Sibelius's Scaramouche, a ballet-pantomime commissioned in 1912 by his publishers, for a play by Poul Knudsen. His story line reflects the immense early twentieth-century interest in clowns and the commedia dell'arte, and in erotic desire, death, and the macabre, the same phenomena that produced Stravinsky's Petrouchka and Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. Best known as a composer of piano music, Sibelius' younger contemporary Selim Palmgren also wrote music for the theatre, and his score for the fairy-tale play Tuhkimo ja kuninkaantytar (Tuhkimo and the Princess), dates from 1902-03. Larin- Kyosti's play recounts the adventures of a passionate youth, Tuhkimo, and combines features of the familiar Cinderella story with elements drawn from a wide range of folk tales and fables. Einar Englund studied composition with Palmgren (and later Aaron Copland). His soundtrack for Erik Blomberg's 1952 film Valkoinen peura (The White Reindeer) was particularly acclaimed and won best prize for original music in the Jussi Awards (the Finnish Oscars) in the year of it's release. Kalervo Tuukkanen taught for three years at Viipuri University before serving as Kapellmeister in Pori, on Finland's Baltic coast, in 1942- 44. He was one of the founding members of Suomen Saveltayat (the Finnish Composer's Association) and his composition Karhunpyynti (Bear Hunting) was awarded a silver medal in the 1948 Cultural Olympics in London (where Finland impressively topped the medal table). Joulusarja (Christmas Suite) is taken from his 1953 score for a production of the play Die Erzahlung des letzten Hirten (The Tale of the Last Shepherd) and it's five movements covers the key moments in the Christmas story.
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Scenes from Finland
$21.99
SACD
Chandos
Aug 07, 2026
CHSA 5391
Johannes Brahms: Symphonies 1-4
Accentus Music
Available as
CD
$39.99
Aug 21, 2026
Gianandrea Noseda is clearly one of those conductors who 'are equally at home in both genres', as the 'Neue Zurcher Zeitung' put it in 2021 on the occasion of his debut as General Music Director at Zurich Opera House. 'In hindsight, one cannot even judge whether he is the better opera or symphony conductor.' In his concert performances in Zurich, Noseda focused on the works of Johannes Brahms. Following a highly acclaimed performance of the 'German Requiem', he also conducted the Zurich Opera Orchestra in performances of Brahms's symphonies. The four symphonies by Johannes Brahms were completed between 1876 and 1885 and are regarded as milestones in the Romantic orchestral repertoire. Under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, they were recorded live at the Zurich Opera House during various concerts and can now be heard together on this album.
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Johannes Brahms: Symphonies 1-4
$39.99
CD
Accentus Music
Aug 21, 2026
PHR0116
Richard Strauss: Tone Poems and Interludes
Accentus Music
Available as
CD
$39.99
Aug 21, 2026
Don Quixote' and 'Ein Heldenleben' are two large-scale tone-poems that Richard Strauss composed in Munich and Berlin during the final years of the 19th century. Whilst the first work was inspired by Cervantes' tragicomic novel hero, in the second work he effectively stylised himself as a successful (artistic) hero. Similar characters make an appearance in the two other works on this album: Shakespeare's tragic hero 'MacBeth' in an early overture, and another domestic Strauss hero (named 'Stork') in the opera 'Intermezzo', from which four symphonic interludes are featured here. As General Music Director of the Zurich Opera Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda has conducted these compositions by Strauss, some of which feature a huge orchestra. They are now released together on this album.
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Richard Strauss: Tone Poems and Interludes
$39.99
CD
Accentus Music
Aug 21, 2026
PHR0115
BARBER: VANESSA
NATIONAL SYMPHONY
Available as
SACD
$22.49
$18.70
May 29, 2026
Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra present a gripping new recording of Samuel Barber's Vanessa, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American opera of love, longing, and illusion. In Barber's atmospheric, emotionally charged score, echoes of Verdi, Puccini, and Hitchcock-era Hollywood intertwine with a distinctly modern American voice. This performance brings together an exceptional cast, including Nicole Heaston, J'Nai Bridges, Matthew Polenzani, Susan Graham, and Thomas Hampson, who illuminate Gian Carlo Menotti's haunting tale of desire across generations. Recorded live in concert, this release captures Vanessa's sweeping romanticism and psychological depth with vivid orchestral color and extraordinary vocal artistry. A landmark addition to the contemporary operatic discography, it reveals why Vanessa remains one of the 20th century's most compelling operas.
