Beethoven in chamber music: the Septet as a chamber music original and the transcription of the Eroica Symphony for piano quartet and double bass showcases not only the palpable and explosive power of Beethoven's music, but also the flexibility and spontaneity of CHAARTS Chamber Artists.

Introducing a revolutionary new CD that challenges the stereotypes and prejudices against the double bass. This tribute album showcases the full potential and versatility of the instrument, featuring compositions by renowned composers such as Myroslav Skoryks, John Rutter, Peteris Vasks, and Sergei Rachmaninov. Experience the warm, soft, and welcoming tone of the double bass as it takes center stage in this diverse collection of music. From the spiritual anthem of Ukraine, Melodie by Myroslav Skoryks, to the familiar choral sounds of John Rutter's The Lord Bless You and Keep You, this album is a love letter to the double bass and an invitation to embrace its songful and tuneful credentials.

Rachmaninoff was one of the most gifted pianists of his time. His technical skills and musical expressiveness were unsurpassed and enabled him to thoroughly explore and expand the boundaries of what's possible through his own compositions. Although his music is strongly rooted in the tradition of his predecessors, it gains novelty through the pioneering work of the "last romantic". Star pianist Peter Rösel devoted himself to these legendary works in a series of recordings. The elaborate remaster of the original tapes included in this edition now allows his masterful interpretation and Rachmaninoff's work to resound in new splendor.

Bach’s St John Passion is like an eternal cry into the void, carrying the essence of western, protestant answers to the fundamental questions in life in music. Our wrongdoings on Earth contrasted with higher moral principles. Nowhere else does it crystallize into music more profoundly and beautifully than in this immortal manifestation of Bach’s genius.

Concerto Köln is one of the leading orchestras for historically informed musical performances and recordings. Recent concerts of Wagner’s “Rheingold” and an album released together with soprano Jeanine De Bique have been celebrated and praised by critics and listeners alike. The conceptual originality of their work seems endless.

In their newest album “Pi – Pisendel”, baroque violinist Mayumi Hirasaki, Concerto Köln’s leading concertmaster for the past ten years is highlighted. As an inspiration for the program served her historical role model, the violin virtuoso, composer and concertmaster himself Johann Georg Pisendel. According to Hirasaki “It should be a program that doesn't only focus on me as a violinist, but also unfolds the virtuosity of the whole orchestra.” Together as a unit concertmaster and ensemble present a diverse selection of Pisendel’s pieces that stand out through their rich orchestration, stylistic variety and instrumental virtuosity. Again, the artistic vision of Hirasaki and the concerto Köln captures the imagination of the listener with an accurate recreation of the historic sound and an innovative, refreshing interpretation.

In 1970 Kurt Masur took over the direction of one of the best orchestras in Germany and the world: the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. One year later, in 1971, these recordings of the 12 Youth Symphonies by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy were made. They are testimony to the emergence of a fruitful artistic relationship between Kapellmeister and musicians that was to last 26 years. Bold artistic spirit meets musical excellence here, leading to a high level of listener enjoyment. Kurt Masur's masterful interpretation provides a revealing insight into the imagination of a talented young composer. These recordings now shine in new splendor through a loving analog remaster.

Pianist Marina Baranova looks at Christmas through the eyes of an outsider. “I was born into a Jewish family in Ukraine and am the great-granddaughter of a rabbi. So I've never celebrated Christmas before, which allows me to look at it from the outside.“ On her new album “White Letters“ she makes her experiences audible. “This album reflects those sensations.” In her unique musicality, which combines light-fingered virtuosity with compositional sensitivity, she creates a world between Christian melodies, Ukrainian winter tunes and Jewish festival of lights sounds. All works oscillate between original, sensitive arrangement and free improvisation.

“My recording somewhat resembles a playlist that makes my personal perception of the winter mood audible. Famous Christmas pieces from the classical period meet my own compositions, works by Ukrainian composers meet pieces by Jewish tone poets such as Ernest Bloch, Rosy Wertheim and Grigory Frid, which symbolize the Hanukkah festival of lights for me,“ says the composer and pianist, who was born in Kharkiv and now lives in Hanover. The bandwidth of the album's works cuts a wide swath: from Bach-ian borrowings combined with “There's Always Tomorrow“ by Jewish composer Johnny Marks to the originally Ukrainian (and now world-famous) Christmas carol “Carol of the Bells“ to her own compositions, such as “Homeland,“ which she dedicates to her hometown.

