The first and upcoming album by Levi. Sct aka Levi Schechtmann on the Neue Meister label presents a distinctive fusion of classical piano and modern hip-hop elements?. The album seamlessly blends classical piano compositions with contemporary hip-hop rhythms, showcasing Schechtmann's unique approach to music?. This release marks a significant milestone in Schechtmann's career, reflecting his growth as a composer and pianist who transcends traditional genre boundaries?. Levi. Sct is a piano influencer with more than 1 Mio followers on his social media channels?

Maurice Steger, the virtuoso and world-renowned recorder player and conductor Conductor, has arranged works by Johann Sebastian Bach for recorder and orchestra for his new album with the La Cetra Basel has arranged works by Johann Sebastian Bach for recorder and orchestra.

Step into a world of musical elegance with this release featuring solo piano interpretations of the most famous compositions by J.S. Bach. This album is a celebration of Bach's genius, showcasing the intricate beauty and emotional power of his work through the expressive medium of solo piano. Performed by Tim Allhoff who has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians and ensembles, including Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Robbie Williams, Jules Buckley, Vision String Quartet, and many more, this collection promises to deliver a rich listening experience that bridges tradition and innovation. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the depth and complexity of Bach's compositions, making them accessible and captivating for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.

Jenna Nyman

The Goldmund Quartet, one of Germany's leading young string ensembles, is preparing a very special CD: String quartet versions of traditional Oktoberfest music?. Well-known polkas, marches and waltzes will be heard in a new guise. You can look forward to a musical homage to the Bavarian joie de vivre, in which the quartet captures the flair of the Munich Oktoberfest in fine string sounds.

A high-grade transfer to LP for a 2018 album of popular songs in delightful transcriptions by Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), and played by an Italian guitarist who has made a speciality of this repertoire. 'My music is like a garden, and I am the gardener. Listening to my music can be compared to walking through a garden and experiencing the changes in light, pattern, and texture.' Widely considered to be the greatest composer in the classical music tradition in modern Japan, Toru Takemitsu merged Japanese and Western instruments and techniques to create a unique sound world. During the post-war years, in his youth, Takemitsu came into contact with Western music through radio broadcasts the American occupying forces - not only jazz, but especially classical music by Debussy and Schoenberg. 'Every afternoon they broadcast three hours, of beautiful classical music - Bruno Walter, Toscanini, or Paul Whiteman from the Hollywood Bowl. I listened to radio every day. My first teacher was the radio.' Takemitsu found a meeting place between pop and classical music in his scores for almost a hundred Japanese films such as Kurosawa's acclaimed Ran. The guitar also took a starring role in several of in concert works, such as the concerto To the Edge of Dream, and solo pieces such as Towards the Sea. But these transcriptions belong to a lighter genre, and make an affectionate homage to songwriters from George and Ira Gershwin to Lennon and McCartney. Londonderry Air, Over the Rainbow and The Internationale will not be found together on very many song albums, but Takemitsu's taste was as broad as his sensibility was refined. Amours perdues is a classic example of the postwar French chanson, by Joseph Kosma, while What a Friend (we have in Jesus) is a revivalist hymn from 1850s America. Andrea Dieci has recorded Takemitsu's 'own' concert music for the guitar more than once, lending his performance of these transcriptions a particular authority.

Accordionist Theo Ould describes this new album as "my most shameful - it's as if I hadn't let myself play Astor's music, not got my accordion out of the world of musical cliches, and concentrated on works that were more classical in style". Theo's vocation, however, nonetheless became evident when he heard Piazzolla's Libertango at the age of 6! This Frenchman from Marseille, 20 years later, now tackles this music with fervour, exaltation, tailor-made arrangements, and the complicity of the Bilitis quartet, alongside double bass player Blanche Strombon; the mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti also appears in a generous and beautiful Balada para un loco, Piazzolla's setting of a poem by Horacio Ferrer. Theo Ould is deeply involved with this music, sharing his passion with us and inviting us to join in Ferrer's Balada: "Crawl into this tender delirium that burns within me, put on this wig wovrn from larks - and fly! Fly with me now! Come along, fly, come!"

