This boxset includes the Beethoven recordings made with the Philharmonia Orchestra between 1951 and 1958: the complete symphonies (with the Nos. 8 and 9 in stereo) - Karajan's most highly regarded cycle - as well as three overtures, some arias with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, the Piano Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 with Swiss pianist Walter Gieseking, and finally the Missa solemnis. "Karajan's 1953 recording of the Seventh Symphony truly is one of the finest performances of the Symphony ever put on disc... his 1954 Pastoral is indeed miraculous." Gramophone
A profoundly personal and curated new recording of duets by violinist Daniel Lozakovich, joined by pianist Helene Mercier, inspired by his own reflections on childhood and the redemptive power of music. The album combines cornerstones of the Romantic repertoire (Vocalise, Apres un reve, Nocturne, La fille aux cheveux de lin) with rare incursions into chanson (La chanson d'Helene, Autumn Leaves, Youkali).
This album, which features both of Schumann's concertos with an exceptional cast of performers, has been among the best sellers in the Teldec catalog since it's release over thirty years ago. It will be released on vinyl for the very first time, shortly before Argerich's 85th birthday (on June 5th). "In her live recording Martha Argerich gives a vividly compelling, characteristically volatile reading of the Schumann Concerto, at once poetic and full of fancy, not to say powerful and often wildly individual. The performance, recorded live in July 1992, culminates in an account of the finale so daring one wants to cheer at the end" Gramophone
Nocturnal Blues, an ode to the night, is music for those who listen best when the world is silent. A collection of 15 contemplative, impressionistic nocturnes - music for moments of reflection, memory, and tenderness - illuminated by the soft luminosity of the night. 'For centuries, artists have turned to the night as their muse. My greatest hero Vincent van Gogh once wrote: "It often seems to me that the night is much more alive and richly colored than the day - as if the night were not black but blue, violet and green." That idea - that the night contains a deeper palette, a richer language - lies at the heart of this album.' Matteo Myderwyk
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."
Sir John Barbirolli's electrifying interpretations of the works of Jean Sibelius have inspired audiences all over the world. In a letter to Barbirolli, Sibelius declared himself to be a 'devoted admirer' of the conductor, adding that he was always happy to know that his compositions were in Barbirolli's 'masterful hands'. This collection features, among other works, the complete symphonies - including Barbirolli's specialty, No. 2 -, the incidental music of Pelleas et Melisande and that great instrumental song of nationalism Finlandia.
In 1974, at just 18, Andrei Gavrilov stunned the world by winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Weeks later, he replaced Sviatoslav Richter at the Salzburg Festival, where his dazzling program won rapturous acclaim and revealed a pianist of "virtually unlimited technique" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). From this electrifying debut, Gavrilov was celebrated for fearless, spontaneous yet refined artistry. His brilliance set him apart, though his career was later shadowed by years of political confinement in the Soviet Union. This collection gathers all his Warner Classics recordings, a vivid portrait of a pianist whose artistry remains bold and captivating.
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.
She clearly was born to play the cello, wrote the New York Timesof Jacqueline Du Pre in 1967. Just five years later her career was cut tragically short by illness. This LP provides a treasurable memento of the "perfect balance of youth and maturity" that Du Pre's teacher, William Pleeth, found in her playing: "She approached each new experience with spontaneous pleasure and enthusiasm." Offering a vivid experience of her art in the concerto, not least her legendary Elgar, the album comprises recordings remastered in 24-BIT / 96 kHz at London's famous Abbey Road Studios.
These late works by Brahms are like a testament. But what is this secretive man revealing to us here? Or rather, what is he still trying to hide? Hiding it until the very end, arousing in us an irresistible desire to guess what it is? Perhaps that is where the beauty of these scores lies. - Piotr Anderzewski. A short album, a selection of jewels from Brahms' Late Piano works (Op. 116 to 119, with Op. 119 No.4 being the last piano piece Brahms ever wrote) presented in a carefully chosen order. Op. 116 to 118 represent the composer's late piano works, written during the final decade of his life. Here we find a more mature, intimate and subtle Brahms, far removed from the roaring Romanticism of his earlier works.
Limited triple vinyl LP pressing. Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, with it's story of magical transformations, love and deceit and it's irresistibly melodic score, defines Romantic ballet. It is no coincidence that conductor Andre Previn has described himself as "a complete romantic" and that this recording has become a classic of the catalogue. When it was made in 1976, Previn had spent the best part of a decade as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. With their combination of show business flair and deep sensitivity, he and the LSO's players proved to be the ideal team for Tchaikovsky's glorious ballet music.