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BARBER: VANESSA
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$18.70
SACD
NATIONAL SYMPHONY
May 29, 2026
NSO23SACD
Wagner: Die Walküre / Konieczny, Vermillion, Janowski, RSO Berlin
PENTATONE
Available as
SACD
$59.99
$48.99
Jul 30, 2013
This was the eighth release in Pentatone’s successful Wagner Edition and the second in the exciting Wagner Year of 2013. Previous releases in the edition have garnered rave reviews from major quarters: “…unquestionably the finest modern version on disc” (BBC Music Magazine). PentaTone’s Wagner Edition is an unprecedented project, uniting the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and acclaimed music director Marek Janowski with the greatest Wagner singers in the international opera scene today.
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Wagner: Die Walküre / Konieczny, Vermillion, Janowski, RSO Berlin
$59.99
$48.99
SACD
PENTATONE
Jul 30, 2013
PTC5186407
Beethoven: String Quartets, Vol. 3
Chandos
Available as
CD
$21.99
Sep 04, 2026
The Doric String Quartet continues it's cycle of Beethoven quartets with this third volume, featuring a mixture of works from the composer's early, middle, and late periods. Notable for the piano start of each of it's four movements, Op. 18 No. 3 also displays a more even distribution of thematic material among the four instruments than is normal for that time. Op. 59 No. 3 is the last of Beethoven's second set of quartets, dedicated to Count Razumovsky, the Russian ambassador to the Viennese court, and also a fine violinist. Op. 74 is famous for the pizzicato, arpeggio passages in the first movement, giving rise to it's nickname - the 'Harp' Quartet. The final two quartets in this CD set, Op. 132 and Op. 135, date from Beethoven's late period. The late quartets are widely acknowledged as some of the most extraordinary music Beethoven wrote. Misunderstood and confusing to their first audiences, they have gone on to inspire countless composers and musicians, and are considered some of the greatest music ever written. As with the previous issues in the series, this double album is sold at two CDs for the price of one.
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Beethoven: String Quartets, Vol. 3
$21.99
CD
Chandos
Sep 04, 2026
CHAN 20320(2)
MAHLER: SYMPHONY NO.3 (LIVE)
HARMONIA MUNDI
Available as
CD
$22.49
May 29, 2026
Embracing the whole world, Mahler's Symphony No. 3 is a vast fresco in which nature, man and the spiritual interact on a cosmic scale. Directing the combined forces of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus and Tiffin Boys' Choir, and with the movingly expressive voice of Hanna Hipp, Vasily Petrenko reveals all the richness of this visionary peak of Post-Romanticism.
Elements explores the distinctive sound world of saxophone and harp in a program that moves between Baroque masterworks and newly commissioned music inspired by the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Performed by saxophonist Huw Wiggin and harpist Oliver Wass, the album places Bach, Purcell, Vivaldi and Couperin alongside contemporary works written specially for the duo. Each commission reflects a different elemental idea, from the luminous textures of Charlotte Harding's Euphotic to the volatile energy of Laura Bowler's Caesium and the wind-driven virtuosity of David Wallace's blowing A gale. Interwoven throughout are inventive arrangements of Baroque works, drawing subtle connections across centuries. The pairing of saxophone and harp creates a sound palette that is intimate and richly coloured, capable of lyric stillness and brilliant display. Praised for his "liquid gold tones" by The Times, Wiggin joins forces with leading harpist Oliver Wass in a programme that moves between reflection, drama and radiant beauty.
From the tenderness of Faure's songs to the famous Sonata by Franck, via Honnore, Busser and Enescu, the viola here champions the French School in it's widest sense: full of lyricism, sophistication and intensity, here is a program to match the abilities of Timothy Ridout and his partner at the piano, Jonathan Ware.
A timeless masterpiece revisited by a master of Baroque music The release of Bach's St. John Passion, conducted by Jordi Savall, marks an exceptional musical event. This monumental work, composed in 1724, remains one of the pinnacles of sacred music, combining spiritual depth and musical virtuosity. Under the inspired baton of Jordi Savall, renowned for his subtle and respectful interpretation of Baroque scores, this Passion takes on a new dimension, combining historical rigor with pure emotion. Jordi Savall, a leading figure in early music, brings a rare sensitivity to this interpretation, highlighting the richness of the choruses, the power of the narratives, and the beauty of the arias. His approach, both scholarly and accessible, allows listeners to appreciate the complexity and modernity of this score, which continues to touch hearts after three centuries. This recording is aimed at both seasoned music lovers and newcomers alike, offering an immersive and moving experience. It is a unique opportunity to rediscover a gem of the repertoire, performed by one of the greatest interpreters of our time.