After a life dedicated to music, especially of his hometown Dresden and Saxony, world-renown trumpeter Ludwig Güttler concludes his career around his 80th birthday in 2023. It is hard to overestimate his musical, political and social role in Dresden, but also the impact he had on musical research of the Saxonian court, the development of the Corno da Caccia and any other field he touched in his comprehensive life. This edition is devoted to the headline, the motto he found, that constitutes his firm belief: In all that I do, I am guided by the Lord's counsel. he who can accomplish all and owns all, in all things He must, if they are to succeed, give me advice and counsel. The album features not only a meaningful selection of his extensive catalogue but also 5 completely new recordings from the world-famous Dresden Frauenkirche, in which rebuilding he partook such a vital role. It is therefore logical that the DVD features - for the first time on a physical medium - the festive Gala Concert for the Inauguration of this very house of God, where he leads his own Virtuosi Saxoniae and the Vocal Ensemble Saxony in Hasse's "Ultima" Mass.

The large-scale Bach Organ Landscapes project featuring J.S. Bach’s entire organ oeuvre recorded on a range of instruments aims to provide an overview of organ-playing and organ-building traditions that were key to Bach’s composing. With a keen eye to the unique cultural organ legacy of the places associated with Bach, Halubek has placed Bach’s original sound at the heart of his project. The recordings are accompanied by digital material that offer an almost tactile access to the great composer’s sound universe. This Album features the legendary Silbermann organ in Freiberg near Dresden.

The large-scale Bach Organ Landscapes project featuring J.S. Bach’s entire organ oeuvre recorded on a range of instruments aims to provide an overview of organ-playing and organ-building traditions that were key to Bach’s composing. With a keen eye to the unique cultural organ legacy of the places associated with Bach, Halubek has placed Bach’s original sound at the heart of his project. The recordings are accompanied by digital material that offer an almost tactile access to the great composer’s sound universe. This Album features the legendary Silbermann organ in Freiberg near Dresden.

Peter Schreier sings Christmas Carols was one of the best-selling records of the GDR. Beyond the borders of the East, the album of the legendary record label ETERNA enjoyed great popularity, which has continued unbroken after the German reunification, especially through the restoration of the original recording tapes and the release of the album on CD. This re-release available on vinyl is intended to trace the life of the "world Saxon" (Der Spiegel) almost 50 years after its first release. Peter Schreier, one of the most outstanding tenors and artistic personalities of the 20th century, can now be experienced again on the original medium in new sonic beauty. An unparalleled Christmas experience.

Following on from her debut album impressions, featuring chamber music for bassoon and piano, bassoon player Sophie Dervaux is poised to release her second album on the Berlin Classics label. Previously released on CD she now presents Mozart and Hummel bassoon concertos on Vinyl. Sophie Dervaux has been principal bassoonist of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra since 2015. Previously, she was principal contrabassoonist of the Berlin Philharmonic. As an ambassador for her instrument, she is committed to expanding the repertoire for bassoon by rediscovering works or commissioning new ones. She has been a “Püchner Artist” since 2014 and is passionate about making her instrument even better known.

Born in 1889 in the Ore Mountains, the 25th Kreuzkantor Rudolf Mauersberger made it his life's work to perform the complete surviving works of Heinrich Schütz - his artistic achievements set standards in the history of interpretation of the composer's works at a time when reliable Schütz editions were not yet in sight. As a brilliant music educator, he trained the Dresdner Kreuzchor - whose direction he took over in 1931 - to become a special kind of sound instrument and one of the most traditional and best boys' choirs in Germany with an international reputation. Martin Flämig, as Mauersberger's successor, also rendered outstanding services to the Dresdner Kreuzchor and is also represented in this edition with interpretations of various Schütz works.

The set comprises 10 albums and offers reference recordings of all central works such as the Psalms of David, the Cantiones sacrae, the Resurrection History, the Small Sacred Concerts, the Sacred Choral Music and, last but not least, the Passions.

With her new album, Sophie Dervaux brings to the fore two composers who have received less attention so far - despite their great surnames Bach and Haydn. For it is not works by "our old favorites" Johann Sebastian and Joseph that the bassoonist has chosen for her third recording on Berlin Classics, but rather Bach's youngest son - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) - and Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806), Joseph Haydn's younger brother. Sophie Dervaux has been principal bassoonist of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra since 2015. Previously, she was principal contrabassoonist of the Berlin Philharmonic. As an ambassador for her instrument, she is committed to expanding the repertoire for bassoon by rediscovering works or commissioning new ones. She has been a “Püchner Artist” since 2014 and is passionate about making her instrument even better known.

After the successful release of “Vox Humana“, Isang Enders turns his gaze towards the 20th century. Together with WDR Sinfonieorchester he has recorded various work by Hans Werner Henze and puts his work in the foreground on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death. The album includes “Ode an den Westwind“, “Englische Liebeslieder”, “Introduction, Theme and Variations” and “Trauer-Ode für Martina Geddes.” The cellist Isang Enders quickly distinguished himself as a musician with new concepts and a constant search for clues, which he repeatedly proves with his particularly broad repertoire. With his early publication of the cello suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, the FAZ describes his "overwhelming technical ability and precocious perception", which led to an "interpretation that can compete with the best".