With his eighth album MORLA, ECHO award winner Tim Allhoff shows curiosity, self confidence and a stylistic diversity that reflects his various musical influences. For many years he has been one of the most important pianists on the German scene. The magazine JAZZTHING calls him the "Piano Shooting Star of the Republic" and the SuDDEUTSCHE congratulates him, with this release, on his "ascent to the top class of solo pianists". In his new Album MORLA, Allhoff takes the opportunity to reflect on the origins and course of his artistic work as a pianist and composer; the resulting collection of compositions evokes a variety of contrasting moods, reminiscent of a photo album - an album that exhibits different stages of his artistic career and the melting pot of the musical genres that is Tim Allhoff.

The Potsdam-based brothers Sebastian and Daniel Selke have, throughout their career, been employing themes surrounding their Communistera, East German heritage. From modern classical to jazz to electronic music, CEEYS invites 10 contemporary composers to share their musical impressions by reworking tracks of HAUSMUSIK on MUSIKHAUS. To name a few: Neue Meister colleague, Marina Baranova gave her own major melody to CEEYS' harmonies making her interpretation of the piece Circa one half-CEEYS' evocative mood and one halfBaranova twist with the pianist's unique touch. Singer-songwriter Mara Simpson adds her haunting voice and poignant lyrics, 'We keep the pieces to build better, to build hope brick by brick' to the soft, repetitive backdrop of 'Yes, brick by brick' embracing the meaning of the original composition. Erased Tape's electronic-music composer, Ben Lukas Boysen builds around Fallen's repetitive and tense motif, adding an ascending energy and instrumentation to the composition which stretches it to new planes of emotion.

Divine Art is delighted to announce a superb collection of sensuous classical Spanish language songs for voice and piano, from the sublime musical partnership of lyric soprano Esther Rayo and renowned pianist and conductor Peter Grunberg. This program of works was first heard in a series of concerts given by the San Francisco based teaching and performance organization LIEDER ALIVE! The album features songs by early 20th century Spanish language composers: Fernando Obradors, Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, Alberto Ginastera, Xavier Montsalvatge, Consuelo Velazquez and Manuel Ponce. Drawing from Spanish classical poetry and regional folk melodies, these vibrant song cycles offer appeal to art song aficionados and first-time listeners alike. Born in California, and surrounded by Spanish music and language, this music is close to Esther Rayo's heart. Her connection with these songs started when she was introduced to the music of Manuel Obradors while in college. Obradors offered the perfect starting point for her continued study and discovery of Spanish art song, and she was guided by the great 20th century sopranos Montserrat Caballe and Victoria de los Angeles, who kept this music alive. While she was at graduate school in 2017, Esther was introduced to Peter Grunberg by Maxine Bernstein, Founder and Director of LIEDER ALIVE! And they made an immediate musical connection around the works of Spanish language composers. LIEDER ALIVE! #helped provide opportunities for Peter and Esther to perform this music together, alongside it's standard mission of promoting German Lieder. Over the years they continued to study and learn more classical Spanish repertoire, resulting in this, their debut album together. And, even after all these years, they still feel they've only just scraped the surface of this wonderful repertoire!

Credo, the debut solo album of harp virtuoso Alexander Boldachev released on PENTATONE, is now available on vinyl. The recording offers a luminous journey through the sacred soundscapes of Johann Sebastian Bach and Arvo Part. In eight visionary transcriptions for solo harp, Credo spans 250 years of spiritual music - from Bach's intricate architecture to Part's contemplative minimalism. Boldachev reimagines the harp as a deeply expressive instrument, capable of both grandeur and intimacy. Recorded in the tranquil chapel of Aiglon College in the Swiss Alps, Credo offers both refuge and revelation. A deeply personal musical statement, the album invites listeners into a contemplative space - ideal for meditation, quiet focus, or simply being present. Now available as a beautifully crafted 1LP vinyl edition, Credo enhances the listening experience with the warmth and intimacy that only vinyl can provide. Boldachev doesn't merely perform these works - he embodies them, drawing a timeless connection between two composers united by spiritual resonance. Alexander Boldachev is a classical-crossover harpist, composer, and innovator. He founded the Zurich Harp Festival, initiated World Harp Day in Hong Kong, and serves as a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music and the Milano Conservatory. Over three decades on stage, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, joined Robbie Williams at the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, and appeared at festivals ranging from Burning Man to Switzerland's Verbier Festival.

