Readings.com.au: ABC Classic FM CDs of the Week

Bach JS: Cantatas

Catalogue # DCAB001605202.2

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 30th January 2012

Andreas Scholl first sang the music of J. S. Bach as a boy chorister. Now the leading countertenor of our time, he returns to his musical roots with his own selection of arias from Bach’s Cantatas - including one of the best-loved of all Bach’s vocal works, “Ich habe genug”

*“There are more excellent countertenors before the public today than ever before, but one of them stands out above all others as Caruso among tenors a century ago: Andreas Scholl”( (Fanfare Magazine

Ich habe genug BWV 82
Gott soll allein mein Herze haben BWV 169
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich BWV 150
Bekennen will ich seinen Namen BWV 200
Komm, du süße Todesstunde BWV 161
Georg Melchior Hoffmann (ca. 1679–1715) ?
Schlage doch, gewünschte Stunde BWV 53

Slavic Heroes

Catalogue # HMW906101

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 23rd January 2012

From the first moment you hear him, the immensely talented young Polish baritone Mariusz Kweicien will delight you with his mellifluous and burnished voice. He is already the preferred King Roger and Eugene Onegin for leading opera houses world-wide and on this simply gorgeous album he sings unforgettable, yet largely little known, operatic arias by Czech, Polish and Russian composers that are close to his heart. He'll win yours, too!

Slavic Heroes

Arias by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Smetana Dvorak, Moniusko, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Szymanovsky

Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone), Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz (conductor)

Classic 100 20 Th Century

Catalogue # 4805901

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 4th January 2011

ABC Classic FM's annual Classic 100 survey of Australia's favourite music remains the definitive anthology of classic hits, its combination of superb performances and much-loved classics having proved appealing to both classical music experts and novices alike.

This time, ABC Classic FM takes the listener on a journey through the sheer breadth of music of the 20th century.

Track list:

CD 1

EDWARD ELGAR 1857-1934

1 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

1 I. Adagio – Moderato

2 II. Lento – Allegro molto

3 III. Adagio

4 IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro, ma non troppo

Li-Wei cello, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite conductor

GUSTAV HOLST 1874-1934

2 The Planets, Op. 32

5 I. Mars, the Bringer of War

6 II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace

7 III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger

8 IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

9 V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

10 VI. Uranus, the Magician

11 VII. Neptune, the Mystic

New England Conservatory Chorus (11), Boston Symphony Orchestra,

William Steinberg conductor

CD 2

GEORGE GERSHWIN 1898-1937 orch. Ferde Grofé

1 3 Rhapsody in Blue

Julius Katchen piano, London Symphony Orchestra, István Kertész conductor

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS 1872-1958

2 4 The Lark Ascending – Romance for violin and orchestra

Dimity Hall violin, Sinfonia Australis, Antony Walker conductor

SERGE RACHMANINOFF 1873-1943

3 5 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato 10’22

Isador Goodman piano, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductor

JOAQUÍN RODRIGO 1901-1999

4 6 Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio

Slava Grigoryan guitar; Alexa Murray cor anglais, The Queensland Orchestra,

Brett Kelly conductor

SAMUEL BARBER 1910-1981

5 7 Adagio for Strings, Op. 11

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Jorge Mester conductor

CARL ORFF 1895-1982

6 8 Carmina burana: I. O Fortuna

Sydney Philharmonia Motet and Symphonic Choirs, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra,

Antony Walker conductor LIVE RECORDING

IGOR STRAVINSKY 1882-1971

7 9 Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) –

Part I (Adoration of the Earth): Introduction

Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Willem van Otterloo conductor

SERGEI PROKOFIEV 1891-1953

8 10 Romeo and Juliet (Suite No. 2): Montagues and Capulets

West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey conductor

Bonus track: the top-ranking Australian work

NIGEL WESTLAKE b. 1958

9 29 Antarctica – Suite for guitar and orchestra: III. Penguin Ballet

Timothy Kain guitar, Alison Lazaroff-Somssich violin, Vanessa Souter harp,

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn conductor

Brandenburg Christmas

Catalogue # 4764687

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 19th December 2011

Every year since 1999, four-time ARIA-winners the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra along with the Brandenburg Choir have gathered each December to celebrate the glorious sounds of Christmas. They call it Noël! Noël! and it soon became an annual Brandenburg tradition. Each year, Artistic Director Paul Dyer revisits his much-loved Christmas ‘recipe’, always seeking to include the richest musical ingredients. Some flavours are well known while others come as a delightful surprise. ‘All of them are selected to inspire the feeling of joy that we all look forward to in December,’ says the much-admired Dyer. ‘It is a feeling that transcends race, religion and nationality, and often arouses memories of family, the rituals and perfumes of the season.’

Track Listing:

Palestrina Hodie Christus natus est
Hildegard von Bingen O Ecclesia
Traditional arr. Carter Angelus ad virginem
Ronzani Alma Redemptoris Mater
Merula Aria de Ciaconna ‘Su la cetra amorosa’
Arañés Chacona ‘A la vida bona’
Purcell Rejoice in the Lord Alway (The ‘Bell’ Anthem)
Mozart Laudate Dominum
Joel arr. Lawson Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Traditional arr. Coelho O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Traditional arr. Coelho The Coventry Carol
Traditional arr. Coelho Noël nouvelet
Howells Here is the Little Door
Davis arr. Coelho The Little Drummer Boy
Gruber Stille Nacht (Silent Night)
Anonymous arr. Willcocks O Come, All Ye Faithful

A Noel! Noel! Live Concert Recording

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Brandenburg Choir

Paul Dyer Conductor And Harpsichord

Louise Prickett Soprano

Christina Leonard Saxophone

Sublime Porte, Voices Of Instanbul 1400 1800

Catalogue # AVSA9887

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 12th December 2011

The Sublime Porte was the name of the open court of the sultan, led by the Grand Vizier. It got its name from the gate to the headquarters of the Grand Vizier in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, where the sultan held greeting ceremonies for foreign ambassadors. It was an ancient Ottoman practice to make the gates of cities and kings' palaces places of assembly. Later the name came to refer to the Empire's position as gateway between Europe and Asia.

Following the success of the album 'Istanbul', Jordi Savall crosses new boundaries between Orient and Occident: this time, the vocal traditions of the Ottoman Empire, Armenia and the Jewish Diaspora are masterly resuscitated. Instrumental interludes enable us to enjoy this journey through time and space. In addition to Hespèrion XXI, this album features the elite of Turkish traditional musicians under the inspired direction of Jordi Savall.

Segâh Kâr Kâr-i Sesâvâz (XVIIIe.)
Taksim & Makam “Uzzäl usules” Dervis Mehmed
Por alli pasó un cavallero Anonymous Sépharad (Smirna, XVIe.)
Plainte (duo Duduk - flûtes arméniennes) Anonymous Armenia
El Rey que tantomadruga Anonymous Sepharad (Smirna, XVIe.)
Hisar Agir Semai Buhuri Zade Mustafa Itri (ca. 1640-1712)
Taksim & Makam “Bûselik usûles” Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723)
Chant Spirituel Jewish traditional
Makam “Rehavi Çember” Tanburi Angeli (1690)
Gazal Improvisation (traditional Turkey)
Taksim & Makam "Hicâz usûles" Anonymous (manuscript D. Cantemir)
Romance Sefarade - Istanbul (M. Figueras)
Hisar Buselik Sarki Tanburi Mustafa Cavus (1700-1770)
Taksim & Danse (Kemancha & perc.) Anonymous - Traditional Armenia
Rast Nakie "Amed ne si" Hace Abdulkadir Meragi (1350-1435)

Gursoy Dincer, Lior Elmaleh & Montserrat Figueras
Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall

SACD

Dances To A Black Pipe

Catalogue # BISSACD1863

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 5th December 2011

Martin Fröst’s latest releases have featured core repertoire for his instrument from the 18th and 19th centuries, and most recently a disc of his wide-ranging encores. All of these offerings have been singularly well received by reviewers and record buyers alike, and have contributed to Fröst’s flourishing concert career.

On this disc, accompanied by the Australian Chamber Orchestra under Richard Tognetti, Fröst presents a wide-ranging selection of works all connected with dancing. The principal work on this disc is Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, and with special permission from the Copland Fund, the disc ends with the fireworks of the original and later revised, dazzling ending of the Concerto.

Fröst also includes on this disc works by Lutoslawski, Anders Hillborg and Piazzolla, as well as an arrangement of Brahms’ Four Hungarian Dances arranged by his brother, Göran.

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor arr. Gran Frst Hungarian Dance No. 13 in D major arr. Gran Frst Hungarian Dance No. 21 in E minor arr. Gran Frst Hungarian Dance No. 12 in D minor arr. Gran Frst
Copland: Clarinet Concerto (the disc also includes the original, unpublished ending of the concerto)
Frst, G: Klezmer Dances
Hillborg: Clarinet Concerto (Peacock Tales) chamber version for clarinet solo, piano and strings
Hgberg: Dancing with Silent Purpose
Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes (2nd version)
Piazzlla: Oblivion

Bach JS: Orchestral Suites

Catalogue # HMC90211314

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 21st November 2011

Called “Ouvertüren” in Germany, because they began with a large-scale overture à la française, Bach’s 'Suites for orchestra' offer a unique synthesis of the French and the Italian styles. The Leipzig Cantor did not content himself with a mere set of amiable dances for his Collegium Musicum: he revived the genre in his own manner, accenting the contrasts, refining the orchestration, and introducing a hitherto unknown contrapuntal element. Two centuries later these joyous orchestral works represent an indispensable treasure of the Baroque.

Bach, J S: Orchestral Suites Nos. 1-4, BWV1066-1069

Freiburger Barockorchester

CD - 2 discs

Music For The Open Road Classic Fm

Catalogue # 4764657

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 14th November 2011

The music on this CD reflects the music mix on Classic Drive – ABC Classic FM’s 4-7pm weekday program.

This album is something of a journey through time and space itself. We set off with a contemporary take on 17th-century England with Slava Grigoryan’s Fantasy on a Theme by William Lawes, then visit Bach with Diana Doherty’s haunting oboe before heading towards present-day northern Australian waters and the rolling rhythm of Seaman Dan’s Old Men and the Sea – via a Shostakovich Prelude and Fugue and Peter Sculthorpe’s Darwin Calypso. On our way back to Bach, the route takes in Simon Tedeschi’s brilliant rendition of Alligator Crawl, Nicola Watson’s whimsical and catchy song Windmills, flamenco with Arrebato, and Genevieve Lacey's virtuoso dash through a Strauss Polka. There are some spots to slow down and take in a little peace and quiet along the way as well, with Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and Michael Atherton's Shall We Dream.

This is music ‘to go’ – drive away music to take you anywhere.

Track Listing:

1 GRIGORYAN Fantasy on a Theme by William Lawes

2 JS BACH Oboe Concerto in D minor (Second movement)

3 MONTEVERDI Chiome d'oro (Tresses of gold)

4 SHOSTAKOVICH Prelude and Fugue in A major

5 MENDELSSOHN Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage (excerpt)

6 SCULTHORPE Darwin Calypso

7 DAN / NEUENFELDT / PEARSON Old Men and the Sea

8 McGANN Salaam

9 WALLER Alligator Crawl

10 WATSON Windmills

11 ALFONZETTI Verdades (Truths)

12 THOMAS Sweet Tooth

13 ATHERTON Shall We Dream

14 HOWARD / BRUNEEL Spir

15-16 TRAD / STIRZAKER Waltzing Matilda – Historical views for Clarinet Quartet (excerpts)

17 J STRAUSS II Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka

18 CROFT Ground

19 JS BACH Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten (We hasten with faint but eager steps)

Svendsen: Orchestral Works Vol 1

Catalogue # CHAN10693

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 7th November 2011

This is the first volume in a projected series of four, dedicated to the orchestral works of the Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen. As a composer, Svendsen was intrigued and inspired by the new trends in music represented by Wagner, Berlioz, and Liszt, a fascination which is evident in the works on this disc: programme music and rhapsodies. They are performed by the same strong partnership that brought us the highly acclaimed Halvorsen series: the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and Marianne Thorsen on violin under Neeme Järvi, a conductor noted for his recordings of Nordic repertoire.

Svendsen experienced a defining moment in his career in Bayreuth in 1872, when he played in the first violin section of Richard Wagner’s own orchestra. He and Wagner met and struck up a close friendship. It was during this time in Bayreuth that Svendsen completed Carnival in Paris, the ‘Episode for Orchestra’, Op. 9. When Wagner one day looked over the score, he hummed delightedly and said, ‘It looks amusing!’ – a fitting description of this festive work which shows the influence of Berlioz in its colourful orchestration and clear contrasts. Humour, joy, and breathtaking virtuosity are contrasted with moments of pure romance and lyrical beauty. The premiere was a great success, Edward Grieg, who was present, being overwhelmed by the orchestration.

Svendsen:
Festpolonaise Op. 12
Romeo og Julia, Op. 18
Karneval I Paris, Op. 9
Träume from Wesendonck
Zorahayda, Op. 11
Norsk Rapsodi No. 1, Op. 17
Norsk Rapsodi No. 2, Op. 19
Ifjol gjaett’ e gjeitinn, Op. 31
Romance for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 26
Sœterjentens Søndag

Marianne Thorsen (violin)
Melina Mandozzi (violin)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi

Fantasies For Bassoon

Catalogue # CHAN10703

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 31st of October 2011

Music by Schubert, Schumann, Schreck, Spohr, Rachmaninov, Elgar

Karen Geoghegan (bassoon), Philip Edward Fisher (piano)

Exclusive Chandos artist and BBC TV Classical Star Karen Geoghegan has 'phenomenal brilliance and precision' (BBC Music)

Simone Kermes Sings Vivaldi

Catalogue # 4779843

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 24th October 2011

In recent years German soprano Simone Kermes has been the sensation of press and public with her Vivaldi recordings. Here is a single CD compilation of highlights from her two solo Vivaldi recordings on Archiv Produktion, Amor Sacro and Amor Profano.

Of Amor Profano, Opera magazine wrote: “Kermes’s distinctive voice has an appealing smoothness and roundedness of tone…an intensely dramatic personality at work…super-precise coloratura…Kermes’s technique is something to marvel at”; and Gramophone summed up: 'Amor profano is a role model of how a Baroque opera arias recital disc should be put together – with proper research, affection for the composer, and top-notch artistry”.

Booklet includes bio of Kermes, quotes, and sung texts in Italian & Latin plus translations in English, German and French.

Vivaldi:
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, motet for soprano, strings & continuo, RV 630
Tra le follie...Siam navi all'onde algenti (from L'Olimpiade)
Quegl' occhi luminosi
Combatta un gentil cor
La farfalletta
In furore iustissimae irae, RV626
Ah fuggi rapido
Or che cinto ho il crin d'alloro
Griselda: Agitata da due venti
Se in campo armato from Catone in Utica

Simon Kermes (soprano)
Venice Baroque Orchestra, Andrea Marcon

Arco Iris

Catalogue # ECM2180

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 17th October 2011

Following her outstanding performance in collaborative work with Jon Balke and Jon Hassell on the “Siwan” recording of 2007/8, Moroccan-born singer Amina Alaoui presents her own border-transcending project. When Alaoui sings there is “no need to discuss the origins of fado, flamenco or Al Andalusi” for the music itself explores the common crucible of the styles, and Amina’s delivery makes the interconnections impossible to miss. She is superbly accompanied by her outstanding ensemble in which violin often echoes the voice, and oud, flamenco guitar and sparkling mandolin surround it. Guitarist José Luis Montón from Barcelona has a strong following amongst flamenco adherents worldwide. Mandolinist Eduardo Miranda was born in Brazil, has lived the last two decades in Portugal, and links choro and fado styles through a vocabulary influenced by jazz. Violinist Saïfallah Ben Abderrazak and oud player Sofiane Negra are from Tunisia. Idriss Agnel, Amina’s son, plays percussion and adds a shimmer of electric guitar.

Amina Alaoui vocals, daf
Saïfallah Ben Abderrazak violin
Sofiane Negra oud
José Luis Montón flamenco guitar
Eduardo Miranda mandolin
Idriss Agnel percussion

Hado
Búscate en Mí
Fado Al-Mu'tamid
Flor de nieve
Oh Andaluces
Ya laylo layl
Fado menor
Búscate en Mí, var.
Moradía
Las Morillas de Jaén
Que faré
Arco Iris

Recorded April 2010

Sing Freedom, African American Spirituals

Catalogue # HMU807525

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 10th October 2011

One of the seminal American musical traditions, the spiritual is dramatic, powerful, and profoundly beautiful — the bedrock for much of American music that was to follow. Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare explore here the genre’s wide range of expression and its eloquence in speaking to universal aspects of the human condition.

Sing Freedom African-American Spirituals
1 Motherless Child
2 A City Called Heaven
3 Soon Ah Will Be Done... / I Wanna Die Easy
4 Soon Ah Will Be Done
5 Hard Trials
6 Hold On!
7 Been in de Storm... / Wayfaring Stranger
8 Oh Graveyard (Lay This Body Down)
9 Ain’-a That Good News!
10 Steal Away
11 Walk Together, Children
12 I Got a Home in-a Dat Rock
13 Lily of the Valley
14 Plenty Good Room (On the Glory Train)
15 My God is a Rock
16 Freedom Song
17 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson

SACD

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Catalogue # 4761923

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 3rd October 2011

Every line, every note of Bach is a miracle: perfect in its intimate detail, perfect in the grandeur of its vision. His Brandenburg Concertos are masterpieces of orchestral colour, and this landmark recording by the Orchestra of the Antipodes on period instruments brings out all the warmth and beauty of the real Baroque sound.

