Beatrice Rana, characterised by Gramophone as a pianist of "fire and poetry, imagination and originality, temperament and charm, all on top of fearless technical address", brings together two monumental sonatas: Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier' op 106 and Chopin's 'Funeral March' op 35. The Chopin has been in Rana's recital repertoire for more than a decade, but it was during the confinement of the pandemic that she first undertook intense study of Beethoven. "I really found a deep connection with this music, especially because of the isolation, being locked away from the rest of the world. Despite the fact that it reflected so much of what was going on at that time, it's a very positive piece. It really helped me through the pandemic. It is a very human sonata, but the Chopin sonata is human in a very different way. The trio in the middle of the funeral march [the famous third movement] is kind of ubermenschlich - how a philosopher might describe surpassing oneself in a transcendental way." Rana also believes that both works show their composers in technically adventurous form: "The last movements of the two sonatas are both experiments at the highest level and in completely different ways... In the Beethoven every line is going everywhere... and in the Chopin the two hands are parallel for the entire movement." She concludes that both works "transcend the human condition in very different ways - but not altogether different... They both have so much to do with the fear of death, with the fear of loneliness. Each finds a solution in different ways."
If I've accomplished anything, said Ravi Shankar, "it's that I have been able to open the door to our music in the West." Born in Varanasi in 1920, he achieved worldwide renown as a sitar player and unprecedented influence as an ambassador for Indian classical music, revealing new possibilities to such figures as George Harrison of the Beatles, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and composer Philip Glass. As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, Ravi Shankar is renowned throughout the world for his pioneering work in bringing Indian music to the West. Shankar has been a cultural influence in the West for more than four decades as India's most recognized and esteemed musical ambassador. "If East has to meet West, then few musicians have achieved it with such open joy as Ravi Shankar." The Guardian This album features Ravi Shankar's first Concerto for sitar, commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra in 1970; it was the first album Andre Previn recorded for EMI Classics (now Warner Classics), in 1971. The work was premiered at London's Royal Festival Hall on 28 January 1971 and sets a sitar recital of four ragas (including one by Ravi Shankar's guru Allauddin Khan, adapted for the concerto) across four movements and within the grand sweep of a full western orchestra. "The first Concerto was really a snapshot of a moment in history. It was the first time we were seeing raga music across an orchestral arrangement, creating a composite soundscape." Anoushka Shankar (Ravi's daughter) "Shankar's concerto is a compelling, almost textbook-ideal adaptation of one musical tradition into another. It's melodies and rhythms come from raga, and the techniques of development also rely on Indian tradition, including sections for improvisation by the soloist. But Shankar uses the Western orchestra with imagination. Sometimes he looks for equivalents: Bongos serve as tabla; two harps play scales, echoing the sitar; the strings fill in the tambura's drone. Sometimes he creates new effects, as in a stunning lyrical horn solo or the wonderful wind and percussion writing." Los Angeles Times
Vinyl LP pressing. Originally released in 2001 to popular success, 'Classical Chillout' was as well-known for it's iconic cover artwork as it was for it's innovative selection of music. A skilful blend of traditional classical pieces - many known from film and television - programmed alongside genre-defying 'modern classics' - from movie themes, club classics to modern minimalism (more recently defined as 'neoclassical'). Fast-forward 18 years and Classical Chillout has been given a 2019 makeover - many of the great tracks you know and love from the original album alongside fresh new sounds in keeping with the original album concept. Available for the first time on vinyl, 'Classical Chillout' is back!
In response to the vinyl craze and to extend very nice successes of vinyls composers best of on Warner Classics (Beethoven, Part, Debussy, Piazzolla and more recently Chopin, Mozart and Bach) the new one focuses on the emblematic composer of German Romantic music: Franz Schubert. A LP using the same refreshed style artwork as the previous Mozart & Bach and which includes highlights from greatest masterpieces performed by first-class musicians: Elisabeth Leonskaja, Barbara Bonney, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Alexandre Tharaud, Alban Berg Quartett, Gautier Capucon, Renaud Capucon, Ian Bostridge, Antonio Pappano
Vinyl LP pressing. South African cellist Abel Selaocoe makes his debut on Warner Classics with Where is Home (Hae Ke Kae). It's dual title, in English and Sesotho, reflects the album's diverse program which draws from vibrant European and African influences: pieces inspired by South African and Tanzanian musical tradition share a space with works by J.S. Bach and Giovanni Benedetto Platti, some of which are renewed with instrumental and lyrical improvisations. The title of the album holds multifaceted significance for the Manchester-based musician: "Home is the place that empowers you; it's not only a geographical place but in people as well, where you can live a life of empowerment and not of oppression. I've learned to find my different homes through the cello." Abel Selaocoe represents Africa on the move.
Regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century, Prokofiev was both an innovator who delighted in controversy and a traditionalist seeking out purer melodies and classical forms. His masterpieces across numerous music genres include such widely heard pieces as the exhilarating Romeo and Juliet (ballet), the irresistible Peter and the Wolf (children's tale), the epic Alexander Nevsky (Eisenstein's eponymous film score), and his thrilling third Piano Concerto (now a staple piece of repertoire performed on stages around the world), among so many others. A rich anthology of landmark interpretations, showcasing Prokofiev as a pianist, this edition vividly illustrates the goal he set himself as a composer: to "extol human life and lead mankind to a radiant future".
