Ultra-sensitive poet of the keyboard Adam Laloum immerses us in the kaleidoscopic world of Schumann: the famous Kreisleriana and their outbursts of passion and reverie heard alongside the rather rarer Novelletten, a theatre of the intimate and fantastic. Everywhere Laloum revels in the emotional riches of a piano indwelt by the inner voice of romanticism.
Tracklist:
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 1 in F Major, Markiert Und Kräftig
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 2 in D Major, Äußerst Rasch Und Mit Bravour
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 3 in D Major, Leicht Und Mit Humor
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 4 in D Major, Ballmäßig. Sehr Munter
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 5 in D Major, Rauschend Und Festlich
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 6 in a Major, Sehr Lebhaft, Mit Vielem Humor
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 7 in E Major, Äußerst Rasch
Schumann: Novelletten, Op. 21: No. 8 in F-Sharp minor, Sehr Lebhaft
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 1 in D minor, Äußerst Bewegt
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Sehr Innig Und Nicht Zu Rasch
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 3 in G minor, Sehr Aufgeregt
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Sehr Langsam
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 5 in G minor, Sehr Lebhaft
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Sehr Langsam
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 7 in C minor, Sehr Rasch
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16: No. 8 in G minor, Schnell Und Spielend
UPC: 3149020955956Label: Harmonia MundiRelease Date: 7.3.26Format: CD
Tracklist:
Reverie
Kokoro
Love Story
Blue Day
A Quiet Sun
Dolce Vita
Glare
Autumn
Arrival
Fragile
UPC: 600574100016Label: DeccaRelease Date: 5.1.26Format: CD
Little is known about Johann Sebastian Bach's sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord. Are they early works or products of his late period? Do they form a cycle, or are they a collection of independent pieces? Long-time musical partners Atsushi Sakai and Christophe Rousset set out to record these enigmatic works, in which the gamba, as so often in Bach, becomes at once the voice of lamentation and an instrument of dialogue with the divine.
Tracklist:
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027 I. Adagio
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027 II. Allegro ma non tanto
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027 III. Andante
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027 IV. Allegro moderato
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1028 I. Adagio
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1028 II. Allegro
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1028 III. Andante
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1028 IV. Allegro
Bach: Sonata for Violin and Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1023 (Transc. for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord by Atsushi Sakai) I. [Pre
Bach: Sonata for Violin and Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1023 (Transc. for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord by Atsushi Sakai) II. All
Bach: Sonata for Violin and Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1023 (Transc. for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord by Atsushi Sakai) III. Gi
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 1029 I. Vivace
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 1029 II. Adagio
Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 1029 III. Allegro
UPC: 5051083228862Label: AparteRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD
Pianists Bertrand Chamayou and Leif Ove Andsnes join forces to record Schubert's magnificent Fantasia in F minor, presenting a landmark Schubert 4 Hands album. This release arrives 40 years after Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia's legendary CBS recording and 60 years after Benjamin Britten and Sviatoslav Richter's historic Aldeburgh Festival performance. The duo delivers breathtaking interpretations that could establish this recording as the new reference for Schubert's Fantasia. The album pairs the Fantasia with other Schubert four-hand works composed in 1828, the year of the composer's death, offering a deeply intimate and historically informed program.
