Franck’s string Quintets were written around 1845 and 1870 respectively, during a time of great demand for high-quality chamber music. Due to rapid development of bourgeois concert life, Franck proves to be one of the most original German-speaking composers of chamber music. The quintets satisfy both connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike thanks to their masterful command of contrapuntal techniques, and memorable melodic and thematic invention.

Luciano Berio's references to Scarlatti and J�rg Widmann's homage to Schubert are contrasted by Andrea Lucchesini with original works of the two earlier composers, weaving both original and reference into a new whole. Prominent modern-day composers cultivate a relationship with historical compositional styles, bringing to light innovations and divergences as well as a continuation of and indebtedness to the past. Berio and Widmann are both closely involved with this new recording: Lucchesini and Berio enjoyed a close personal relationship during the composer's lifetime, while J�rg Widmann wrote a text for the new production and is also connected to Andrea Lucchesini. Andrea Lucchesini is one of the leading Italian pianists of our day. His triumph at the Dino Ciani International Competition at a young age marked the beginning of his international concert career. He has since performed all over the world with leading orchestras under renowned conductors as well as in solo recitals. His primary interest lies in contemporary music. Berio's Echoing Curves was premiered by Lucchesini, and he was also involved in the composition of the Sonata, Berio's last work for solo piano. Since 1990 the pianist has increasingly devoted himself to chamber music as well, performing in many different instrumental combinations and particularly in close collaboration with the cellist Mario Brunello and the Quartetto di Cremona.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

This album presents secular Christmas carols from Europe and South America. These traditional songs have been newly arranged by Manfred Frankel for voice, accordion, violin and percussion instruments. The carols are intended to sound as natural as possible and yet offer something unusual. Older and more recent songbooks from a wide variety of countries served as the basis for the adaptions - in some cases the original languages were retained, and in others the texts have been translated into German. The result is an impressive kaleidoscope of folkloristic, international Christmas carols. The different musical orientations from which Ursula Fielder and Manfred Frankel originally come - she from a "classical music", he from "folk music" - made them curious about each other. At first, they developed a Breton-Celtic programme: the success of this encouraged them to produce this somewhat different Christmas album with newly found, rather unconventional repertoire.

Classical Music

Zara Nelsova's technical facility along with a strong stage presence commanded attention and with the younger Jacqueline du Pre, together they formed a vanguard that forever breached gender stereotypes. Made in the period between 1956 and 1965, these recordings from the archives of RIAS Berlin range far and wide, including the Cello Concertos by Darius Milhaud and Dmitri Kabalevsky, works previously unreleased and Nelsova's first commercial recordings of this repertoire. This 4 CD boxed set spotlights the importance of her pivotal legacy. With Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and conductors Georg Ludwig Jochum and Gerd Albrecht.

These contrasting arrangements of 20 songs and chorals form an appealing mix for contemplative attunement to Christmas. + Both the change between organ and choir music and the diversity of the repertoire add to the colorful facets of this compilation. + The extensive and noble sound of the Klais Organ and the different timbres of the Girls' and Boys' Choir Cantus Iuvenum and the Chamber and Oratorio Choir of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe are heard here to their best advantage.

Classical Music

The new Bronislav Gimpel Edition presents on three CDs all recordings made by the violinist between 1954 and 1957 for the RIAS Berlin, creating a striking profile of the artist and the broad stylistic range of his repertoire. This Master Release is of the finest audio quality as befits the artist, an "old school" virtuoso who had a profound effect on violin playing.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music