Per Nørgård is arguably the most celebrated Danish composer today, who is the recipient of the prestigious Sonning Prize this year. Nørgård’s works have been the important part of the repertoire of LINensemble (whose very name was taken from Nørgård’s trio work “LIN”). This CD is a culmination of the long-standing close collaboration between the composer and the ensemble.

The Dinitzen-Westenholz duo started their collaboration three years ago. Their first CD Kontrapunkt 32172 “R. Strauss/Brahms/Schumann” enjoyed public and critical acclaim. For their second recording they concentrated on the works by Fauré which enhanced Dinitzen’s elegant and simple style with rich sonority attentively accompanied by Westenholz.

Piano works by Charles Griffes (1883-1920) have not been recorded by many, in spite of their striking beauty and strength. Denmark’s leading pianist Poul Rosenbaum who specialises in performing contemporary works interprets here all solo piano works by this great American composer. Rosenbaum studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Juilliard School. He made his debut in New York in 1978.

For Denmark’s leading flautist Toke Lund Christiansen, French flute music has become a major part of his repertoire. His earlier releases include “Jacques Ibert: Chamber Music With Flute” (32202) and “La Flute Parisienne” (32186). Christiansen’s outstanding technique and delicate musicality suit Roussel perfectly. This release is the first complete collection of Roussel’s flute music in the chamber settings.

Bach’s contemporary German lute virtuoso and composer Weiss left a huge literature for lute. Lutenist Viggo Mangor has studied his instrument and music at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen and at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. Unlike most of the early music instruments which are copies of the original instruments, the lute recorded here is the 17th century original piece.

Following the highly successful CD of Sofia Gubaidulina’s cello works (32176), Henrik Brendstrup one of Europe’s best cellists of the younger generation recorded here a collection of cello works by the three representative composers from Eastern Europe. His new partner on piano is a young Gislinge who only two years after her debut has already established herself as one of the leading soloists in Europe.

Young Danish composer Lars Klit (b. 1965) was commissioned to write an opera suited for an alternative opera company called Den Anden Opera (The Other Opera) which has a small “opera house” in the central part of Copenhagen. It is “the other” opera than the traditional establishment of the Royal Opera House. The work is played by five singers and a small chamber ensemble including electric guitar. It turned out to be a huge success right from the premier appealing to a wide range of audiences from the traditional opera lovers to the young rock’n rollers.

Kontrapunkt has been devoting large part of its catalogue to Danish composers known as well as less known to the international audiences. P. E. Lange-Müller (1850-1926) was one of the leading late Romantic composers whose main part of works were songs and state music. Though the list of chamber music is relatively short, they are true gems. Albumsblade for string quartet is a recent discovery and is world premier recording.

One of Europe’s most sought after pianist Homero Francesch (b. 1947 in Montevideo, Uruguay) has made a series of recordings for Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft for which he was awarded the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis of 1978. In 1991 Francesch performed all of Mozart’s sonatas in several recitals and recorded them for Kontrapunkt (KPT 32092/96). In the same year he also performed and recorded all 27 piano concertos with Orchestre Philharmonic de Nice for Kontrapunkt.

Like the Brahms symphony series by Lønskov/Llambias piano duet (KPT 32120, KPT 32128, KTP 32138, KTP 32148) which are enjoying continuing success in many markets in the world, this series of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral works for four hand piano is the original arrangements by the composer. And like the Brahms series, these are premiere recordings.

Yossi Arnheim is associate principal flautist of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 1983. He has been performing as soloist with major orchestras abroad as well as giving recitals all over the world. For this his first Kontrapunkt release, he got together with four other leading instrumentalists of Israel to record Martinu’s intriguing chamber music.

The fact that all of their concerts are sold out as soon as they are announced is a proof of Collegium Musicum’s enormous popularity in Denmark. It is an orchestra consists of principal instrumentalists of major symphony orchestras throughout the country including flutist Toke Lund Christiansen and his colleagues in the wind section here. This complete collection of flute chamber music by Ibert is the first and only release available presently.

The increasingly popular Nielsen symphony series reached its fifth volume here including two pieces for string orchestra: Andante Tranquillo and Scherzo which are premier recordings. Earlier releases received a number of favourable reviews: KPT 321771 “...one of the most interesting interpretations available in the market now...the orchestra presentation is absolutely impeccable...” (The Jutland Post) KPT 32178 “...The Odense orchestra play with sensitivity and a total commitment throughout...” (The Gramophone)

Kontrapunkt marks its release number 200 with the Nielsen Violin Works performed by Søren Elbæk, undoubtedly the foremost violinist of younger generation in Europe. The first two tracks are solo pieces which Nielsen wrote for his Hungarian son-in-law Emil Telmanyi. As these two unaccompanied works demand its performer superhuman technique, they are practically unheard live on stage. There is only one analogue recording in Deutsche Grammophon catalogue performed by Peder Elbæk (Søren’s father) many years ago. This is the first digital recording.

Denmark’s leading pianist Amalie Malling was born in Germany of Danish parents. She started to play piano at the age of 6. In 1961 she moved to Denmark with her family and continued her study with composer/pianist Herman D. Koppel. Amalie graduated from the Hannover Conservatory of Music in Germany and studied further with Alfred Brendel. In 1972 she won the first prize in the Scandinavian Piano Competition. This is her first Kontrapunkt recording.

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) not only modernized the Argentinean tango tradition but also incorporated it into the contemporary music. For New Danish Saxophone Quartet whose repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary, Piazzolla’s compositions have always been the showstoppers of their concerts. It was quite natural for them to compile a Piazzolla tango album as their second CD (earlier release KPT 32051 “Contemporary Music For Saxophone Quartet”). New Danish Saxophone Quartet founded in 1986 by four leading Danish saxophonists is one of the most sought after ensembles in Europe. They perform regularly at major festivals and concert halls. “...collectively and individually, this foursome is an extremely competent group of musicians!” (Saxophone Journal)

Franz Syberg (1904-1955)’s hitherto unknown material are still being discovered and even the known material are dispersed in the public music library or private collections. But it may not be so surprising for a composer who died at the age of only 51 and whose house was completely destroyed in a devastating fire prior to his death that the archive of his compositions is yet to be organised. This second volume of chamber works includes newly found String Trio, Syberg’s most popular work whose score has been lost since his death.

10 months after the highly successful debut CD (KPT 32185 “Prokofiev:Violin Sonatas and Five Melodies”) Armenia’s prodigious young talent Nikolai Madojan visited Denmark again to record Grieg’s sonatas with veteran Elisabeth Westenholz. The Gramophone wrote on Madojan/Westenholz duo’s “Prokofiev” recording in comparison with the Perlman/Ashkenazy recording, “Nikolai ... has a natural feeling...his is the more thought-provoking...Westenholz refreshingly tender-hearted and imaginative. ..Kontrapunkt’s CD is a good one and will not disappoint those who are attracted by the programme...”

The general title of this CD, though not mentioned on the cover, is “Danish Orchestral Music”. Not only it showcases some of the best of Danish music from the romantic school to the contemporary but also it is showing off the extraordinary level of the conservatoire orchestra of Aarhus city.