With Magische Tone, Jonas Kaufmann returns to the world of operetta and late Romantic opera, presenting a collection of some of the genre's most beautiful and beloved melodies. Recorded in Budapest with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra under the baton of Dirk Kaftan, the album celebrates the rich musical heritage of the Austro Hungarian Empire (1867-1918). The new recording brings together perennial favourites by Emmerich Kalman, Franz Lehar, and Paul Abraham, alongside lesser known treasures such as Bob's entrance aria from Jeno Huszka's (Bob Herceg). Several duets enrich the programme further, including the sparkling "Komm mit nach Varasdin" from Grafin Mariza, performed with soprano Nikola Hillebrand, one of today's most sought after voices. Among the collection's highlights are the two opera arias "Hazam, hazam" from Ferenc Erkel's Bank ban and the album's title track, "Magische Tone" from Karl Goldmark's Die Konigin von Saba. These works demonstrate Kaufmann's versatility across contrasting styles and vocal demands, resulting in a glowing tribute to a cosmopolitan era of European music.
Brtish pianist Alexander Ullman, presents a program of Edvard Grieg's Moods, Songs and Lyric Pieces. The prize of the album, Alexander's own transcriptions of music from the Peer Gynt Suite No.1, which draws out the color of the orchestra from the piano, perhaps more than the composer's own. Like Chopin, Grieg was more comfortable creating exquisite miniatures rather than large scale orchestral works. Both produced concertos for the piano, and Grieg's example is one of the most popular in the repertoire, but it is in his small-scale solo works that his poetic musical expression had free reign. Alexander Ullman plays Book 10, Moods, and seven pieces from 1907, probably the last music Grieg composed. The program also includes a selection of songs arranged by the composer for solo piano.
Shostakovich regarded his 3rd String Quartet as one of his best works and initially gave each of the movements titles such as 'blithe ignorance of the future cataclysm' and 'Forces of war unleased', but then withdrew the titles shortly after completing the work. Why he did this we don't know, maybe he was wary of the Soviet authorities reading unpatriotic meanings into them. Whatever the reasons, the 3rd is a powerful statement containing the composer's dry humor, with a good dash of sarcasm, the sinister and the passionate. Saariaho's Terra Memoria, her 2nd String Quartet, bears the subtitle 'for those departed.' The composer said that "we continue to remember those who are no longer with us. Their life is complete, nothing will be added... our experiences of being with them, different aspects of their personality, certain memories haunt our dreams, some remain clear flashes which we can relive."
The two works on this album were commissioned by conductor Paul Sacher in the 1930s for the orchestra he founded in 1926, the Basel Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra was famous for it's adventurous programing, often combining baroque repertoire with contemporary works. Bartok's Divertimento nods at the baroque concerto grosso in it's use of individual groups of players, and the title 'divertimento' recalls Mozart's many examples of this form. By contrast, the earlier of the two commissions avoids any musical category - Bartok simply called the work Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste. 'Strings' in this works title includes harp and piano, 'percussion' adds not only timpani, but snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam and xylophone, and of course the sparkling sound provided by the celeste. It is a beautiful score, culminating in a brilliant finale with dance rhythms and folk dance syncopations.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Edward Gardner present two works that stand at opposite ends of Richard Strauss's creative life, effectively bookending the two World Wars of the 20th century. Strauss's depiction of a day in the life of an Alpine mountain was completed as the First World War took hold, while his deeply personal threnody for German musical life was written in the final months of the Second World War. Now in the fifth year of his tenure as Principal Conductor of the LPO, Ed Gardner continues to be one of today's most sought-after conductors. These recordings are a testament to the strength of the partnership between the LPO and Gardner, showcasing the Orchestra at both it's most epic and it's most intimate.
Trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire and guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings is due June 12, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features four new compositions by each musician as well as one collaboration. The album track "Soundcheck" is available today and can be heard below; you can pre-order the album here. The duo, long admirers of each other's musicianship, met at Halvorson's Brooklyn apartment and began playing together periodically, going back as far as 2009. They rehearsed the music on Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings in January 2025, just before performing it at the New York City club The Stone; they recorded this album the next day at Sear Sound.
Vinyl LP pressing. Trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire and guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings is due June 12, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features four new compositions by each musician as well as one collaboration. The album track "Soundcheck" is available today and can be heard below; you can pre-order the album here. The duo, long admirers of each other's musicianship, met at Halvorson's Brooklyn apartment and began playing together periodically, going back as far as 2009. They rehearsed the music on Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings in January 2025, just before performing it at the New York City club The Stone; they recorded this album the next day at Sear Sound.
