. Intensity accompanied by neo-Romantic elements can be heard in The Awakening of Jacob whilst Anaklasis is a stunning example of juxtaposed, multiple sound patterns. De natura sonoris I explores more improvisational, jazz-influenced areas, as does the richly orchestrated Partita. The Horn Concerto, composed in 2008, offers an evocative landscape, glacial, powerful, yet wistful. 8.572482

Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)Symphony No 5 in B flat major, Op 100The Year 1941, Op 90São Paulo Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop

Written in 1944, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony is one of his greatest andmost complete symphonic statements. At its première he

himself called it “a symphony of the grandeur of the human spirit”. The first movement couples considerable strength with unexpected yet highly characteristic twists of melody. After a violent scherzo followed by a slow movement of sustained lyricism, with a fiercely dramatic middle section, the finale blazes with barely suppressed passion. The Year 1941 is another wartime work, a symphonic suite written in response to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This is the first volume of a complete cycle of the Prokofiev Symphonies with the OSESP and Marin Alsop, the orchestra’s newly appointed Principal Conductor.

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Franz LISZT (1811-1886)Complete Piano Music, Vol 35 Russian TranscriptionsAlexandre Dossin (piano)

Liszt first visited Russia in April 1842 when he travelled to St. Petersburg and was so rapturously received thathe returned the following year. His last tour came in 1847, the year of his retirement as a concert artist.

During these visits he wrote transcriptions of Russian music. There is a stunning transcription derived from a march from Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila, as well as from the Polonaise from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. But he ranged widely, from a César Cui Tarantelle, and Anton Rubinstein’s lovely songs to a tender and beautiful folk song called Abschied.

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Simon MAYR (1763-1845)Samuele (Oratorio)Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano - Samuele) • Susanne Bernhard (soprano - Anna) • Rainer Trost (tenor - Elcana) • Jens Hamann (bass - Eli) • Simon Mayr ChoirIngolstadt Georgian Chamber Orchestra • Franz Hauk

Influential, popular and prolific in his day, Bavarian born Simon

Mayr left his mark in providing a bridge between Northern classicism and the bel canto of Italy, his adopted country of residence. The oratorio Samuele deals with the calling of Samuel as a prophet, and was written in 1821 for the consecration of Pietro Mola as Bishop of Bergamo. Mayr set his oratorio to the Poesia of one of his pupils, Bartolomeo Merelli, the collaboration resulting in a fascinating work which combines theology with dramatic innovation such as the use of ‘melodrama’ or spoken text. 8.572721-22 (2 CDs)

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959)La revue de cuisine: Ballet du Jazz, H 161 (Complete)Concerto for Harpsichord and Small Orchestra, H 246Chamber Music No 1 (‘Les fêtes nocturnes’), H 376Les rondes, H 200Robert Hill (harpsichord)Holst-Sinfonietta Klaus Simon (conductor & piano)

Ranging from 1927 to 1959, the year of Martinů’s death, these four works reveal his unceasing versatility in chamber repertoire. La revue de cuisine, heard here in a recent reconstruction of the original complete score, is a supreme example of Martinů’s jazz style. In Les rondes he evokes his Moravian folk heritage. The Harpsichord Concerto is resourcefully scored and brilliantly crafted, whilst Chamber Music No. 1 (‘Les fêtes nocturnes’), one of his last works, sees no cessation of his invention nor of his delight in atmospheric colour. This disc catches the composer in the full flood of fluency and the four works are uniquely coupled in our disc. 8.572485

Karl WEIGL (1881-1949)Toteninsel (Isle of the Dead) • Six Fantasies • Bilder und Geschichten (Pictures and Tales), Op 2 • Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies), Op 13 • Tanz der Erinnyen (Dance of the Furies)Joseph Banowetz (piano)

World Première Recordings Except

Karl Weigl was part of the rich cultural life of Vienna at the turn of the last century. One of his earliest works, Isle of the Dead was inspired by Böcklin’s famous symbolic painting and here receives its first known performance. Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies) relates to the two Nachtmusik movements of Mahler’s Symphony No. 7. Folklike but deceptively demanding, the Pictures and Tales were popular in their day, while Dance of the Furies was overlooked by the composer and not publicly performed until 1970. Weigl’s career was cut short by Hitler’s rise to

power. Written in exile in the United States, the reflective Six Fantasies was his last piano cycle. 8.572423

Laureate SeriesVladimir Gorbach Guitar Recital2011 Winner, Guitar Foundation of America Competition

Brilliant young guitarist Vladimir Gorbach, first prize winner of the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Concert Artist Competition in 2011, has constructed a programme to

showcase the variety and versatility of his instrument. Piazzolla’s Estaciones porteñas are richly evocative seasonal portraits vested with his indelible sense of verve. Scarlatti’s inexhaustible sonatas are increasingly popular in guitar transcription, the four here showing his originality and dexterity, whilst Giuliani’s Rondoletto is full of dazzling escapades for the guitar. Vicente Asencio’s Collectici íntim is drenched in vibrant Spanish colours and rhythms. 8.573023

Antonio de CABEZÓN (1510-1566)Complete Tientos and VariationsGlen Wilson (harpsichord)

“El ciego tañedor” or “the blind keyboardist”, Antonio de Cabezón was one of the most inspired masters of his day and a protégé at the court of King Philip II (whose favourite painting, reproduced on the cover

of the booklet, came into his possession while Cabezón was with him in Brussels in 1555). Keyboard music was attaining a status equal to vocal polyphony at this time, and Cabezón’s sophisticated Tientos are at the forefront of a rapid rise in a new intensity of expression. Where the Tientos relate to vocal styles the Variations can frequently be traced to popular songs and dance tunes such as the Folía.

8.572475-76 (2 CDs)

Adolphe ADAM (1803-1856)Giselle ou Les Wilis (Highlights)Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Andrew Mogrelia

Of his many works for the stage, Adolphe Adam’s ballet Giselle ou Les Wilis is the best known. The story is based on a legend in which the Wilis, or ghosts of unmarried girls, seek revenge on

the living. Speedily written amidst a hotbed of Parisian infatuations and given a timeless parochial setting, this archetypal romantic ballet has everything from unrequited love to deceit, drama, tragedy, and conciliatory resolution. Andrew Mogrelia has been acclaimed for conducting of ‘warmth, grace and vitality’. (The Penguin Guide on Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty 8.550490-92)

Andrew Mogrelia has had a varied career of concerts, recording and work with major dance companies. He has worked with the English National, Dutch National, Finnish National, Norwegian National ballets, Netherlands Dance Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Australian Ballet, West Australian Ballet and American Ballet Theater. 8.572924

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Johann STRAUSS I (1804-1849) Edition, Vol 22Slovak Sinfonietta ŽilinaChristian Pollack

The year 1847 witnessed a rich variety of scores from Johann Strauss (the Elder). In May he wrote The Swallows, sparkling avian waltzes, soon after which he unveiled his dramatic Austrian

March-Past to great acclaim. His quadrille on themes from Auber’s opera The Devil’s Due is an ingenious composition, whilst The Meadow Flowers drew from him fragrant lyricism in the Ländler style. As the New Year dawned he revealed the luscious Dance-Signals, a waltz fit for the Carnival season.

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SUMMER CONCERT AT HAZEL HILL, 1871Stockholm Strauss Orchestra Mika Eichenholz

From one of the most famous 19th-century families of musicians and known as “The Strauss of Berlin”, Hungarian-born Josef Gung’l toured widely with his orchestras, and the series of 61 concerts they gave at Hasselbacken, Stockholm in 1871

became one of the greatest events in the history of music in Sweden. This programme recreates such an evening at Hazel Hill, with waltzes such as Gung’l’s memorial to Johann Strauss I, Die Immortellen, dances by celebrated contemporaries, and nephew Johann’s famous march En Avant!

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George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)Acis and Galatea, HWV 49Dawn Kotoski (soprano - Galatea) David Gordon (tenor - Acis)Glenn Siebert (tenor - Damon) Jan Opalach (bass - Polyphemus)Seattle Symphony Chorale Seattle SymphonyGerard Schwarz

Acis and Galatea, variously described as a pastoral, a ‘little opera’ and a masque, is one of Handel’s most popular works. It is a delectable succession of pastoral airs, love-lorn lyrics, and sprightly or mourning choruses, spiced by the pungent and unforgettable interjection of the one-eyed giant Polyphemus, who destroys the idyll of the shepherd Acis and the nymph Galatea. Handel had first turned to the subject in a cantata written in Naples in 1708. His English work, formally a masque, went through several stages until this two-act version of 1739, written principally by John Gay and graced by Handel’s exquisite music.

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Morton GOULD (1913-1996)Concerto Grosso from ‘Audubon’FormationsCinerama HolidayJeffrey Silberschlag (trumpet) Seattle Symphony Gerard Schwarz

Spanning the traditional boundaries separating “serious” and “popular”

music, Morton Gould wrote prodigiously across a wide range of forms, from concert works to musicals and film scores. The Concerto Grosso was described by the composer as “a transformation of hoedown tunes ... [the soloists] play, in the first and last movements, like a bat out of hell.” Gould’s work for film and television ranged from the movie travelogue Cinerama Holiday to the poignant Holocaust, via the ironic dances of World War I. The jazzy Pavanne contrasts with the atmospheric Interlude, while the Formation Suite is an original take on marching bands.

