This album features first-rate contemporary works, in committed performances.

Praised for their “intelligence” and “immensely satisfying” playing by the New York Times, the Amernet String Quartet has garnered recognition as one of today’s exceptional string quartets and are Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami. Their sound has been called “complex” but with an “old world flavor.” Strad Magazine described the Amernet as “…a group of exceptional technical ability.” On this new release, the ensemble performs a programme entitled Much Ado About Nothing, including works by Beethoven, Britten, Korngold, and Summer.

The spotlight is on Argentinean native Tomas Cotik in this program of works for solo violin by Telemann, Bach, Schubert and fellow countryman Astor Piazzolla. Mr. Cotik, whose studies began in Argentina, continued his educational pursuits in Germany, Canada and finally the US where he earned his Doctorate at the University of Miami. Alongside his recording and teaching obligations, Mr. Cotik and frequent duo partner pianist Tao Lin received critical acclaim for their Schubert: Complete Works for Violin and Piano, V.1 release, including a Recording of the Year nomination from MusicWeb Int'l.

Longtime principal clarinetists of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gary Gray has performed in a huge number of movie scores. This is a great collection that crosses the boundaries between classical and jazz.

The Austrian composer Viktor Ullmann (1898-1944) and the German composer Sigmund Schul (1916-44), both Jewish (Ullmann the child of Roman Catholic converts, Schul the child assimilated parents) were also both WWII concentration camp victims (Ullman perished in Auschwitz, Schul in Terezin). Schul's work featured on concert programs Ullmann hosted in the camps. Recorded in 2004, this Centaur release features three of Ullmann's orchestral works coupled with two of Schul's chamber pieces, both scores, sadly, incomplete due to obvious and most unfortunate circumstances.

Centaur presents StAr Splendours, a wonderful new release with a memorable proram for Marimba.

Bruce Atwell is the horn professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and is currently Principal Horn with the Fox Valley Symphony, the Green Bay Symphony, and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. He earned a B.M. at California State University, M.M. at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and D.M.A at the University of Cincinnati.

Searching for traces of once-admired Nassau court music in European and American libraries made it apparent that, despite large losses, there still survives a corpus of court music, though hard to fully assess due to it's size and geographical scattering. The majority of these autographs and manuscripts are unheard pieces, condemned to two and one-half centuries of oblivion. The 350th birthday of Count Johann Ernst of Nassau-Weilburg (1664-1719) provides an appropriate occasion to let the brilliance of the Nassau court music be heard again. 881488140415 PROL14041.2 27776353 .00 18.99 .24 PROFIL - G HAENSSLER COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 02/10/2015 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/0/5/9/2839501.jpg 2 1 N BUSONI / BACH / SLOTCHIVER VISIONARY 3 044747339627 CAV3396.2 27775257 .00 18.99 .20 CENTAUR COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 02/10/2015 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/6/1/4/9/2839416.jpg 15 1 N SHAPERO / FINE / WYNER / RAKOWSKI / STEPNER MUSIC AT BRANDEIS The five composers spotlighted on Music at Brandeis", Harold Shapero, Irving Fine, Yehudi Wyner, David Rakowski and Yu-Hui Chang all had or still maintain deep connections to this fabled American institution of higher learning as students, professors or both. Violinist Daniel Stepner, first violinist of the Lydian String Quartet, the quartet-in-residence at Brandeis University, and pianists Sally Berman, the aforementioned Mr. Wyner and Donald Berman are the featured artists on this new Centaur label release.

George Walker presents his recording of symphonic electric guitar music. This is indeed Electric Vivaldi.

Recorded in 2013/14, Shreds! Music for Trumpet and Percussion of the 21st C. features the work of five contemporary composers born between 1959-89. Dr. David Kosmyna teaches trumpet, theory, composition, and directs the Jazz Ensemble at Ohio Northern U. He has recorded extensively in both classical and jazz styles, often to critical acclaim.

This album presents a wonderful program of 19th-Century works for two flutes and piano.

"• A program of works for cello and piano. • Cellist Fedor Amosov, despite his youth, has an impressive repertoire and has toured extensively throughout Russia, Turkey, and continental Europe. • Pianist Jen-Ru Sun gives numerous solo piano recitals and chamber-music concerts, including first performances of contemporary music. "

These are two great chamber works that are far too often performed. These are truly beautiful performances, by the Czech-based pianist Ivo Kahanek and Janacek String Quartet. A musician of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness, Ivo Kahánek has gained a reputation as one of the most exciting artists of his generation and is the Czech Republic's most acclaimed pianist. He is universally recognized as one of the foremost interpreters of Romantic piano music and is a particular specialist in Czech repertoire. He possesses a rare gift of creating an immediate and compelling emotional connection with his audiences.

This album includes the complete piano works of Anton von Webern, as well as a series of contemporary works for piano that are inspired by Webern’s piano works. anis Mercer is an American composer/pianist living in San Francisco. Her musical activities as composer, and pianist are closely interwoven. As a solo pianist and accompanist, Ms. Mercer has a keen interest in the music of the Second Viennese School but also performs music by living composers and commissions solo and chamber works. She has performed music by such diverse composers as Anthony Braxton, Anton Webern, Bela Bartók, Leos Janacek, Brian Belét, Pablo Furman, Paul Rudy and Sever Tipei, and has commissioned works from Zack Browning, Erik Lund, and Donivan Johnson, among others.

A four-work recital of significant modern-era works for solo violin. Violinist Daniel Stepner is first violinist of the Lydian String Quartet. Teaches at both Brandeis and Harvard Universities. Formerly concertmaster, Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra, for more than twenty years, under Christopher Hogwood and Grant Llewellyn.