From Etienne Gara: "This album is a beautiful patchwork of short pieces that cannot be more different one from the other and span from the Baroque era to tomorrow. Think of it as an Advent calendar for listeners, where each piece opens a new window into a musical universe all on it's own. On this album, you'll find Classical music canons, film-music from Pulp Fiction and Psycho, miniatures by Philip Glass, and small curiosities written just for us that help bridge the gap between Classical music and today's diverse audiences. Delirium Musicum and Cabinet of Curiosities both carry that mischievous DNA that transcends borders and brings the excitement that unapologetic passion and commitment trigger. In other words, you have here a delirious concert where everyone will find something they know, something they love, and something that will trigger their curiosity."
Andre Previn's landmark 1974 recording of Carmina burana with the London Symphony Orchestra remains one of the most electrifying accounts of Orff's exuberant cantata. From the momentous opening "O Fortuna" to the rapturous closing chorus, Previn brings out the rhythmic vitality, sensuality, and theatrical flair of this hedonistic celebration of life and love. Captured in the acoustically rich Kingsway Hall and produced by Christopher Bishop, this recording delivers an immediacy and spontaneity that have stood the test of time. As Previn's classical career blossomed in the UK, this performance confirmed his rare ability to bridge serious musicianship with mass appeal - a vibrant, unforgettable classic that continues to resonate across generations.
A soothing collection of piano pieces, blending timeless classics from the traditional repertoire with captivating works by today's leading neo-classical artists. Immerse yourself in a serene soundscape where elegance meets modern simplicity, offering moments of calm and introspection.
Otto Klemperer's energy and momentum come not from his tempos but from the way the rhythms are articulated. In the first movement and Scherzo the heroic, teeth-gritted determination are physically gripping, In this Ninth combined urgency with masterly control and spellbinding authority, and a dignity all his own. BBC Music Magazine about the Live recording This SACD release puts into perspective both the studio and live versions of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, recorded in 1957 by Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra. These recordings benefit for the first time of the HD remastering from original tapes made for the Klemperer Remastered Edition and the high performances of the SACD format.
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.
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.
Fatma Said's third album, Lieder, is a very personal tribute to the art of German Song. Singing lieder has a central place in Fatma's musical life, it is a world of unique expression for her, listen to e.g. der Zwerg and it becomes crystal clear. Lieder is also a great collaborative project. Fatma recorded with the outstanding clarinettist Sabine Meyer, Anneleen Lenaerts on the harp, with our recently signed and critically acclaimed baritone Huw Montague Rendall, and many, many more
Fatma Said's third album, Lieder, is a very personal tribute to the art of German Song. Singing lieder has a central place in Fatma's musical life, it is a world of unique expression for her, listen to e.g. der Zwerg and it becomes crystal clear. Lieder is also a great collaborative project. Fatma recorded with the outstanding clarinettist Sabine Meyer, Anneleen Lenaerts on the harp, with our recently signed and critically acclaimed baritone Huw Montague Rendall, and many, many more
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.
RECORDINGS FROM 1996-2021. A flautist with contagious enthusiasm, tirelessly exploring the repertoire of his instrument, Emmanuel Pahud offers here a formidable anthology of the flute concerto - a musical genre celebrating it's three centuries of existence today. And the story is not over, his exceptional talent continually inspiring composers around the world.
A leading figure of the Italian Baroque, Alessandro Scarlatti was renowned for his expressive melodies and rich counterpoint. A pivotal architect of the Neapolitan opera school, he helped codify harmonic and structural innovations that laid the groundwork for the Classical style. His influence resonated through the works of composers such as Handel and Haydn, and deeply shaped the artistry of his son Domenico. Alessandro Scarlatti's legacy bridges the ornate Baroque and the emerging elegance of the Classical era. This collection showcases the depth of his sacred and secular music, performed by first-class musicians.
Two of Mozart's best-known wind concertos under the baton of Claudio Abbado are released together for the first time on vinyl. Emmanuel Pahud's recording of Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto in C major, with harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet and conductor Claudio Abbado, is a highly acclaimed performance. Recorded in 1996, this rendition showcases Pahud's elegant and expressive flute playing, characterized by a remarkably warm and full tone. Sabine Meyer's recording of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, also with the Berlin Philharmonic and Abbado, is a significant interpretation of this masterpiece. Recorded in 1998, Meyer performs the concerto on the basset clarinet, the instrument for which Mozart originally conceived the work, allowing for a deeper and richer tonal palette in the lower register. Meyer's rendition of the sublime Adagio is often highlighted for it's exquisite delicacy and deeply felt lyricism.
World premiere recording. Mozart's magnificent setting of the Requiem Mass needs no introduction. One of his last works and a landmark of choral music, it is paired on this album with a new and complementary work by the pianist and composer Fazil Say: Mozart ve Mevlana, an homage to Mozart's Requiem, based on the texts of 13th-century mystic Mevlana Rumi. Introducing Mozart ve Mevlana, Fazil Say says: "Mevlana is a great philosopher from the Eastern world - the Orient. I'm from Turkey. I thought: 'Why not unite East and West in love and friendship through texts from the great philosopher Mevlana and quotations from the music of a composer of genius like Mozart in a fluid musical space?... I play all Mozart's works for piano and I have recorded them all. So Mozart plays a very special role in my life... Mozart's music is the music of humanity. Likewise, Mevlana's words unite people regardless of their religion or belief."