Vinyl LP pressing. When it comes to evoking the colors and moods of Vivaldi's Spring', 'Summer', 'Autumn' and 'Winter', Itzhak Perlman deploys an inimitably rich and varied palette. He directs the London Philharmonic Orchestra from the violin.
Abel Selaocoe, the innovative South African cellist, composer and vocalist, announces the release of his second album, Hymns of Bantu on Warner Classics on 21st February 2025. Abel follows the acclaimed release of his 2022 debut Where Is Home (Hae ke Kae) with a remarkable new body of work celebrating his South African heritage, and tracing his ancestral path that leads into his vast influences including Western classical repertoire.
Under the light of a full moon, something most curious occurs. Benjamin Button is born old. Bound to the fate of growing younger each day, Benjamin wants nothing more than to live a little life. But will he ever find a place to belong? With a breathtaking soundtrack brought to life by an extraordinary actor-musician ensemble, F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic short story is relocated to a fishing village on the north coast of Cornwall by writing team Jethro Compton and Darren Clark. Winning three 2025 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Outstanding Musical Contribution (Darren Clark and Mark Aspinall), and Best Actor in a Musical (John Dagleish), the 14-strong cast of actor-musicians playing 30 instruments perform "MIRACLES OF DEXTERITY ON STAGE" (The Times) - bringing to life a heart-burstingly, magical tale of a love that defies all odds. From Darren Clark: "These songs have then been brought to life by an awe-inspiring company of actor musicians who put their heart and soul into every lyric and note of this score."
Lionel Bart's musical masterpiece, freely adapted from Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver! Tells the story of the orphaned Oliver Twist, who escapes the harsh Victorian workhouse and takes refuge in London's murky underworld with the wily gang leader Fagin and his team of resourceful pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger. He finds a friend in the kind- hearted Nancy and when he's wrongly arrested for stealing, Oliver meets an unexpected saviour; but is happiness truly within his grasp? With a sensational score, including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me, and many more, the Olivier, Tony and Oscar-winning masterpiece vividly brings to life Dickens' ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more.
The term 'living legend' is genuinely apt to Martha Argerich, whose dazzling amalgam of virtuosity, insight, eclecticism, generosity and mystery makes her a pianist of unrivalled fascination. Argentinian-born, Viennese-trained, and winner of the 1965 Chopin Competition, she became a sometimes elusive figure whose every appearance and recording aroused eager anticipation.
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the movie Maria, directed by Pablo Larrain, written by Steven Knight, which delves into the tumultuous final days of the iconic opera singer in 1970s Paris, interpreted by Angelina Jolie. The producer of the soundtrack is John Warhurst, the sound engineer of Freddy Mercury's biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. John Warhurst's extraordinary work involved immersing Callas's voice in a contemporary sound environment: It contains the most beautiful and iconic arias by Maria Callas and for the first time since her death, Callas's voice resonates in a completely new setting.
The German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter is celebrated for her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to her craft. A child prodigy, she rose to international acclaim under the mentorship of Herbert von Karajan. Throughout her illustrious career, Mutter has collaborated with renowned orchestras and conductors, showcasing her versatility and technical brilliance. This LP features two of the most celebrated concertos for two instruments: Bach's Concerto for Two Violins and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, recorded in the 1982 and 1991. Anne-Sophie Mutter magnifies them with her powerful and distinguished playing, still imbued with a youthful energy in Bach (she was only 19 at that time). Her interpretations are marked by a perfect balance of sensitivity and power, making her a true icon in the world of classical music.
The charismatic, cosmopolitan cellist Giovanni Sollima joins the instrumentalists of Il Pomo d'Oro for Al-Bunduqiyya - The Lost Concerto. The album, which crosses cultures and eras, sets Vivaldi, born in Venice in 1678, in the context of his native city's historical relationship with the eastern Mediterranean and Asia. Al-Bunduqiyya is the Arabic name for Venice and 'The Lost Concerto' (Il Concerto Perduto) is a work composed in 2021 by Sollima. His starting point was all that remains of one of Vivaldi's concertos for cello: the orchestral viola part, now preserved at the Venice Conservatory. Among the other items are complete concertos by Vivaldi, solo improvisations by Sollima, a piece by Vivaldi's contemporary Tartini, and music of the Cypriot and Albanian traditions. When the programme of Al-Bunduqiyya was performed at London's Wigmore Hall, Seen and Heard International wrote: "Sollima conjured a feast of tone colours, plunging into pizzicatos, climbing to the heights of the fingerboard with Romantic bravura, conjuring ornamental flourishes with improvisatory flair, finding intense sentiment before whipping up a wild dance and concluding with some glissandi yelps! This was as much theatre as music."