On April 29, 1844 in Paris's Salle Erard, Charles-Valentin Alkan returned to the platform after an absence of six years. Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven and Weber featured, as well as four of Alkan's latest compositions. Two of these appear on Andrew Yiangou's remarkable recital - the Op.22 Nocturne and the Op.23 E minor Saltarelle. The centre piece in the program is the misleadingly titled Sonatina in A minor, Op.61. This is a large-scale sonata of huge technical challenges. Busoni claimed that Alkan was, along with Chopin, Liszt, Schumann and Brahms was one of the five greatest composers for the piano since Beethoven. Alkan certainly discovered unheard of sonorities imbued with a disturbing power, and a preoccupation with the darker shades of human experience. Andrew Yiangou's program is a fascinating view into the musical world of one of the most enigmatic composers of the 19th century.
Two CDs. Nonesuch releases the soundtrack for Luca Guadganino's film After The Hunt, which stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloe Sevigny. After The Hunt is a gripping psychological drama written by Nora Garrett about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light. As with almost all of Guadagnino's films - beginning with I Am Love and including Call Me By Your Name- the double album soundtrack, compiled by Guadagnino and Matthew Rankin, comprises multiple recordings by composer John Adams, as well as new music by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (Challengers, Bones And All, Queer), and a selection of songs featured in the film by Tony Bennett & Bill Evans, The National, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Everything But The Girl, among others.
Nonesuch releases Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated composer Jonny Greenwood's score to the new action comedy film written, directed, and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another features eighteen new compositions performed by Greenwood-on piano, guitar, bass, percussion, and ondes Martenot-joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra and conductor Hugh Brunt, among others. The title track may be streamed here. Released via Warner Bros. Pictures in the US on September 26, One Battle After Another stars Academy Award and BAFTA winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti.
Karim Said became well-known after Christopher Nupen's film, Karim's Journey, documented his journey at age 14 from Jordan to the Purcell School in London. Daniel Barenboim had arranged for Karim to study at the school and has been a mentor. Karim was a member of the East West Divan Orchestra, created by Barenboim and Karim's uncle, the late Edward Said. Karim has established an orchestra in Amman and conducts and plays throughout the Middle East and Europe. For Karim's debut concerto recording, he is joined by his friend and fellow East West Divan alumni, conductor Domingo Hindoyan, and the chemistry between them is palpable. As Barenboim said of the young Karim, "What he already knows you cannot learn."
Introducing The Original motion picture soundtrack to the highly anticipated final film in the 'Downton Abbey' series, scored by composer John Lunn. The film follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. As the beloved cast of characters navigate how to lead 'Downton Abbey' into the future, they must embrace change and welcome a new chapter. Scottish composer John Lunn writes music that possesses a unique voice and spans a wide spectrum of musical styles. He received two Primetime Emmy Awards for his music for 'Downton Abbey', and two BAFTA nominations in 2012 and 2016. Other recent television work includes The White Queen (Starz), Grantchester (ITV), Shetland (BBC One), The Last Kingdom (BBC Two) and Jamestown (Sky). Lunn received critical acclaim for his scores for three BBC Charles Dickens adaptations: 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood', 'Little Dorrit', and 'Bleak House'.
Joanna Kacperek's new album for Rubicon is a superbly curated recital of music by women composers - all of whom achieved fame in their day but, in most cases, rapidly faded from the repertoire after their deaths. There is no logical reason for this obscurity. The music is first rate, and they enjoyed support from their great male contemporaries including such luminaries as Haydn, Hummel, Moscheles, Liszt, Franck and Grieg. Some have remained on the fringes of the repertoire - Chaminade for example, but for many listeners of this album it will be a fascinating voyage of musical discovery. This is great music, deserving to be better known, and is out there for us to access and enjoy.
A rising global talent and Steinway Artist, Indonesian pianist Jonathan Kuo is without a doubt a name to watch. He has appeared at the Musikverein and the Salzburg Mozarteum to name just two prestigious European venues among many that have witnessed his performances. Mentored by Stanislav Ioudenitch, the gold medallist at the 2001 Van Cliburn, Jonathan is a fearless virtuoso combined with rare emotional depth. His debut recording brings together the rarely recorded Java Suite by Leopold Godowski, and Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrushka.
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.