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Richard DANIELPOUR (b1956)Symphony No 3 ‘Journey Without Distance’First Light The Awakened HeartFaith Esham, soprano Seattle Symphony Chorus Seattle SymphonyGerard Schwarz

Strongly inclined towards neo romanticism, Richard Danielpour’s music is a rich unity of energy, intensity, and serenity. First Light reveals these elements perfectly with its rhythmically charged writing contrasting with hypnotic chant melodies. The Awakened Heart is a kaleidoscopic three-movement work that ranges from darkness and passion through a stately chorale to an exuberant and breathless conclusion. Symphony No. 3 charts a triumphant ascent from “the dream of death and our own fearful existence” to a belief “in a world of hope and love.” “Danielpour is an outstanding composer for any time – one who knows how to communicate deep, important emotions through simple, direct means.” (The New York Daily News) 8.559712

Alla BORZOVA (b 1961) Songs For Lada To The New WorldValentina Fleer (soprano) • Valentina Kozak (folk contralto) • Michigan State University Children’s ChoirDetroit Symphony Orchestra • Leonard Slatkin

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Alla Borzova has received numerous prestigious awards for her highly imaginative music since moving to the United States in 1993. Songs For Lada is a theatrical cantata which explores the world of childhood through rhymes, dances and stories, illustrated by effects including folk instruments and birdsong. To The New World portrays an imaginary ship bearing immigrant groups whose traditional music suggests their thoughts and feelings at the prospect of joining the great cultural “melting pot” of America.

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Arthur HONEGGER (1892-1955)Symphony No 2Henri LAZAROF (b 1932)Concerto for Orchestra No 2, ‘Icarus’ • PoemaJeffrey Silberschlag (trumpet) Seattle SymphonyGerard Schwarz

Completed during World War II, Honegger’s Symphony No. 2 gives voice to the composer’s horror of mankind’s barbarity and inhumanity perpetrated during the conflict. Its power derives from the seamlessness of its construction and the intensity of its expression. The work’s dark, brooding mood comes to a profoundly moving climax in the finale’s elegiac chorale tune, played on first violins accompanied by trumpet, thus ending the symphony on a more optimistic note than might be expected. Henri Lazarof’s Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, ‘Icarus’ is a volatile, richly coloured score, and Poema, composed as a wedding gift for Gerard Schwarz and his wife, is both romantic and brilliant. 8.572748

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Great Pianists • Emil GILELS (1916-1985)Early Recordings, Vol 3All tracks recorded in the USSR, 1935-1955 Ward Marston (audio restoration engineer)

Emil Gilels played a sonata by Scarlatti at his first public concert in 1929 and included them in his tours to the West in the 1950s. These recordings present a splendid group of the composer’s widely contrasting moods. Gilels was a true virtuoso in the Lisztian tradition, combining musical integrity with rarely equalled technique. The Fantasia was one of the works with which he won the First Soviet All-Union Competition in 1933, while his recordings of the Hungarian Rhapsodies and three works by Chopin are full of character and personality. A recently discovered notebook in which Gilels logged some of his recording sessions has made the dating of these recordings more accurate in this edition. 8.111386

Ernst KRENEK (1900-1991) Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-5NDR RADIOPHILHARMONIE HannoverTakao UkigayaAlun Francis

Almost twenty years ago cpo recorded the first three discs in the Ernst Krenek symphony series. The

Fourth Symphony was regarded as lost until five years ago when the Krenek Institute found the score in America. CPO released this last year and are now proud to present the complete Krenek symphonic works in a four CD box, available at a very special price.

777695-2 (4 CDs)

Jan van GILSE (1881-1944)Symphony No. 3Aile Asszonyi Netherlands Symphony Orchestra David Porcelijn

Standing firmly on the foundation of tonal late romanticism, this is music of dazzling beauty infused with pathos, drama and passion.

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Alexandre TANSMAN (1897-1986) Piano Concertino • Pièce concertante • Élégie • StèleChristian Seibert (piano)Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester FrankfurtHoward Griffiths

Alexandre Tansman was a close and lifelong friend of both Stravinsky and Milhaud and the pieces on this

disc, Stèle and Élégie, are dedicated to these composers respectively. Throughout his extensive and multifaceted oeuvre, reminiscences not only of these composers, but also of Polish folk music and Asian pentatonic music can be clearly found. 777449-2

Julius RÖNTGEN (1855-1932)Symphony No. 6, 5 & 9Consensus Vocalis Netherlands Symphony OrchestraDavid Porcelijn

Röntgen’s Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 are based on traditional melodies and represent fully dimensioned, impressive vocal works.

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Hector BERLIOZ (1803–1869) Herminie • Les Nuits d’été Maurice RAVEL (1875–1937) ShéhérazadeVéronique Gens (soprano)Orchestre National des Pays de la LoireJohn Axelrod

Véronique Gens has a very special relationship to Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été and Herminie, and here

combines them on this disc with Shéhérazade by Ravel, which conjures up a totally different world. ODE 1200-2

Selim PALMGREN (1878–1951)Sonata in D minor, Op. 11May Night, Op. 27/424 Preludes, Op. 17Henri Sigfridsson (piano)

Selim Palmgren is regarded as the most important post-romantic composer for piano in Finland. The core of his output is formed by his five piano concertos and more than 300

small pieces for piano.

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J. S. BACH (1675–1750) Goldberg Variations, BWV 988Janne Rättyä (classical accordion)

The fresh performance and splendid musicality of Janne Rättyä show how expressive and delicate the accordion can be, and even serve the purpose of doing justice to as iconic a keyboard work as the Goldberg Variations.

ODE 1209-2

George ENESCU (1881–1955) Symphony No. 2, Op. 17Chamber Symphony for 12 instruments, Op. 33Tampere Philharmonic OrchestraDennis Kim (concert master) Hannu Lintu

This release will be the first of an Enescu cycle with Hannu Lintu.

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ICRACHMANINOVPiano Concertos Nos 1 & 4Paganini RhapsodyNoriko Ogawa (piano) Malmö Symphony OrchestraOwain Arwel Hughes

The unique combination of ‘Russian’ melancholy and urbane elegance, exuberant melodies and opulent harmonies has given Sergei Rachmaninov’s Second and Third

Piano Concertos an undying popularity. These were the works that made Rachmaninov famous, both as performer and composer, and which became the yardstick against which his other works were measured. Less frequently programmed are the two concertos that frame them. Piano Concerto No.1 was written in 1890–91 while Rachmaninov was still a student at the Moscow Conservatory, but didn’t become widely known before extensive revisions in 1917. This was shortly before the composer left Russia for good as a consequence of the revolution, and during his first years of exile, Rachmaninov kept busy as a touring performer – often of his own works – with very little time for composing.

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C. P. E. BACH Solo Keybord Music, Vol.25Miklós Spányi (clavichord)

This disc continues the previous volume of this series in presenting keyboard sonatas composed in 1744, a year of great significance in C.P.E. Bach’s development as a composer. Beside three sonatas from that year, the programme includes an earlier and a later work: the very

substantial 1740 Sonata in G major, Wq65/12, and the Sonata in F major, Wq65/21 composed in a light and charming galant style in 1747. Many sonatas of this period are serious ‘grand’ sonatas intended for connoisseurs and professional players. Like the six ‘Württemberg’ Sonatas, Wq49, composed between 1742 and 1744, they have large-scale outer movements telling complex and exciting stories, painted in the most vivid of colours. On this disc, the Sonata in F minor, Wq62/6 is a sister work of the ‘Württemberg’ set which could have easily taken its place among them. Perhaps less ‘serious’ is the D major Sonata, Wq65/14, a sparkling work in galant style, while the C major Sonata, Wq62/7 is a very personal creation with its relatively short movements of highly contrasting characters. BIS-CD-1819

LALOConcerto russeJean-Jacques Kantorow (violin) Pierre-Alain Volondat (piano)Tapiola Sinfonietta • Kees Bakels

‘A disc without flaws, a true marvel’ is how Jean-Jacques Kantorow’s previous recording of music by Édouard Lalo was described in the Spanish magazine Scherzo. The disc in question included three

works composed for the great violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate: the violin concerto, Fantaisie norvégienne and the perennial favourite Symphonie espagnole. In a review in Gramophone, the soloist was compared to his great predecessor: ‘Kantorow, one of today’s most individual players, has the measure of Lalo’s Sarasate-inspired violin-writing - he’s able to toss off the virtuoso passagework in a seemingly effortless manner and his distinctive tone lends a sensuous allure to Lalo’s melodies.’ On the present disc, Kantorow plays two other works intended for Sarasate, the brief Fantaisie-ballet on themes from Lalo’s ballet Namouna, and the large-scale Concerto russe. The latter piece, in four movements, borrows themes from two wedding songs included by Rimsky-Korsakov in his collection 100 Russian Folk Songs. A typically expressive and virtuosic composition, it is also one of the first important French works to draw upon Russian music – many others were to follow. Two shorter violin works are included here, but the disc closes with another concerto, the Piano Concerto from 1888.

