Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Originally released in 2007, Artur Pizarro and Vita Panomariovaite’s ‘Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Duos’ has been re-issued as part of Linn’s ECHO series. These two talented pianists bring to bear their skill and virtuosity in three colorful arrangements encompassing Rimsky-Korsakov’s most popular music for orchestra, Scheherazade, Sadko and Capriccio Espagnol. Mr. Pizarro’s prize-winning performance at the Leeds Piano Competition marked the beginning of his international concert career. “…wonderful… very effective, evocative and exhilarating performances.” (Int’l Record Review)

Classical Music

Classical Music

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Rory Macdonald conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the premiere recording of three orchestral works by 'the father of Scottish music,' composer Thomas Wilson. Wilsonw as an important figure in Scotland's musical renaissance, whose exceptional output established him as a composer of particular significance. Wilson completed five symphonies of which two are recorded here: Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 4 'Passeleth Tapestry,' both of which were premiered by the RSNO. The Third Symphony, a RSNO commission, was described in The Guardian as "one of the most impressive works written by a Scottish composer in recent years." The Fourth Symphony, written to mark Paisley's 500th anniversary, features masterly orchestration throughout and Wilson's treatment of the strings is especially fresh and inventive. Carillon was commissioned by Glasgow city council in 1990 as part of it's European City of Culture celebrations, as the inaugural work to celebrate the opening of the city's new Royal Concert Hall, where the RSNO is now based. This recording is a fitting tribute to the leading Scottish composer of his generation by an orchestra who inspired and premiered his work.

Martin Taylor is recognized as among the world’s foremost exponents of solo jazz guitar playing. Spirit of Django (1994) embraces the legacy of Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz. Taylor delivers a world-class swinging, virtuoso performance on this, one of his most enduringly popular albums. Among his many awards are a record fourteen British Jazz Awards. ‘A new and entirely original way to explore and extend the musical world of Django Reinhardt.’ (The Observer) ‘Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument.” (Pat Metheny)

‘The Full Flavour (1995)’, the debut album of Ray Gelato Giants, is Vegas-style Rat Pack Swing to its very core. Mixing the popular jump ‘n' jive sound of the golden era of swing with Louis Prima influences and the spirit of Harlem, Ray Gelato is a dynamic and charismatic bandleader. The set list includes tracks made famous by Louis Prima, Charlie Ventura, Dean Martin, Nat ‘King’ Cole, and a rare up-tempo version of As Time Goes By. Claire Martin, fresh from being named ‘Best Jazz Singer’ at the 1995 British Jazz Awards is a guest vocalist.

Duo Pleyel (Richard Egarr and Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya) makes it's recording debut with a programme of works for piano four-hands by Schubert, whose contribution to this genre exceeds that of any other composer. Aside from being hugely enjoyable this repertoire features some of Schubert's finest piano writing. Schubert's great F minor Fantasy, although justly famous, represents only a small proportion of his music for piano four-hands. It is an extraordinary body of work which demonstrates the gathering importance of this compositional medium. Duo Pleyel brings this famous Fantasy into context with other lesser known works such as the wonderfully melodic early Sonata in B flat major, written when Schubert was 21, and the two contrasting Rondos: the Rondo in D major D. 608 (post.) and the Rondo in A major (Schubert's final work for piano four-hands). Perhaps the star composition is the passionate Allegro in A minor, written a month after the Fantasy, and sometimes known by it's posthumous title 'Lebenssturme'. It gives us a clear picture of Schubert's inner life: of a man who wrote 'Every night when I go to bed, I hope that I may never wake again, and every morning renews my grief.'

William Carter's exemplary musicianship is showcased to its fullest on this new recording of Bach's own transcriptions for the lute. Almost unplayable in parts, many musicians take certain liberties with the music so that it glows more naturally but William Carter's determined approach to authenticity sees the lutenist achieve the near impossible: playing the music as it was originally written. Carter very subtly enhances BWV 1001, originally for unaccompanied violin, in keeping with Bach's own perceived style, namely to only add "as much harmony as he found necessary". The final piece undergoes the most extensive reimaginging as Bach expertly transforms the Fifth Cello Suite into a "new" lute work: so successful is it that Carter considers it to be, interms of understanding the essential nature and expressive qualities of the lute, "the most perfect piece of lute music in existence".