JOANA MALLWITZ MOMENTUM A film by Gunter Atteln Joana Mallwitz is a conductor. This profession is still seen by many people as predominantly male. Recognized early on for her exceptional talent, Mallwitz was Europe's youngest general music director before becoming chief conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, one of Germany's leading classical orchestras, in August 2023. Over two years, the film follows her as she embarks on a decisive phase of her international career - with debuts in Munich, Paris, Salzburg, and Amsterdam. At the same time, she and her husband have to reorganize their lives after the birth of their first child. JOANA MALLWITZ - MOMENTUM offers a candid and detailed portrait of the musician. We experience Mallwitz as a perfectionist who works hard, as a music mediator, and an energetic orchestra leader. Despite all her success, we feel the enormous pressure that the conducting profession brings with it, which, like a musical crescendo, steadily increases until her inaugural concert in Berlin. Opening film of FIPADOC Biarritz 2025 DOK. Fest Munchen 2024, Official Selection Krakow Film Festival 2024, DocFilmMusic Competition

The Schuppanzigh Quartet is one of the successful ensembles that has engaged with historical performance practice internationally for years. The power derived from the musical writings of past eras gives the ensemble a distinctive and distinctive sound language. The successful blend of newly discovered works and the masterful interpretation of Viennese classics and early Romantics are part of the ensemble's fundamental focus.

A Timeless Form, Reimagined for Today With�Ya Man Itha, Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich brings to life an album she has carried in her heart for decades. It is a deeply personal tribute to the late Egyptian composer Fouad Abdel Majeed, whose music shaped her artistic voice from an early age. In this recording, Rima revisits ten of Abdel Majeed's Muwashahat-classical Arabic vocal compositions often set to poetry and marked by intricate rhythms and modes-and places them in dialogue with the colors and sensibilities of French chanson. At first glance, chanson may seem far removed from the Arabic Muwashah, yet both traditions share a deep commitment to poetic expression, lyrical nuance, and the marriage of words and harmony. This cross-cultural resonance became the spark for the ensemble's refined arrangements, created by Maarten Ornstein, Tony Overwater, and Juan Rodriguez. A Living Conversation Between Heritage and the Present For Rima,�Ya Man Itha�is not just a tribute�-�it is the fulfillment of a promise made thirty years ago. As a young singer of 13, she traveled to Cairo in early 1994 to meet Fouad Abdel Majeed. They spoke of making an album together; he even composed new works for her. But just months later, he passed away, and that dream was never realized. Now, three decades on, Rima returns to his music with rare recordings and cherished memories as her guide. The result is a living, breathing conversation between memory and renewal, past and present. An Ensemble Bound by Trust Joining Rima are musicians with whom she has shared a profound artistic bond for over 25 years: Maarten Ornstein (clarinet), Tony Overwater (double bass), and Joost Lijbaart (drums). Their long collaboration has created a rare musical language rooted in trust, openness, and deep listening. For the first time, they are joined by Juan Rodriguez (piano), whose youthful sensitivity and energy infused the music with new colors. Together, the ensemble recorded the album live, preserving the immediacy of performance and the intimacy of shared breath. The Arrangements�-�three by Tony, five by Maarten, and two by Juan�-�reflect the spirit of this project: respectful of tradition, yet unafraid to step into new terrain. With�Ya Man Itha, Kepera Records is honored to present an album that embodies timeless heritage while speaking directly to the present moment�-�a musical promise finally kept

A journey through passion, vision, and sensuality, this album brings together three luminous works for voice and orchestra. At it's heart is Ernest Chausson's Poeme de l'amour et de la mer, Op. 19-a sweeping, late-Romantic meditation on love and loss, where human emotion dissolves into the vastness of the sea. Benjamin Britten's Les illuminations, Op. 18, follows with electric intensity, setting Rimbaud's vivid, surreal poetry in music that is both incisive and radiant. The program closes with Camille Saint-Saens' rare and intimate Extase, a delicate song of rapture and surrender. Tenor Edgaras Montvidas brings refined lyricism and emotional depth to this richly poetic repertoire, joined by the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (for the Chausson), and conductor Modestas Pitrenas. An exploration of love, language, and longing-where music becomes poetry, and poetry sings. Recorded at Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall June 2021

This recording includes works by two leading Czech composers, both of them women. Vitezslava Kapralova (1915-1940) lived in the first half of the twentieth century, and the career of Sylvie Bodorova (b. 1954) has spanned the final decades of the twentieth century up through the most recent years of the twenty-first. Both composers have excelled in all musical genres, except that Kapralova's shortlife precluded her from exploring the world of opera, her final planned project.