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Ecstatic DrumbeatEvelyn Glennie (percussion)Taipei Chinese OrchestraEn Shao and Yiu-Kwong Chung (conductors) • Tzu-You Lin (suona) Tsung-Hsin Hsieh (percussion)

Appearing with leading orchestras and conductors around the world, Evelyn Glennie has also collaborated with musicians as diverse as Emmanuel Ax, the King’s Singers and

Bjork. Another unexpected partner is the Taipei Chinese Orchestra, with which she first performed at the 2009 Deaflympics. Returning to Taiwan a year later, she recorded the present disc of original compositions and arrangements for percussion and Chinese orchestra. The programme is wide–ranging in geographical terms, with works by composers from the Far East, as well as by German-based Nebojša Živković, whose duo Born to Beat Wild for bass drum and trumpet here is performed with a suona, ‘Chinese oboe’, replacing the trumpet. But the disc also spans a vast distance in time, in that the final work, Emperor Qin Crushing the Battle Formations, is a reworking by the composer Yiu-Kwong Chung of an ancient score first performed in the year 627 at the court of the second Tang Emperor. BIS-SACD-1599

A Summer’s DaySwedish Romantic SongsAnne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) • Bengt Forsberg (piano)with Fredrik Zetterström (baritone) (in the duets Frieriet and På gamla dagar)

Brought together by Anne Sofie von Otter, the four composers on this disc lived during the space of less than a century, from the birth of Erik

Gustaf Geijer in 1783 to the death of Adolf Fredrik Lindblad in 1878, and thus prepared the ground for the great generation of Swedish song composers, including Stenhammar, Peterson-Berger and Rangström. The thirty-two songs selected by von Otter and Bengt Forsberg, her piano partner of long standing, provide a broad image of the early development of a Swedish Lied tradition. At one end of the spectrum is the simple grace and tunefulness of Lindblad’s and Geijer’s songs, mainly intended for domestic performance and of a highly lyrical nature, in terms of both music and texts – which were often written by the composers themselves.

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Brain RUBBISHSwedish Wind EnsembleChristian Lindberg (conductor)

With a colourful programme of original works and arrangements, Christian Lindberg and his Swedish Wind Ensemble take their listeners on a wide-ranging journey to landscapes both imaginary and real. The British composer Adam Gorb (b. 1958) opens the disc with his suite of

Yiddish Dances – in the composer’s own words ‘very much a party piece’ inspired by klezmer, the folk music of the Eastern European Jews. The dance theme reappears in An American in Paris, George Gershwin’s evocation of Paris during the 1920’s: this symphonic poem was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, but later appeared in the Hollywood musical named after it. Rearranged for the purpose, it became the music for the elaborate closing dance sequence with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron appearing in various Parisian settings. Homenaje a Sorolla by the Spanish composer Bernardo Ferrero (b. 1942) is also programmatic: its title refers to the painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863 – 1923), and the four movements are inspired by typical subjects of his, such as fishermen’s wives waiting for their men on the beach and a religious procession taking place in Valencia, hometown of both Sorolla and Ferrero. Two compositions by Christian Lindberg himself complete the programme. In his Suite from Galamanta, the conductor-composer first takes us to the mythical town which acts as the setting of his stage work Dawn at Galamanta.

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Vadim Gluzman: par.ti.taVadim Gluzman (violin)

‘A hum¬ble attempt to build a metaphysical time bridge’ is how Vadim Gluzman himself describes his latest recording project: a disc which combines two partitas by J.S. Bach with two works by Eugène Ysaÿe and Lera Auerbach, each representing a view of Bach through the prism of the 20th and 21st century respectively. Gluzman opens with the Partita No.2 in D minor with is towering final Chaconne, described as ‘one of the most wonderful, most incomprehensible pieces of music’by Brahms, one of the many composers that have engaged with that particular work in various ways. This is followed by Lera Auerbach’s par.ti.ta, composed specifically for Vadim Gluzman, who describes the work as ‘projecting Lera’s lifelong fascination with Bach… No particular work is being quoted, yet I can’t help the feeling of being drawn to a world of shades, echoes – are these shades of ourselves?’ If the relationship to Bach’s music is mainly hinted at in the ten brief movements of par.ti.ta, the parallels are more

apparent inYsaÿe ‘s Sonata in A minor. BIS-SACD-1972

BERLIOZRequiemNicolai Gedda (tenor)Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Dimitri Mitropoulos

The Greek-born Dimitri Mitropoulos(1896–1960) was incredibly gifted – his photographic memory allowed him to conduct without a score in concert and also in rehearsal! After studies in Athens, Brussels and Berlin, he

took various posts in Greece. In 1930, Mitropoulos played the solo part in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the Berlin Philharmonic and conducted the work from the keyboard, becoming the first modern musician to do so. He made his US debut in 1936 and went on to become principal conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (1937–1949) and then music director of the New York Philharmonic (1951–1957), where he was eventually succeeded by Leonard Bernstein. He expanded the repertoire of the NYPO and championed Mahler’s symphonies in particular. Mitropoulos was also a major figure at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House and became its principal conductor in 1954. He died in Milan aged 64 rehearsing Mahler’s Symphony No.3. ICAC 5075

WOLFItalienisches LiederbuchJanet Baker (mezzo-soprano)John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)Steuart Bedford (piano)

Dame Janet Baker (b.1933) needsno introduction. During her illustriouscareer, which spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, she was considered an outstanding singing actress and concert performer, widely

admired throughout the world for her dramatic intensity and musical intelligence, notably in the works of Gustav Mahler. John Shirley-Quirk (b.1931) made his operatic debut at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1961, and was prominent in performing and recording the vocal works of Benjamin Britten (as was Janet Baker). He appeared regularly with all the major orchestras and opera companies throughout the world. Steuart Bedford (b.1939) was also associated with the music of Britten, and conducted the world premiere of Death in Venice in 1973. Between 1974 and 1998, he was one of the Artistic Directors of the Aldeburgh Festival.

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C.P.E. BACHKeyboard Concertos, Volume 18Miklós Spányi (harpsichord)Concerto Armonico Budapest Márta Ábrahám

Three years have passed since the release of the previous volume in this series, but now Miklós Spányi continues his traversal of the keyboard concertos of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, a series which in

Gramophone has been called a ‘unique monument to one of the 18th century’s most underrated composers’. Once again Spányi has joined forces with the Hungarian period band Concerto Armonico, and together they offer us the first four works in a set of six, the Sei Concerti per il cembalo concertato. BIS-CD-1787

Best’s BACHSelected Organ Works and Chaconne for Solo Violin arranged by William

In this SACD William Thomas Best (1826-1897), with his arrangements of selected organ works and the Chaconne for Solo Violin by Bach, makes his appearance as a dramatic director: his stage directions in matters of choice of tempo, articulation,

registration, selection of manuals and, where appropriate, the use of the swell pedal, enable the great free-standing organ works to appear as dramatic scenas or ballads, while the smaller-scale works and chorale preludes come across as poetry. Carsten Wiebusch dramatises Bach on the new Klais organ in the Christuskirche, Karlsruhe, in a way that is both poetic and powerful. AUDITE 92.663

Rhapsody in BlueFreddy Kempf (piano) Bergen Philharmonic OrchestraAndrew Litton

The arresting clarinet glissando at the start of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is probably the most famous opening in American music. It also serves as a symbol for an important current in 20th century music – that of merging popular genres and art music into something wholly new – and as

such becomes even more significant through the fact that it wasn’t even in the score when the composer first started rehearsals with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, before the première in 1924: this particular feature, oozing of smoky jazz clubs, was arrived at in collaboration with the clarinettist of the orchestra. BIS-SACD-1940

P. I. TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Trio, Op. 50Swiss Piano Trio

In the history not only of the piano trio but also of Russian chamber music in general, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio Op. 50 forms a monumental milestone in two movements. This masterpiece of 1882 is dedicated to the memory of his friend Nikolai Rubinstein, the founder of the Moscow Conservatory.

AUDITE 92.673

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Johann Baptist CRAMER (1771-1858)84 Études in 4 Books Op. 50Gianluca LuisiAlessandro DeljavanGiampaolo Stuani

Johann Baptist Cramer’s formidable reputation as a pianist of sensitivity and singing tone at the keyboard is transferred into his Études, the musical interest in these pieces including echoes of Bach and Scarlatti. This made them favourites with Beethoven and Schumann in their day, their influence resonating through pianistic history. Perhaps even more than Clementi’s contemporaneous Gradus ad Parnassum, Cramer’s Études established a keyboard style and tradition which can be traced through to Chopin, Busoni and beyond.This recording of essential piano repertoire brings together a strong trio of pianists, including Gianluca Luisi, whose

Liszt recording for Naxos stunned Fanfare by being filled “with so much joy, as well as so much musical integrity”. The artists on this recording of the complete Etudes bring us historically significant and musically satisfying repertoire which is virtually unknown on recordings.

GP613-14 (2 CDs)

Joachim RAFF (1822-1882)Piano Works, Volume 2Tra Nguyen

Joachim Raff, Liszt’s amanuensis and confidante in Weimar, was one of Germany’s leading composers, a reputation based largely on his symphonic works. But he wasprolific in other forms as well, excelling in chamber and vocal music, and especially in numerous

and varied compositions for the piano.The three works on this second volume of Raff’s piano works come from the very pinnacle of his career. The 1871 Fantasie Sonata is a fascinating and richly imaginative hybrid, whilst the Variations on an Original Theme is marked by fertility of invention. The Four Piano Pieces exemplifies Raff’s gift for lyricism and characterisation.