Track Listing: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

CD 1
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F, BWV 1046
1 I. (Allegro)
2 II. Adagio
3 III. Allegro
4 IV. Menuett - Trio - Polonaise - Menuett - Trio

Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G, BWV 1048
5 I. (Allegro)
6 II. Adagio
7 III. Allegro

Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D, BWV 1050
8 I. Allegro
9 II. Affetuoso
10 III. Allegro

Sinfonias
11 BWV 29 – Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir
12 BWV 156 – Ich steh mit einem Fuss im Grabe
13 BWV 75
14 BWV 42 – Am Abend aber desselbingen Sabbats

CD 2 Brandenburg Concerto No.6 in B flat, BWV 1051
1 I. (Allegro)
2 II. Adagio ma non tanto
3 III. Allegro

Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G, BWV 1049
4 I. Allegro
5 II. Andante
6 III. Presto

Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F, BWV 1047
7 I. (Allegro)
8 II. Andante
9 III. Allegro assai

Sinfonias 10 BWV 174 – Ich liebe den Hochsten von ganzem Gemute
11 BWV 21 – Ich hatte viel Bekummernis
12 BWV 106 – Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit
13 BWV 182 – Himmelskonig, sei willkommen

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

Catalogue # 4779291

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 26th September 2011

Beethoven:
Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 'Waldstein'
Andante Favori in F, Wo057
Rondo a capriccio in G major, Op. 129 ‘Rage over a lost penny'

Alice Sara Ott (piano)

Following the success of her previous Deutsche Grammophon recordings (4778095, 4778362, 4778779), Alice Sara Ott embraces two milestones of piano literature: Beethoven’s Sonatas in C major, summarizing different phases of the composer’s life. Sonata op. 2 no. 3, written in his mid-twenties, is ripe with youthful spirit, wit, and force. The “Waldstein” op. 53 was composed in his thirties when Beethoven was struggling with impending deafness. Additionally, Alice Sara Ott selected the fierce Rondo “Rage over a Lost Penny” dating from Sonata op. 2’s time, and the beautiful Andante favori, originally written as the Waldstein’s slow movement.

Music Of Georges I Gurdjieff

Catalogue # ECM2236

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 19th September 2011

Fascinating and highly attractive project which returns the music of Gurdjieff (c. 1866 – 1949) to its ethnic inspirational sources. To date Gurdjieff’s compositions have largely been studied, in the West, via the piano transcriptions of Thomas de Hartmann. Armenian composer Levon Eskenian now goes beyond the printed notes to look at the musical traditions that Gurdjieff encountered during his travels, and rearranges the compositions from this perspective. Eskenian draws attention to the roots of the pieces in Armenian, Greek, Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian, Persian and Caucasian folk and spiritual music. Enlisting the assistance of some of the leading players in Armenia, Eskenian founded the Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble in 2008, and with them he has now realized a remarkable album.

The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble
Levon Eskenian
Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff

Emmanuel Hovhannisyan duduk
Avag Margaryan blul
Armen Ayvazyan kamancha
Aram Nikoghosyan oud
Levon Torosyan oud
Meri Vardanyan kanon
Vladimir Papikyan santur Davit Avagyan tar
Mesrop Khalatyan dap, dhol
Armen Yeganyan saz
Reza Nesimi tombak Harutyun Chkolyan duduk
Tigran Karapetyan duduk
Artur Atoyan dam duduk
Levon Eskenian director

Chant from a Holy Book
Kurd Shepherd Melody
Prayer
Sayyid Chant and Dance No. 10
Sayyid Chant and Dance No. 29
Armenian Song
Bayaty
Sayyid Chant and Dance No. 9
No. 11
Caucasian dance
No. 40
Trinity
Assyrian Women Mourners
Atarnakh, Kurd Song
Arabian Dance
Ancient Greek Dance
Duduki

Recorded November/December 2008

The Children's Hospital Hush Collection 11 Luminous Inspired by Mozart

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 12th September 2011

Joe Chindamo – Piano/Piano Accordion, Daniel Farrugia – Percussion, Philip Rex – Bass, Zoe Black – Violin, Sarah Curro – Violin, Caroline Henbest – Viola, Josephine Vains – Cello

(Rch) HUSH011

Track Listing Extract:

Clarinet Concerto in B flat K 622 2nd movement (Adagio) Symphony No 40 in g minor K 550 1st movt. (Molto allegro) Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 1st movement (Allegro) Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 2nd movement (Romance) Klein Nachtmusik 3rd movement (Menuetto) Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 4th movement (Serenade) Piano concerto in B flat K 595 2nd movement (Larghetto) Piano concerto in B flat K 595 3rd movement (Allegro) The Magic Flute Overture Piano concerto no 21 in C K 467 2nd movement (Andante) Violin sonata in B flat K 454 2nd movement (Andante) Piano sonata in A major K 331 1st movement (Andante grazioso) Piano accordion version Piano sonata in A major K 331 1st movement (Andante grazioso)

Opera Show

Catalogue # 4805629

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 5th September 2011

The great voices, the great arias: a grand celebration of grand opera! Let the world’s most famous singers serenade you with this this magnificent selection of opera favourites, hand-picked by Mairi Nicholson, presenter of The Opera Show on ABC Classic FM.

Track Listing:

CD1

VERDI La traviata: Brindisi | Joan Sutherland / Carlo Bergonzi
ROSSINI The Italian Girl in Algiers Cruda sorte! Amor tiranno | Teresa Berganza
DONIZETTI The Daughter of the Regiment Ah! mes amis... | Juan Diego Flórez
OFFENBACH The Tales of Hoffmann Scintille, diamante | John Wegner
PUCCINI La bohème O soave fanciulla | Angela Gheorghiu / Roberto Alagna
WEBER Der Freischütz Huntsmen’s Chorus | Leipzig Radio Chorus
WAGNER The Mastersingers of Nuremberg Walter’s Prize Song | Jonas Kaufmann
PUCCINI Tosca Vissi d’arte | Renata Tebaldi
BONONCINI Griselda Per la gloria d’adorarvi | Luciano Pavarotti
MASCAGNI Cavalleria rusticana Easter Hymn | Fiorenza Cossotto / Mariagrazia Allegri
BORODIN Prince Igor Galitzky’s Aria | Nicolai Ghiaurov
GOUNOD Roméo et Juliette Ah! Je veux vivre! | Amelia Farrugia
PUCCINI La rondine Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso | Renée Fleming / Jonas Kaufmann
MOZART The Magic Flute Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön | Fritz Wunderlich
TCHAIKOVSKY Eugene Onegin Vot tak syurpriz! | Bernd Weikl / Stuart Burrows / John Alldis Choir
VERDI A Masked Ball Di’ tu se fedele | Carlo Bergonzi
BIZET Carmen Toreador’s Song | Teddy Tahu Rhodes
CD2 PUCCINI Turandot Nessun dorma | Luciano Pavarotti
DVOŘÁK Rusalka Song to the Moon | Renée Fleming
BIZET The Pearl Fishers Je crois entendre encore | Léopold Simoneau
VERDI Aida Triumphal March | Opera Queensland Chorus
WAGNER Tannhäuser Elisabeth’s Greeting | Birgit Nilsson
STRAUSS Der Rosenkavalier Di rigori armato il seno | José Carreras
VIVALDI Dorilla in Tempe Dell’aura al sussurrar | Cecilia Bartoli
PURCELL Dido and Aeneas When I am laid in earth | Fiona Campbell
HANDEL Julius Caesar Va tacito e nascosto | Graham Pushee
MOZART Così fan tutte Soave sia il vento | Lucia Popp / Brigitte Fassbaender / Tom Krause
ROSSINI Tancredi Di tanti palpiti | Marilyn Horne
GOUNOD Faust Le veau d’or | John Wegner
VERDI Rigoletto Un di, se ben rammementomi (Act III Quartet) | Joan Sutherland / Huguette Tourangeau / Luciano Pavarotti / Sherrill Milnes
BIZET Carmen La fleur que tu m’avais jetée (Flower Song) | Plácido Domingo
KORNGOLD Die tote Stadt Marietta’s Song | Kiri te Kanawa
ROSSINI The Barber of Seville La calunnia è un venticello | Nicolai Ghiaurov
BELLINI Beatrice di Tenda Angiol di pace | Joan Sutherland / Marilyn Horne / Luciano Pavarotti
BOIELDIEU La fête du village voisin Bolero | Sumi Jo

Folias

Catalogue # 4764525

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 29th August 2011

Imagine ‘pop music’ of the 17th Century – the hip tunes, the attention grabbing hooks, the musical show pieces – and then transfer it to the 21st Century. That’s what you get with Latitude 37’s self titled debut album.

Named after the latitudinal position which links Melbourne, Australia, to New Zealand, Latitude 37 is an exciting Baroque trio whose members were drawn together by their passion for historically informed performance of 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century music.

Comprising some of the top graduates of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, reunited after years of extensive research and international experience playing with many of the finest ensembles and artists in Europe, America and Australasia, Latitude 37 represents a new generation of period instrumentalists who share a unified interest in cultivating and communicating their ancient art for the modern era.

Track Listing:

Diego Ortiz /Latitude 37 - Passamezzo Antico
Alessandro Piccinini (1566-1638) - Toccata
Latitude 37 - Folias
Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde (1595–1638) Canzon a due
Giovanni Battista Fontana (c.1571-1630) - Violin Sonata no. 2
Diego Ortiz – Recercada Ottava
Biagio Marini (1587-1663) - La Romanesca
Claudio Merulo - Toccata Terza
Giulio Caccini / Donald Nicolson - Amarilli mia Bella
Giulio Caccini – Non H’al Ciel (based on the Spagnoletta)
Anon. / Latitude 37 / Fabritio Caroso - La Monica
Frescobaldi – Toccata for spinet, violin and BC
Giovanni Palestrina (1514-1594)/Rogniono/Bassani - Io son ferito ahi lasso
Dario Castello (1590-1658) - Violin Sonata Seconda
Johannes Kapsberger / Latitude 37- Passacaglia

Hispania And Japan Dailogues

Catalogue # AVSA9883

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 22nd August 2011

Perched upon the throne as the foremost authority of early music worldwide, Jordi Savall returns with this deluxe 'Hispania & Japan Dialogues' release for 2011. A deluxe packaged set complete with fold-out Japanese screen replica and 32-page hardcover booklet. The connection between Japan and Spain is told through Jordi's travels in early 2006 when he traveled from Spain to Japan exploring the connections and music from Javier onwards. The proceeds from each one sold go directly to the Japanese Red Cross charity to help rebuild the earthquake ravaged areas.

Beethoven: Trio In B Flat, Brahms: Trio In A Minor, Bruch: Eight Pieces

Catalogue # TP217

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 15th August 2011

This is Ensemble Liaison’s debut CD. The group was formed in 2006 and is Monash University’s Ensemble in Residence. They have performed throughout Australia including for Musica Viva, and have appeared on ABC-TV’s Sunday Arts program.

This CD contains the two major chamber works for this instrumental combination: the youthful Beethoven Trio, written when he was just 27; the late Brahms Trio, written for clarinettist Richard Muhlfield whose inspired playing brought Brahms out of retirement and to conclude the recital the beautiful and harmonically daring Eight Pieces by Bruch.

Beauty Of The Baroque

Catalogue # 4782260

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 8th of August 2011

Since her early success in Glyndebourne’s now famous production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Danielle de Niese has become most closely associated with the music of the Baroque. The New York Times commented: “A voice seductive enough to woo gods as well as mortals”.

With her third solo album, Danielle de Niese embodies the Beauty of the Baroque with an album of arias from the English, German, and Italian traditions, accompanied by the leading European Baroque orchestra, The English Concert, under Harry Bicket. Many popular arias feature, including Handel’s, ‘Ombra mai fu’, and highlights from JS Bach’s Cantatas are contrasted with much loved solo songs by Purcell and Dowland.

Decca’s star countertenor Andreas Scholl joins Danielle de Niese for duets including the ravishing duet “Pur ti miro” from Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea.

Bach, J S: Cantata BWV202 'Weichet Nur, betrübte Schatten' (Wedding Cantata), Sheep May Safely Graze, from Cantata BWV208
Dowland: Come again, sweet love doth now invite, What if I never speed?
Handel: Ombra mai fu (from Serse), Samson: Let the bright seraphim, Acis and Galatea: Heart, the seat of soft delight, Io t'abbraccio (from Rodelinda), The Triumph of Time and Truth: Guardian angels
Monteverdi: Pur ti miro (I gaze upon you) from L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Quel sguardo sdegnosetto
Pergolesi: Stabat mater: Opening duet
Purcell: When I am laid in earth (from Dido and Aeneas)

Danielle de Niese (soprano)
The English Concert, Harry Bicket

Beyond All Mortal Dreams, American A Cappella Choral Music

Catalogue # CDA67832

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 1st of August 2011

Beyond All Mortal Dreams - American a cappella choral music

'Beautiful perforamnces of atmospheric post-war American choral music' Gramophone Magazine October 2011

Clausen Tonight eternity alone; Stucky Three New Motets; Gjelo Sanctus; Ferko Hildegard Triptych; Fissinger Lux aeterna; Willan Fair in face, I beheld her, Rise up my love, How they so softly rest; Paulus The day is done, Pilgrims' hymn, Hymn to the eternal flame

Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Stephen Layton (conductor)

Showcase of little-known but luminous American choral music that impressed acclaimed conductor Stephen Layton during his travels and which provide the context in which famous composers such as Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre learnet their craft. Stephen Layton conducts ‘vital and immaculate performances’ (MusicWeb) with one of the world’s leading choirs.

La Spagna, A Tune Through Three Centuries

Catalogue # BisSACD1963

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 25th July 2011

Legendary 1980 LP recording reissued on stunning SACD. La Spagna, a hugely popular tune across 17th-century Europe, makes a comeback!

Vivaldi: French Connection 2

Catalogue # AV2218

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 11th July 2011

Includes two world premiere Recordings

Exciting, eloquent, effervescent concertos, extravagantly virtuos ic in cha racter-g reat fun!

Vol 1 also available on AV2178 (Gramophone Award-winner)

Katy Bircher (flute), La Serenissima, Andrian Chandler (director)

All Time Classics with Marian Arnold

Catalogue # 4805269

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 4th July 2011

Marian Arnold, one of Australia’s most loved radio personalities presents some of her favourite requests from ABC Classic FM program ‘All Time Classics’. This triple-CD set features performances by some of the finest musicians and ensembles in the world, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Trevor Pinnock, Emma Kirkby, Carlos Kleiber, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Genevieve Lacey, Peter Dawson, Wiener Philharmoniker, English Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and many more ...

Track Listing:

CD1
1 JS BACH Sinfonia from Cantata BWV174
2 COUPERIN Les Baricades Mystérieuses (The Mysterious Barricades)
3 MONTEVERDI Beatus vir
4 BEETHOVEN Quasi allegretto (No. 5) from Six Bagatelles for Piano, Op. 126
5-8 BRAHMS Symphony No. 4
9 DVOŘÁK Scherzo capriccioso

CD2
1 BAX Dance in the Sunlight
2-5 BRUCH Scottish Fantasia
6-9 CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 3
10 KHACHATURIAN Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
11-14 PROKOFIEV Cinderella (excerpts)

CD3
1 KATS-CHERNIN Re-invention No. 1
2 DONIZETTI Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor
3-5 VINE Piano Concerto
6 SCULTHORPE Kakadu
7 HILL Symphony No. 2 ‘Joy of Life’ (First movement)
8 TRADITIONAL/COWAN Waltzing Matilda
9 GRAINGER Handel in the Strand

Baroque Duets

Catalogue # 8401101

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 20th of June 2011

The CD includes works by Cavalli, Steffani, Handel and Monteverdi and also features the world-premiere recording of a spectacular chamber duet by Handel, and a second world premiere by Steffani.

Fiona Campbell mezzo-soprano, is an accomplished international performer and sings regularly with the major orchestras in her native Australia and around the world. While David Walker is highly sought after as a countertenor, in a diverse repertoire. The fabulous Ironwood chamber ensemble are directed here by Neal Peres Da Costa.

Faithful

Catalogue # ECM2208

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 13th June 2011

Dazzling third ECM album by Poland’s Wasilewski Trio, which perfectly captures the group’s blend of energy and lyricism. There is space here for both the outgoing and the reflective, for profound composition and in-the-moment creativity. The wide-ranging repertoire on “Faithful” (named after the Ornette Coleman title track) includes five new tunes from the pen of Marcin Wasilewski and timeless pieces by Paul Bley and Hermeto Pascoal. From the standard repertory, the trio plays “The Ballad of the Sad Young Men”. Reaching beyond jazz, the players also find a new approach to Hanns Eisler’s “An den kleinen Radioapparat”.

The Art of Martha Argerich (70th Birthday Limited Edition)

Catalogue # 4779523

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 6th of June 2011

It’s hard to believe that Martha Argerich is now approaching her 70th birthday – on 5 June this year. She has been recording for Deutsche Grammophon for 50 years, and has made some of the greatest recordings on the label, now fully documented on The Martha Argerich Collection capboxes (Solo Recordings, Concerto Recording, Chamber Ensemble Recordings).

Three generously filled CDs (nearly 240 minutes of music) portray the incredible virtuosity, style and range of this incomparable artist. We follow her solo and concerto career that is gradually subsumed in recordings with musical partners like Nelson Freire, Stephen Kovacevich, Mischa Maisky and Gidon Kremer – Argerich’s five decades of recording with DG and Philips (Decca) are surveyed in a magnificent chronological sweep.