Dive into the mesmerizing soundscape of Alex Stolze's latest album, "Raash ve Ruach." This groundbreaking work weaves together the powerful contrasts of contemporary classical music and electronica, where the violin takes center stage, singing in place of words during a time that often feelsspeechless. "Raash ve Ruach," meaning "Noise and Spirit," is more than just an album-it's a call for spiritual reflection. Inspired by ancient Hebrew traditions and the unsettling events of our time, Stolze's music resonates with both the turmoil of the present and the longing for renewal. Crafted in the tranquility of the Uckermark and polished in Berlin's vibrant Neukolln, this album is a unique blend of rhythmic beats and introspective melodies. Perfect for those who crave music that moves both the body and the soul, "Raash ve Ruach" is a danceable yet deeply reflective experience. Let the wind of Stolze's violin carry you through the noise and into a place of solace.

The award-winning vibraphonist Pascal Schumacher and the internationally acclaimed pianist Danae Dorken present their new album 'Glass Two' - an impressive musical homage to one of the most influential composers of our time: Philip Glass. Their unusual instrumentation for piano and vibraphone creates an unrivaled sound world that brings Glass' minimalist worksto life in a new and refreshing way. At the heart of the album are original interpretations of Glass' compositions, complemented by Schumacher's own works. These pieces, inspired by personalities who influenced the American composer, such as the poet Allen Ginsberg or the sculptor Richard Serra, form a unique fusion of two musical worlds. This fusion creates a profound and multifaceted, yet reduced and clear atmosphere. Pascal Schumacher and Danae Dorken impressively demonstrate that less is sometimes more: Their artfully crafted arrangements are characterised by a fascinating transparency that captures the essence of minimalist music. The result is a captivating listening experience that allows the colors and textures of Glass' works to shine in a new light and interact harmoniously with Schumacher's own compositions. The album will be released on the Neue Meister label on CD and vinyl on 8 November 2024 and is an indispensable discovery for all lovers of modern classical music. Immerse yourself in the soundscapes of 'Glass Two' and experience a musical journey that inspires both in it's reduction and diversity

Once again, Concerto Koln stands out for it's clever programming, which explores the underlying concept of the album from different angles. "As a violinist, the playing experience is not only musical but also physical: I can often quite easily guess the physical traits of the hands and arms of each of these composers. One had a strong pinky or a long middle finger, the other liked to play lightly or heavily in the right arm and so on", explains Shunske Sato. Concertos written for four solo violins by three different composers are featured on the album: The B minor (RV 580) and D major concertos (RV 549) by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as a concerto each by Giuseppe Valentini and Pietro Antonio Locatelli. The CD also includes solo concertos for one violin and orchestra by Antonio Bonporti and Pietro Castrucci (with Evgeny Sviridov and Jes�s Merino Ruiz as soloists, respectively).

Why Francesco Geminiani is not mentioned these days alongside other great masters of the era of Baroque music is a bit of a mystery. Together with Corelli and Handel her was one of the composers who made a great career for himself in eighteenth-century Great Britain. Concerto Koln has not forgotten him, on the contrary: the ensemble pays homage to him as one of the true greats. And now the musicians have chosen their favourite pieces from his entire oeuvre and called it Geminiani's Quintessence. Concerto Koln has chosen works from all categories of his work for this project, with bassoonist Lorenzo Alpert taking a leading role in selecting those rare works "which we think are the loveliest and most accomplished of his compositions." The fact that Geminiani left a host of teaching manuals about playing technique and interpretation was decisive for the ensemble's interpretation of the works. "These rich sources of information made it possible for us to employ some surprising and unusual stylistic elements in our readings of his Concerti Grossi," explains Alpert. "They are what led to his special and very personal 'Quinta Essentia'" which will be available on CD and double vinyl.