Spectacular western movies and moments to remember from and with the Maestro himself. Ennio Morricone composed over 400 scores for cinema and television, as well as over 100 classical works. This concert from 2004 with the Munchner Rundfunkorchester is one of the very few recordings where he conducts his own music. The album contains a representative collection of his most famous film music including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, A Fistful of Dynamite, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, The Untouchables and many more.

John Rutter is one of the most iconic figures of English choral music today, a symbol of it's vitality and high standards. Graham Ross brings together the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (the celebrated choral institution that the composer himself directed in the mid-1970s) and The Dmitri Ensemble to pay homage to this great gentleman of modern musical history with a wide range of his works, some of them recorded here for the very first time.

With more than 125 concertos to his credit, Telemann was one of the pioneers of this genre that had flowered in Italy. Combining daring, humor and emotion, he particularly delighted in exploring the virtuosity of the violin and it's gift for imitation and it's lyricism. Alongside other works of his where the violin also takes centre stage, Isabelle Faust and the Academie fur Alte Musik Berlin showcase several jewels from his output of unimagined opulence.

Morton Feldman's cycle, The Viola in My Life, is four individual compositions that utilize various instrumental combinations with the viola. The works is a beautiful succession of delicate sounds during which Feldman, through the interplay of sound and silence, alters and transforms time. "This work has accompanied me like a secret, an almost silent meditation on what the viola means in my life. Through it I have experienced how much this instrument connects me to listening, to patience, to inwardness. Here Morton Feldman is not composing in order to shine, but so as to make us hear the infinitesimal, the unspeakable - that is what has touched me profoundly, and I want to share it with the listeners." (Antoine Tamestit)

To celebrate their 20th anniversary in style, Les Siecles and Francois-Xavier Roth have chosen to dazzle us with the distinctive colors of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Paris. This concert, recorded in the legendary surroundings of the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, explores shimmering orchestral works by Debussy, Lalo, Dukas and Roussel.

Rose Ever Blooming honours the role of Mary in the story of Jesus, highlighting the importance of family and the eternally strong bonds between mother and son. Inspired by poetry by Patricia Monaghan, we have constructed a libretto featuring twelve of these poems. Traditional Christmas carols are woven together with this poetry, acting as musical touchstones while also supporting the themes and narratives in Monaghan's poetry. Each divine moment of the Christmas story is presented here with a human counterpart. These poems portray Mary in all her humanity and as a reluctant hero of the Christmas story. In Rose Ever Blooming, Mary's story is presented as a reflection from the end of her life, beginning with the Annunciation and ending with her own list of Beatitudes, praising the ordinary and the everyday blessings we take for granted. We see the onset of motherhood as a metamorphosis from ordinary girl to one who will "bring forth the future. " A new Magnificat, not praising an entity outside ourselves, recognizes the divine within all of us. It was refreshing to tell Mary's story through her eyes, and Monaghan's brilliant portrayal of her character shines through in these sensitive and poignant poems.

MASTERPIECES OF GEORGE BIZET

Vladimir Horowitz brings on this LP together some of the most powerful and poetic piano works from the Romantic era, all performed in New York City during the spring of 1962. Side A dives into "Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2". Horowitz brings out all the drama, beauty, and intensity you'd expect-and more. Side B brings you two of Rachmaninov's "Etudes-Tableaux" and Schumann's delicate and dreamy "Arabesque" and Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 19", played with flair and fire. It's a perfect snapshot of Horowitz in his prime.

The slyly absorbing new volume from Michigan-based musician Erik Hall understands the contemplative joy in repetition. Solo Three is the culmination of what Hall describes as a loose trilogy, following his radical reinterpretation of Steve Reich's minimalist masterpiece Music for 18 Musicians, and his subsequent rendition of Simeon ten Holt's Canto Ostinato, a winding work of Dutch minimalism. This time, Hall boldly reimagines works by four distinct contemporary classical composers: Glenn Branca, Charlemagne Palestine, Laurie Spiegel, and, again, Steve Reich. It is a particular grouping that exists through Hall's singular lens for magnetic repetition and harmonic resonance. The resulting program unravels subtly but masterfully, each piece a kind of contrapuntal bliss a touch livelier than the last, all building to the Reich-ian reprise-an apt bookend to the series. Altogether, Hall has crafted a richly varied homage to four pillars of American minimalism, an elegant mix of accessibility and discovery. As ever, he performed and multitrack-recorded all the parts himself without loops, programming, or sequenced instruments, his solitary method still arguably novel to the classical canon. Meanwhile, within the context of modern production, this analog approach works as a gentle rebellion against a culture of faceless automation, instilling these recordings with a flesh-and-blood human touch. "It's just so much more interesting to actually play every note," Hall says. "You then get them directly juxtaposed, and as they repeat, all of those micro-differences between them create a sort of living, breathing magic." That living, breathing magic imbues every crevice of Solo Three, making it not just a stirring tribute to four giants of 20th-century minimalism, but a reflection of how their influence continues to reverberate today.

