Cambria Master Recordings is honored to present the legendary pianist Jacob Gimpel (1906 – 1989) performing two beloved piano concerti with the Berlin Symphony – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat Minor, Op 23 (Dr. Paul Otto Matzerath, conductor) and Edvard Grieg Piano Concert in A Minor, Op 18 (Artur Rother, conductor) (Cambria 1260). These stereo performances date from 1961 and 1959, when Gimpel was at the height of his career, and are now being released for first time in America. The Polish-born pianist, known by connoisseurs the world over as “a musician’s musician” and as one of the great piano virtuosos of the Twentieth Century, brought a classical elegance (authentically born of his intimate familiarity with the Polish music ethos and the cultural and stylistic brilliance of Imperial Vienna), combined with a formidable musical intellect and a rapturous poetic and tonal imagination. This great artist, teacher, and humanitarian, once the associate and protégé of the legendary violinist Bronislaw Huberman, was all too rarely heard in his adopted homeland of America, despite his spectacular European career, universal critical acclaim, and many outstanding recordings, a few of which were even distributed in the United States.

Cambria Master Recordings is pleased to announce Canadian Panorama, a new release of world premiere recordings by prominent, contemporary Canadian composers in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. The recording features The Winds of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Ronald Royer, with Sarah Jeffrey (oboe), Gabirel Radford (horn) and Kaye Royer (clarinet). The variety of musical styles and influences represented in the works featured on this recording reflect the rich diversity of contemporary Canadian composition and will appeal to a broad audience interested in classical music. A unifying feature of the eight compositions is the inspiration each takes from the musical influences of the past. Four works are commissions by the SPO for this project. The compositions Fundy, Saturday Night at Fort Chambly, and McIntyre Ranch Country are each inspired by different regions of Canada and their local folksong traditions: the East Coast, Quebec, and Alberta respectively. The new works Allemande and Whirligig illustrate the ways in which European classical music has inspired Canadian composers to create new, colorful works. Rhapsody and Travels with Mozart are inspired by the rich cultural diversity of Canada. And finally, Serenade pays tribute to Canada’s vibrant film industry and culture.

This is the third volume in this phenomenal series devoted to Mexicoís greatest 20th century composer (volumes 1 and 2, CB8850 and CB8851 respectively won the 2003 and 2004 GRAMMYS in their categories). In this international collaboration between Southwest Chamber Music and Mexicoís Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, we hear a celebration of the composerís native culture, with such powerful works as Xochipilli (a pre-Columbian god of music) and the vocal works Cuatro Melodias and Lamentaciones. The other vocal works, with their melodic gifts, come close to revealing the operatic composer Chavez could have been. Of particular interest are the percussion works: the famous Toccata is here, along with Tambuco and one of his final works, the Partita for Solo Tympani. In between is the dramatic incidental music to a 1932 production, Antigona, apuntes para la Sinfonia. The previous volumes have been consistent best-sellers, and volume 3 should be immensely popular. Even more good news: the series, to be completed in 2006 to mark Southwest Musicís 20th anniversary, will eventually include the complete String Quartets and the complete works for piano and string ensemble. Definitely one of the most important chamber music releases this year!

"A soprano star with one of the loveliest voices this reporter has ever heard," Henry Humphries, the late Cincinnati music critic once wrote of one of Dorothy Warenskjold's opera performances, declaring further, "she is a singer of finely grained musicianship, personality and temperament - one the Golden Age of Song would have been proud to call its own." Dorothy Warenskjold is a third generation Californian. She was born in Piedmont and received all her education and musical training in and around San Francisco. As James Schwabacher, tenor and founder of San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, recently remarked, "I have been constantly amazed at the consistency over the years of Dorothy's vocal technique which produces the pristine lyric quality uniquely hers." And nowhere is this more obviously shown than in the present choice of arias which span a period of nineteen years. These arias date from the young and budding prima donna's first major radio broadcast, through mid-career opera performances, up to the latest recorded arias. This consistency is a tribute not only to her training, but to her intelligent dedication to her art.