Mozart: Arias

Catalogue # 4779297

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 30th of May 2011

Mozart:
Madamina, il catalogo è questo (from Don Giovanni)
Bravo, signor padrone…Se vuol ballare (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Se vuol ballare (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Alcandro, lo confesso - Non so d'onde viene, K294
Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Deh! vieni alla finestra (from Don Giovanni)
Mentre ti lascio, K513
Fin ch'han dal vino (from Don Giovanni)
Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo (from Così fan tutte)
Tutto e disposto...Aprite un po' quegl'occhi (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Così dunque tradisci … Aspri rimorsi atroci, K432
Donne mie la fate a tanti (from Così fan tutte)
Per questa bella mano, concert aria, K 612
Hai gia vinta la causa! (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Vedro mentr'io sospiro (from Le nozze di Figaro)

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (bass-baritone)
Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino, Gianandrea Noseda

Fandango

Catalogue # 4764435

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 23rd of May 2011

Classical guitar virtuoso teams up with Melbourne’s hottest string quartet in a display of passion and style for which they are both renowned.

Track Listing:

MÁXIMO DIEGO PUJOL | Tangata de Agosto
1 I. Allegro
2 II. Andante
3 III. Allegro ritmico

LUIGI BOCCHERINI | Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D major ‘Fandango’
4 I. Pastorale
5 II. Allegro maestoso
6 III. Grave assai –
7 Fandango

(Chari Saldaña castanets)

JOSEPH HAYDN | Quartet in D major for Concertante Guitar, Violin, Viola and Cello
8 I. Allegro
9 II. Menuetto
10 III. Adagio
11 IV. Menuetto
12 V. Presto

PHILLIP HOUGHTON | In Amber
13 I. Dance
14 II. Dream
15 III. Initiation

Victoria Requiem 1605

Catalogue # SIGCD248

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 16th of May 2011

Lobo, A:
Versa est in luctum
Lamentationes Ieremiae Prophetae

Victoria: Requiem 1605 'Officium defunctorum'

Tenebrae, Nigel Short

Tomas Luis de Victoriaʼs requiem mass for six voices, written in 1603 and published in 1605, is a masterpiece. It is one of a handful of large-scale works which enjoys mainstream appeal in the 21st century. For many, it represents what Renaissance polyphony is, what it sounds and feels like, and how expressive it can be. The disc also features two well-known works by Victoriaʼs contemporary Alonso Lobo.

The performance comes from the renowned professional chamber choir Tenebrae, led by Nigel Short, following their recent BBC Music Magazine Award nominated recording of Francis Poulencʼs Figure Humaine.

Seraphim

Catalogue # 4764362

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 9th of May 2011

Classic arias sent soaring by the heavenly voice of the aria-award winning soprano, Sara Macliver.

Track Listing:

1 Handel: Let the Bright Seraphim from Samson
2 Arne: The glitt’ring Sun from Cantata V: The Morning
3 Giacomelli / Vivaldi: Sposa son disprezzata (I am a wife scorned) from Bajazet
4 JS Bach: Mein gläubiges Herze (My believing heart) from Cantata No. 68
5 Purcell: Hark! The Echoing Air from The Fairy Queen
6 Handel: Angels, Ever Bright and Fair from Theodora
7 Purcell: Evening Hymn
8 JS Bach: Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze) from Cantata No. 208
9 Giordani: Caro mio ben (My dear one)
10 Mozart: Laudate Dominum (Praise the Lord) from Solemn Vespers of a Confessor
11 Mozart: Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben (Rest gently, my dear one) from Zaide
12 Haydn: Al tuo sen fortunato (To your joyous breast) from L’anima del filosofo
13 Fauré: Pie Jesu from Requiem
14 Ravel: Song of the Pistachio Harvesters from Five Popular Greek Melodies
15 Canteloube: Bailèro from Songs of the Auvergne
16 Bernstein: Somewhere from West Side Story
17 Bowman: Crossing the Bar
18 Mitchell: Both Sides Now

Mozart: Violin Concertos 1, 2 & 4

Catalogue # BISSACD1755

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 2nd of May 2011

The second disc of Richard Tognetti and the ACO's complete recording of the Mozart Violin Concertos.

Musicians on this recording
Violins
Richard Tognetti (Artistic Leader and Lead Violin), Helena Rathbone (Principal Second Violin), Satu Vänskä (Assistant Leader), Alice Evans, Aiko Goto, Mark Ingwersen, Ilya Isakovich, Eoin Andersen, Madeleine Boud, Kristian Winther
Violas
Christopher Moore (Principal), Nicole Divall, Stephen King
Cellos
Timo-Veikko Valve (Principal), Melissa Barnard, Julian Thompson Bass Maxime Bibeau (Principal)
Flutes
Kate Clark, Marcello Gatti
Oboes
Rodrigo Gutiérrez, Peter Tabori
Bassoon
Jane Gower
Horns
Anneke Scott, Joseph Walters

Diva Divo

Catalogue # 6419860

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 25th April 2011

Bellini: Ascolta! Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio...La tremenda ultrice spada (from I Capuleti)
Edgaras Montvidas (tenor), Nabil Suliman (baritone)

Berlioz:D'amour l'ardente flamme (from La damnation de Faust)
Roméo et Juliette: Premiers transports que nul n'oublie

Gluck: Se mai senti spirarti sul volto (from La clemenza di Tito)

Gounod: Faites- lui mes aveux (from Faust)

Massenet: Je suis gris! Je suis ivre! (from Chérubin)
Allez, laissez-moi seul...Coeur sans amour, printemps sans roses (from Cendrillon)
Ô frêle corps.... Chère Cypris (from Ariane)

Mozart: Giunse alfin il momento... Deh, vieni, non tardar… (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Ecco il punto...Non più di fiori vaghe catene (from La clemenza di Tito)
Voi che sapete (from Le nozze di Figaro)

Rossini: Contro un cor (from Il barbiere di Siviglia), Edgaras Montvidas (tenor)
Nacqui all'affanno, al pianto...Non più mesta (from La Cenerentola), Elena Semenova (soprano), Pascale Obrecht (mezzo), Edgaras Montvidas (tenor), Nabil Suliman (baritone), Paolo Stupenengo (bass)

Strauss, R: Sein wir wieder gut (from Ariadne auf Naxos)

Joyce DiDonato (mezzo)
Orchestre et Choeur de L'Opéra National De Lyon, Kazuko Ono

Halvorsen: Orchestral Works Volume 3

Catalogue # CHAN10664

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 18th April 2011

Halvorsen:
Symphony No. 3
Bergensiana
Black Swans, Premiere recording
Wedding of Ravens in the Grove of the Crows, Premiere recording
Fossegrimen Suite incl. Danse visionaire
Wedding March, Op. 32, No. 1

Ragnhild Hemsing (hardanger fiddle) & Marianne Thorsen (violin)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi

Neeme Järvi is back conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in the third volume in Chandos’ series devoted to the orchestral works of the Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen. They are joined on this recording by Ragnhild Hemsing on Norway’s national instrument, the Hardanger fiddle, and by Marianne Thorsen on violin.

Johan Halvorsen was a highly prominent figure in Norway’s musical life during the first decades of the twentieth century, and the works on this CD are all performed by the orchestra that he himself conducted in the 1890s.

Romantic Violinist

Catalogue # 4779301

ABC Classic FM CD of Week: 11th April 2011

Brahms: Sonatensatz (Scherzo from the F.A.E. sonata), WoO 2, Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor, Hungarian Dance No. 5, Geistliches Wiegenlied, Op. 91 No. 2
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
Dvorak: Humoresque in G flat major, Op. 101 No. 7
Joachim: Romanze, Op. 2, No. 1 for violin and piano, Notturno for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 12
Schubert: Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D774
Schumann, Clara: Romances (3), Op. 22: No. 1 - Andante Molto

Daniel Hope (violin & viola) with Sebastian Knauer (piano) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo, Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano)) & Bengt Forsberg (piano)

Friends with Mendelssohn, the Schumanns, Brahms, Dvorák, Liszt, Bruch, and others, Joachim was a revered violinist, conductor, and composer of the Romantic Era. The central piece is Bruch’s Violin Concerto, its violin part completely reworked, at Bruch’s request, by Joachim into the form we know today. Daniel Hope plays the concerto with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under Sakari Oramo.

Grainger Edition, 19 CD Set

Catalogue # CHAN10638

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 4th April 2011

The Grainger Edition Volumes 1-19 Chandos's groundbreaking Grainger Edition issued to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the composer's death

Susan Gritton (soprano), Della Jones, Pamela Helen Stephen (mezzo-sopranos), Martyn Hill, Mark Padmore, Mark Tucker (tenors), Johan Reuter, Stephen Varcoe (baritones), Tim Hugh (cello), John Lavender, Wayne Marshall, Penelope Thwaites, Geoffrey Tozer (piano)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus and Ensemble, Danish National Radio Choir, Joyful Company of Singers, RNCM Wind Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, BBC Philharmonic, Jesper Grove Jorgensen, Timothy Reynish, Clark Rundell, Richard Hickox

CD - 19 discs

Grainger, the Australian-born composer and pianist, was one of music’s most original voices and his compositions, especially his arrangements of folksongs, include some of the world’s most well-loved pieces. He studied piano from an early age and, by the time he reached the age of twenty, had already thought out or formulated the majority of his compositions. The following years saw him feverishly reworking and re-arranging these pieces for different forces; in fact it was Grainger who conceived the idea of ‘elastic’ scoring: a work having an almost limitless number of performable versions, all showing a wonderful sense of instrumental colouring. In his various approaches to a single work, Grainger would explore the possibilities of instrumentation from solo piano to wind band and to full orchestra, harmonic textures varying from simple support of the well-known melody to highly contrapuntal settings involving unusual harmonic progressions.

NB: The below video is a short excerpt of Grainger performing a work not included in box set.

Handel: Music For The Royal Fireworks, Water Music Suite 1 & 2

Catalogue # 4764300

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 28th of March 2011

Celebrate! with this glorious album of Baroque music performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Handel specialist Graham Abbott. Written by Handel in 1748 to accompany a fireworks display celebrating the end of a war that had torn Europe apart for eight years, Music for the Royal Fireworks is positively bursting with joy and delight. Also included on this album are two of the suites written by Handel to serenade King George I on a boat trip along the River Thames. Treat yourself to a right royal listening experience!

Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351 Ouverture Bourrée La Paix La Réjouissance Menuet 1 and 2

Water Music: Suites in F and D, HWV348/349 Ouverture Adagio e staccato [Allegro] - Andante [Allegro] Air Minuet Bourrée-Hornpipe [Air] [Prelude] Alla Hornpipe Lentement Bourrée Minuet

Mostly Mozart

Catalogue # 4778979

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 21st March 2011

Deutsche Grammophon signed an exclusive contract with soprano Mojca Erdmann in the summer of 2009. Her solo disc debut entitled Mostly Mozart will be released in Germany on April 15, 2011. The recording includes primarily arias from Mozart's operas Le Nozze di Figaro, Idomeneo, Zaide, Don Giovanni [Prague Version 1787] and Die Zauberflöte. The rest of the disc is filled with rarities from Antonio Salieri (Les Danaïdes), Johann Christian Bach (Amadis de Gaule), Ignaz Jakob Holzbauer (Günther von Schwarzburg) and Giovanni Paisiello (Nina, o sia la Pazza per Amore). The soprano can be seen on a DVD released by the German label of the 2006 Salzburg Festival production of Mozart's Zaide. Her singing engagements for the rest of the season include Così fan tutte at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden (Germany), Britten's Les illuminations at the Auditorio de Galicia in Santiago de Compostela (Spain), recitals in Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Antwerp featuring the music of Debussy, Mozart, Strauss, Schumann and Reimann, Mahler Symphony #4 at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia (Spain) and a performance of Ein Deutsches Requiem of Brahms at the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg (Germany).

From Opera Fresh, Sunday, January 23rd 2011

Night Song

Catalogue # ECM2108

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 14th March 2011

Ketil Bjørnstad returns to the piano/cello duo, instrumentation which defined two of his best-loved albums, “The River” and “Epigraphs” with David Darling, back in 1996 and 1998. This new collaboration with Svante Henryson, however, tells a different story. As cellist, Henryson currently works in duos and trios with distinguished classical musicians including pianists Roland Pöntinen and Bengt Forsberg, clarinettist Martin Fröst, mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and baritone Mikael Samuelson. ECM listeners, however, first heard him as a member of Jon Balke’s Magnetic North Orchestra on “Kyanos” (2001). In jazz contexts, he has also played in diverse formations with Tord Gustavsen, Marilyn Mazur, Nils Petter Molvaer, Arild Andersen and others. In rock and pop, he has collaborated with artists from Yngwie Malmsteen to Elvis Costello. In brief, he is an artistic polymath, rather like composer/improviser/author Bjørnstad himself. The music they create together - atmospheric, dark-hued, of melancholic temperament - is similarly beyond category.

Night Song (Evening Version)
Visitor
Fall
Edge
Reticence
Schubert Said
Adoro
Share
Melting Ice
Serene
The Other
Own
Sheen
Chain
Tar
Night Song (Morning Version)

Caffe D'Amore

Catalogue # NP002

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 7th March 2011

Sydney singer Nadia Piave takes you on a musical Roman Holiday. In this collection of Italian and French chansons and canzoni, Nadia moves effortlessly from ‘caffe romantico’ to ‘café nostalgique’. Nadia Piave has a solid reputation in Sydney as an adventurous, versatile and accurate vocalist with a flair for dynamic presentation. She is also known as an inspiring voice tutor, teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium and at her own studio, and for community choirs and vocal groups.

Like her previous CD, Rose, Nadia's next project is a mix of renaissance, baroque, classical, folk, jazz, art song and cabaret, and she is beautifully supported by Ross Maio, accordion and Gino Pengue, guitar.

Fra' Diavolo: La Musica Nelle Strade Del Regno Di Napoli

Catalogue # A359

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 28th February 2011

Music in the streets of the Kingdom of Naples

Como sencza la vita – Tradizionale / Francesco Spinello

Stornello, Stu pettu è fattu cimbalu d’amuri,

Sona a battenti, Primo discanto – Giuseppe De Vittorio

Madonna della grazia – Tradizionale

Pigliate l’alma mia – Severino Corneti

Tarantella di Sannicandro – Tradizionale

L’Angiulillo – Tradizionale / Marco Beasley

Cori miu – Giuseppe De Vittorio

Pizzica tarantata, Marcia delle truppe Sanfediste – Tradizionale

Carataranta – Mauro Durante

Na via di rose – Claudio De Vittorio

Canto per Montevergine, Canto dei carrettieri – Tradizionale

Seconto discanto, Fronni d’alia – Giuseppe De Vittorio

Pizzica di San Vito – Tradizionale / Mauro Durante

Volumbrella, O Guarracino – Tradizionale

Stu pettu è fattu cimbalu d’amuri – II

Marco Beasley (voice, castanets), Pino De Vittorio (voice, castanets, chitarra battente) & Guido Morini (harpsichord, direction)

Accordone

Italian Intermezzo, Music Without Words

Catalogue # CHAN10634

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 21st February 2011

Catalani: La Wally: Act III & IV Intermezzo, Loreley: Danza delle ondine

Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur: Intermezzo, Act II

Giordano, U: Siberia: Preludio, Fedora: Intermezzo, Act 2

Leoncavallo: Pagliacci: Intermezzo

Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz: Intermezzo

Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours (La Gioconda)

Puccini: Edgar - Preludio (Act 1 & 3), Suor Angelica - Intermezzo, Manon Lescaut - Intermezzo

Verdi: La traviata: Prelude to Act 3

Wolf-Ferrari: I quattro rusteghi (The School for Fathers): Intermezzo, The Jewels of the Madonna - Act III Intermezzo

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda

These orchestral intermezzi are, in the main, mood-painting interludes found in the great Italian operatic repertoire of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, usually connecting acts in the opera. The music is powerfully atmospheric, designed not only to create the right mood for the ensuing action of the opera, but also to provide some respite from the drama itself. The exception is the famous ‘Dance of the Hours’ from Ponchielli’s La Gioconda, which like most ballets found in operas represents a break for the audience to enjoy the dance sequence. The piece was immortalised in Walt Disney’s film Fantasia and has long been one of the classics of the repertoire. Gianandrea Noseda is in his element in music from his native Italy, conducting the BBC Philharmonic in a unique programme.