Tracklist:
Fantasia for Piano Four-Hands in F minor, Op. Posth. 103, D. 940: I. Allegro Molto Moderato
Fantasia for Piano Four-Hands in F minor, Op. Posth. 103, D. 940: II. Largo
Fantasia for Piano Four-Hands in F minor, Op. Posth. 103, D. 940: III. Allegro Vivace
Fantasia for Piano Four-Hands in F minor, Op. Posth. 103, D. 940: IV. Finale. Allegro Molto Moderato
Allegro for Piano Four-Hands in a Minor, Op. Posth. 144, D. 947 "Lebensstürme"
Fugue for Piano Four-Hands in E minor, Op. Posth. 152, D. 952
Rondo for Piano Four-Hands in a Major, Op. 107, D. 951
UPC: 5021732965783Label: EratoRelease Date: 1.16.26Format: CD
Paul Carr's Awakening is a striking four movement choral work, each movement depicting the seasons - Spring and Autumn Equinox, and the Summer and Winter Solstice. The orchestral and choral writing makes an immediate impression - it is powerful, lyrical, at times cinematographic. It is in the tradition of British choral compositions over the last 100 years. The libretto is Stephen Feltham. Awakening is a modern classic, an accessible and striking addition to the British choral repertoire. UPC: 5061094590162Label: RubiconRelease Date: 7.10.26Format: CD
Colin Matthews is one of the UK's leading composers and celebrates his 80th birthday this year. Known for his large-scale orchestral works, chamber works and smaller scale ensemble compositions, such as the song cycles on this album, Matthews is also a prolific arranger of other composers' music. He worked with Deryck Cooke on the performing version of Mahler's 10th Symphony from 1963 until publication in 1975. Seascapes brings together four of his song cycles and features soprano Claire Booth, baritone Marcus Farnsworth, and the Nash Ensemble. UPC: 0880040420026Label: Onyx ClassicsRelease Date: 5.29.26Format: CD
Colin Matthews is one of the UK's leading composers and celebrates his 80th birthday this year. Known for his large-scale orchestral works, chamber works and smaller scale ensemble compositions, such as the song cycles on this album, Matthews is also a prolific arranger of other composers' music. He worked with Deryck Cooke on the performing version of Mahler's 10th Symphony from 1963 until publication in 1975. Seascapes brings together four of his song cycles and features soprano Claire Booth, baritone Marcus Farnsworth, and the Nash Ensemble. UPC: 880040420026Label: Onyx ClassicsRelease Date: 5.29.26Format: CD
Celebrating Steve Reich's 90th birthday and the 20th anniversary of Colin Currie Group, this landmark release brings together a number of Reich's iconic works. United by the elegant symmetry of sextet forces, these pieces showcase the rhythmic vitality, harmonic clarity, and emotional depth that have defined Reich's music for generations. From the scintillating textures of Sextet, the driving power and poignancy of Double Sextet, and the hypnotic time-bending sonorities of Six Marimbas, the album offers a journey through Reich's unparalleled sound world. Colin Currie Group's fresh interpretation of Dance Patterns adds a lesser-known gem to this celebration, highlighting the composer's enduring fascination with movement and pattern. Recorded with the insight and precision that have become hallmarks of the ensemble, this album is both a tribute and a testament to Reich's lifelong influence and to the Colin Currie Group's deep connection with his music. These works do more than mesmerise-they uplift, entrance, and remind us why Reich remains one of the most significant voices in contemporary music.
Tracklist:
Reich: Sextet I. Crotchet = 192
Reich: Sextet II. Crotchet = 96
Reich: Sextet III. Crotchet = 64
Reich: Sextet IV. Crotchet = 96
Reich: Sextet V. Crotchet = 192
Reich: Double Sextet I. Fast
Reich: Double Sextet II. Slow
Reich: Double Sextet III. Fast
Reich: Six Marimbas
Reich: Dance Patterns
UPC: 0811043030929Label: Colin Currie RecordsRelease Date: 4.10.26Format: CD
The Curious Bards immerse us in the 18th-century popular music of Ireland and Scotland, with reels, jigs, songs and dances that circulated in the oral tradition and in print, from the airs of Turlough O'Carolan to the great collections of the period. Impelled by an irresistible energy and underpinned by historical research, this album restores the vitality of this music that lives for the dance, for the preservation of folk memory, and for sharing with others.