The Isabella Scelsi Foundation promotes the production of contemporary music in a wide-ranging and structured manner, with particular attention to the work of it's founder, Giacinto Scelsi. In this vein, the Scelsi Collection series has been created, in close collaboration with the Stradivarius label, which features the Maestro's works performed by great musicians and renowned vocal and instrumental ensembles. The CD we present here is the most extraordinary that one can imagine, in the true sense of the word: in fact, it documents and bears witness to Giacinto Scelsi's unique creative process. The project, conceived under the presidency of Prof. Irmela Heimbächer and edited by composer and musicologist Friedrich Jaecker, presents the heart of Scelsi's universe, with two recordings of the composer's improvisations, which generated the pieces that would take shape in the subsequent process of 'materialization', alongside the relative 'musical products', with performances of the highest caliber. Giacinto Scelsi's 'mystery' is thus, for once, unveiled, along it's innermost path! The CD is a unique accomplishment, created as an example, in order to allow everyone - musicians, scholars, and enthusiasts - to have an insight into the extraordinary epiphany that was renewed in Scelsi with each of his pieces and gave rise to works considered among the greatest masterpieces of late 20th-century music. Gianni Trovalusci President, Isabella Scelsi Foundation
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Collection Vol. 10 - Giacinto Scelsi
$16.99
CD
Stradivarius
Aug 28, 2026
STR37301
Tyrannide
Stradivarius
Available as
CD
$16.99
Aug 28, 2026
TYRANNIDE was conceived from the desire to explore the theme of cante jondo as a universal expressive archetype, not confined to the Spanish tradition but deeply rooted in human nature. It's primordial character - often expressed through the insistence of the semitone and microtonal inflections - becomes a symbol of the human condition, forced to confront suffering, death, and their inexorable musical reflection. A tyranny, indeed: that of a lament that does not belong to a single people or era, but which runs through the history of music, re-emerging in the form of appoggiaturas, suspended tensions, and melodic lines filled with longing. Cante jondo, originally connected with Andalusian flamenco, thus becomes, in the programme of this recording, a universal musical principle, capable of manifesting itself even in languages far removed from the Spanish tradition. The programme includes two works never previously recorded: Cantar de mio Cid by the French composer Jean-Dominique Krynen and the Concerto Trois Graphiques by Maurice Ohana in it's original arrangement for guitar and piano. Around these two central works unfolds a musical journey that places cante jondo in dialogue with different historical and stylistic contexts, revealing it's surprising expressive continuity.
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Tyrannide
$16.99
CD
Stradivarius
Aug 28, 2026
STR37336
Pergolesi: L'Olimpiade
Arcana
Available as
CD
$29.99
Aug 14, 2026
More than 60 composers have set Metastasio's libretto to music, including Caldara, Vivaldi, Hasse, Leo, Scarlatti, Piccinni, Paisiello, Cherubini and, of course, Pergolesi, who presented his Olimpiade at the Teatro Tordinona in Rome for the Carnival season of 1735. It was to be his last opera seria, as the composer died the very next year, just after he turned twenty-six. His version is considered by many to be the most inspired of all, characterised by a musical originality as ingenious as it is refined, brimming with joyful freshness. Following the rediscovery of the previously unpublished Mass in D major, Giulio Prandi and his Orchestra Ghislieri return to Pergolesi with a recording of his operatic masterpiece made in the 18th-century theatre of Jesi, his hometown: an initiative of the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation, which has been promoting the composer's legacy for many years.