Virtuoso

Catalogue # 88697808122

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 14th February 2011

Bach, J S: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
Franck, C: Violin Sonata in A major
Tartini: Violin Sonata in G minor 'Devil's Trill'
Wieniawski: Légende in G minor, Op. 17, Variations on an Original Theme in A major, Op. 15

Ray Chen (violin) & Noreen Polera (piano)

Liszt: New Discoveries, Vol 3

Catalogue # CDA67810

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 7th February 2011

Leslie Howard (piano)

Liszt:
Romancero espagnol, S695c
Christus, S498c: Two Pieces
Magnificat, S182a
Trois Chansons, S510a
Album-Leaf 'Andantino in A flat major', S166p
Album-Leaf in G major, S166q
Variations 'Tiszántuli szép léany', S384a
Lyubila ya [Wieihorsky] (first version), S577i
Schlummerlied, S186/7a
Valse-Impromptu, S213bis
Marche Des Pelerins: Chantant la priere du soir S473 (1862)
Einzug der Gäste auf der Wartburg S445/1
Adagio non troppo, S151a
Album-Leaf 'Andantino in E flat major', S163a/2
Album-Leaf 'Andante in E flat major', S167r
Album-Leaf in C major 'Lyon', S167s
Album-Leaf 'Quasi mazurek in C major', S163e
Album-Leaf 'Adagio – religioso in C major', S164l
Album-Leaf 'Agitato in G major', S167l
Album-Leaf 'Andante religiosamente in G major', S166j
Album-Leaf 'Tempo di marcia in E flat major', S167o
Album-Leaf 'Fugue chromatique' – Allegro in G minor, S167j
Album-Leaf in E flat major, S167k
Album-Leaf in G minor, S166l/2
Album-Leaf 'Langsam in C sharp minor', S166o
Album-Leaf 'Moderato in D flat major', S164k
Album-Leaf 'Vivace ma non troppo in D flat major', S167g
Album-Leaf 'Larghetto in D flat major', S167p
Album-Leaf 'Schlusschor des entfesselten Prometheus' – Andante solenne in D flat major, S167q Album-Leaf 'Magyar in D flat major', S164e/3
Prozinsky Fragment for piano, S701v
Album-Leaf 'Allegretto in A major', S167n
Album-Leaf in A major, S166a
Album-Leaf in E major, S167t
Album-Leaf 'Andantino in E major', S163d/ii
Album-Leaf 'Purgatorio' – Andante in B minor, S166r/1
Album-Leaf 'Aus dem Purgatorio des Dante Sinfonie' – Lamentoso in B minor, S166r/2
Album-Leaf 'Introduction to the Grande Étude de Paganini No 6', S141/6bis Cadenza, S695f
Album-Leaf 'Aus den [Erster] Mephisto-Walzer, Episode aus Lenaus Faust' – Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke, S167m
Wilde Jagd – Scherzo, S176a

Liszt was born 200 years ago in 1811, and to begin his bicentenary birthday celebration, Hyperion presents a disc of works that have been recorded, and indeed heard here, for the first time. Leslie Howard has long been acknowledged as the foremost Liszt scholar and performer in the world today, and this disc is a perfect example of his tireless work on behalf of the composer.

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 4, Piano Sonatas 14 & 31

Catalogue # CCSSA30511

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 31st January 2011

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, live recording with Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (leader)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110

Dejan Lazic (piano)

Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar

Catalogue # DSL92116

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 27th December 2010

Radamés Gnattali:
Sonata for Cello and Guitar with Natalia Khoma (cello)
Three Concert Pieces
Suite Retratos (for 2 Guitars) with Marco Sartor (guitar)
Saudade
Sonatina for Flute and Guitar with Tacy Edwards (flute)

Dorian Sono Luminus invites you to take a outh American excursion with this new release of solo and chamber works for guitar by one of the 20th century’s most prominent Brazillian composers, Radamés Gnattali. Performed by master guitarist Marc Regnier, and featuring Natalia Khoma (cello), Tacy Edwards (flute), and Marco Sartor (guitar), these works sizzle though the speakers with their intensity, passion, and virtuosity.

Marc Regnier has appeared as soloist, in chamber groups and with orchestra throughout the United States from Los Angeles to several appearances at New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall. He has performed and given master classes in Canada and South America including invitations to perform and give classes in Europe. He has frequently been featured on National Public Radio and BBC Radio with a recent performance celebrating Chopin’s bicentennial. Marc’s past releases with the Musical Heritage Society and Naxos have garnered critical acclaim with publications such as Fanfare to proclaim “Rarely have the repertoire and the skills of a particular artist been combined as effectively…In summary, Regnier is technically on par with the best in this repertoire and in terms of his hard-to-quantify musicianship, outstanding…a significant recording on all counts.”

And Classical Guitar to say “The rich gliding apoyando and the occasional dramatic pause with molto vibrato could at times be mistaken for the work of the Maestro himself. (Segovia) Regnier has the technical skill needed to carry out his interpretation convincingly.”

Radamés Gnattali (1906-1988) occupies a prominent position in the history of twentieth-century Brazilian music as a figure active in both the popular and classical traditions. Through his work as a conductor, arranger, and performer, he shaped the development of Brazilian popular music, most notably as orchestral director at Rádio Nacional beginning in the late 1930s.

Gnattali’s work raises questions not only about the boundaries between “classical” and “popular” music but about the concept of “Brazilian music” more broadly. He worked in a context that was defined by profound concerns with national identity, or “Brazilianness” (Brasilidade). From the syncopated rhythms of the Sambas, to musical portraits of Brazilian dances as represented by some of their most celebrated exponents, and the retrospective stance is also expressed in Saudade, the tonal colors, rhythmical diversity, and impassioned performances truly display Gnattali’s “Brasilidade”. Recorded at world famous Skywalker Sound, this album is a sonic treat that will be loved by the guitar enthusiasts and chamber music lovers alike.

Messiah: The Dream Cast

Catalogue # 4804589

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 20th December 2010

When Handel’s Messiah was first heard in Dublin on 13 April 1742, there were seven soloists, and the one thing which hasn’t changed since that first performance is the popularity of the work. Some 700 people attended the premiere: ticket sales had been so successful that the organisers had had to ask the ladies to come without their hooped skirts, and the gentlemen without their swords. People have flocked to hear Messiah ever since. ABC Classics’ Messiah: The Dream Cast features stellar performers such as Joan Sutherland, Teddy Tahu-Rhodes, Yvonne Kenny and Sara Macliver, making it the most sought-after Messiah, this Christmas. The extraordinary breadth of styles and interpretations on this album is a testimony to the continuing power of Messiah to move and inspire us. Handel’s music is a living, breathing thing, and every time we meet it, there are new riches to be discovered.

Artists: John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Kathleen Ferrier (contralto), Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Emma Kirkby (soprano), Sara Macliver (soprano), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Leontyne Price (soprano), Teddy Tahu Rhodes (bass-baritone), Dame Joan Sutherland (soprano), Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone), Cantillation, Chorus of Les Musiciens du Louvre, Monteverdi Choir, St Martin in the Fields Chorus, The English Concert Choir.

Conductors: Richard Bonynge, Sir Adrian Boult, Stephen Cleobury, Charles Dutoit, John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Hogwood, Vladimir Kamirski, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Neville Marriner, Paul McCreesh, Marc Minkowski, Trevor Pinnock, Antony Walker.

Orchestras: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, English Baroque Soloists, English Chamber Orchestra, Gabrieli Consort, Les Musiciens du Louvre, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, The Academy of Ancient Music, The Brandenburg Consort, The English Concert.

Carols And Christmas Songs

Catalogue # 4804707

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 13th December 2010

No more communicative, charismatic, or instantly recognizable artist than Bryn Terfel today bestrides the world’s stages. He is the heart and soul of this album’s special assemblage of Welsh and international top talent for a very personal, intimate album of his favourite Christmas carols and songs from around the world and from his native Wales. The guest list for this studio recording is lead by the immortal Bing Crosby – as a tribute to Bing Crosby the legendary singer and actor Bryn has recorded a new duet version of “White Christmas”. Other guests are the tenor Rolando Villazón who joined in for the beautiful Spanish Christmas song “El nacimento”, as well as the brilliant Welsh harpist Catrin Finch. With the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera under Tecwyn Evans and the chorus Cordydd Bryn has secured local Welsh forces for his new project. Bryn has also asked two Welsh singers and songwriters to contribute: Gwarw Edwards sings a duet with Bryn and Caryl Parry Jones has new Christmas songs for Bryn

Piano Lessons

Catalogue # 4764059

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 6th of December 2010

To accompany her best-selling memoir of the same name, pianist and author Anna Goldsworthy presents a stunning collection of piano works tracing her first steps towards a life in music. Through music by Debussy, Shostakovich, Chopin and others, Anna takes an affectionate autobiographical journey from childhood piano lessons to her international success as a concert pianist. Coinciding with the US release of the book, the album too captures the hopes, uncertainties and exhilaration of youthful artistic exploration.

Track Listing:

Dmitri Shostakovich - Dances of the Dolls (excerpts)
Claude Debussy - The Little Shepherd
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Sonata in B-flat major, KV333: I. Allegro
Frédéric Chopin - Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 ‘Black Key’
Franz Liszt after Giuseppe Verdi - Rigoletto Paraphrase
Sergei Prokofiev - Toccata, Op. 11
Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp major, BWV848
Ludwig Van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’: I. Allegro con brio
Frédéric Chopin - Piano Sonata in B-flat minor, Op. 35: III. Funeral March (Lento)
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27 No. 2
Franz Schubert - Impromptu in A-flat major, Op. 90 No. 4, D899

Verismo Arias

Catalogue # 4782258

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 29th November 2010

Boito:
Dai campi, dai prati (Mefistofele)
Giunto sul passo estremo (from Mefistofele)

Cilea:
È la solita storia 'Lamento di Federico' (from L'Arlesiana)
La dolcissima effigie (from Adriana Lecouvreur)
L'anima ho stanca (from Adriana Lecouvreur)

Giordano, U:
Amor ti vieta (from Fedora)
Ecco l'altare ... la mamma morte ... Vicino a te ... La nostra morte (from (from Andrea Chénier)
Un dì, all' azzurro spazio (from Andrea Chénier)
Come un bel dì di maggio (from Andrea Chénier)

Leoncavallo:
Recitar! Vesti la giubba (from I Pagliacci)
Testa adorata (from La bohème)

Mascagni:
Apri la tua finestra (from Iris)
Viva il vino spumeggiante (from Cavalleria Rusticana)
Mamma, quel vino (from Cavalleria Rusticana)

Ponchielli:
Cielo e mar! (from La Gioconda)
Si… questa estrema grazia (from I Lituani)

Zandonai:
Giulietta, son io (from Giulietta e Romeo)

Jonas Kaufmann
Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano

Telemann: Tafelmusik Complete

Catalogue # HMC90204245

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 15th November 2010

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Petra Mullejans (violin, conductor), Gottfried von der Goltz (conductor)

In his Musique de Table, through skilful organisation, breadth of imagination and sheer masterful inspiration, Telemann concentrates the entire range of European musical styles. This bravura display brings together ‘what stern custom had divided’. Here is the ultimate glittering banquet of late Baroque goût in all its rich diversity.

Britten: Young Persons Guide To The Orchestra

Catalogue # 4764134

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 8th November 2010

They have introduced generations of young people to the joys and wonder of classical music, and now the immortal Tubby the Tuba, Ravel’s Mother Goose and Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra are given an ABC Classic FM twist! This all-new recording features narrations by Classic FM Breakfast host Emma Ayres (Tubby the Tuba), Marian Arnold from Your Requests (Mother Goose), and Afternoons presenter Christopher Lawrence (Young Person’s Guide). Following the 2009 success of Carnival of the Animals, this album is sure to captivate the whole family.

* 1-21 BRITTEN The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Narrated by Christopher Lawrence Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey (conductor)
* 22-16 RAVEL Mother Goose Suite Narrated by Marian Arnold Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey (conductor)
* 27-33 KLEINSINGER Tubby the Tuba Narrated by Emma Ayres Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Marc Taddei (conductor)

Celtic Viol II

Catalogue # AVSA9878

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 1st November 2010

In 2009, Readings customers thrilled to Jordi Savall's viol and harp take on the ancient jigs, airs and reels of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. This sequel is even more energetic, thanks in large part to the inspired addition of Irish bodran drummer Frank McGuire. The perforamcnes are matched by Alia Vox's usual lavish sound and packaging.

Jordi Savall (6 strings treble viol & lyra-viol), Andrew Lawrence-King (Irish harps & psaltery) & Frank McGuire (bodhran)

I. The Galway Set
The Galway Bay Hornpipe
The Rover Reformed (John Playford)
Lord Frog Dance & (JohnWalsh, 1713) – The Buckingham House

II. The Gold Ring Set
The Hills of Lorne (C. Hunter)
Miss Sally Hunter of Thurston Jig (Nath. Gow)
Mrs. Scott Skinner (J.S. Skinner)
Alexander’s Hornpipe & Harvest Home Hornpipe
The Gold Ring Jig (Traditional Irish)

III. The Abergeldie Castle Set
Abergeldie Castle Strathspey (Dan R MacDonald)
Caribou Barren Jig (Dan R MacDonald)
Regents Rant (Traditional Scottish)
Crabs in the skillet Slow Jig (Ryan’s Collection, Boston 1883)
Lord Moira’s Hornpipe (Ryan’s Collection, Boston 1883)

IV. The Nathaniel Gow’s Set
The Braes o’ Bushbie Slow march (J.McFayden, ca.1795)
Nath. Gow’s Lament for the Death of his Brother
Abigail Judge (O’Carolan) (O’Neill, Chicago 1903)
Planxty O’Daly (O’Carolan)

V. The Lancashire Pipes Set
The Lancashire Pipes/Pigges of Rumsey/Kate of Bardie
The Cup of Tea (Traditional Irish)
AToye

VI. The Archibald MacDonald Set
Planxty Sir Ulick Burke (O’Carolan)
The Sword Dance-New Stepny Slip Jig
Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch (Traditional Irish)
Jimmy Holme’s Favorite – Reel (Ryan’s Collec., Boston 1883)

VII. The Liverpool Set
Planxty Irwin (O’Carolan)
The Liverpool Hornpipe (Atholl Collec. 1884)
Peter’s Peerie Boat Jig (Tom Anderson)

Italian Tenor

Catalogue # 88697723842

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 25th October 2010

Vittorio Grigolo (tenor)

Donizetti:
Una furtiva lagrima (from L'elisir d'amore)
Spirto gentil ne' sogni miei (from La Favorita)

Puccini:
Che gelida manina (from La Bohème) Firenze è come un albero fiorito (from Gianni Schicchi)
Ecco la Casa...Torna ai felici di (from Le Villi)
Donna non vidi mai (from Manon Lescaut)
E lucevan le stelle (from Tosca)

Verdi:
Quando le sere al placido (from Luisa Miller)
Parmi veder le lagrime (from Rigoletto)
Possente amor mi chiama (from Rigoletto)
Tutto parea sorridere (from Il Corsaro)
Si de' Corsari il fulmine (from Il Corsaro)
Ma se m'è forza perderti (from Un ballo in maschera)
Ah sì ben mio (from Il trovatore)
Di quella pira (from Il Trovatore)

with Maria Cioppi (soprano) & Luca Casalin (tenor)

Virtuoso Clarinet

Catalogue # CHAN10615

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 18th October 2010

Gershwin: Preludes Nos. 1-3
Giampieri: Il Carnevale di Venezia’
Lovreglio, D: Fantasia da Concerto su motivi de 'La Traviata' by Verdi, Op. 45
Messager: Solo de concours
Milhaud: Scaramouche, suite for clarinet & piano (or orchestra), Op. 165d
Milton, S: Carmen Fantasy
Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Weber: Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano, Op. 48

Michael Collins (clarinet) & Piers Lane (piano)

Orff: Carmina Burana

Catalogue # 4778778

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 11th October 2010

Patricia Petibon (soprano), Hans-Werner Bunz (tenor) & Christian Gerhaher (baritone)

The Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio, Daniel Harding

Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze Fantasie

Catalogue # 4782280

ABC Classic FM CD of the week: 4th October 2010

Schumann:
Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6
Fantasie in C major, Op. 17

Mitsuko Uchida (piano)

Habanera

Catalogue # 4778776

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 27th September 2010

Elîna Garanca (mezzo)
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Coro Filarmonico del Regio di Torino, Karel Mark Chichon

Balfe:
I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls (from The Bohemian Girl) arr. Chicon

Barbieri:
Canción de Paloma (from El Barberillo de Lavapiés)

Bernstein:
I Am Easily Assimilated 'Old Lady's Tango' (from Candide)

Bizet:
Près des ramparts de Séville (Séguedille) (from Carmen), Roberto Alagna (tenor)
Les tringles des sistres tintaient (from Carmen)
Cristina Antoaneta Pasaroiu (soprano), Giuseppina Bridelli (mezzo)
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle 'Habanera' (from Carmen)
L'amour est un enfant Bohème (first version of Habanera from Carmen)

Chapí:
Cunado está tan honda 'Romanza de Socorro' (from El Barquillero)

del Rey:
Canción del amor

Alberto Barletta, Enrico Maria Baroni, José Maria Gallardo del Rey, Geri Brown, Massimo Macri, Cesare Maghenzani, Roberto Vozmediano

Falla:
Canción del amor dolido (from El amor brujo)
Nana (No. 5 from Siete canciones populares españolas) arr. del Rey
Jota (No. 4 from Siete canciones populares españolas) arr. del Rey
José Maria Gallardo del Rey

Lehár:
Hör' ich Zymbalklänge (from Zigeunerliebe)

Luna, P:
El Niño Judío: De España vengo

Montsalvatge:
Canción negra No. 4, Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito

Obradors:
El Vito (from Canciones clásicas españolas) arr. Cuello

Ravel:
Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera arr. Hoerée

Serrano:
Cancion de la gitana (from Le alegria del battallon)

Officium Novum

Catalogue # ECM2125

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 20th September 2010

Fifteen years after Officium, one of the best-loved recordings of modern times, the Norwegian saxophonist and English choir reunite for another unique experience: songs by Part, Perotin and many pieces by Armerian mystic Komitas Vardapet. Garbarek's saxophones weave spontaneous filigrees around the four voices, resulting in music that manages to be both lush and austere. Timeless, unearthly beauty.