Tracklist:
A Set of 3 Scottish Airs: The Lads of Elgin (Reel) - the Highlandman Kissed His Mother (Reel) - the Fyket (Reel)
A Set of 3 Irish Airs: Sr. Ulick Burk (Reel) - the Soup of Good Drink (Jig) - the High Road to Dublin (Jig)
Rakes of Westmeath (Irish Tune with Variations)
Since Sounding Drums (Irish Air)
Highland Battle: The March -They Mend Their Pace - the Battle Begins - the Height of the Battle - the Preparation for a Retreat
A Set of 3 Airs from Ireland ; Scotland: Lady Herriot Hopes (Reel) - Sir Adam Ferguson's Reel (Or Lads of Laois) - Bonny Lads (R
Turlough O'Carolan: A Set of 2 Irish Airs: John Nugent (Jig) - Bumper Squire Jones (Jig)
The Duel: Rakes of Mallow (Irish Tune with Variations) - Reel of Tulloch (Scottish Tune with Variations)
Turlough O'Carolan: A Set of 3 Irish Airs: Mary O'Neill (Jiig) - the Lads of Dunse (Jig) - Port Patrick (Jig)
Kilkenny Is a Handsome Place (Irish Song)
A Set of 3 Airs from Ireland ; Scotland: Raddire en Ougnish - Marquis of Huntly's Strathspey - Mr Jo Reid's Reel
King of the Blind
A Set of 3 Scottish Airs: Miss Loraine of Kirkharles - Fight About the Fire Side - Lochailis Away to France
Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament (Scottish Song)
UPC: 3149020958834Label: Harmonia MundiRelease Date: 5.29.26Format: CD
Bach's St. John Passion is the earliest surviving Passion or Oratorio by J.S Bach and was first performed in 1724. This version consists of two sections and retains this structure in the versions and revisions that followed in 1725, 1730, 1736 and 1749. Bach added several numbers in the 1749 version, but several arias from the revisions are found only in the appendices of modern editions. So, there is no 'final' version crafted by the composer as there is for the later St. Matthew Passion, no single manuscript as there is for the Brandenburg Concertos, nor a revised printed edition as exists for the Goldberg Variations. What we do have are Bach's various attempts as he went from performance to performance, to try to grasp what he was aiming for - consciously and unconsciously. There is much that is operatic in the music, and the thought that the St. John Passion is Bach's opera is hardly an original one. This recording uses the new edition by musicologist Malcolm Bruno. UPC: 880040427629Label: Onyx ClassicsRelease Date: 4.17.26Format: CD
Experience the magical atmosphere of thrilling spy thrillers live with the DNSO in this program. Legendary film music from James Bond and Mission Impossible-Agents Only Live Twice promises a musical extravaganza and unique action from the DNSO Concert Hall!
Tracklist:
Mission Impossible: Schifrin and Variations
James Bond: Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Men in Black: Main Theme
Mission Impossible: Red handed
North by Northwest: Overture
Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Tango de los Asesinos
Red Sparrow: Overture
James Bond: For Your Eyes Only
James Bond: Theme From Dr. No
James Bond: You Only Live Twice
The Imitation Game: Orchestral Suite
Eye of the Needle Suite
The Bourne Identity: Main Titles
James Bond: License To Kill
James Bond: No Time To Die Suite
James Bond: Writing's on the Wall
UPC: 0880242489371Label: EuroartsRelease Date: 5.22.26Format: CD
For her debut album, Daria Vasileva immerses us in the world of Alexander Scriabin. Under the inspired hands of the 2025 Young Swiss Artists award winner, we discover the full richness of a unique musical language. This program, both eclectic and remarkably consistent, explores the composer's work through the prism of the four elements, offering a comprehensive insight into his artistry.