The album Wonder is more than a collection - it is a musical journey, bringing together the most treasured songs from six Invisible Hands Music releases that have touched hearts worldwide. Invisible Hands Music is proud to have enjoyed a dynamic and enduring partnership with Libera, spanning six acclaimed studio albums distributed across more than 200 territories. Each song on Wonder embodies the passion, artistry, and collaboration that have driven remarkable achievements - from multiple No.1 chart positions to "Album of the Week" features in major markets including the UK, Japan, and the USA. This definitive collection not only celebrates Libera's most beloved recordings but also introduces a brand-new interpretation of Panis Angelicus, offering both long-time fans and new listeners something truly special.

Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra bring power and depth to Mahler's enigmatic Symphony No. 7, capturing both it's mystery and majesty in this new recording. Noseda's expertise in grand orchestral works brings Mahler's vision to life, offering a compelling and powerful interpretation that unveils the emotional andmusical complexity of the symphony. The state-of-the-art recording captures the NSO's epic performance in stunning sound and detail, offering a rich, immersive listening experience. With hisinterpretation of Mahler's seventh symphony Noseda takes listeners on a journey from dark to light, from a beginning of solemn ambiguity to a triumphant finale, inthis must-have recording for Mahler fans.

Explore distant galaxies with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. These legendary film soundtracks from the world of science fiction will transport you to the infinite vastness of space with epic sounds and powerful choirs. Experience the music from Dune, Star Wars, Star Trek, and many other masterpieces: enjoy stirring solo passages and majestic themes with outstanding soloists Sinne Eeg, Isabel Schwartzbach, David Bateson, and Kristoffer Appel.

The Harmoniemesse, Haydn's last major sacred work, combines liturgical solemnity with dazzling orchestral writing empowered by his masterly use of the winds. In contrast, the intimate, luminous Missa brevis 'St John of God', reveals a more contemplative faith. Directing Les Arts Florissants, William Christie illuminates these two sides of the composer with authority and poetic sensitivity, well served by a top-flight quartet of soloists.

Unearthed and remastered, this collection brings together the titans of operatic history on one breathtaking album. Experience the power and grace of these operatic classics, sung by the greatest voices ever to grace the stage.

This album dedicated to Ernest Chausson gathers some of the finest French interpreters of today, a rare collaboration between violinist Renaud Capucon, Quatuor Ebene and pianist Nicholas Angelich. The program offers a comprehensive look at Chausson's genius, pairing the intricate chamber music of Concert Op.21 with the sweeping Poeme for violin and orchestra. This album also serves as a tribute to the late Nicholas Angelich, timed as it is to coincide with the anniversary of his passing on April 18, 2022.

In this program, the DNSO let's you experience the fascinating world of John Williams' music in a concert that brings cinema to life. From the epic fanfares of Star Wars to the magical sounds of Harry Potter and E.T. to the touching melodies of Schindler's List, this program spans an impressive arc between adventure, fantasy, and deep emotion. An evening full of goosebumps, big emotions, and unforgettable film music that awakens memories and ignites new enthusiasm.

In Colorado based ensemble COmpass REsonance (CORE), Violinist Vadim Gluzman found a group that shared his artistic values, and they now have a close working relationship. Combining the music of J.S. Bach and Valentyn Silvestrov in one program offers another example of kindred spirits. The three works by Silvestrov presented on this album are influenced by and dedicated to Bach himself. More importantly, though separated by centuries, the music of Bach and Silvestrov is united by purity, spirituality, and clarity of expression. Together, they offer hope, solace, and a sense of balance in today's turbulent world.

Christopher Tignor is a composer, violinist, lecturer, and software engineer. His emotionally charged scores and unique focus on live, performance-based electroacoustic practice has won acclaim within both the classical and experimental communities across 10 LPs on the Western Vinyl and New Albion record labels. He creates the live performance software he uses, shared freely. As a composer he has written and recorded work for ensembles including The Knights, A Far Cry string orchestra, and Brooklyn Rider string quartet, performing alongside them at premiere venues including Carnegie's Zankel Hall. As a collaborator he has worked with Rachel Grimes, Helios, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, John Congleton, This Will Destroy You and several other artists at the boundaries of popular music. Tignor holds a Ph.D in music composition from Princeton University, an M.S. in computer science from NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and a B.A. in creative writing from Bard College where he studied fiction and poetry with John Ashbery.

Deluxe Edition. Recent scientific studies show that listening to music makes people happy - especially listening to music in the company of others. But I've known that for years! I see it happening every night, right in front of me at our concerts. Whether we're playing a captivating waltz like the 'Blue Danube' or a romantic melody like the 'Vilja Song', I see people looking happy, even radiant, because they're listening to our music. And of course, we in the Johann Strauss Orchestra are very proud of that. I hope I can carry on making you happy with our music for a long time to come, and I wish you great enjoyment listening to 'Romantic Moments II' !

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO VOL 1