Jan Garbarek (soprano & tenor saxophones)

The Hilliard Ensemble (David James, countertenor; Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor; Steven Harrold, tenor; Gordon Jones, baritone)

“On Officium Novum, these ageless musicians look to the Orthodox music of Armenia, Russia and Byzantium, although there’s more besides, including Nativitas, by the 12th-century Gallic composer Pérotin, and Arvo Pärt’s touching prayer Most Holy Mother of God. Immensely moving.” Sunday Times, 19th September 2010

Tracks:

• Ov zarmanali (Hymn of the Baptism of Christ - Komitas)
• Svjete tihij (Byzantine chant)
• Allting finns (Jan Garbarek)
• Litany, a) Litany (Nikolai N. Kedrov), b) Otche nash (from the Lipovan Old Believers tradition), c) Dostoino est (Anonymous)
• Surb, Surb (Komitas)
• Most Holy Mother of God (Arvo Pärt)
• Tres morillas m'enamoran (Spanish anonymous, 16th century)
• Sirt im sasani (Hymn for Maundy Thursday - Komitas)
• Hays hark nviranats ukhti (Komitas)
• Alleluia. Nativitas (Pérotin, 12th century)
• We are the stars (Jan Garbarek)
• Nur ein Weniges noch (poem by Giorgos Sefiris, read by Bruno Ganz)

Satie en orient

Catalogue # NTCD808

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: September 13th 2010

On this unique and mesmerisingly beautiful concept album, the music of eccentric French composer Satie travels to the Middle East, played on oriental instruments including the oud and qanoun, joined by the chalumeau, cornett and medieval harp! Satie undoubtedly would have approved of these exotic touches gracing his gnossiennes and gymnopedies.

Gnossiennes Nos 1, 3, 5 Gymnopedies Nos 1, 3, Chanson, Prelude d'Eginhard, Air de l'Ordre, Air du Grand Prieur, Air du Grand Maitre, Elegie, Les Anges, Danse Gothique No 3, Chanson Medievale, Prose extract from the Prince of Byzantium

Sarband Ensemble - Ahmet Kadri Rizeli (eastern lute), Ihsan Mehmet Ozer (qanoun, percussion), Mehmet Cemal Yesilcay (oud, percussion), Ian Harrison (cornett, chalumeau, vocals), Miriam Andersen (harp), Gadia El-Hage (vocals), Vladimir Ivanoff (direction)

Stillness: Music Of Calm In A Changing World

Catalogue # 4763951

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: September 6th 2010

In this modern day fastpaced ever-changing world, find a moment of calm and peace with this sublime collection. The music in this 2CD set is drawn from composers such as Arvo Pärt, John Tavener and Henryk Górecki; all are musicians with a deep sense of spirituality and appreciation for the healing qualities of art. A perfect gift for a stressed-out friend, or perhaps you are looking for something to lift your own spirits and allow you to focus on something positive and beautiful.

TRACK LISTING:

CD1

* TAVENER Song for Athene
* EDWARDS Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, O Creator Spirit): I. Puro e tranquillo
* PÄRT Für Alina (For Alina)
* TAVENER Lament for Jerusalem – excerpts
* PÄRT Pari intervallo (At an Equal Distance)
* TRAD. FINNIC / TÖRMIS Kust tunnen kodu (How Can I Recognise My Home)
* KATS-CHERNIN Wild Swans Concert Suite: Darkness in the Forest
* CAGE Amores: III. Trio for percussion
* MACMILLAN A New Song
* EDWARDS Dawn Mantras
* CAGE In a Landscape
* MACMILLAN Scots Song
* PÄRT Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten (Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten)

CD2

* GÓRECKI Symphony No. 3 ‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs’: II. Lento e largo
* BERIO Wasserklavier (Water Piano)
* RACHMANINOFF All-Night Vigil – Slava v vyshnikh Bogu (Glory to God in the Highest)
* RACHMANINOFF All-Night Vigil – Svete tikhiy (Gladsome Light)
* EDWARDS Yanada (Moon)
* PÄRT Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror)
* TAVENER Song of the Angel
* SCULTHORPE Music for Bali
* MACMILLAN A Child’s Prayer
* KOEHNE Capriccio: II. Rounds
* PÄRT The Woman with the Alabaster Box
* EDWARDS Symphony No. 1 ‘Da pacem Domine’ (Lord, grant us peace) – excerpt
* EDWARDS Enyato I: I. Chorale (sereno)
* GÓRECKI Amen

Zumra Reimagined Bosnian Folksongs

Catalogue # 450012

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: August 30th 2010

Fans of Zulya will find much to admire in the music of Amira, 'Bosnia's Billie Holiday'. Born in Sarajevo at a time when the folk music of Yugoslavia enjoyed widespread popularity, Amira learned traditional sevdalinke (songs of yearning) from her mother. Her big break came performing with the gypsy ensemble Mostar Sevdah Reunion, her 2005 debut solo album finding its way onto several Album of the Year lists. Accompanied by Merima Kljuco, one of the world's finest classical accordionists, Amira looks at these traditional songs under a new light, rediscovering them and presenting them as the true gems they are. These are hauntingly beautiful examples of the highly complex musical cultures of Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia. 'Where Amira goes, follow...Zumra is in the ballpark for one of this year's best.' -Froots

ReVisions

Catalogue # BISSACD1782

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: August 23rd 2010

Stephn Isserlis (cello) Tapiola Sinfonietta, Gábor Takács-Nagy

Bloch, E:
From Jewish Life
arr. Christopher Palmer

Debussy:
Suite pour Violoncelle et Orchestre
arr. Sally Beamish

Prokofiev:
Cello Concertino in G minor, Op. 132
arr. Vladimir Blok

Ravel:
Deux mélodies hébraïques
arr. Richard Tognetti

Dances For Guitar

Catalogue # CHAN10609

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: August 16th 2010

Baiao Malandro, Hasta Alicia Baila, Seven Dances and No Looking Back, Introduction and Fandango, Ajde Dali Znaes Pametis Milice, Pajduska, La Muerte del Angel, The Swan, Malaguena Salerosa, Tarantella, Made in France
Aquarelle Guitar Quartet

Sibelius: Complete Symphonies: Violin Concerto, Finlandia, Valse Triste

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: August 9th 2010

Catalogue # 4763943

The greatest symphonist of the 20th century was also the last great Romantic. This release of the complete Sibelius symphonies is a landmark for an Australian orchestra. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra are directed by their Chief Conductor Arvo Volmer in these glorious, majestic works. Also included are Sibelius favourites, Valse Triste, Finlandia and the mighty Violin Concerto (with renowned virtuoso Adele Anthony). Arvo Volmer has built an international reputation for his interpretations of the music of northern Europe, most notably his homeland Estonia and nearby Finland. On 4CDs in a stunning slipcase, this release will please the connoisseur and the collector but also holds immense appeal for those who love the majesty of a grand orchestral sound.

TRACK LISTING:

All works by Jean Sibelius

CD1

1-4 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
5-8 Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63

CD2

1-4 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
5 Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
6 Finlandia

CD3

1-3 Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82
4-7 Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
8 Valse triste, Op. 44 No. 1

CD4

1-3 Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
4-6 Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos 3 & 5

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: August 2nd 2010

Catalogue # BISSACD1754

Destined to be one of the most popular and accessible classical albums by any Australian artist this year, this is the Australian Chamber Orchestra's much-anticipated first album dedicated solely to Mozart following a national tour featuring one of the composer’s violin concertos.

It's set to rival Tognetti’s recordings of Bach which won three consecutive ARIA awards. Mozart's violin concertante works are amongst his most beautiful, and Richard Tognetti as soloist plays them on one of the world's finest violins (the extraordinary 10-million-dollar Carrodus crafted by Guarneri in 1743) with rare insight, passion and poetry. This is surely the must-have classical album of 2010.

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas

Catalogue # 8899119

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: July 26th 2010

In Beethoven: The Cello Sonatas, Li-Wei Qin navigates the demanding repertoire with marvellous technique and displays a sensitive tone that defines his charisma. He becomes the first Chinese cellist to record the complete sonatas under a major label since Yo-Yo Ma. Born in Shanghai in 1976, Li-Wei Qin moved to Australia when he was 13, and received the Young Australian of the Year award in 2002. He performed with various Australian symphony orchestras and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He has become one of world’s most sought-after cellists. Li-Wei is currently the Head of Cello Studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music as well as guest professor at the Shanghai Conservatory and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. This collaboration with Universal Music represents a milestone in Li-Wei’s musical career.

Mozart Arias For Male Soprano

Catalogue # TEL31827

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: July 19th 2010

Mozart: Idomeneo, K366: Overture Ah, qual gelido orror...Il padre adorato (from Idomeneo) Dunque Sperar Poss'io...Il Tenero Momento (from Lucio Silla) Ah se a morir mi chiama (from Lucio Silla) La clemenza di Tito, K621: Overture Deh, per questo istante solo (from La Clemenza di Tito) Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio (from La Clemenza di Tito) Exsultate, jubilate, K165

El Nuevo Mundo - Folias Criollas

Catalogue # AVSA9876

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: July 12th 2010

Montserrat Figueras

La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Hespèrion XXI & Tembembe Ensamble Continuo, Jordi Savall

Track Listing:
Cachua a duo y a Cuatro (Código “Trujillo del Perú”)
Cumbes – El Cielito Lindo (TradicionalHuasteca)
Gallarda Napolitana (con canto - Anónimo)
Guabina (Tradicional de Colombia); Trompicávalas (Juan Hidalgo)
Balajú Jarocho (Anónimo)
Seguidillas En Eco: De Tu Vista Celoso (Anónimo)
Jácaras - El Pajarillo (Gaspar Sanz)
Guineo a 5: Eso Rigor e Repente (Gaspar Fernandes)
Fandango – El Fandanguito (Anónimo Jarocho)
Canarios (Anónimo)
La Iguana (Anónimo tradicional Jarocho)
Cachua. Denos lecensa (Código “Trujillo del Perú”)
Folías Criollas (Improvisación - Anónimo del Perú)
Jota –Maria Chuchena (Anónimo Jarocho)
Xicochi Conetinle – Xochipitzahuatl (Anónimo)
Zarambeques (Tradicional Jarocho)
Niña como en tusmudanzas (José Marín)
Los Chiles Verdes (Tradicional jarocho)

When the baroque extravagance crosses oceans...

After meeting the musical traditions of the New World, the European Baroque repertoire enriched itself with new colours and rhythms, which make it irresistible. Jordi Savall invites us to an unprecedented instrumental and vocal journey from Spain to Peru to Mexico, playing for the first time with virtuoso Mexican musicians… Get ready !

Gershwin By Grofe: Symphonic Jazz

Catalogue # HMU907492

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: July 5th 2010

Lincoln Mayorga (piano) & Al Gallodoro (alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet) Harmonie Ensemble/New York, Steven Richman

Gershwin:
Rhapsody in Blue
I Got Rhythm Variations
Yankee Doodle Blues
The Man I Love
That Certain Feeling
Somebody Loves Me
Sweet and Low-Down
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise
Fascinatin' Rhythm
Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)

In this swinging collection of ‘symphonic jazz’, Steve Richman and the Harmonie Ensemble New York recreate the original Gershwin orchestrations made by Ferde Grofé for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. The programme features Gershwin’s immortal Rhapsody in Blue (with legendary reedman Al Gallodoro, an original member of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the 1930s!), the I Got Rhythm Variations, and a selection of George’s Broadway tunes, including 'Summertime'.

Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos

Catalogue # HMC90205355

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: June 28th 2010

His complete set of the Beethoven sonatas enjoyed extraordinary acclaim in the UK, culminating in the prestigious 'Recording of the Year' award from Gramophone magazine for the fourth volume in 2008. Encouraged by what has now become a worldwide success, Paul Lewis has chosen to turn his attention to the five piano concertos with these distinguished partners. Recorded between July 2009 and March 2010, these interpretations paint a portrait of Beethoven full of light and shade.

Bach: Arias

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, week beginning 21st June 2010

ARTISTS

Teddy Tahu Rhodes bass-baritone, with guest appearances from Sara Macliver soprano. Orchestra of the Antipodes on period instruments.

JS Bach Cantata BWV82 ‘Ich habe genug’ Cantata BWV140 ‘Wachet auf’ - III. Mein Freund ist mein Cantata BWV192 ‘Nun danket alle Gott’: II. Der ewig reiche Gott Cantata BWV8 ‘Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?’: IV. Doch weichet, ihr tollen vergeblichen Sorgen! Cantata BWV73 ‘Herr, wie du willt’: IV. Herr, so Du willt
Cantata BWV39 ‘Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot’: IV. Wohlzutun und mitzuteilen St Matthew Passion, BWV244: Mache dich, mein Herze, rein; Gebt mir mein Jesum wieder (Give me my Jesus back!) Bist du bei mir (With you at my side), BWV508 (attrib. JS Bach/Stölzel)

Acclaimed singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes brings his wonderful artistry and rich voice to these beautiful bass arias by the great master, JS Bach. The complete cantata No. 82 ‘Ich habe genug’ is joined by joyous duets with soprano Sara Macliver, and highlights from St Matthew Passion and well-known cantatas such as ‘Sleepers Wake’ and ‘Now Thank We All Our God’. Heartfelt performances create an exceptional atmosphere of peace. Tracks include that eternal testament to faithful love: ‘Bist du bei mir’.

Via Crucis

Catalogue # 6945770

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 14th of June, 2010

Christina Pluhar and L'arpeggiata are touring Australia in September, 2010

Readings Classical CD of the Month, May 2010

EMI Classical CD of the Month, May 2010

Track Listing:

Ninna nanna alla Napoletana
Traditional / Merlandi / Guissani

Lumi, potete piangere
Traditional/ corsican

Voglio morire
Traditional/corsican

Stabat Mater
Maurizio Cazzati 1616-1678 / Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli c.1630-c.1669

Passacaglia

Allegri, L:
Laudate Dominum

anon.: L’Annonciation Canario

Biber: Hor ch’è tempo di dormire

Capezzuto: ’Stù criatu

Ferrari, B: Suda sangue

Gragnaniello: Ciaccona di Paradiso e dell’Inferno

Legrenzi: La morte di Xsto – O Diu, tante suffranze

Merula: Maria (sopra la Carpinese) Lamentu di Ghjesu (sopra la Follia)

Monteverdi: Ciaccona

Rossi, L: Queste pungente spine

Sances: Stabat Mater

Philippe Jaroussky (counter tenor) & Nuria Rial (soprano)

L’Arpeggiata & Ensemble Barbara Fortuna (Corsican Choir), Christina Pluhar

Mediterranean passion – of a religious nature -- inspires L’Arpeggiata’s new collection, an encounter between works by the 17th century Italian composers Sances and Merula and traditional music from Italy and Corsica.

L’Arpeggiata, the French-based ensemble directed by Austrian-born harpist and lutenist Christina Pluhar, releases its second Virgin Classics album, following Teatro d’amore, a programme of Monteverdi which blended instruments and voices, score and improvisation in a kind of sublime Baroque jam session. Figaro magazine observed that “L’Arpeggiata invests Monteverdi with a dazzling array of vocal and instrumental colours. A touch of improvisation raises the singing to an incandescent level … A unique distillation of explosive vitality,” while the leading German news magazine Spiegel exclaimed: “Roll over, Monteverdi“; it is a long time since classical music has held so many surprises or taken such a broad view.“

L’Arpeggiata has made a speciality of exploring and exploiting the close links between Baroque repertoire and the traditional music of the Latin world and its characteristic forms such as the tarantella, the folia or the canario. In this new collection, Via Crucis, ‘the way of the Cross’, the focus is on the pervasive presence of religious feeling in Southern Europe. The Passion of Christ evokes the same fervour in composers such as Giovanni Felice Sances (1600-1679) or Tarquinio Merula (1594-1665) – both active in northern Italy -- as it does in the streets of Naples or the villages of Corsica. The two main works in the collection are Sance’s extraordinary Stabat Mater and Merula’s Hor ch’e tempo di dormire, in which the Virgin Mary lulls her baby to sleep while weeping for his future suffering and both enthrall the listener with a basso ostinato and hypnotic swaying rhythms.

Reviewing Teatro d’amore, L’Education musicale wrote that: “Ingeniously chosen vocal works are interspersed with important instrumental pieces, taking us on a supreme journey through Monteverdi. The communicative energy and the intense sculptural beauty of pieces like the final duet from L’incoronazione di Poppea or rich sequences of madrigals are transformed by an ensemble that is palpably composed of soloists. Most astonishing of all – and this is a significant discovery – is the modernity that lurks in this music … A Venetian piece from 1664 makes one wonder whether it’s a matter of Monteverdian style or jazz rhythms. … The addition of two exceptional voices adds further appeal to this fusion of genres : Philippe Jaroussky, whose angelic timbre fills the lines blissfully and Nuria Rial, who brings a velvety tenderness. When they come together the mood reaches sensual heights. This is far more than a compilation … it is music in its truest manifestation.”

Rial and Jaroussky feature again on Via Crucis and they are joined by the male vocal quartet Barbara Furtuna (Corsican Choir), whose earthy, but highly-disciplined sonorities evoke centuries of Mediterranean culture.

Haydn - 12 London Symphonies, 4 CD Set

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 7th of June, 2010

The twelve 'London' symphonies were recognized virtually from the start as the crowning achievement in Haydn's incomparably rich, diverse and groundbreaking life's work as a symphonic composer. Marc Minkoswki and Les Musiciens du Louvre present a critically acclaimed and compelling performance of these beloved works.

Schumann: Scenes From Childhood

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 31st of May 2010

TRACK LISTING

SCHUMANN:
Kinderscenen, Op. 15 Fantasie, Op. 17
Papillons, Op. 2
Novellette in D major, Op. 21 No. 2

Schumann’s loveliest works for solo piano are captured here by leading Australian pianist Stephanie McCallum. From his early work ‘Papillons (Butterflies)’ through to his extraordinary, intensely romantic Fantasie, this is exquisite music, wonderfully performed.