A long-awaited release that features the late guitar master at his most lyrical and inventive was recorded in January 2017 but held back until now. This session led by vibraphonist Tony Miceli is a poignant tribute to Vic Juris’s boundless musicality and deep connection to the jazz tradition. Inspired by the spirit of Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club legacy, the quartet reimagines classic French repertoire with fresh arrangements and modern interplay. The interpretations of “Nuages” and “La Vie En Rose” are especially moving, revealing a depth of emotion that resonates even more powerfully in light of his passing. Miceli, who spearheaded the project, recalls Juris’s uncanny ability to absorb and reproduce any tune—“like an iPod with soul.” This recording, lovingly restored by SteepleChase producer Nils Winther, transforms what was once a shelved session into a sonic gem. It stands as both a celebration of Vic Juris’s artistry and a testament to the enduring power of collaboration. Incidentally Miceli’s witty and heartfelt liner notes reads as an ode to Vic the stellar artist.

A Timeless Form, Reimagined for Today With Ya Man Itha, Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich brings to life an album she has carried in her heart for decades. It is a deeply personal tribute to the late Egyptian composer Fouad Abdel Majeed, whose music shaped her artistic voice from an early age. In this recording, Rima revisits ten of Abdel Majeed's Muwashahat-classical Arabic vocal compositions often set to poetry and marked by intricate rhythms and modes-and places them in dialogue with the colors and sensibilities of French chanson. At first glance, chanson may seem far removed from the Arabic Muwashah, yet both traditions share a deep commitment to poetic expression, lyrical nuance, and the marriage of words and harmony. This cross-cultural resonance became the spark for the ensemble's refined arrangements, created by Maarten Ornstein, Tony Overwater, and Juan Rodriguez.

Robert Alexander Schumann (June 8, 1810, Zwickau - July 29, 1856, Bonn) was one of the most significant composers of the 19th century and a pioneering music critic. His works represent some of the purest expressions of Romanticism in music. The son of a bookseller, Schumann was deeply influenced in his youth by German Romantic literature, particularly the writings of Jean Paul and E.T.A. Hoffmann.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the guitar experienced a true heyday in several European cities. Numerous guitar virtuosos sparked a wave of enthusiasm for the guitar. The guitar, long overlooked and, unlike the lute, without a tradition in art music, entered concert life and became a fashionable instrument. However, the majority of these concerts were not public in the modern sense; rather, they took place in the private salons of the nobility and the wealthy middle class. Those with social ambitions hosted musical soirees. The private spaces for these soirees were not the size of a concert hall, and a piano was not always available. Songs with guitar accompaniment and works for smaller chamber music ensembles with guitar, which were published in large numbers at the beginning of the 19th century, therefore enjoyed great popularity.

This powerful live recording from the Philharmonie Luxembourg brings together the choir of the renowned Gaechinger Cantorey and the Luxembourg Philharmonic under the musical direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann for an emotionally charged interpretation of Johannes Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem. Featuring acclaimed soloists Katharina Konradi (soprano) and Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), this performance offers a deeply human and musically refined experience of one of the most important choral works of the 19th century. Unlike the traditional Latin Requiem, Brahms' German Requiem focuses not on the dead but on the living - on comfort, compassion, and hope. Drawing on texts from the Lutheran Bible, Brahms crafts a spiritual and emotional journey that speaks directly to the human condition, transcending religious boundaries and remaining timeless in it's message. Rademann, a master of choral conducting, shapes the work with clarity, warmth, and expressive nuance. Under his direction, the Gaechinger Cantorey delivers a performance marked by rich tone, articulate phrasing, and emotional intensity. The Luxembourg Philharmonic adds glowing orchestral color and transparency, perfectly complementing the vocal forces. The synergy between choir, orchestra, conductor, and soloists is palpable throughout, offering a fresh yet profoundly respectful interpretation of this beloved masterpiece.

This is recording of Ballades and Scherzos by Fryderyk Chopin. Performed and recorded by outstanding Czech pianist Martin Kasik in Dvorak Hall, Rudolfinum Prague, Czech Republic.