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Mieczysław WEINBERG (1919-1996)Complete Piano Works, Volume 2Allison Brewster Franzetti

Weinberg’s fraught biography is reflected in many of the piano works which occupied the earlier part of his career. Some exemplify the extreme pressures placed on him,and others, to conform to official

diktat – a period when he was arrested for ‘Jewish bourgeois nationalism’ – whilst others reveal the rich inspiration of folkloric music.The second volume of the complete piano works ranges in date from 1950-55. The Partita, Op. 54 is notable for its alternation of the intimate and the intensely dramatic, whereas the Sonatina, Op.49 is lyrical, though never straightforward. The Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 56 fuses folk inspiration, rhythmic vivacity and melancholy in a profoundly personal way. GP607

Great European Choral WorksHarry Christophers & The Sixteen

This disc features music from over a dozen composers representing ten countries from Palestrina’s Assumpta Est Maria and Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir to excerpts from Poulenc’s Sept Répons des Ténèbrae and Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir.

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Thames Diamond Jubilee PageantDavid Parry (conductor)London Philharmonic Orchestra

This is the official diamond jubilee album. Perfect accompaniment for street parties and other Jubilee celebrations.The London Philharmonic Orchestra takes part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June as part of the 1000 boat

flotilla celebrating the Queen’s 60th anniversary. Its musicians will play works chosen for their association with British history and London landmarks, recorded here to capture the spirit of the occasion and to serve as a memento of a unique day.

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Die haarsträubenden Fälle desPhilip Maloney Box 15Folgen 71, 72, 73, 74 und 75In farbigen Originalhüllen, Booklet 36 Seiten,illustriert von Zoran Petrovic

TUD 76538 (5 CD boxset)

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ICMENDELSSOHN Early Songs Gerold HuberRuth Ziesak Carsten Süss

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BEETHOVEN Piano Sonatas nos. 30-32 op.109, 110 & 111Antti Siirala (piano)

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RACHMANINOFF Moments musicaux op.16 . Piano Sonata no.2 in B flat minor op.36FRITZ KREISLER (arr. SERGEI RACHMANINOFF): Liebesleid & Liebesfreud

Evgenia Rubinova (piano)

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MOZARTThe Mannheim Violin Sonatas nos.17, 18, 20 & 23 SonatasGiorgio Tabacco (fortepiano)Francesco D’orazio (baroque violin)

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Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937): Sonata for Violin and PianoErnest BLOCH (1880-1959): Poème mystiqueLeos JANÁČEK (1854-1928): Sonata for Violin and PianoChristina Åstrand (violin) • Per Salo (piano)

Wonderful new recordings of three violin sonatas that were all composed in the early part of the last century and that first saw the light of day in the period between the First and Second World Wars.

The recordings are part of a sound and vision project, and included with the CD is a stunning DVD of the works as performed by Christina and Per in the much talked-about new Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s Concert Hall, designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel.

‘a composer could hardly ask for better advocacy than hers…Her playing has an alluring sweetness’ Ronald E. Grames, Fanfare Magazine, on Åstrand’s recording of Gade’s Violin Concerto.

ORC100022 (CD + DVD 2 for 1)

Charlie CHAPLINCity LightsThe City Lights Orchestra Carl Davis

March 1989 saw a seismic change in the world’s perception of Charlie Chaplin’s work in the cinema with the first live screenings of his masterpiece ‘City Lights’ in London at the Dominion Theatre. I had painstakingly transcribed Charlie’s

original score recorded in 1930 and early 1931, for performances with orchestra. Within days requests were being made for performances in such diverse locations as Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Liverpool and Edinburgh. Many more followed and other conductors took up the mantle.

City Lights is Charles Chaplin’s most perfect film, it was released at the time that ‘talkies’ were taking off but Chaplin decided that it was to be a silent film as the Tramp had communicated with a worldwide audience through mime and besides what voice would he give the Tramp, his own native London, The Bronx or of California. Chaplin decides as it was his first picture with synchronized sound to compose the musical score himself, with the music being delegated to a team of arrangers. ‘I did not write it down’ Chaplin said in an excess of modesty, ‘I la-laed it…it is all simple music to keep with my character…’

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Engelbert HUMPERDINCK (1854–1921)Alice Coote • Lydia Teuscher • Irmgard Vilsmaier • William Dazeley • Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke •Tara Erraught • Ida Falk Winland • Robin Ticciati (conductor) • London Philharmonic Orchestra

First conducted in Weimar in 1893 by Richard Strauss Hänsel und

Gretel had immediate worldwide success, the Hamburg premiere in 1894 conducted by Gustav Mahler. In its first year, over 50 German theatres staged a production and it has been translated into over 20 languages. In the UK it was the first complete opera to ever be broadcast from Covent Garden back in 1923, and was a staple in the opera repertory until the 1950s where it fell into a black hole. Here Hänsel und Gretel remained until Glyndebourne’s new production in 2008. This recording comes from the re-staging in 2010.

This recording boasts a fine cast, with Alice Coote a seasoned Hänsel having also performed in the role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Lydia Teuscher making a notable UK debut as Gretel with Wolfgang Ablinger- Sperrhacke’s beautiful portrayal of the Witch stealing the show. Robin Ticciati’s Glyndebourne’s new Artistic Director from 2013, clearly loves the piece, his conducting is nothingshort of wonderful, with the performance from the London Philharmonic Orchestra a real highlight on this recording.

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ICSinger Pur sings STINGSinger Pur

Just in time for the 20th anniversary of Singer Pur‘s first stage appearance, the ensemble is presenting its first – and until now only – “pop production”. It is nearly unimaginable to comprehend the complexity of arranging world-famous pop songs that everyone can whistle by heart for solo voices – without bass or percussion.

Singer Pur has accomplished this breathtakingly. OehmsClassics is proud to congratulate the ensemble with this anniversary CD and is planning a large-scale press and marketing campaign.

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KRENEK Piano WorksEchoes from AustriaStanislav Khristenko (piano)

When Glenn Gould performed his last public piano recital in Los Angeles on April 10, 1964, he included Ernst Krenek´s Piano Sonata No. 3 - alongside works of Bach. This is a clear indication of Krenek´s significance as a

twentieth-century composer. This new CD by OehmsClassics also presents Krenek´s seven-part cycle Echoes from Austria - an homage to the homeland which drove him out and in which he is still underrated today.

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Petr EBEN: OknaLandscape - RostGunther Rost (organ)Tine Thing Helseth (trumpet)Babette Haag (percussion)Bamberger Symphoniker Bayerische StaatsphilharmonieGabriel Feltz (conductor)

His organ compositions explore new territory in regard to playing techniques, sound and subject

matter. His goal is to convey a message to listeners, e.g. through commentaries or – as in his Second Organ Concerto – by prefixing his scores with a motto. Formal clarity and understandability are a “must” for him. His music is characterized by free tonality that always includes tonal sections.

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Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Klaviersonaten Nr. 30–32Michael Korstick (piano)

This June, OehmsClassics can boast of another finale: pianist Michael Korstick’s cycle of Beethoven Sonatas will now be complete with the release of Volume 11. The works presented here have been available for a number of years, but were

included in this cycle not only to make it “whole”. All reviewers were of one mind that it is fully acceptable to include reference recordings in such a collection, even if they have been presented on the market before.

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EIGHT STRINGSPresent

The new CD by Eight Strings could be presented under the motto “virtuosic and inventive” – so diverse and new are the pieces they present.Take the piece that has given this CD its title, for example: Present by Ondrej Kukal, a work that extends far beyond the limits of

any piece for cello and violin.The most famous piece on this CD, however, must certainly be the Sonata for Violin & Violoncello by Maurice Ravel. It was written in 1922 – and dedicated to no one less than Claude Debussy.

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Giovanni Simone MAYR Demetrio, Re di SiriaOrchestre Symphonique du JuraOpera Obliqua Stand de MoutierFacundo Agudin (conductor)

The current renaissance in conjunction with the works of Giovanni Simone Mayr (or Simon Mayr) is not astonishing, but justifi ed.

With Demetrio, he left to posterity a masterpiece that belongs on the great stages of the world. Mayr’s late work is a mixture of romantic anticipation, stylistic reminiscences of Mozart and Haydn, bel canto elements and a touch of Rossini, all worked into an entirely unique form. Of particular note is Mayr.s melodic inventiveness.

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Inside OutØRJAN MATRE: Prologue · Chant · A leaf falls in loneliness · Inside Out - concerto for clarinet and orchestraRolf Borch (clarinet) • Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra • Marius Hesby (trombone) • Tora Augestad (vocal) • Tanja Orning (cello) • Juanjo Mena (conductor)

A fascinating double portrait of the young composer Ørjan Matre and the excellent clarinetist Rolf Borch. Matre and Borch explore the clarinet in a variety of settings: all alone, in small chamber settings and finally in a fully fledged concerto with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Juanjo Mena’s baton.

This is Matre’s first complete album release. It displays his nuanced sense of sound and colour, found both in his solo pieces, chamber music and the orchestral writing. Matre expertly employs twentieth century techniques for moulding acoustic sounds, adding his own personal twist. In Rolf Borch these sounds find a conscientious

interpreter. He shapes and communicates the music with a modest self-assuredness that does not intrude upon it.