Tales Of Subliming

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 24th of May 2010

Fuse Group and Unstable Ape Records is proud to announce the release of Zulya’s sixth album Tales of Subliming. Zulya, originally from Tatarstan in central Russia, is familiar to audiences throughout Australia as a multi-award winning performer of traditional & original music derived from her Tatar and Russian cultural roots.Tales of Subliming is the long-awaited follow up to the runaway success of 2007’s 3 Nights, which not only was decorated with an ARIA award for best World Music Album, but also dominated the European World Music Charts for much of that year - finishing inside the top 10 for their end of year chart.Returning to the concept album format, Tales of Subliming finds Zulya using the fairytales of her heritage as the platform for her songcraft. The album is a collection of songs written in all 3 of her spoken languages (Russian, Tatar, and English) – her ease with English now apparent, with 7 cuts in her adopted tongue.

A Tale of Love and Death
The Water Woman and the Orphan Girl
Baba Yaga’s Dream
Ocean Lullaby
He Fell so Deep
The Storyteller
A Girl Named Free
The Ropemaker’s Daughter
The Mermaid’s Tale
Little Sky
The Subliming of the Snow-maiden
The Captive Heart

Rosso: Italian Baroque Arias

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 17th of May 2010

Universal Classical Album of the Month, April 2010

ARTISTS

Patricia Petibon, soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra Andrea Marcon

TRACK LISTING

SARTORIO: " Quando voglio" from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (1676) STRADELLA: "Queste lagrime e sospiri" from San Giovanni Battista (1675) HANDEL: "Tornami a vagheggiar" from Alcina, HWV 34 (1735) HANDEL: "Lascia ch'io pianga" from Rinaldo, HWV 7a (1711/1731) HANDEL: "Volate, amori" from Ariodante, HWV 33 (1735) HANDEL: "Piangerò la sorte mia" from Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17 (1677) A. SCARLATTI: "Se il mio dolor t'offende" from Griselda (1721) HANDEL: "Ah! mio cor" from Alcina, HWV 34 (1735) HANDEL: "Neghittosi, or voi che fate" from Ariodante, HWV 33 (1735) PORPORA: "Morte amara" from Lucio Papirio (1737) VIVALDI: "Siam navi all'onde algenti" from L'Olimpiade (1734) SARTORIO: "Orfeo, tu dormi" from Orfeo (1672) MARCELLO: "Come mai puoi vedermi piangere" from Arianna (1727) A. SCARLATTI: "Caldo sangue" from Il Sedecia - Re di Gerusalemme (1705)

Patricia Petibon, admired for her command of Baroque style, records her first album of Italian Baroque arias partnered by Andrea Marcon and the Venice Baroque Orchestra.

Saluted by the International Record Review for her “rare ability to inject into her performance vocal characterizations which . . . nullify the need to see these operatic characters in the flesh,” Rosso frames Petibon’s gift of transformation by purely vocal means.

Petibon’s keen interpretive intelligence and gleaming tone summon into vivid life a wealth of characters tangled up in the power plays of gods, kings, witches, and devils.

Mr Corelli In London

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week, May 10th 2010

Corelli:
Violin Sonata Op. 5 No. 12 in D minor (La folia)
Violin Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 in F major
Violin Sonata Op. 5 No. 7 in D minor
Violin Sonata Op. 5 No. 8 in E minor
Violin Sonata Op. 5 No. 10 in F major
The Favorite Gigg in Corelli’s 5th Solo in G minor
Ground upon the Sarabanda theme of the 7th Sonata

Recorder virtuoso Maurice Steger, deftly assisted by The English Concert and Laurence Cummings, performs a sparkling program of concertos fashioned by the English adherents of Arcangelo Corelli from the Italian master’s visionary Violin Sonatas, Op.5.

London around 1730: Although he never set foot on English soil and his compositions were already half a century old, Corelli was the absolute darling of London’s society. The musicians close to Handel soon realised that they were far more likely to succeed if they incorporated Corelli’s themes as opposed to only performing their own works. Variations on Corelli and new versions of his older pieces were soon de rigeur. Over the course of the next few years, Corelli’s violin sonatas Opus 5 were complemented by large numbers of virtuoso adaptations. This music corresponded perfectly to the musical taste of the times and although originally composed for the violin, the sonatas were soon performed in almost every conceivable instrumentation.

In today’s popular music, it’s called a cover version; back then it was standard practice. Well-known melodies are used and adapted to the player’s technical abilities and the prevailing trends of the times. Francesco Geminiani, James Paisible, Pietro Castrucci,

John Loeillet, William Babell and Robert Valentine are just a few composers who adapted Corelli’s music and through variations, ornamentations and orchestrations left their mark on the originals. Francesco Geminiani’s orchestral version of the Opus 5 sonatas serves as the basis for Maurice Steger’s current project. The recorder soloist uses this beautiful fabric of sound to perform the original variations, which survived as handwritten sheet music. They come to life as wonderful lyrical or virtuoso adaptations that sometimes test the boundaries of what is technically possible.

Beethoven String Quartets Op 131 Op 18 2 Op 132, 2 CD Set

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week, May 3rd 2010

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131
String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Op. 18 No. 2
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 'Rasumovsky No. 3'

Beethoven remains the ultimate test for a string quartet; with their ongoing complete cycle for Virgin Classics, the Artemis Quartet are rising to the challenge.

The Quartet’s debut release on the label in 2005 comprised Beethoven’s op 59/1 and op 95, followed by the second release in 2008 in the cycle bringing together op 59/2, the ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet, and the Quartet op 18/4 and which also introduced the ensemble’s latest members, Gregor Sigl (violin) and Friedemann Weigle (viola). The interpretations were warmly welcomed: in France, the release was named CHOC of the Year by Le Monde de la Musique and was also awarded a Diapason d’Or, while in Germany the recording was chosen as Chamber Music Recording of the Year in the the ECHO Klassik awards of the Deutsche Phono-Akademie. In the UK, the influential Sunday Times singled out the release, praising the “fresh, positive responses” of the Artemis Quartet: “ … their colours are vivid and they are alert to the music’s intent to push all sorts of boundaries to breaking point.”

In the UK, BBC Radio 3’s CD Review suggested that the recording (op 59/2 & 18/4) should go to the top of any list of recommendations, while the Daily Telegraph observed that the Artemis “keep romantic expressiveness, dramatic urgency and a classical sense of architecture in fine equilibrium.”

A concert performance of Beethoven’s op 18/4 in the USA in 2008 year prompted the following reaction from the New York Times: “The Artemis has always played with vigor, brilliance and sensitivity. More than that, its performances have had clarity of conception and unfussy directness. All these qualities were abundant on this occasion … Beethoven's Quartet in C minor (Op. 18, No. 4) came across in this incisive and full-bodied performance as the audacious work of a supremely confident young man, especially in a moody menuetto, thick with slinky chromatic lines and wayward harmonies.”

The Celtic Viol: An Homage To The Irish And Scottish Musical Traditions

Jordi Savall (6 stringed Treble viol ca. 1750, 5 stringed Treble viol ca. 1730, both Nicolas Chappuy, 5 stringed Treble fiddle, Italy ca. 1500) & Andrew Lawrence-King (Queen Mary Harp, Irish; Psalterium)

Deluxe Digipack SACD

Booklet : English, Spanish, French German, Italian, Catalan, Gaelic, Irish

Thanks to in-depth researches on original manuscripts, Jordi Savall reveals the hidden beauties of Irish and Scottish music from the 17th to 19th centuries.The transcription from fiddle to treble baroque viol sounds so obvious that everyone realises the closeness of traditional and ancient repertoires immediately. Most of the pieces are irresistibly vivid and virtuoso, some are more melancholy, but all of them deserve the renaissance Jordi Savall offers them in his customary, masterly manner. And… for the first time in Alia Vox history, the cover art features a photo of Jordi Savall.

The first time Jordi Savall has recorded traditional repertoire, (replacing fiddle with baroque soprano viol)

The first time Jordi Savall appears on his own on the cover art.

The first time AV linernotes have been translated into Irish and Scottish (!)

The Astounding Eyes Of Rita

The Astounding Eyes of Rita introduces a new Brahem group, in a sinuous dance of dark sounds (oud, bass clarinet, bass guitar and hand drums), strong melodies, earthy textures... Where Anouar’s last two recordings – “Le voyage de Sahar”(2005) and “Le pas de chat noir” (2001) - found him at the centre of a trio orientated towards chamber music, with this new recording there is a sense of coming full circle.

This is a modern record but it also carries a sense of traditions, including Brahem’s own, and also reveals affinities with his early releases. There has long been a balance between Western & Eastern components in Brahem’s work, but ratios change with each project, as the work develops. “While I can easily find fantastic traditional players in my region, I often miss qualities specific to European jazz players, a certain open-mindedness in approaches to improvising - aspects to do with freedom”. Anouar plays together here with German bass clarinetist Klaus Gesing and Swedish bassist Björn Meyer [Nik Bartsch] and percussionist Khaled Yassine.

The Lover Of Beirut
Dance With Waves
Stopover At Djibouti
The Astounding Eyes Of Rita
Al Birwa
Galilee Mon Amour
Walking State
For No Apparent Reason

Piewoh

Arianna Savall voz, arpa triple, arpa gótica, arpa celta y bol tibetano Petter Johansen voz y haringfele, Ferran Savall voz y tiorba Javier Mas guitarra acústica de 12 cuerdas y laúd Mario Mas guitarra española, Bjørn Kjellemyr contrabajo Dimitri Psonis santur, buzuki y lira de Creta Pedro Estevan, David Mayoral percusiones

The long-awaited second “solo” album by the talented singer/harpist expands greatly on her debut, 2003’s Bella Terra. Here the music is performed by a unique nine-piece ensemble including brother Ferran Savall on vocals and the lute-like theorb, vocalist Petter Johansen plus guitar, lute, double bass, santour, bouzouki and percussion. Based on a taoist tale (Prince Peiwoh playing a wondrous harp, whose stubborn spirit should be tamed but by the greatest of musicians), this album, like so many on the best-selling, family run Alia Vox label, represents a breathing-in of various traditions from East and west, “classical” and “world”. Arianna is particularly enamoured of early forms of improvisation. Arianna enhances the textiural variation by performing on a variety of instruments: the small Gothic harp, the rich, subtle Italian baroque harp, and the trademark majesty of her usual Celtic harp.

Great Operatic Arias 21 - In English

Tracklisting: from Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur 1 ‘See now, I am exhausted…’ 3:13 from Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades 2 ‘You need not close the windows just yet’ 4:48 with Gillian Keith soprano from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (The Touring Company) Nedda’s Aria (Stridono lassu) 3 ‘His eyes were flashing with anger’ 4:52 4 ‘Nedda!’ – ‘My fate is in your hands’ 11:34 with William Dazeley baritone from Boito’s Mephistopheles 5 ‘To the moonlit waves they cast him’ 6:01 from Jake Heggie’s The End of the Affair 6 A Bargain and a Prayer 6:37 with William Dazeley baritone from Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades 7 ‘It’s nearly midnight now’ 5:11 from Strauss’s Arabella 8 ‘The one who’s right for me’ 6:20 with Gillian Keith soprano from Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur 9 ‘Poor little flowers’ 2:27 from Malcolm Williamson’s The Violins of St Jacques 10 ‘How can I explain to you’ 4:10 from Catalani’s La Wally 11 ‘I’ll float into the distance’ 3:47 from Strauss’s Arabella 12 ‘I’m very glad, Mandryka’ 7:39 with William Dazeley baritone

Cheryl Barker (soprano), Gillian Keith (soprano) & William Dazeley (baritone) London Philharmonic Orchestra, David Parry

Following her superb Katya in Katya Kabanova, her Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Case, recorded live at the London Coliseum, and her Butterfly for Chandos Opera in English, we were delighted to have enticed Cheryl Barker into our studios to record these thrilling samples of her dramatic artistry in music both familiar and fresh.

The repertoire chosen for the solo disc includes works, actually performed by her on stage, as well as arias Cheryl has always enjoyed listening to.

‘There were two arias that I was very keen to include one was the scene from The End of the Affair by the brilliant American composer Jake Heggie. I premiered the role of Sarah in Houston and I think this scene is dramatic and fantastically composed. I am very proud to have recorded the aria Each Afternoon from the Violins of St Jacques by Malcolm Williamson, a fellow Australian. It is very atmospheric with its simply vocal line. I have also included some popular arias and some repertoire performed by Dame Joan Hammond with whom I studied with as a student.’

‘As an English speaker, performing these arias in English means that I can relay the emotions of the arias in my native language and I think it is interesting to an English speaking audience to hear the arias in their native tongue. Also, it is important to have an accurate translation of the original text and I think in these arias we have that.’

Souvenirs For Mandolin And Guitar

Angulo, E: De Aires Antiguos
Boudounis: Tsifteteli for Elena
Diaz, C: Polka
Valse triste
Fampas: Sousta
Hadjidakis: Mother and Sister
Kemal
Kaufmann: Burletta, Op. 62
Mitoka Dragomirna, Op. 63
premiere recording
Kioulaphides: Diferencias
premiere recording in this version
Leonardi: Souvenir de Sicile
Muñoz: El Duende
Nawata: Sakura
Nieto S.: Valle del Cauca
Ortiz, C V: Patasd’hilo
Pino: El Fusagasugueño
Stephens: Mount Fuji
premiere recording
Tadic: Walk Dance
Theodorakis: Where Has My Boy Flown to?
Zambrano: Suite Venezolana
premiere recording Zerega: Souvenir de Bovio

This album of rarely recorded repertoire follows the much admired previous release of 1999: the Music from the Novels of Louis de Bernieres (CHAN9780). This album was the catalyst of a very successful musical duo that has now performed in concert and on tour across the UK and around the world for the last 10 years.

Both the mandolin and guitar are intrinsically linked to indigenous music from across the world. This CD is a celebration of a ten year musical partnership and of two incredibly hardy and adaptable instruments which have the unusual ability to bridge musical styles and cultures in a way that perhaps few other instruments can. Through their joint venture, Craig and Alison have developed a repertoire of unusual music from Columbia, Mexico, Greece and many other countries to go alongside their more classical concert repertoire.

Craig and Ali remark; ‘It should prove a very eclectic and interesting album that would appeal to a wide variety of plucked instrument lovers as well as an easy to listen to and immediately lovable sound world for all music lovers. The pieces have certainly proved popular when they have been performed at concerts.

The album contains the premiere recordings Armin Kaufmann, Diferencias by Kiouphides, Mount Fiji by Stephens and Suite Venezolano by Zambrano

There is added facet to the album with Alison Stephens’ royalties being donated to MacMillan Cancer Support.

Ravel: Bolero Rhapsodie Espagnole

Ravel:
Rapsodie Espagnole (Two Pianos/Four Hands)
Ma Mère l'Oye
Menuet antique (Solo ML)
Pavane pour une infante défunte (Arrangement Piano/four hands)
Prélude (Arrangement Piano/four hands)
Boléro (Transcr. Two Piano/Four Hands with Percussion adaptation K&ML)

"Mother Goose positively aches sensuality - every phrase is so magically voiced that it's impossible to imagine it ever being better played. The early Menuet and Pavane also sound ravishing, before the famous Boléro lifts the roof off." Chamber Disc of the Month, Classic FM Magazine, May 2007, *****

Verismo

ABC Classic FM CD of the week. Week commencing 30th November 2009

Track Listing -

Catalani: Ne mai dunque avro pace…Ohime! from La Wally

Cilea: O mia cuna fiorita: Gloria

Giordano, U: Tutto tramonta from Fedora
with Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Emma Latis

Giordano, U: Nel so amore from Siberia

Leoncavallo: Musette svaria sulla vocca viva from La Bohème

Leoncavallo: Mimi Pinson la biondinetta from La Bohème
with Paolo Cautoruccio, Marco Calabrese, Saito Kaoru, Annalisa Dessi, Carlos Gomez, Gilles Armani and Choir

Leoncavallo: Angioletto, il tuo nome? from Zaza
with Emma Latis

Mascagni: Un dì (ero piccina)

Mascagni: Ah, il suo nome… Flammen perdonami from Lodoletta

Puccini: Suor Angelica: 'Senza Mamma, o bimbo'

Puccini: Ore dolci e divine from La Rondine
with Saito Kaoru, Lucia Mencaroni, Barbara Vignudelli

Puccini: La Boheme: 'Si, mi chiamano Mimi'

Puccini: Addio… Donde lieta from La Bohème
with Arturo Chacón-Cruz

Puccini: Manon Lescaut: 'Sola, perduta, abandonnata'

Puccini: Turandot: 'Tu che di gel sei cinta'
with Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Marco Calabrese, Barbara Vignudelli and Choir

Puccini: Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso from La Rondine
with Jonas Kaufmann, Barbara Vignudelli, Paolo Cauteruccio and Choir

Zandonai: Ier della Fabbrica from Conchita

Renée Fleming sings opera arias by Puccini and his contemporaries. Celebrating the composers of the Verismo style.

Favourite Puccini arias from La Bohème, Turandot, Manon Lescaut, Il Trittico etc.

Rarely heard arias by other Verismo composers.

World Premiere recording of the original manuscript version of the aria from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut.

Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann joins Renée Fleming for an irresistible melody from Act II of Puccini’s La Rondine.

Our Land In Harmony - Bushfire appeal

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week. Week beginning February 1st, 2010

People all around Australia rallied to support the victims of the Victorian bushfires in February, volunteering their time, talent and money to help those who had lost everything. Now, six months on, as communities get down to the hard work of rebuilding their towns and their lives, ABC Classics in conjunction with ABC Classic FM is releasing this double CD of music donated by Australian artists in support of the bushfire appeal.

ARTISTS:

Sydney Brass, Sydney Children’s Choir, Synergy Percussion, Mike Nock, Satsuki Odamura, Peter Coleman-Wright, Kate Golla, Cheryl Barker, Lt Matthew Klohs, RAN Band, David Ritchie, TriOz, Flinders Quartet, Genevieve Lacey, Vox Synergy, Mary Doumany, Choir of Trinity College Melbourne, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.