Reaching number one on both the Billboard and Amazon charts, The Wexford Carols stars celebrated Irish singer Caitriona O'Leary alongside Grammy winners Sir Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, and Rhiannon Giddens, backed by an all-star band. Produced by four-time Grammy winner Joe Henry, the album presents Ireland's greatest Christmas music-much of it recorded for the very first time-through a magical blend of traditional Irish, Americana, Blues, and Gospel. With lyrics by Luke Waddinge and William Devereux set to popular 17th- and 18th-century tunes, these musically sublime, spiritually rich, and emotionally powerful carols offer listeners a fresh and compelling way to experience the story of Christmas. Reaching number one on both the Billboard and Amazon charts, The Wexford Carols stars celebrated Irish singer Caitriona O'Leary alongside Grammy winners Sir Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, and Rhiannon Giddens, backed by an all-star band. Produced by four-time Grammy winner Joe Henry, the album presents Ireland's greatest Christmas music-much of it recorded for the very first time-through a magical blend of traditional Irish, Americana, Blues, and Gospel. With lyrics by Luke Waddinge and William Devereux set to popular 17th- and 18th-century tunes, these musically sublime, spiritually rich, and emotionally powerful carols offer listeners a fresh and compelling way to experience the story of Christmas.

At the heart of this project lies "I Loves You, Porgy," a timeless composition from George Gershwin's 1935 folk opera Porgy and Bess. The melody, built on just five simple notes, is unforgettable-a testament to Gershwin's genius. Inspired by it's charm, we decided to center our album around this piece. While "I Loves You, Porgy" has been a staple for countless jazz musicians, our approach was not merely to improvise on it. Instead, we aimed to create "variants"-transformative interpretations that grew from this iconic piece. It's a unique exploration inspired by Geroge Gershwin.

This album seeks to honor composers that have been relegated to marginalized communities and are under-represented within the classical musical cadre. To be able to perform these stellar works is a mere starting point for offering the honor, attention, and exposure that is deserved and has been so long overdue.

During the long, uneasy days of the Covid Pandemic, I listened to radio dramas of the 1940's and 50's. These tales of extortion, infidelity and murder were filled with ominous organ hits, creaking doors, stilted dialog and droll one-liners; a mix of the deadly serious with the absurd. Radio Noir recalls the strange pandemic mood of dusk encroaching and isolation. ___Joseph M. Levin

The final volume of this groundbreaking Thomas Jensen series encapsulates the series as a whole. New remasterings of rare studio recordings from the 1940s complement first-ever releases for live broadcasts from the 1950s and 60s. The repertoire demonstrates Jensen's excellence as a sympathetic concerto partner; an insightful interpreter of Sibelius; and a devoted advocate for the composers of his native Denmark

LI R'vindje di l'�be is a choral and symphonic work inspired by the Walloon poems of Henri Simon (1856-1939), LI Mw�rt di l'�be (1909) and it's sequel LI R'vindje di l'�be (1926). The first poem describes the majesty of an ancient oak tree, king of the landscape and refuge for birds and men, but the tree is felled for it's commercial value, and it's collapse leaves 'a hole in the sky'. The second poem picks up the story where it left off: the woodcutters cut up the wood, which gradually leaves it's homeland. The poem, both serious and caustic, highlights the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of death, whether for trees or humans. Both texts are composed of 75 unrhymed alexandrines, carried by a subtle internal rhythm. Patrick Leterme's musical setting unfolds these two poems over a period of approximately 90 minutes, featuring a mixed choir of 20 singers and an orchestra, it pays tribute to the Walloon region and it's figures (trees, birds, farmers, craftsmen). The composition incorporates wood sounds (branches, saws, logs) and percussion, which take turns as orchestral sections and stage protagonists through performative "Wood Interludes", the project is accompanied by ethnomusicological and linguistic research on popular heritage, aiming to connect the spirit of the poems with contemporary orchestration. This book and CD set is an elegant edition featuring the original poems, their translations, illustrations, and reflective texts by various authors on the genesis of the project, the Walloon language, and the environmental dimension of Henri Simon's work.

I have chosen the title Kairos for my debut album of compositions, as this richly meaningful Greek word conveys a sense of a significant moment or season of time. While the word Chronos refers to quantitative, measurable time, Kairos refers to a deeper, qualitative view of time. This music is the fruit of a season in which I turned over a new page as a composer, digging deeper into the forms and vocabulary of the historic classical music tradition, and delving into some of the most vital themes of human existence - time, birth, life, death, and love. - Kyle Werner

Violinist Alda Dizdari presents two major works by Robin Holloway in this focused and thoughtful recording. The Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, completed in 1990, is shaped around a sequence of 'Windows' inspired by poets Rainer Maria Rilke and John Ashbery. Dizdari and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Alexander Walker, bring clarity to it's layered form and shifting character. The Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 47, written in 1981, is a four-movement work full of contrast-from a bold opening to a playful scherzo and a final movement that asks and answers in equal measure. Dizdari, who has performed the sonata for over a decade, brings a deep understanding to it's structure and expressive detail. This album offers a clear view into Holloway's musical language and the strong collaboration behind it's performance.

Piano works by two great French composers; Contemporary composer Philippe Manoury, and Claude Debussy.