Tracklist:
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G-Sharp minor, Op. 19 "Sonata-Fantasy": I. Andante
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G-Sharp minor, Op. 19 "Sonata-Fantasy": II. Presto
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 4 in E minor
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 12 in G-Sharp minor
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 23 in F Major
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6: I. Allegro Con Fuoco
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6: II. Adagio
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6: III. Presto
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6: IV. Funèbre
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 5 in D Major
Scriabin: Valse in F minor, Op. 1
Scriabin: Valse in A-Flat Major, Op. 38
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 17 in A-Flat Major
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 22 in G minor
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30: I. Andante
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30: II. Prestissimo Volando
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 6 in B minor
Scriabin: 24 Preludes, Op. 11: No. 14 in E-Flat minor
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
UPC: 5051083228893Label: AparteRelease Date: 6.5.26Format: CD
With her new album, State of Matter, acclaimed Polish cellist and composer Dobrawa Czocher pushes her artistry into new territories. Composed amidst a move from Warsaw to the Baltic coast, surrounded by the ocean's horizon and dense forestry, the album reflects curiously on what lies beyond and embracing the unknown. It is an ode to the courage to grow through uncertainty. The music unfolds as a journey of emotional phases, a narrative arc from the internal introspective questioning of "Monologue," to a sonic leap into motion with the rhythmic propulsion of "Blue", and the cyclical farewell in "Goodbye". Known for her atmospheric, emotionally rich compositions, Czocher has expanded her sound world, while holding true to her classical roots. She uses percussive cello techniques, Moog synthesizers, non-analog electronics, and her own voice instrumentally and without lyrics, creating a texture of expression. Recorded at the historic Studio S4 at Polish Radio in Warsaw with engineer Mateusz Danek, State of Matter balances technical craft with expressive spontaneity, it's driven by Czocher's tension between precision and intuition. It is a work that breathes, pulses, and listens back. State of Matter marks a turning point in Dobrawa Czocher's creative path-an album that reflects not only where she is, but where she dares to go.
Tracklist:
Monologue
Blue
Phoenix
Sehnsucht
Sirens
Letter from the Soul
Fluctuations
Monologue II
Someone on Your Side
Goodbye
UPC: 600116136626Label: 130701Release Date: 3.27.26Format: CD
In this Schumann anthology, Elisabeth Leonskaja displays the full extent of both her love for the composer and her artistry, with the expressiveness and clarity that characterize her playing, making this recording a true Schumann-esque testament from this great lady of the piano. Many of these works are cycles of short pieces (Papillons, Variations, Symphonic Etudes) or sequences of miniatures, sometimes light and dance-like, sometimes virtuosic, but always imbued with poetry and depth.
Tracklist:
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Thema
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Variation I
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Variation II
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Variation III
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Variation IV
Abegg Variations, Op. 1: Finale Alla Fantasia
Papillons, Op. 2: Introduzione
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 1, Allegro Comodo
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 2, Prestissimo
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 3, Allegro Molto
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 4, Presto
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 5, Più Andante
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 6, Allegro Molto - Poco Più Tranquillo
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 7, Semplice
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 8, Allegro Feroce - Poco Meno Mosso
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 9, Prestissimo
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 10, Vivo - Più Lento
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 11, Allegro Maestoso - Più Lento - in Tempo
Papillons, Op. 2: No. 12, Finale. Con Brio - Più Lento
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Theme
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation I
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation II
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation III
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation IV
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation V
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Theme. Andante
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude I
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude II
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude III
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude IV
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude V
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude VI
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude VII
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude VIII
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude IX
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude X
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude XI
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude XII
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Theme
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Variation I
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Variation II
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Variation III
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Variation IV
Theme and Variations in E-Flat Major, Woo 24 "Geistervariationen": Variation V
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 11: I. Un Poco Adagio - Allegro Vivace
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 11: II. Aria. Senza Passione, Ma Espressivo
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 11: III. Scherzo. Allegrissimo
Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 11: IV. Finale. Allegro Un Poco Maestoso
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: I. So Rasch Wie Möglich
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: II. Andantino. Getragen
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: III. Scherzo. Sehr Rasch Und Markiert
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: IV. Rondo. Presto
UPC: 5021732875679Label: Warner ClassicsRelease Date: 4.10.26Format: CD
Mozart composed the concerto for two pianos in 1779, and performed it with his sister Nannerl. It is a less adventurous work than the previous concerto, No.9 K271, but it is an altogether more successful work than No.7 for three pianos K242, which the composer arranged for two pianos. It is brilliant in nature, especially the finale. It foreshadows in places the great Sinfonia Concertante K364, but does not match the grandeur of that work. No.24 K491 from 1786 is one of the greatest of Mozart's concertos. The dark, turbulent and tragic mood undoubtedly had an influence on Beethoven's C minor concerto. UPC: 5061094590049Label: RubiconRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD
Produced during the astonishingly fruitful year before the composer's death aged 31, the Impromptus are short, lyrical miniatures of contrasting mood and character which create a musical narrative whose imaginative reach transports the listener far beyond the 19th-century drawing room. They have been core components of Eric Lu's repertoire for several years, but the pianist decided to wait before recording them. "I have a real sense of a journey with these works, in particular with Op.90, having lived with them intensely in preparation, on stage and, finally, in the recording studio," he says. "For me, the Impromptus are some of the greatest jewels in the piano literature. They are magnificent, deep pieces of music, and the very essence of Schubert."