TRACK LISTING:

SUSATO Susato Suite SCULTHORPE Anthem for Australia TWIST Rain Dream BOJESEN Eternity CONSTABLE Waves 09 NOCK Sunrise SAWAI Flying like a bird STRAUSS Zueignung HANDEL Arm, Arm Ye Brave COATES I Heard You Singing KLOHS Ships without a Name SHOSTAKOVICH Two movements from Piano Trio in E minor, Op.67 MOZART Rondo from Flute Quartet in D major DOUMANY Here and Now HARRIS Faire is the Heaven

Spain: Great Guitar Concertos

Buy a copy of Spain: Great Guitar Concertos and receive a copy of the Universal Classics and Jazz DVD/CD sampler 'See How Great They Sound'.

TRACK LISTING

RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Romancero Gitano
BACARISSE: Concertino for guitar and orchestra in A minor, Op. 72

One of Australia’s leading guitarists, Karin Schaupp, brings her passionate playing style to these jewels of the concerto repertoire.

Her interpretation of the famous Rodrigo concerto will win all hearts, while the smouldering emotion of the Romancero Gitano commands attention.

Bacarisse’s little-known Concertino has a slow theme of outstanding beauty – everyone will want to hear it again and again!

This inspiring album confirms Karin’s status as a rare musical talent.

The Galant Bassoon

Catalogue # MR301124

Bach, C P E: Sonata in D minor Wq.132

Bach, J S: Sonata in E minor, BWV1030
Sonata in A minor, BWV1034

Telemann:
Sonata in E minor TWV41:e5
Sonata in A minor TWV41:a6
Sonata in F minor (TWV 41:f1)

The bassoon comes out of the closet! The Galant Bassoon is a remarkable journey with three musicians of international acclaim as they rescue this reserved member of the woodwind section and place it, deservedly, in the spotlight. Virtuoso bassoonist from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Matthew Wilkie, showcases the colour and brilliance of his instrument in a sparkling and sophisticated collaboration with harpsichordist Neal Peres Da Costa and double bassist Kees Boersma.

A generous selection of six chamber pieces by JS Bach, Telemann and CPE Bach – with their melodic exuberance, dance-like rhythms, consoling adagios and virtuosic flights of display – provide the perfect vehicle for the imagination and flair of these players.

For 20 years, Matthew Wilkie has been Principal Bassoon of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, frequently performing as soloist with them. Neal Peres Da Costa is recognised as an expert in early music performance while Kees Boersma is Principal Bass of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Galant Bassoon references the galant style, a change from much of the complexity and ornamentation of the Baroque to a simpler, more classical approach epitomised by Telemann, C.P.E. Bach and others in their compositions and by much of the music in this recital.

Handel: Concerto Grossi Op 6, 2 CD Set

Catalogue # 4763436

Gramophone Magaine - Editor's Choice, March 2010

Australia’s first and finest period-instrument orchestra, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra perform regularly to sell-out audiences around Australia and overseas. Their vibrant concerts combine historical integrity with electrifying virtuosity and a passion for beauty.

Their vibrant concerts combine historical integrity with electrifying virtuosity and a passion for beauty. On this magnificent new recording, they turn their remarkable talent to the music of Handel, whose concerti grossi – concertos for a small group of soloists, rather than a single player – provide the perfect vehicle for the brilliance and artistry of this unique ensemble.

Track Listing

CD 1:

Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 1 in G major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 2 in F major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 3 in E minor Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 4 in A minor Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 5 in D major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 6 in G minor

CD 2:

Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 7 in B-flat major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 in C minor Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 9 in F major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 10 in D minor Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 11 in A major Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 12 in B minor

Emma Matthews In Monte Carlo

Recorded in September 2008 in Monte Carlo, the album highlights Romantic opera heroines for which Emma has received glowing praise. Included are key moments from some of these operas – the ‘Doll Song’ from Les Contes d’Hoffmann, the ‘Bell Song’ from Lakmé, great scenes from Lucia di Lammermoor and Hamlet, as well as fearless and thrilling coloratura moments in the Proch Theme and Variations and Bernstein’s ‘Glitter and be gay’. There are two world premieres on the disc – the Nightingale’s Song at the close of Richard Mills’ The Love of the Nightingale and Calvin Bowman’s song Now touch the air softly.

Conducting the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo is Australian-born, UK-based Brad Cohen, who graduated from St. John’s College, Oxford, before studying with Sergiu Celibidache and Leonard Bernstein.

TRACK LISTING

BERNSTEIN: Glitter and Be Gay Candide

DELIBES: Où va la jeune Hindoue (Bell Song) Lakmé

FLOTOW: The Last Rose of Summer Martha

DONIZETTI: Ancor non giunse…Regnava nel silencio…Quando rapito in estasi Lucia di Lammermoor (with Catherine Carby mezzo-soprano)

BELLINI: Eccomi in lieta vesta…Oh! quante volte I Capuleti e i Montecchi

GOUNOD: Dieu! Quel frisson court dans mes veines…Amour, ranime mon courage Roméo et Juliette

THOMAS: A vos jeux…Partagez-vous mes fleurs…Pâle et blonde…La sirène passe et vous entraîne Hamlet

OFFENBACH: Les oiseaux dans la charmille (Doll Song) Les Contes d’Hoffmann

PROCH: Deh! torna, mio bene (Theme and Variations)

BOWMAN: Now Touch the Air Softly

MILLS: The Nightingale’s Song The Love of the Nightingale

Opera's Greatest Choruses

Buy a copy of Opera's Greatest Chourses and receive a copy of the Universal Classics and Jazz DVD/CD sampler 'See How Great They Sound'.

BEETHOVEN Fidelio: Prisoners’ Chorus ‘O welche Lust!’

LEONCAVALLO Pagliacci: Bell Chorus

MASCAGNI Cavalleria rusticana: Easter Hymn

MOZART The Magic Flute: Priests’ Chorus ‘O Isis und Osiris’

MUSSORGSKY Boris Godunov: Coronation Scene

PUCCINI Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus

PUCCINI Turandot: ‘Gira la cote!’

VERDI Aida: Finale Act 2: Triumphal Scene and March

        ‘Gloria all’Egitto’
        ‘Vieni, o guerriero vindice’

VERDI Macbeth: Chorus of Scottish refugees ‘Patria oppressa’

VERDI Nabucco: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves: ‘Va, pensiero’

VERDI Il trovatore: Anvil Chorus

WAGNER Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus

There is nothing as stirring as the sound of a full opera chorus, and this album has it all: the splendour of the Triumphal March from Aida, the aching nostalgia of the Hebrew slaves in Nabucco, the tragic stillness of the Humming Chorus in Madama Butterfly,the joyful celebration of the Bridal Chorus in Lohengrin and much more. All your favourite choruses from the great operas, sung to perfection by the chorus of Opera Queensland.

Rosario

TRACK LISTING

VERDI: La mia letizia infondere vorrei from I Lombardi alla prima crociata
DE CURTIS (arr. Hope): Torna a Surriento
PENNINO (arr. Mills): Pecchè
LARA: Granada
VERDI: Se quel guerrier io fossi!...Celeste Aida from Aida
PUCCINI: Addio, fiorito asil from Madama Butterfly
DE CURTIS (arr. Mills): Tu, ca nun chiagne!
PUCCINI: Nessun dorma from Turandot
LEONCAVALLO: Recitar! mentre preso dal delirio…Vesti la giubba from Pagliacci
D’ANNIBALE (arr. Mills): O paese d’ ‘o sole
CARDILLO (arr. Mills): Core ‘ngrato
VERDI: Ah sì, ben mio from Il trovatore
VERDI: Questa o quella from Rigoletto
DI CAPUA (arr. Mills): Maria Marì
ADAM: O Holy Night
LEHÁR: You Are My Heart’s Delight from The Land of Smiles

This self-titled album is Rosario La Spina's debut solo recording under a new exclusive contract with Universal Music Australia (Decca) and ABC Classics. Highlighting six of the great heroic roles of the tenor repertoire – Calaf (Turandot), the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto), Cannio (Pagliacci), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Radamès (Aida) and Oronte (I Lombardi), the CD also weaves in a host of Neapolitan songs, as much the province of the great tenors as the operatic roles they sang. Many of the arrangements for these songs are by the conductor on this recording, Richard Mills.

One of Australia’s most sought after musicians, Richard Mills has pursued a diverse career as composer, conductor and artistic director, which has seen him work with almost all of the nation’s music organisations. He has held the post of Artistic Director of the West Australian Opera since 1997 and was Musica Viva’s Composer of the Year in 2008. His operas have been produced by both opera companies and festivals across Australia and have also received some of Australia’s most prestigious awards. He has recorded extensively for ABC Classics and his unrivalled ear for sonority also marks him out as one of the country’s finest orchestrators.

Schumann: Music For Cello

Track Listing -

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73
Adagio and Allegro in A flat major, Op. 70
Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor, WoO 27 arranged by Steven Isserlis
Abendlied, Op. 85 No. 12
3 Romances, Op. 94
5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102

Schumann’s affection for the cello ran deep. It was an instrument he had played in his youth, and considered taking up again when, at the age of twenty-two, an accident to his hand forced him to relinquish his dream of being a virtuoso pianist. ‘I want to take up the violoncello again (one needs only the left hand for this) and it will be very useful to me in composing symphonies’, he wrote to his mother. The sound of the cello played without the right hand would have been somewhat minimalist; but his love for the instrument is clearly demonstrated by the cello parts in all four of his symphonies, as well as in the concertos for piano and violin, and of course throughout his chamber music. As the great musicologist Donald Francis Tovey put it: ‘The qualities of the violoncello are exactly those of the beloved dreamer whom we know as Schumann.’

Sacred Garland: Devotional Chamber Music from the Age of Monteverdi

Catalogue # CHAN0761

Pulchra es amica mea
Palestrina/Rognon i
Partite sopra la Romanesca
Rossi (attrib.)
Angelus ad pastores
de Rore/Bovicelli
Re: Tulerunt Dominum Corradini: Spargite flores
Crotti: Congratulamin
Donati: O gloriosa Domina
Frescobaldi: Canzona: La Bernardina, La Capriola, Toccata No. 1
Grandi: Jesu, mi dulcissime
Kapsberger: Toccata VII
Merula: Nigra sum, Gaudeamus omnes Monteverdi: Venite, sitientes ad aquas
Picchi: Toccata
Piccinini: Toccata XII

The Gonzaga Band was formed by cornettist Jamie Savan in 1997, in order to explore historical approaches to the performance of vocal and instrumental music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its line-up is flexible: the musicians heard on this recording – Steven Devine, Richard Sweeney and Faye Newton besides Jamie Savan himself – form the nucleus of the group, which expands on occasion to include other leading vocal and period-instrument specialists according to the specific requirements of each programme. Jamie Savan commented on the recording, ‘Catherine Bott once described our blend of cornett and voice as that of “two soprano instruments” matched “in dazzling duet”. We hope our recording will live up to this high praise.’

The ensemble takes its name from the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua, who were powerful and influential patrons of the arts in the late Renaissance period. The Gonzaga family employed Claudio Monteverdi as their maestro di cappella, and he presided over a musical establishment that was, for a time, the envy of the world.

For this collection The Gonzaga Band has chosen some of the most beautiful music from the dawn of the baroque era in Italy. Some of the composers, such as Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Merula and Grandi, are well known today. Others, such as Nicolò Corradini, Benedetto Re and Archangelo Crotti, are minor masters whose music has been unjustly forgotten.

All the composers represented on this disc share a gift for writing accessible, tuneful music for solo voice with obbligato instruments. The challenge is for the instrumentalist to play as vocally as possible, whilst the singer needs an instrumentalist’s technique to negotiate the virtuosic demands of this repertoire. The Gonzaga Band successfully meets this challenge in Sacred Garland.

Adio Espana Romances Villancicos & Improvisations From Spaincirca 1500

This program will take you on a musical journey through the fascinating intercultural history of the late 15th and early 16th century Spain. Heroic ballads celebrating the battles between Christians and Moors, salacious villancicos, wild improvisations, and traditional Sephardic romances are performed by members of the Baltimore Consort. They play a vast array of period instruments coupled with vocals by sensational Brazillan singer José Lemos.

This is the 14th release by the Baltimore Consort and the first release of entirely new material in over 5 years.

Veiled Virtuosity

Amir Farid, piano

Winner of the 2006 Australian National Piano Award, pianist Amir Farid has been described as "a highly creative musician - a pianist of great intelligence and integrity. He brings strong musical substance to all that he does, imbuing it with his own particular experience and understanding", and who "in a well populated field...distinguishes himself for all the right reasons."

This stunning debut CD 'Veiled Virtuosity' contains works by Liszt, Brahms, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Vine and Maroufi, as well as the premiere recording of Stuart Greenbaum’s Evocation (2006).

Reinventions

The Flinders Quartet has been the vanguard of an extraordinary creative awakening amongst a new generation of string quartets in Melbourne, excelling in their dynamic and stirring performances of a full spectrum of repertoire. Audiences and critics alike were quick to articulate their esteem as the quartet developed into a highly respected force in Australian chamber music.

In "Reinventions" the Flinders Quartet has teamed up with Australian recorder virtuoso Geneive Lacey in this exciting line-up of Mozart, Elena Kats-Chernin, Calvin Bowman and J. S. Bach.

Australian Guitar Music

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week, week beginning 29th March 2010

Dean, B: Three Caprichos after Goya
Edwards, Ross: Blackwattle Caprices
Guitar Dances
Houghton: Stélé
Koehne: A Closed World of Fine Feelings
Sculthorpe: From Kakadu
Into the Dreaming, for cello alone
arr. Wingfield

Aleksandr Tsiboulski (guitar)

Aleksandr Tsiboulski is first-prize winner in numerous competitions including the 2006 Tokyo International Guitar Competition.

Tapas: Tastes of the Baroque

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week. Week beginning 8th March 2010

TRACK LISTING

KAPSBERGER: Arpeggiata from Primo libro d'intavolatura di chitarrone
FALCONIERI: Ciaconna from Il primo libro di canzoni
KAPSBERGER: Avrilla mia
KAPSBERGER: Bergamasca
KAPSBERGER: Canarios
CAZZATI: Passacaglia from Op.22, Trattenimento per camera d’arie, correnti, e balletti
MONTEVERDI: Chiome d’oro, from the Seventh Book of Madrigals
Spagnoletta – Improvisation
MONTEVERDI: Si dolce è il tormento
FALCONIERI: Folia (a 3) echa para mi Señora
Passacaglia Andaluz - Improvisation
FERRARI: Amanti, io vi sò dire
LAURENTI: Introduzione Dodicesima from Suonate per camera, Op.1
MERULA: Ciaccona from Canzoni Libro Terzo, Op.12
Tarantella, La Carpinese – Improvisation
after KAPSBERGER: Toccata - Improvisation
HIDALGO: Esperar, sentir, morir

A tasting plate of gorgeous music! Experience a spicy 17th-century mix from Southern Europe, inspired by songs and dances of love, fire, beauty and freedom. The 2009 ARIA Award winners bring earthy improvisations and an adventurous spirit to the Baroque in this brand new album.

Chopin - The Nocturnes, 2 CD Set

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, 26th April 2010

Universal Classical Album of the Month, March 2010

TRACK LISTING

CHOPIN CD 1 1. Nocturne No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1 2. Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 3. Nocturne No. 3 in B major, Op. 9 No. 3 4. Nocturne No. 4 in F major, Op. 15 No. 1 5. Nocturne No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2 6. Nocturne No. 6 in G minor, Op. 15 No. 3 7. Nocturne No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1 8. Nocturne No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 9. Nocturne No. 9 in B major, Op. 32 No. 1 10. Nocturne No. 10 in A flat major, Op. 32 No. 2 11. Nocturne No. 11 in G minor, Op. 37 No. 1

CD 2 1. Nocturne No. 12 in G major, Op. 37 No. 2 2. Nocturne No. 13 in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1 3. Nocturne No. 14 in F sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2 4. Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1 5. Nocturne No. 16 in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2 6. Nocturne No. 17 in B major, Op. 62 No. 1 7. Nocturne No. 18 in E major, Op. 62 No. 2 8. Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. posth. 72 No. 1 9. Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor, KK IVa/16

In celebration of Chopin Year – 2010 being the 200th birthday of the sui generis Polish genius – Nelson Freire, a Chopin interpreter of unique discernment, records the beloved Nocturnes.

Nelson Freire is an acknowledged master of the keyboard. His recordings for Decca have won numerous awards, including a Gramophone Award, Diapason d’or, Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, and Choc du Monde de la musique. Freire is a past winner of the Dinu Lipatti Medal, first prize winner of the International Vianna da Motta Competition and was France’s Victoires de la Musique’s “Soloist of the Year” in 2002.

A pianist’s pianist whose playing “sings” with every refinement of the school of bel canto, Nelson Freire is an artist whose profile deserves the attention of a wider classical market. In the opinion of The Dallas Morning News, “Any new Freire recording is virtually self-recommending".