Monologue and conversationIn Prologue we hear the clarinet on its own. The work is based on material from the solo part of the clarinet concerto, however placed in entirely different surroundings. Runs, trills around tonal centres and multiphonics makes one think of the mechanical repetition and delimited auditory space of electronic music. In Chant the clarinet converses with the trombone. At first tongue-in-cheek and restrained, but slowly developing into something more extrovert and dangerous, even though there is a sense of humour below the surface. A leaf falls in loneliness for clarinet, cello and electronics is inspired by two poems, one by e.e. cummings and a japanese haiku. The music is a series of small situations where the three voices and the tape track gradually are interwoven. All the parts play airy, translucent sounds that are allowed to overlap almost like sheer veils. ACD 5065

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BRAHMS by Arrangement Volume OneZebra String Trio (string trio)Ernst Kovacic (violin)Steven Dann (viola)Anssi Karttunen (cello)Krysia Osostowicz (violin)James Boyd (viola)Richard Lester (cello)

Brahms first wrote his Op. 34 as a string quintet before recasting it for

two pianos and then as the version for piano quintet known today. In this imaginative reconstruction as a string quintet by the Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen, the Zebra Trio is joined by some of Britain’s most outstanding string-players, allowing modern listeners to hear a version of the work in textures closer to Brahms’ original thoughts. It is coupled in this recording by Brahms’ own rarely heard version of the Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115, as a string quintet, with a viola replacing the clarinet. TOCC0066

Ernst KRENEK Music for Chamber OrchestraAgata Zubel (soprano)Mathias Hausmann (baritone)Leopoldinum Orchestra (chamber orchestra)Ernst Kovacic (conductor)

These five works for chamber orchestra by Ernst Krenek (1900–91) were written between 1931 and

1979 – both before and long after Krenek abandoned Hitler’s Austria for California. They demonstrate that serial music, in capable hands, does not have to abandon the virtues of more conservative idioms: the emotions embraced here range from translucent lyricism, via powerful dramatic utterance, to uneasy existentialist humour.

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David MATTHEWS Complete String Quartets, Volume TwoKreutzer Quartet (string quartet)Peter Sheppard Skærved (violin)Mihailo Trandafilovski (violin)Morgan Goff (viola)Neil Heyde (cello)

The American critic Robert Reilly described the music on Volume One of this cycle of the complete

string quartets of David Matthews (b. 1943) as ‘some of the most concentrated, penetrating writing for this medium in the past 30 years or more. It is musical thinking of the highest order and quartet writing in the great tradition of Beethoven, Bartok, Britten, and Tippett’. This second CD in the series presents the Fifth Quartet (1984) and the most recent, Quartet No. 12 (2009–10).

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Nikolai KORNDORFComplete Music for CelloAlexander Ivashkin (cello)Russian Philharmonic of Moscow orchestra • Konstantin Krimets (conductor) • Anya Alexeyev (piano)

The Russian composer Nikolai Korndorf (1947–2001) was a larger-than-life character and wrote music that was similarly expansive and urgent. His three works for

solo cello illustrate his unwillingness to be governed by convention. The Concerto capriccioso (1986) for cello, strings and percussion is influenced by religious ritual and rock music. The Triptych for cello and piano (1998–99) takes its starting points in folk and operatic lament, primitivist painting and Russian Orthodox prayer. And the immense Passacaglia for solo cello (1997) is an instrumental retelling of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the cello taking the part of the narrator, with the cellist whistling, reciting and singing alongside the instrumental part. Alexander Ivashkin, the soloist on this recording, was a close friend of the composer — the Passacaglia was written for him – which gives his performances a unique authority. TOCC0128

The Kernis ProjectSCHUBERTJasper String Quartet

Sono Luminus is proud to bring you the second CD from The Jasper String Quartet, The Kernis Project: Schubert, pairing the celestial works of Aaron Jay Kernis and Franz Schubert. This enchanting project is the follow-up to their previous release, The Kernis Project: Beethoven (DSL-92142).

DSL-92152

Mind Meld: Works for One Piano, Four HandsZOFO Duet Eva-Maria ZimmermannKeisuke Nakagoshi

Musical compatriots. Collaborators. Teachers. Friends. Pianists. These are the links that bound the four remarkable 20th century composers, whose one-piano-four-hands works are

brought together by Sono Luminus on this first CD from the dynamic ZOFO duet. Whether performing public duet concerts together or using the piano four-hands form to explore their symphonic visions, Bernstein, Shapero, Debussy and Stravinsky all understood the musical power of sharing the bench.

DSL-92151

Rupa-khandhaLos Angeles Percussion Quartet

Sono Luminus is proud to release this first major studio release by the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, Rūpa-khandha, as it promises a fantastic listening experience. As one of the new percussion recordings produced in surround sound, the listener is placed among a sonic landscape of sublime, visceral, and exotic percussion instruments, with the full force of the quartet’s technique and artistry applied in interpreting four evocative, award-winning, and never before recorded works. Considering the combination of hundreds of individual instrumental colors and the LAPQ’s formidable talent, Rūpa-khandha promises to be among the most sophisticated and aurally stunning recordings of percussion chamber music. The package will be a 2-disc set, containing a Blu-ray™ Surround Sound disc as well as a standard CD.

DSL-92150

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Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)PARIS SYMPHONIES, Hob. 1: 82-87Tafelmusik Baroque OrchestraJeanne Lamon (Director) Bruno Weil (Conductor)

What do modern scholars of Joseph Haydn have to say about the Paris Symphonies? Robbins Landon calls them “a remarkable fusion of brilliance, elegance, and warmth.” Charles Rosen writes, “There is not a measure, even the most serious, of these great works which is not marked by Haydn’s wit; and his wit has now grown so powerful and so efficient that it has become a sort of passion, a force at once omnivorous and creative.” Parisian audiences loved the works of the Austrian Haydn, and were thrilled when the Comte d’Ogny commissioned a set

of six symphonies for performance by the finest orchestra in Paris at Le Concert de la Loge Olympique. Fortunately in our time, this re-release of the Paris Symphonies also has a superb group of the finest musicians in JEANNE LAMON and the TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA. CD 1 includes Symphonies No. 82 in C major, L’Ours (“The Bear” 1786), No. 83 in G minor, La Poule (“The Hen” 1785) and No. 84 in E flat major, In Nomine Domini (1786). CD 2 includes Symphonies No. 85 in B flat major, La Reine (“The Queen” 1785), No. 86 in D major (1786), and No. 87 in A major (1785). TMK1013CD2

ZIPORYN: Big Grenadilla • Mumbai

Following the critically acclaimed Frog’s Eye, Big Grenadilla/Mumbai marks the second Cantaloupe Music collaboration between composer/clarinetist Evan Ziporyn and Gil Rose’s Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP). It is also the second time that Evan has teamed up with world-renowned tabla player Sandeep Das - a member of the Silk Road Ensemble - thus forging together a non-western master musician with a premiere western orchestra.

Founder and longtime member of of the Bang on a Can All-Stars and founder of the Gamelan Galak Tika, Evan Ziporyn creates music at the crossroads of genre and culture. Having avoided the standard classical orchestra for most of his career, Evan came around to viewing the western orchestra as a world music ensemble - a reliquary of folk instruments and practices, rebuilt and retuned to play together; something that was constantly evolving - and he wanted to be a part of the evolution, to bring more outside elements in. An album that could have been titled

“Outsider Concertos”, Big Grenadilla and Mumbai have done just that: two works written for orchestra featuring non-orchestral instruments.

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Hinterhuber Original Debut Record.

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Attersee und seine FreundeChristian Ludwig Attersee

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George Frideric HANDEL Music for the Royal FireworksTafelmusik Baroque OrchestraJeanne Lamon (Director)

George Frideric Handel (1686-1759) is regarded as one of the greatest composers of his time. Among his most enduring and popular works are two suites of instrumental music

written for royal occasions: Water Music, and the first work presented on this recording, Music for the Royal Fireworks. The latter work was written as a commission from George II, as a celebration of the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. And what a celebration it was, attracting the largest audience that Handel’s music ever received during his lifetime. The celebration of that incredible music continues to this day and this wonderful recording featuring JEANNE LAMON and THE TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA offers up a brilliant performance with its own fireworks and combines it with other, festive works, the Concerti a due Cori, Nos.1-3, HWV 331-334.

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Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764)DardanusLe temple de la gloireTafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Jeanne Lamon (Director)

This re-release of orchestral suites from two stage works by Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-

1764) marks the first occasion on which JEANNE LAMON, and the TAFELMUSIK ORCHESTRA, Toronto’s award-winning period instrument orchestra, recorded music of the French baroque. The two suites featured on this CD are drawn from Rameau’s epic five-act “tragédie en musique” Dardanus, and from the less familiar “opéra-ballet” Le Temple de la Gloire. Rameau was a mature composer of fifty before he completed his first opera - Hippolyte et Aricie (1733). Over the next six years, the dispute between the conservative Lullistes (i.e., Jean-Baptiste Lully) and the Ramistes continued to rage, climaxing with the semi-mythological tragedy Dardanus in 1739. The furor eventually abated, however, and Dardanus was acclaimed as one of Rameau’s finest achievements. Le temple de la gloire - a commission celebrating France’s victory over British and Imperial forces at the Battle of Fontenoy - was completed in 1745.