Tracklist:
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 1 in C Minor
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 2 in E-Flat Major
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 3 in G-Flat Major
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 4 in A-Flat Major
4 Impromptus, Op. Posth. 142, D. 935: No. 1 in F Minor
4 Impromptus, Op. Posth. 142, D. 935: No. 2 in A-Flat Major
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, Op. Posth. 142, D. 935: No. 3 in B-Flat Major
4 Impromptus, Op. Posth. 142, D. 935: No. 4 in F Minor
UPC: 5021732869319Label: Warner ClassicsRelease Date: 2.27.26Format: CD
Double Concertos brings together three works by composer and conductor Eric Nathan, each exploring the expressive possibilities of paired solo voices in dialogue with space, memory, and one another. Written between 2019 and 2023, the pieces on this album grew from Nathan's long-standing fascination with how two individuals interact through sound-coming together, diverging, supporting, and remembering. The Double Concertos for violin and clarinet, and for two violas, are shaped by close personal relationships between the soloists, while Just a Moment for two antiphonal oboes reflects on distance and connection, both physical and emotional. Across the album, Nathan sets present-day musical language in conversation with older forms and gestures, drawing on spatial placement, texture, and timbre to create music that is intimate in scale yet expansive in feeling. Themes of mentorship, partnership, love, and loss run quietly through these works, performed here by long-time collaborators and musicians closely connected to the music's origins.
Tracklist:
Nathan: Double Concerto for solo violin, solo clarinet and strings Double Concerto for solo violin, solo clarinet and strings
Nathan: Just a Moment for two antiphonal oboes
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings I. A dialogue; intimately
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings II. Brilliantly; vibrantly
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings III. Vigorously; racing
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings IV. Embracing; with warmt
Nathan: Double Concerto No. 2 for two solo violas and strings V. Dancing; joyous
UPC: 5060189568802Label: Orchid ClassicsRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD
The term 'spectrum' is usually associated with physics. When white light hits a prism, it breaks down into the full spectrum of rainbow colors. These colors have always existed but only become visible through refraction. Music is similar. The pieces on this album are like a prism, unfolding the fundamental human emotions into their infinite facets, and creating a tribute to the timeless power of music, that resonates with the entire color palette of the human soul. The selection of pieces therefore follows an inner logic: that of emotion, timbre, and the moment. Each piece unfolds it's own microcosm and invites the listener to lose themselves within it. Esther Birringer's new album is a must for lovers of the piano, and an essential playlist addition.