Tears on Toast – Opera’s Greatest Tragedies and Triumphs

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week. Week beginning March 22nd, 2010

TRACK LISTING

VERDI Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco) PUCCINI Un bel dì (Madama Butterfly) DELIBES Flower Duet (Lakmé) MOZART Là ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni) GOUNOD Jewel Song (Faust) PUCCINI E anche tu…Le tue parole (Girl of the Golden West) HANDEL Lascia, ch'io pianga (Rinaldo) VERDI Parmi veder le lagrime (Rigoletto) VIVALDI Veni, veni me sequere fida (Juditha Triumphans) DONIZETTI T'amo qual dama un angelo (Lucrezia Borgia) PONCHIELLI Dance of the Hours (La Gioconda) DVORAK Song to the Moon (Rusalka) PUCCINI Non piangere, Liù…Ah! Per l'ultima volta (Turandot) BERNSTEIN Glitter and Be Gay (Candide) RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN Some Enchanted Evening

Emma Ayres, the popular presenter of ABC Classic FM’s Breakfast program, has selected some of her favourite ‘Tears on Toast’ moments! These are the great moments from opera and musical theatre – dramatic, desperate, weepy or playful. This is an album which, like Emma, doesn’t take itself too seriously, but makes a perfect introduction to the joy of singing!

Bach Album CD/Dvd

Catalogue # 4763673

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week, week beginning April 5th 2010

JS BACH Concerto in D minor for Oboe, BWV1059R Concerto in D major for Oboe d’amore, BWV1053R Concerto in A major for Oboe d’amore, BWV1055R Sinfonia in F minor from Cantata BWV12, ‘Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen’ Sinfonia in C minor from Cantata BWV21, ‘Ich hatte viel Bekummernis’ Sonata in G minor, BWV1030b

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote sublime music for the oboe; here it is performed by Australia’s own world-renowned Diana Doherty, one of our most charismatic performers (and one of ABC Classics’ best-selling artists!), and accompanied by Australia’s leading early music experts. This uplifting album is enhanced by a bonus DVD. Interspersed with footage of the recording sessions is an interview with Diana Doherty in which she talks about the music and her experience of playing and recording it.

Aksak - Melodies du sud des Balkans

ABC Classic FM CD of the week, week beginning 22 February 2010

After its previous CD dedicated to the Arabo-Andalousian universe, the Aromates ensemble makes a visit to the Balkans. These Bulgarian, Macedonian and Greek melodies have been influenced by the Persian, Ottoman and European music. They are characterized by the so-called 'Aksak', lame rhythms. This is a journey between sea and sun, village feasts, kitchen odours with open windows and flowers and traditional perfumes.

Hommage To Chopin, Works For Solo Piano

ABC Classic FM CD of the week, Week beginning March 1st, 2010

Balakirev: Impromptu on the themes of two Preludes by Chopin
Bendel: Hommage à Chopin, Op. 111, No. 1
Berkeley, L: Three Mazurkas, Op. 32 No. 1
Busoni: 10 Variations on a Prelude of Chopin
Godard, B: No. 2: Hommage à Chopin from Lanterne magique, Op. 66
Godowsky: Walzermasken No. 7 'Profil (Chopin)'
Grieg: No 5: Studie 'Hommage à Chopin' from Moods, Op. 73
Honegger: Souvenir de Chopin
Leschetitzky: No. 9: Hommage à Chopin from Contes de jeunesse, Op. 46
Mompou: Variations sur un theme de Chopin
Nápravník: Notturno 'La réminiscence de Chopin;, Op. 48 No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Un poco di Chopin, Op. 72, No. 15
Villa-Lobos: Hommage a Chopin

2010 sees the 300th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, and among the many celebratory recordings, this disc will stand out as an historic record of the composer’s extraordinary influence and legacy.

Chopin’s unique style of piano writing was to utterly transform the way in which composers wrote for and thought about the instrument. Few escaped some aspect of that legacy until the early years of the twentieth century; and few pianists have not had Chopin’s music in their concert repertoire. Small wonder that so many composers and pianistcomposers— major and minor—have felt moved to pay their respects to a musician for whom there is almost universal approbation. A fascinating selection of hommages are represented here.

Jonathan Plowright has recently been described as ‘one of the finest living pianists; the possessor of qualities that should no longer remain a secret’ (Gramophone). His formidable technique and musical integrity combine in a disc which is a must for any pianophile.

Stravinsky Complete Music For Violin And Piano

ABC Classic FM CD of the week, Week beginning March 15th, 2010

2CDs for price of 1.

Suite d'après des thèmes, fragments et morceaux de Giambatista Pergolesi
Pastorale
Airs du rossignol et Marche chinoise
Duo concertant
Berceuse
Prélude et Ronde des princesses
Scherzo
Chanson Russe
Divertimento
Danse Russe (from Pétrouchka)
Tango
Ballad
Scherzino
La Marseillaise

Stravinsky’s collaboration with the violinist Samuel Dushkin was a great artistic success, generating new works for the repertoire as well as arrangements of some of the composer’s most tuneful and popular works. Of these arrangements, Dushkin wrote that Stravinsky seemed ‘to go back to the essence of the music and rewrite or recreate the music in the spirit of the new instrument’. Reviewing the current performers in The Independent, Bayan Northcott writes that ‘these are no ordinary transcriptions. In reducing items from The Firebird or The Fairy’s Kiss to the violin and piano medium, Stravinsky rethought and respaced their every chord’.

In the performing partnership of Anthony Marwood and Thomas Adès, Hyperion has a combination that seems to reignite the original flames of inspiration, creation and re-creation.

Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata, Der Hirt Auf Dem Felsen

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week, April 19th 2010

Track Listing:

Sonata in A minor 'Arpeggione', D821
Liebesbotschaft, D957 No.1
An den Mond, D193
Dass sie hier gewesen! D775 (Rückert)
Wehmut, D772 (Collin)
Nacht und Träume, D827
Die Taubenpost D957 No. 14
Romanze: Ich schleiche bang und still, D787 No. 3 (Castelli)
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965 (Von Chezy / Muller)

The highly acclaimed violist Antoine Tamestit releases his third album on Naïve. Dedicated to the music of Franz Schubert, in particular the Arpeggione Sonata, it also features the celebrated French soprano, Sandrine Piau in The Shepherd on the Rock.

Antoine Tamestit has transcribed Schubert’s music for the viola, featuring the multi-award winning Sandrine Piau - recently voted the Singer of the Year at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2009. She performs two Schubert lieder: ‘Ich schleiche bang und still herum’ and ‘Der hirt auf dem felsen’. The recording features the Arpeggione Sonata – the only substantial work in existence written for the now extinct string instrument, the arpeggione. After his success in international competitions in Paris, New York, and Munich, Antoine Tamestit won the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award in January 2008, which gave him the opportunity to play with the Vienna Philharmonic and Riccardo Muti at the Lucerne Festival. He has subsequently recorded two albums for Ambroisie/Naïve ‘Bach: Ligeti’ and ‘Shostakovich / Schnittke’.

The Children's Hospitals Hush Collection: Volume 9: Is It Spring Yet?

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week. Week beginning 21st December, 2009

Hospital can be a scary place for children and families. Dr Catherine Crock is a physician and mother who knows this all too well, working with children with cancer at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. She decided to do something to reduce their distress, so she teamed up with some of Australia's foremost professional musicians who have volunteered their time to create a collection of unique CDs to help children and their parents during medical procedures.

The result is the HUSH collection, a special compilation of soothing music designed to calm and relax people of all ages. It is used within 12 Children's Hospitals and wards around Australia, in operating theatres, treatment rooms and waiting areas, as well as to manage unsettled babies.

The latest release, Hush volume 9, is a collection of smooth chamber jazz called Is it Spring Yet?, composed by the renowned jazz pianist Tony Gould with Imogen Manins, cello, David Griffiths, clarinet and David Jones, percussion.

Proceeds from sales of the Hush Collection CDs support Children's Hospitals around Australia

Dreams - Works Transcribed For Cello And Orchestra

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week. Week beginning 14th December 2009

Track Listing:

Debussy Girl with the Flaxen Hair, Dvorak Song to the Moon, Grieg Solveig Song, Chopin Mazurka Op 67 No 4, Nocturne Op 9 No 2, Tchaikovsky Valse Sentimentale Op 51 No 6, Rachmaninov Vocalise, Satie Gymnopedie, Gnossienne No 1, Faure Pavane, After A Dream

Craig Leon's arrangements for Joshua Bell's best-selling album Romance of the Violin paved the way for this new CD of glorious, singing cello lines. With the cello often being described as the instrument whose sound is closest to the human voice, Swiss cellist Ophelie Gaillard here takes the lead in opera aria transcriptions (including the famous Song to the Moon and Puccini's 'O mio babbino caro') for cello and orchestra. Also featuring well known works by Satie, Faure, Debussy and Grieg, Leon and Gaillard's Dreams hears oft-heard melodies anew in serene yet sumptuous new arrangements.

Bach Violin And Voice - Arias And Duets For Soprano And Bass With Violino Obligato

Universal Classical Album of the Month, January 2010

ABC Classic FM CD of the week, week beginning 15 February 2010

Tracklisting

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)

TRACK LISTING

J.S. BACH 1. Aria (bass): "Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder" from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244 2. Duet (soprano, bass): "Wenn kömmst du, mein Heil?" from Cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 3. Aria (soprano): "Die Schätzbarkeit der weiten Erden" from Cantata Ich bin in mir vergnügt, BWV 204 4. Aria (bass): "Hier in meines Vaters Stätte" from Cantata Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32 5. Aria (soprano): "Angenehmer Zephyrus" (Pallas) from Cantata Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205 (Der zufriedengestellte Äolus, dramma per musica) 6. Aria (soprano): "Laudamus te" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232 7. Aria (bass): "Jaja, ich halte Jesum feste" from Cantata Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV 157 8. Aria (bass): "Die Welt mit allen Königreichen" from Cantata Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59 9. Aria (soprano): "Ich bin vergnügt in meinem Leiden" from Cantata Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58 10. Aria (soprano): "Wenn Trost und Hülf ermangeln muss" from Cantata Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117 11. Aria & Chorale (bass): "Welt, ade, ich bin dein müde" from Cantata Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158 12. Aria (soprano): "Erbarme dich" from St Matthew Passion (transposed for soprano by Felix Mendelssohn)

Hilary Hahn (violin), Christine Schäfer (soprano) & Matthias Goerne (baritone)
Münchener Kammerorchester, Alexander Liebreich

To the vocal lines of arias and duets, Bach composed gorgeous violin obbligati. In this novel album, Hilary Hahn records these obbligati exclusively – an act of devotion no other virtuoso violinist has ever committed to disc

Sharing this album with Hahn are soprano Christine Schäfer and baritone Matthias Goerne, both also renowned Bach exponents

Numbers from such masterpieces as the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor are rendered with an unearthly beauty and a reverence that add to this recording’s historical significance

In truth, this album features not two but three singers – Hahn elicits from her Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume tone as sung by a golden voice

To Saint Cecilia, 2CD + Book

Catalogue # V5183

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week. Week commencing December 7th, 2009

Lucy Crowe (Soprano), Nathalie Stutzmann (Contralto), Anders J. Dahlin (Tenor), Richard Croft (Tenor), Luca Tittoto (Bass), David Bates (Countertenor) & Neil Baker (Baritone)

Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV76

Haydn: Mass, Hob. XXII: 5 in C major 'Cäcilienmesse'

Purcell: Hail! Bright Cecilia (Ode for St Cecilia's Day 1692), Z. 328

Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre’s latest recording present three major works celebrating Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. While St Cecilia is the figure who inspired this recording, the album showcases music by three composers whose anniversary years are being celebrated in 2009: Purcell was born in 1659, while Handel and Haydn died in 1759 and 1809, respectively. The three featured works have never before been brought together on a single recording. The programme was performed earlier this year at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Barbican Centre in London, the Bozar in Brussels, and the Festspiele in Salzburg, and received an enthusiastic response from the press.

The vocal cast includes five outstanding soloists: Richard Croft, Lucy Crowe, Nathalie Stutzmann, Anders J. Dahlin and Luca Tittoto. Marc Minkowski chose to record a Missa Breve version of Haydn’s Cäcilienmesse, which includes only the Kyrie and Gloria. These were composed by Haydn some years before the complete Mass was written. Minkowski decided to focus on this shorter version, and to augment it with two exceptional arias from the complete mass, ‘Et incarnatus est’ and ‘Et resurrexit’. The accompanying 134-page book includes 12 paintings and representations of Saint Cecilia by the likes of Raphael, Rubens, Mignard, Lely, De Vouez, Da Cortona and Domenichino. A deluxe edition that enhances this ambitious project.

Diminuito

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week, Week beginning February 8th 2010

Track Listing:

anon.: La Perra Mora
La Spagna
Tourdion
Canova da Milano: Canon
Capirola: Ricercate
Dalza: Saltarello
Piva
Mudarra: Fantasìa X (que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Ludovico)
Ortiz, D: Quinta Pars
Recercada settima (Romanesca)
Recercada segunda
Recercada Quinta
Robinson, T: Passamezo Galyard
Terzi, G A: Petit Jacquet
Susanne un jour
Vestiva i colli

Rolf Lislevand Ensemble

Following his highly successful ECM debut with Nuove Musiche in 2006, the new CD by Norwegian lutenist Rolf Lislevand and his group of international early music virtuosi is an album of melodic beauty and rhythmic energy that transcends the genres and is likely to appeal to listeners from different backgrounds including early music, jazz and ethnic music.

Lislevand is one of the most charismatic figures in today's early music scene and an outstanding lute virtuoso whose vigorous music making is firmly rooted in scholarship. Here are stunning improvisations based on vocal compositions from 16th century Italy: the birth of instrumental virtuosity out of embellished song. His creative and delightful approach to rarely heard repertoire is comparable to Christina Pluhar's work with L’Arpeggiata but is even more original in its concentration on lesser known composers.

Once again putting a strong emphasis on improvisation, Lislevand and his colleagues disclose the astounding modernity and emotional wealth in the music of composers such as Giovanni Antonio Terzi and Joan Ambrosio Dalza. Most of the music stems from the Veneto region of Italy where, at that period, strong influences of oriental and eastern music could be felt. Lislevand's group translates this with a lush scoring for deep instruments, both stringed and plucked, and adds to the line-up two sopranos, Anna Maria Friman and Linn Andrea Fuglesth, from the immensely popular a-cappella group Trio Mediaeval.

Baroque Trombone

Gramophone Magazine, Editor's Choice - February 2010

Christian Lindberg, who has done more than anyone to establish the modern trombone as a solo instrument, bought his first sackbut 30 years ago, and already then dreamed of recording a baroque programme. Now the opportunity to do so has arrived – largely due to Lindberg’s encounter with the violinist Richard Tognetti and his Australian Chamber Orchestra. The Lindberg / ACO collaboration has already been documented on disc in a programme of 18th-century trombone concertos (BISCD1248), a release described in International Record Review as ‘sensational … one of those recordings which make criticism a glorious irrelevance.’

Istanbul - Dimitrie Cantemir: "The Book of Science of Music" and the Sephardic and Armenian Traditions

ABC Classic FM CD of the week. Week beginning 23rd of November 2009

Hybrid SACD deluxe digibook

Booklet : English, Spanish, French,Turkish,Armenian, German, Italian & Catalan

Following the huge success of Orient-Occident and Jerusalem.... prepare yourself to cross borders! This new release is mainly based on 'The Book of Science of Music', published in 1710 by the Moldavian prince Dimitrie Cantemir, after many years spent in Istanbul.

This unique manuscript enables us to discover the jewels of the Turkish traditional music. Jordi Savall already included some of its pieces in his album Orient Occident (AVSA9848), but he decided to explore it further in order to reveal the magic of the incredible city of Istanbul. This city portrait wouldn't have been complete without the fascinating Armenian and Sephardic repertoire that was also familiar in Istanbul during this time. Once again, Jordi Savall reminds us about a Golden Age of cultural dialogue, brought back to life by Hesperion XXI and outstanding Turkish and Armenian guests musicians. A Jordi Savall experience that goes beyond music…

Handel Duets

ABC Classic FM, CD of the Week 12th April 2010

Handel:
Great victor, at your feet I bow (from Belshazzar)
No, no chi’io non sprezzo (from Agrippina)
Io t'abbraccio (from Rodelinda)
Per le porte de tormento (from Sosarme)
Notte cara (from Ottone)
Vivo in te (from Tamerlano)
Bramo aver mille vite (from Ariodante)
Se teco vive il cor (from Radamisto)
To thee, thou glorious son of worth (from Theodora)
Streams of Pleasure (from Theodora)
Welcome as the dawn of day (from Solomon)
Caro! Bella! (from Giulio Cesare)

This new Handel collection features two great singers alongside the English Concert, arguably one of the best baroque orchestras in the UK. Duets play a key role in Handel’s stage works. A master of the Baroque opera seria medium, with its extended sequence of solo arias and recitative dialogue, he understood the dramatic effectiveness of occasional numbers blending two voices, generally those of a soprano heroine and a castrato hero.

The exquisite programme offers a carefully chosen selection of Handel duets from his operas and oratorios Giulio Cesare, Belshazzar, Theodora, Ottone, Sosarme, Radimisto, Rodelinda, Agrippina and Tamerlano.

Sarah Connolly CBE has become a highly sought-after performer on the operatic stage in a wide range of repertoire. Her Handelian roles have including the title-role in Giulio Cesare for the Glyndebourne Festival; in Agrippina, Xerxes, Ariodante and Ruggiero (Alcina) for the English National Opera and Ino/Juno (Semele) for the San Francisco Opera. She also starred in the 2009 Last Night of the Proms.

Rosemary Joshua is well known for her Handel roles, having sung Ginevra (Ariodante) in San Diego; Angelica (Orlando) in Munich, for Covent Garden and at the Aix-en- Provence Festival; and the title-role in Semele for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award and recorded for Chandos. Her recording of Partenope for Chandos was awarded the Stanley Sadie Handel Recording Prize.

The English Concert is conducted by Harry Bicket.

With a combination of such forces, this album is sure to make for a must-have for all Handel enthusiasts.