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Pergolesi: L'Olimpiade
$29.99
CD
Arcana
Aug 14, 2026
A598
Vierne: Piano Works, Vol. 1
MDG
Available as
SACD
$24.99
Aug 28, 2026
Vision Pianist Michael Schöch presents a distinguished tribute to Louis Vierne's legacy, inviting listeners into a world of elegance, introspection, and timeless beauty. With captivating musicality, Schöch unveils hidden dimensions of Vierne, long overshadowed by his celebrated organ music. These pieces emerge here as intimate, richly coloured miniatures of late Romantic expression, presenting a composer of striking imagination and rare artistic depth. Origins The programme's early works already display Vierne's remarkable sensitivity to pianistic colour and atmosphere. Suite bourguignonne paints a poetic rural day in vivid tableaux, from luminous morning serenity to the shimmering stillness of "Clair de lune." These pieces reveal a composer who transforms simplicity into evocative musical storytelling. Resonance Echoes of Claude Debussy emerge in Trois Nocturnes, where impressionistic textures and harmonic nuance shape nocturnal visions of rare beauty. Inspired by the vast interior of Saint-Ouen Abbey, the first nocturne evokes monumental grandeur, while the third captures a starlit stillness enlivened by birdsong. Vierne's voice remains distinct-introspective, atmospheric, and deeply expressive. Artistry Michael Schöch interprets this repertoire with radiant clarity and stylistic authority, uniting virtuosity with poetic restraint. Alongside the major cycles, he brings equal care to the smaller, often posthumous works, revealing their understated charm. The historic Steinway Concert Grand Piano D (1901) "Manfred Bürki" lends an authentic tonal palette, perfectly attuned to Vierne's world.
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Vierne: Piano Works, Vol. 1
$24.99
SACD
MDG
Aug 28, 2026
9042392-6
De Profundis - Choral works by Parry and Elgar
Signum Classics
Available as
CD
$19.99
Jul 31, 2026
This album brings together major choral works by Hubert Parry and Edward Elgar, reflecting the richness of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century British music. At it's centre is Parry's de Profundis, a large-scale setting of Psalm 130, widely admired by contemporaries for it's emotional depth, contrapuntal mastery, and expressive journey from penitence to hope. Parry's anthem God Is Our Hope and Strength complements it with a grand, confident vision of choral architecture and spiritual assurance. Elgar is represented by the intimate partsong The Snow and the charming Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands, inspired by Alpine landscapes and folk traditions, capturing a more personal and lyrical side of his art.
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De Profundis - Choral works by Parry and Elgar
$19.99
CD
Signum Classics
Jul 31, 2026
SIGCD1005
Ex Anima
DUX
Available as
CD
$19.99
Aug 28, 2026
A compelling survey of contemporary Polish choral writing. These sacred works range from inward, contemplative meditations to radiant, exultant hymns, their contemporary musical language finely balanced with the lucid, finely blended sonority of a chamber choir. With ten widely admired recordings to it's name and numerous festival distinctions, the Kielce-based choir Fermata has earned a reputation for interpretative insight, tonal refinement, and exemplary musicianship. For the listener, this is music experienced ex anima-from the soul-inviting a deeply felt and spiritually resonant encounter.
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Ex Anima
$19.99
CD
DUX
Aug 28, 2026
DUX2236
Haydn 2032, Vol. 16 - The Surprise (LP)
Alpha
Available as
Vinyl
$39.99
Aug 28, 2026
Joseph Haydn not only liked surprising his audiences, he also enjoyed a laugh, writes Christian Moritz-Bauer in the introduction to this sixteenth volume of the Haydn2032 complete recording of the symphonies. Take, for instance, the false conclusion of Symphony No. 90, composed in 1788: the music seems to have reached the last chord but, after a pause, the movement resumes to end with a powerful coda. Another example of Haydn's mischievous wit is the famous Andante "with the drumstroke" that forms the "surprise" of Symphony No. 94, a fortissimo chord designed to wake up audiences who dozed off towards the end of his concerts. In this volume focused on humour, Giovanni Antonini pays tribute to a great admirer of Haydn, Gioachino Rossini, by recording the sparkling opening Sinfonia of La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder), a one-act opera written in 1812.
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Haydn 2032, Vol. 16 - The Surprise (LP)
$39.99
Vinyl
Alpha
Aug 28, 2026
ALPHA699
Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies
Ondine
Available as
CD
$34.99
Aug 28, 2026
Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste has been conducting the symphonies of Sibelius all over the world throughout his conducting career. Thirty-five years after his first recording of the complete cycle, Saraste returns to the symphonies of Sibelius with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra-the orchestra with which Sibelius conducted the premieres of his symphonies back in the day.
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Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies
$34.99
CD
Ondine
Aug 28, 2026
ODE 1525-2T
BEST OF
CURB RECORDS
Available as
CD
$16.49
Jul 27, 1993
BEST OF
BEST OF
$16.49
CD
CURB RECORDS
Jul 27, 1993
CRB77631.2
VERY BEST
BLUE NOTE RECORDS
Available as
CD
$14.49
May 24, 2005
Features classics such as "Un Poco Loco," "Bouncing with Bud," and "Dance of the Infidels."