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Jan Ladislav DUSSEK (1760–1812) Keyboard MusicLuca Palazzolo

A pianist of astonishing technical prowess and one of the first to enjoy an international career, Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760–1812) was also a highly proficient composer who wroteextensively for his own instrument. This fantastic CD is dedicated to a

small selection of his piano works, many of whose features anticipate early Romanticism.Showcasing compositions aimed at the amateur market as well as those intended for professional performance, the release begins with one of the composer’s most ambitious creations: his Sonata No.24 in F sharp minor Op.61. Cast in two movements – the first of which features a slow introduction more intensely chromatic than Mozart’s Fantasia in C minor – this expressive work precedes the highly virtuosic Sonata No.25 in D Op.69 No.3. It’s a striking contrast to the rest of the set, where sophistication is achieved in a much more simple manner: as well as detailing the charming 1799 Rondo ‘Les Adieux’, whose theme derives from Dibdin’s 1768 opera Lionell and Clarissa, the compilation also includes Chantons l’hymen – part of a short set of keyboard pieces dating from 1788.

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Laudate DominiumSacred Music from San MarcoAntonio Lotti (Vocal & Instrumental ensemble) Paolo Cammozzo director

The release details a selection of music written by composers who all held important positions at the church – including the role of maestro di cappella. From Antonio Lotti’saffective setting of the Credo, a central

part of the Mass, to Monteverdi’s absorbing ‘Beatus Vir I’ – a Vesper psalm taken from his Selva Morale e Spirituale and which formed part ofthe smaller observances known as the Office Hours – these compositions range from the late 16th century through to the second half of the 18th century and reveal a wealth of elaborate textures. Also featured is Lotti’s non-liturgical ‘Spirto di Dio’, a ceremonial motet celebrating the Doge’s dominion over the waters and describing the lavish secular rituals that the church was also involved in. Full of inspiring performances that include split choirs and an extensive body of instrumentalists, this release documents the development of St Mark’s unique musical style – first cultivated during the Renaissance and then heightened after the city’s excommunication in 1607. Featuring a veritable who’s who of Italian composers, it’s the perfect starting-point for exploring Venice’s cultural legacy. 8802129

Benedetto MARCELLO12 Concertos a cinque Op.15 SinfoniasI Solisti di MilanoAngelo Ephrikian (director)

The sets demonstrate just how innovative a composer Marcello was. Written in 1708 and featuring a solo cello as well as violin part, Op.1 is particularly notable for its inclusionof the former instrument – which,

having only just been invented, was a relatively new addition to the Venetian orchestra at that time. With the number of movements varyingfrom one concerto to the other and thus reflecting a form still in its infancy, the collection also displays originality through details like No.7’s extraordinary use of F minor. Such inventive quirks more than make up for its lack of virtuosity and form an important part of the 5 Sinfonias which follow – the dramatic stop-start opening of No.3 being a particular case in point.

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Pietro Antonio LOCATELLI24 Capricci for solo violinEmmanuele Baldini

Very little is known about the violinist Pietro Antonio Locatelli. After setting off for Rome in 1711 to begin his career, he seems to have conducted some sort of tour of Italy and Germany during the 1720s. By 1730 he had settled in Amsterdam where, having become the wealthiest

musician of the city, he died in 1764.The 24 Capricci detailed on this CD were published in 1733 as part of the Italian’s magnum opus, L’arte del Violino. Written as optional additions to each of the 12 concertos comprising the collection, they rank among the most difficult music of their day and feature manydevices popular in virtuoso compositions of the time. From Capriccio No.4’s exercise in extreme string crossing to No.15’s fourth finger trills and No.18’s use of a three-voice fugue, these are works whose technical demands compare with Paganini’s equivalent set. Because of their technical extremity and the obsession of the later French violin school with the étude, it is a sad fact that Locatelli’s 24 Capricci were used not so much for public performance as for personal dedication after the composer’s death. They are, however, beginning to enjoy a resurgence in popularity and this compilation shows why; show-stopping playing from Emmanuele Baldini makes this set a fascinating addition to the Newton Classics early-music catalogue. 8802128

Johannes BRAHMSString Quartets Clarinet QuintetJuilliard String QuartetCharles Neidich

Brahms’ standing among the world’s greatest classical composers is confirmed by his inclusion, together with Bach and Beethoven, in the ‘Three Bs’ triumvirate. A leadingfigure of the Romantic period who

excelled in almost every form, he was particularly renowned for his contributions to chamber music; this release details four such examples, all expertly performed by the Juilliard Quartet.As with the symphony, Brahms was very conscious of the tradition that lay behind the genre of the string quartet, and it is said that he spent the better part of a decade working on Op.51. While No.1 is known for its gritty intensity – brilliantly captured in this recording – No.2, which looks back to Beethoven’s Op.18 through its first movement’s impeccable sonata-allegro form, was written along altogether more lyrical lines. The work presents an engaging follow-up to the experimental Third Quartet in B major and is wonderfully complemented by the ensuing Clarinet Quintet Op.115. Here a spirit of mellow reflection comes to the fore, providing a perfect ending to a delightful collection. 8802131 (2 CDs)

J. S. BachKeyboard Concertos BWV 1052–1058Igor KipnisLondon StringsSir Neville Marriner

Composers like Bach were reluctant to waste their efforts, and the harpsichord concertos are a case in point regarding the German’s predilection for recycling.

Based on a structure most associated with Vivaldi’s works in the genre – and whose opening movement uses a ritornello containing a striking theme – these works contain material that is taken from several previous creations. While BWV 1052 and 1053 appear in cantatas of the late 1720s as virtual organ concertos, BWV 1057 and 1058 – taken from the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto and the A minor Violin Concerto respectively – remain much better known intheir original form.

8802186 (2 CDs)

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Augst & DaemgenIn zehn Sekunden ist alles vorbeiChansons von-Peer RabenTexte von Peer Raben Jeanne Moreau Wolf Wondratschek Hans Magnus Enzensberger David Ambach und Christian Friedrich Hebbel

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Arnold SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) A Survivor from WarsawAnton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)Symphony no.7Israel Philharmonic OrchestraKurt Masur

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Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Violin ConcertoPinchas Zukerman (Violin)Israel Philharmonic OrchestraZubin Mehta

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Super Trio(24K Gold Collector’s Edition UDC)

LIM UHD 047UDC

ANDRE PREVIN After Hours with Joe Pass & Ray Brown

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The TBM Sounds! (24K Gold Collector’s Edition UDC)

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THE ALL STAR PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE(Flat Profile Virgin Vinyl LP, 33 1/3rpm, 200 Gram)

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SCHUMANN Character Pieces IFlorian Uhlig (piano)

Volume 3 focuses upon Schumann’s output of “Character Pieces” - a genre he engaged in mostly during the early 1830s and here also are several pieces that only existed in manuscript form and never before released.

CD 98.646

JOEL FREDERIKSEN Requiem for a Pink MoonEnsemble Phoenx Munich

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Best of Celtic FolkNoel McLoughlin • The House Devils • Séan Tyrrell • Tara…

A beautiful collection of Celtic songs and instrumentals. The songs: Mattie, The Hag with the Money / Gan Ainm / Nancy’s Rambles, Fare Thee Well, The Charladies’ Ball, Banish Misfortune / Ard an Bhothair / Idle Road, The Hills of Connemara, Gaelic Cradle Song,

Handsome Molly, Nelson and Donella… Artist biographies in four languages.

EUCD2372

Japanese DrumsNihon Daiko

Powerful thunder, intricate rhythms of giant Japanese drums, weaving multi-layered patterns of an almost hypnotic intensity. Portraying the lives of the fishermen, of the wild and inhospitable landscapes of Hokkaido island and of the untamed, perilous oceans that pound the island’s shores. A

gripping musical experience! Info about the group and the music in four languages.

EUCD2374

The Soul of the AndesEn el alma de los AndesSacambaya de Bolivia

Beautiful haunting panpipes and flutes with all the traditional instruments of Bolivia plus bass and percussion. Tradition with a gentle modern touch – very pleasing listening. Extensive info about the band, music and traditional instruments in the CD booklet

in English, German, French and Spanish plus many photos. Total playing time: 64:00 min.

EUCD2376

Aloha HawaiiHawaiian Guitar Harry Kalapana

Harry Kalapana presents a variety of his greatest Hawaiian guitar hits showing off the amazing versatility of this great Hawaiian steel guitar player. He counts among the greatest European Hawaiian guitar players, alongside the likes of Georges de Frettes, Rudy Wairata, Coy Pereira and Ronny Flohr. History of the Hawaiian guitar and artist biography in English, German, French and Spanish.

EUCD2248

DidjHeartCharlie McMahon & Gondwana

Captivating didjeridu music that is a mix of warm moods and dynamic didj grooves, including Charlie McMahon’s innovations such as the Face Bass™ and the Didjeribone™. Melding didjeridu with melody, creating songs that vividly evoke their titles. Artist biography plus song descriptions in four languages.

EUCD2370

Indian World Music Fusion Undiscovered TimeRe-Orient • featuring Baluji Shrivastav

Beautiful, multi-layered melodies and interesting rhythms played on a host of traditional Indian as well as Western instruments. Blending musical traditions ranging from India to jazzy tunes to pieces with a “bossa” touch, to fun and funky percussive pieces as well as

reflective melodies. Artist biographies and descriptions of each of the pieces plus lyrics in four languages.

EUCD2371

Latin Steel: Lambada Guantanamera CumbancheroLondon All Stars Steel Orchestra

London All Stars have an international reputation as the undefeated British National Steelband Champions and one of Europe’s leading steelbands. On this recording they present favourite Latin songs including Lambada, Say

sí sí, Silencio, Cielito Lindo, Nobody’s Business, El Cumbanchero, Francilia Teresa, Quando Quando, Guantanamera, Malditos Selos… Nearly one hour of Caribbean sun and feel-good music.

EUCD2373

Pipes & Drums from Scotland1st Battalion Queen’s Own Highlanders

“This album is a must for the pipes and drums enthusiast as it contains an excellent variety of original material superbly arranged and played by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Highlanders. The overall tone and execution is of the highest calibre.

This …could well introduce a new approach to pipe and drums representation.” - Captain John Allen, Director of Army Bagpipe Music

EUCD2375

Japanese Drums Wa Dai Ko Matsuri za

The powerful thunder of giant Japanese drums. Exciting and intricate rhythms of an almost hypnotic intensity played on a great variety of drums and in combination with a Tsugaru shamisen, a Japanese lute, telling stories of demons, of samurai, of sailing,

depicting a “fight” with the drums etc. Extensive information in four languages plus colour photos.

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SWilliam ROBERTSFamous Heroes of the American West (Unabridged)Read by Adam Sims

Famous Heroes of the American West is a lively account of the ‘Wild West’ and its renowned figures, narrated with vigour by Adam Sims. The lives of Davy Crockett, Christopher ‘Kit’ Carson, Calamity Jane and Sitting Bull, amongst others,

are explored in detail. Their exploits, adventures and alliances make for fascinating listening.

NA0067 (2 CDs)

Thomas HARDYWessex Tales (Unabridged)Read by Neville Jason

Wessex Tales, a collection of short stories including The Three Strangers, The Withered Arm and The Distracted Preacher, deal with anumber of timeless themes seen so often in Hardy’s work, including marriage, class, revenge and disappointed love. Many of the tales

have a supernatural tinge, and all are set around Hardy’s much loved homeland.

NA0085 (7 CDs)

Edgar WALLACEThe Just Men of Cordova (Unabridged)Read by Bill Homewood

In The Just Men of Cordova, written in 1917, the Four move into the treacherous, aristocratic world of gambling, horse-racing and highfinance. It seems that police services, even governments, have no power to control this world, where

blackmail, poison and murder are commonplace. The Four, working outside the law, take it upon themselves to clean things up in their own way.

NA0060 (5 CDs)

Marcel PROUSTSodom and Gomorrah (Unabridged)Remembrance of Things Past Volume 4 Read by Neville Jason

Sodom and Gomorrah is the fourth of seven volumes. Accidentally witnessing an encounter between the Baron de Charlus and the tailor Jupien, the narrator’s eyes are opened to a world hidden from him

until now; he suspects that Albertine is attracted to her own sex.

NA0099 (20 CDs)

A Musical Journey: FRANCEA Musical Tour of Brittany and NormandyMusic by Saint-Saëns and Franck

The Places • Brittany and Normandy, in Northern France, have a character all their own, preserving, as they do, ancient Celtic traditions in a countryside bounded on one side by a rocky coast-line. The great Abbey of Mont St-Michel remains a centre of pilgrimage and secular interest, and in Normandy we catch glimpses of the Bayeux

Tapestry, with its near contemporary record of William of Normandy’s successful expedition in 1066 to conquer England.

The Music • The music chosen for this tour of Northern France is the Organ Symphony of Camille Saint-Saëns, a work written in memory of Franz Liszt that takes its name from the use of the organ in its grandiose final movement. The other music to be heard is an orchestral version of the Belgian-born composer César Franck’s Prelude and Chorale, written two years earlier, in 1884, and the Romance in C major, Op. 48, of Saint-Saëns.

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A Musical Journey: GERMANYA Musical Visit to NurembergMusic by Mozart

The Places • The city of Nuremberg owes its importance partly to its geographical position, which made it a significant centre for trade. In spite of considerable war damage, its old medieval city, now restored, remains as a monument to its importance in the late Middle Ages. By the 16th century Nuremberg had become a centre of trade and of artistic activity. In art it could boast the presence of Albrecht Dürer and in poetry Hans Sachs and the Guild of Mastersingers, later to be celebrated by Wagner.

The Music • The son of Leopold Mozart, the Deputy Kapellmeister at the court of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had grown up at the archiepiscopal court, to be employed there, like his father, in a childhood and early adolescence interrupted by long concert tours as an infant prodigy. He excelled as a pianist, but was also

a proficient violinist, and two of the three Violin Sonatas included here date from years in which he tried briefly to escape from Salzburg and find employment elsewhere, with the third written in 1781, when he was first establishing himself in independence in Vienna, where he was to die ten years later.

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A Musical Journey: ITALYA Musical Tour of South TyrolMusic by Handel

The Places • South Tyrol, in Northern Italy, has had a varied history, for many years as part of Austrian territory. The region remains largely German-speaking, although both German and Italian are used. Looming over the territory are the mountains, the Dolomites, with their strange shapes, and the Alps, while the valleys provide fertile ground for the production of wine.

The Music • Music for the tour is taken from four Concerti grossi by Handel. Born in Halle in 1685, Handel had his first musical employment there and then in Hamburg, before moving in 1706 to Italy, where he remained until 1710, when he was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover. He travelled almost at once to London, where he had been engaged to compose an Italian opera, and from 1712 until his death in 1759 settled in England, winning fame first as a composer of Italian opera and then as the creator of English oratorio.

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(1704-1759)MONTEZUMAAlexandra Papadjiakou • Sophie BoulinGudrun Sieber • Catherine GayerBarbara Vogel • Walton GrönroosKarl-Ernst Mercker • Deutsche Oper BerlinConducted by Hans HilsdorfDirected by Herbert Wernicke

Carl Heinrich Graun (1704–1759) wrote a total of 27 operas for the Berlin court and not least for Frederick II. In 1742

his Cleopatra e Cesare was performed at the opening of the “Haus Unter den Linden”, and in 1755 he wrote his most impressive work – Montezuma. The opera tells the tragic story of the last ruler of the Aztecs, who lost his power and ultimately his life to the Spanish conquistadores. The libretto, in French prose, was written by none other than the Emperor of Prussia himself – Frederick II – and translated into Italian verse by his court poet. The music, written by his kapellmeister Graun, is as virtuosic as it is expressive – highly rewarding for singers and attractive for audiences. 101629

Richard HEUBERGER (1850-1914)Der Opernball (The Opera Ball)Helen Mané • Maria Tiboldi Tatjana Iwanow • Christiane Schröder Harald Serafin • Maurice Besançon Heinz Erhardt Symphony Orchestra Kurt Graunke MunichWilly MattesDirected by Eugen York

Richard Heuberger (1850–1914) came from a wealthy, art-loving Graz (Austria-Hungary) family. After working as an engineer, he

decided to devote himself completely to music, working as choral director of the Vienna Singakademie, composer of instrumental music, ballets, cantatas and operas, music critic and music journalist. Shortly before the turn of the century, he tried his luck with operettas. 101628

Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)LohengrinPlácido Domingo • Robert LloydCheryl Studer • Dunja VejzovicHartmut Welker • Georg Tichy Wiener Staatsoper • Claudio AbbadoDirected by Wolfgang Weber

Wagner set the action of his “romantic opera” Lohengrin in the “first half of the 10th century” – an instruction which director Wolfgang Weber and his stage designers Rudolf and Reinhard Heinrich clearly took very seriously when they produced it at the

Vienna State Opera in 1990.

100957 (2 DVDs)

Johann STRAUSSLa Chauve-SourisAlessandra Ferri Massimo MurruLuigi BoninoOrchestra and Ballet of the Teatro Alla Scala Kevin RhodesChoreographed by Roland Petit

Directed by Luigi Bonino, Petit’s assistant of many years, who also dances the role of Ulrich, it features two more dancing stars from the “Petit school” in the principal

roles: Massimo Murru, the male star dancer of La Scala’s company, for whom Petit had written several ballets and Allessandra Ferri, who counts among the finest ballerinas of today. Awarded with the coveted title of “Prima Ballerina Assoluta” at La Scala, she was once described by Roland Petit as the only rightful successor to legendary Zizi Jeanmaire. 107265

Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1482)KOUKOURGIStefan Cerny • Çigdem Soyarslan Leonardo Galeazzi • Daniel ProhaskaPeter Edelmann • Johannes ChumDaniel Belcher • Kärntner SinfonieorchesterConducted by Peter MarschikStage Directed by Josef Köpplinger

Thanks to the new Cherubini Edition, the composer’s unknown comic opera Koukourgi was staged for the first time in celebration of his 250th anniversary 2010.The premiere production of Luigi

Cherubini‘s opera Koukourgi at the Klagenfurt Stadttheater revealed a work that combines a tale from ancient China with the sensibility of the French Revolutionary times of its composition. The three act opera sees a young Chinese man battling for the hand of his sweetheart against the Tartar mandarin Koukourgi, the not unlikeable anti-hero described as a large pumpkin. The turmoil in Paris led to Cherubini’s librettist Honoré-Nicolas-Marie Duveyrier being imprisoned in the Bastille and fleeing to Denmark.

101638

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)Symphony No. 5 in B Flat MajorMünchner PhilharmonikerSergiu Celibidache

Maestro Sergiu Celibidache (1912–1996) was one of the most uncompromising figures in the music world, demanding three times as much rehearsal time as other conductors and with an ardent dislike of making recordings because he feared they misrepresented his musical intentions.He agreed to set aside his long-held antipathy to recordings of his work to

enable the cameras to capture this concert from the Philharmonie in Munich, in which he conducts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.

101639

NEW YEAR’S CONCERT 2012Jessica Pratt (Soprano) • Walter Fraccaro (Tenor) • Alex Esposito (Bass)Orchestra and Chorus of Gran Teatro Lafenice • Diego Matheuz

As is now customary, the first part of the 2012 New Year‘s Concert from Teatro La Fenice is exclusively orchestral, with Symphony No.5 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The second part, with soloists Jessica Pratt, Walter Fraccaro and Alex Esposito as well as the choir, is dedicated to melodrama, ending with the traditional chorus “Va

pensiero” from Nabucco and the toast “Libiam ne lieti calici” from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.

101637 (DVD) / 108056 (Blu-ray)

Arena di Verona Opera EditionGiuseppe VERDI: AIDA 1992George BIZET: CARMEN 2003Giacomo PUCCINI: TOSCA 2006Orchestra and Chorus of the Arena di Verona

Arthaus Musik presents three legendary outstanding operas from the Arena di Verona Festival featuring star conductors as Nello Santi and Daniel Oren. Zeffirelli’s interpretation of Carmen shows us the masterpiece of the French composer.

The Aida staging by Gianfranco De Bosio was seen and loved by thousands of opera lovers throughout the world. Star singers as the Italian soprano Fiorenza Cedolins, Marcelo Álvarez, Ruggero Raimondior Maria Chiara show us the highest performance quality of Italian and French opera during the last decades.

107520 (4 DVDs)

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Christoph Willibald GLUCKOrfeo ed EuridiceAnita Rachvelishvili • Maite AlberolaAuxiliadora ToledanoOrquesta bandArtGordan NikolićStaged by La Fura dels Baus

A splendid cast as well as an avant-garde production that makes extensive use of large projection screens and includes members of the orchestra as actors

onstage result in one of the most exciting opera performances in recent years. 710308 (DVD) / 710404 (Blu-ray)

Manuel de FallaLa vida breveDe Léon • Gallardo-Domas • CorbachoOrchestra de la Comunitat ValencianaCor de la Generalitat Valenciana • Lorin Maazel • Staged by Giancarlo del Monaco

A national monument in Spain, Manuel de Falla’s La vida breve is perhaps the greatest opera ever written in the Spanish language. A kind of ‘tragic zarzuela’, it unites verismo atmosphere, Andalusian

local colour and a score shimmering with reminiscences of French Impressionism. 710708 (DVD) / 710804 (Blu-ray)

4 SymphoniesBrahms Symphony No. 1Dvorak Symphony No. 9Sibelius Symphony No. 5Nielsen Symphony No. 3Danish National Symphony Orchestra • Thomas Dausgaard

These are four great symphonies that have all played a special role in the close collaboration between the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Thomas Dausgaard. The symphonies are recorded in the beautiful Koncerthuset in Copenhagen. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is specialized in Scandinavian repertoire.

710508 (DVD) / 710604 (Blu-ray)

PUCCINI: IL TRITTICOIL TABARRO: Lucio Gallo • Eva-Maria Westbroek • Aleksandrs AntonenkoSUOR ANGELICA: Ermonela Jaho • Anna Larsson • Irina MishuraGIANNI SCHICCHI: Lucio Gallo • Ekaterina Siurina • Francesco Demuro Orchestra of the Royal Opera House • Antonio Pappano • Director: Richard Jones

Leading director Richard Jones staged his witty, darkly comic realization of Gianni

Schicchi for The Royal Opera in 2007. The production was revived in 2012 and here he completes the trio with two new productions of Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica.

OA1070D (DVD) / OABD7012D (Blu-ray)

WAGNER: LohengrinGeorg Zeppenfeld • Klaus Florian VogtAnnette Dasch • Jukka RasilainenPetra Lang • Samuel Youn • Bayreuth Festival Orchestra & Chorus • Andris Nelsons • Director: Hans Neuenfels

Lohengrin is staged by the enfant terrible Hans Neuenfels, and offers a thought-provoking production of brilliant visualclarity. The performance by Klaus Florian Vogt in the title role is staggering and impressive.

There is beauty and purity in his voice, but in this role in particular, one truly senses something unheimlich, other-worldly, which fits superlatively both with work and production.

OA1071D (2 DVDs) / OABD7103 (Blu-ray)

ROSSINI: LA SCALA DI SETADaniele Zanfardino • Olga Peretyatko • Anna Malavasi • José Manuel Zapata • Carlo Lepore • Paolo BordognaHaydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento • Director: Damiano Michieletto • Claudio Scimone

This colourful and exuberant production was staged by Daminano Michieletto, “one of the truly new voices in stage direction today” (L’Unita). Damiano Michieletto made his international debut at the Wexford Opera Festival in 2003 with a highly-acclaimed production of Weinberger’s Svanda Dudák, named Opera Production of the Year by the Irish Times.

Rossini’s sparkling La scala di seta of 1812 weaves a burlesque tale of gentlemen climbing in and out of a lady’s bedchamber on a silken ladder. Damiano Michieletto’s modern-day production from the Rossini Festival in Pesaro sets the action in the tworoom apartment of the heroine Giulia, sung with ‘wonderful suppleness’ (Opernwelt) by Olga Peretyatko. The production also features a spectacular grand aria for Blansac (Carlo Lepore) extraneous to the work. Leading a young and spirited cast of Rossini specialists is maestro Claudio Scimone, a key figure in the international Rossini Renaissance.

OA1075D

SHAKESPEARE HENRY IV PART 1Roger Allam • Jamie Parker • Oliver CottonBarbara Marten • William Gaunt • Paul RiderJason Baughan • Director: Dominic Dromgoole • Music: Claire Van Kampen

Dominic Dromgoole’s acclaimed Olivier award-winning production is brought to its conclusion in Part 2 of Shakespeare’s historical masterpiece, Henry IV – a thrilling tale of family, treachery and war that surveys the entire panorama of English life. Staged

with ‘terrific aplomb’ (Daily Telegraph) and featuring a stellar line-up, this magnificent Globe Theatre performance showcases some of the Bard’s deftest dramatic skill, and confirms why Henry IV is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s finest works. OA1077D

SHAKESPEARE HENRY IV PART 1Roger Allam • Jamie Parker • Oliver CottonBarbara Marten • William Gaunt • Paul RiderJason Baughan • Director: Adrian Woodward • Music: Claire Van Kampen

The first instalment of what is widely acknowledged to be Shakespeare’s greatest historical saga, Henry IV Part 1 is an epic tale of power, treachery and war, exploring the complexity of father-son relationships. Featuring an Olivier

awardwinning performance from Roger Allam as Falstaff, the comical mentor to Jamie Parker’s Prince Hal, this is a celebrated presentation of the English classic, expertly directed by Dominic Dromgoole.

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Box Set

This box contains five splendid productions of Sergiu Celibidache (11. July 1912 – 14. August 1996) for his 100th Anniversary. He was one of the most charismatic, talented and fascinating conductors of all time; his profound knowledge of instrumental frequencies and acoustic science made him a genius of sound.

2059118 (5 DVDs)

Alban BERG (1885-1935)LuluPatricia Petibon • Pavol Breslik Michael Volle • Franz GrundheberWiener Philharmoniker • Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra • Marc AlbrechtDirector: Vera Nemirova

Lulu is a very rarely performed work, which was also left unfinished by the composer. This performance includes the missing 3rd act, which was completed by Friedrich Cerha, winner of the Salzburg Music Award 2010.

Available Worldwide Excluding USA & Canada

2072568 (2 DVDs) / 2072564 (Blu-ray)

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)Piano Trio op.99 • Piano Trio Op. 100 • Arpeggione Sonata D.821 in A minorAndrás Schiff (piano) • Yuuko Shiokawa (violin) • Miklós Perényi (Cello)

András Schiff, Yuuko Shiokawa and Miklós Perényi play the Schubert Piano Trios with energy and sensitivity, bringing out all the contrasts and subtle shades of this joyful pieces.The Trios were among the only of Schubert’s late compositions he heard performed before his death.The final piece on this DVD production features the less well-known ‘Arpeggione’ Sonata, given here in its arrangement for the cello. This work possesses Schubert’s characteristic mixture of cheerful vigour and wistful melancholy, and is performed by Schiff and Perényi with imagination and elegance.

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ADAM: GiselleThe Bolshoiballet HD CollectionSimon Virsaladze Ballet and Orchestra of the Bolshoï Theatre • Pavel Klinichev (Conductor)

The Bolshoi Ballet troupe in Yuri Grigorovich’s version of the romantic masterpiece Giselle, at last available in High-Definition. First performed in 1841, Giselle was an immediate hit. With music by Adolphe Adam and a libretto by Théophile Gautier and Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, the ballet touches on the great romantic themes: local colour, a pastoral love affair doomed to end in tragedy, a plunge into fantasy and redemption through the power of love.

Learning that Albrecht, her beloved, is in fact a nobleman engaged to be married to a princess, the naive peasant girl Giselle dies. The Queen of the Wilis—the spirits of deceased young virgins—decides that Albrecht should follow Giselle to the grave, and condemns him to dance until he dies of exhaustion. But Giselle’s spirit dances with him and saves him. BAC 074 (DVD) / BAC 474 (Blu-ray)

Soli Deo Gloria

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