Tracklist:
Bach: Chorale 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben'
Moszkowski: Étincelles Op.36, No.6
Einaudi: Primavera
Schubert: Impromptu in a Flat Major D899 No.4
Gershwin: The Man I Love (From Strike Up the Band)
Handel: Passacaglia from Suite No.7, HWV 432
Debussy: La Plus Que Lente (Valse) CD 128
Ravel: Miroirs: No.4 (Alborado Del Gracioso), M43
Sivestrov: Bagatelle Op.1 No.1
Liszt: Etude de Concert No.3 'Un Sospiro' S.144
Sibelius: Valse Triste Op.44
Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F-Minor, Op.52
Auerbach: Prelude Op.41, No.5
Beethoven: Bagatelle Wo0 59 'FÜR Elise'
Balakirev: Islamey - An Oriental Fantasy
UPC: 5061094590070Label: RubiconRelease Date: 4.17.26Format: CD
Eduard Tubin stands among the most significant symphonic voices of the twentieth century, a composer whose music draws deeply on Nordic landscape, folklore and myth while speaking with a powerful modern voice. This recording with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mihhail Gerts explores the formative years of Tubin's creative life. At it's centre is the Symphony No. 2, "Legendary" (1937), a work that established Tubin's distinctive voice, moving from a mysterious opening through sombre reflection to a fiercely driven finale. Alongside it appears the Suite on Estonian Motifs, his first major orchestral composition, presented here in it's first recording. Completing the program are two early Piano Preludes from 1926, performed by Mihhail Gerts, offering a glimpse of Tubin at the very beginning of his compositional journey. Together these works trace the emergence of a composer who would go on to become one of Estonia's most important musical figures.
Tracklist:
Tubin: Suite on Estonian Motifs (Etw 13) I. Prelude
Tubin: Suite on Estonian Motifs (Etw 13) II. Ostinato
Tubin: Suite on Estonian Motifs (Etw 13) III. Intermezzo
Tubin: Suite on Estonian Motifs (Etw 13) IV. Finale
Tubin: Symphony No. 2 (Etw 2) I. Legendaire
Tubin: Symphony No. 2 (Etw 2) II. Sostenuto Assai, Grave E Funebre
Tubin: Symphony No. 2 (Etw 2) III. Tempestoso Ma Non Troppo Allegro (Quasi Toccata)
Tubin: Prelude No. 1: Con Calmo (Etw 30-1) Prelude No. 1: Con Calmo (Etw 30-1)
Tubin: Prelude No. 2: Moderato, Con Espressione (Etw 30-2) Prelude No. 2: Moderato, Con Espressione (Etw 30-2)
UPC: 5060189569212Label: Orchid ClassicsRelease Date: 6.5.26Format: CD
Fazil Say brings together two, highly contrasted Viennese piano sonatas, composed at either end of the Romantic era. Conceived on an epic scale in four movements, Schubert's Sonata in B flat major was written shortly before his death in 1828, while in 1909 Alban Berg ushered in Modernism with his opus 1, the compact, haunting Piano Sonata in B minor. "Schubert was only thirty when he died," writes Fazil Say. "There is unique depth of sorrow and melancholy here, the pain of parting from this world. At the same time, we feel Schubert's joy of life, his vitality, his attachment, his passion, even his defiance." While the Schubert sonata is a recent addition to Say's repertoire, he explains that "I first encountered Alban Berg's piano sonata at the age of 15, and I performed it as a student in Ankara... he became one of the main figures who opened the door for me to contemporary music... His opus 1, while anchored in B minor, sails boldly toward atonality and modern expression... The piano is used almost orchestrally, full of colour and intensity. It is a remarkably beautiful piece."
Tracklist:
Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 1
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
UPC: 5054197697487Label: Warner ClassicsRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD
Venezuelan trumpet virtuoso Pacho Florez wowed the packed Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms concert given by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under their chief conductor Domingo Hindoyan last year. Pacho and Domingo have a real chemistry on stage, they are old friends going back to their time in the Simon Bolivar Orchestra. This album showcases Pacho as composer as well as soloist - his own brilliant concerto Albares is vibrant, rhythmic and wonderfully written for the instrument. It, like the two other concertos on the album by Sierra and Ortiz have more than their fair share of ear worm tunes, and you won't be able to resist smiling and swaying to the infectious music. UPC: 880040427223Label: Onyx ClassicsRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD