Reflections Op. 28: Mallorca preludes marks the debut album of classical concert pianist Egle Andrejevaite. In 2016, the Chopin Festival of Valldemossa commissioned 24 esteemed contemporary Spanish composers to create responses to Chopin's 24 preludes. The strength of this recording project lies in reconnecting the essence of �these "sublime" and intense inspirations within the contemporary context.�The goal was to foster a�rigorous comparison between historical inspiration and modern creativity.? ?

This disc contains a selection of beautiful and very individual music for violin and harpsichord by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. The performers are two among the most distinguished musicians of the Baroque on HIP (Historical Informed Practice). The music is mostly surprising, as always with CPE Bach. Especially the starting Fantasia is a piece of great freedom that clearly foreshadows the Romanticism. Ryo Terakado and Fabio Bonizzoni already recorded on Challenge Classics the Complete Sonatas for violin and harpsichord by J. S. Bach. Artalinna (FR):�So here we have the new major complete recording of these Sonatas, a landmark achievement because everything about it seems both obvious and moving.

A refined Lieder recital focused on the fascinating figure of Alma Mahler. All main composers of Vienna at the outset of the 20th century are represented. An unprecedented flourishing of musical and artistic talents concentrated at that time in the Austro-Hungarian empire capital. Third recording on Challenge Classics by raising star baritone Raoul Steffani. Previous releases: CC 72865 with Magdalena Kozena. Classica (FR): Raoul Steffani demonstrates a style and a diction always impeccable. He vocally masters all these lieder which often seek the top of the register and bring a lot of colors. CC 72785, American Record Guide (USA): This is an exceptionally fine debut recording for an already well-developed singer.

Isidora zebeljan (Belgrade, 1967-2020) was the most outstanding and internationally acclaimed Serbian composer. Here is a hommage and a passionate portrait of her chamber and orchestral output made by some of Challenge best artists gathered on purpose. Isidora zebelian: "My language comes from Balkan music, because that is me - I was raised in the region that borders Rumania, Serbia and Hungary - these particles that were hovering in the air when I was a child, I just grabbed them"

Last instalment in Narratio Quartet revolutionary version of Beethoven's String Quartets. This last 4CD box contains all the likewise revolutionary late Quartets, from opus 95 until opur 135, never premiered until after Beethoven's death. Once more Narratio Quartet conveys a completely unheard account of these masterpieces, an interpretation different from all the others. On volume 2 (Middle Quartets, CC 72981). Fanfare (USA): "This is a truly special release that fully lives up to the promise of the Narratio Quartet's op. 18. It is a necessary purchase for all Beethovenians. " In the�shortlist of the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik DE). On volume 1�(Early Quartets, CC 72969). Recomendaro de Ritmo (SP). BBC Music Magazine (UK): "There is much to enjoy in the quartet's poised and stylish playing".

First disc and debut recording of Tabea Schwartz's Vernon Consort, another remarkable fruit of the Musik-Akademie Basel. The programme of this recording is an enthralling discovery journey through the female musical environment of the Netherlands Golden Age. Three strong personalities feature this disc: a recorder virtuoso, a composer and a publisher. Several pieces are world premiere recordings.�The disc is highly appealing for the quality of the selected music, for the performance standards and for the diversified colours and scores that make up for a pleasing listening from start to end.

An exciting journey through the time: Mozart played on a fortepiano, according to 19th Century performing style, with today sensitivity. Keiko Shichijo introduces us to Baron van Swieten's salon, where Mozart used to play the piano in the early 80s. In this salon Mozart got to know in depth the music of Bach and Haendel. Keiko constructs a clever programme of great masterpieces somehow related to these years and to the new influence Bach excerted on Mozart.

The renowned Austrian Ensemble Castor presents the first part of the world premiere recording of Johannes Schenck's complete Op.7. This is the only work�written by Schenck for violin and basso continuo.. Schenck's exciting music is a subtle combination of suites, sonatas, and pieces in the so-called "Stylus phantasicus". The result is�an exquisite blend of elements of the French, Italian, and Dutch style. The pieces show an impressive variety of forms and demand of violin technique and offer a wide range of moods from vivid dances to expressive slow movements. Castor Ensemble is a reknown ensemble that in the past recorded for Deutsche Harmonia Mundi and Pan Classics.

An extraordinary recording based on the famous middle-age manuscript Codex Faenza. Extraordinary for the thrilling interpretation of this often obscure and remote musical language. Extraordinary for it's continuous and seamless capacity of captivating the listener, who never gets tired nor bored. Extraordinary for the quality of the sound of the oldest extant organ (Valere, Switzerland - 1435). This daring project owes it's allure to the musicological knowledge and the musical prowess of the interpreters, of the recording engineer and producer. The well thought-out alternance of colours, instruments and climats (keyboards, flutes and voices) allow an enjoyable listening throughout. L'Amorosa Caccia is led by Fabio Antonio Falcone, already responsible for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik recording of Sweelinck's harpsichord music (CC 72926).

Debut recording for an experienced piano trio, who celebrate their fifteenth anniversary launching a series devoted to Russian composer Nikolaj Roslavets, known as the Russian Schoenberg. This is the first volume and it couples Roslavets' Third Piano Trio with the famous arrangement of Schoenberg Verklaerte Nacht by Emmanuel Steuermann. To complete the disc, Shostakovich First Piano Trio, composed in the same year (1923) and in the same place (St. Petersburg). Discover Roslavets and his remarkable music, as much neglected as much worthwhile listening to.

Second disc of the great accordionist Philippe Thuriot on Challenge Classics. After arrangements of Scarlatti Sonatas (CC 72994), Philippe plunges in a more daring project: improvisations on Bach's music. The result is amazing for the imagination, inventiveness and inspiration - while always remaining in the domain of the respect and love to Bach's music. A disc you listen with constant curiosity, pleasure and interest from start to the end.

First disc by Alessandro Deljavan on Challenge Classics. Pupil of, among others, Nabore, Berman and Bashkirov, Deljavan chose some masterpieces of Chopin repertoire which have been recorded hundred of times. But, as usual with him, the listener has the impression to hear them anew, afresh: Deljavan has a thoroughly individual if not idiosyncratic approach to this music. Some may nor like it, but some will find and will hear surprising, revelatory things they never heard before. Pizzicato wrote:�Technically brilliant and with an exceptional imagination, Alessandro Deljavan brings finesse and spontaneity to Chopin's Etudes.

Challenge Classics is proud to present the first collaboration with reputed Spanish ensemble Accademia del Piacere. Accademia del Piacere for about ten records which have received several awards around the world. This new recording by Accademia del Piacere focuses on the work of improvisation, ornamentation, embellishment on famous Baroque tunes of the Spanish baroque - according to 17th Century style and practice. Once more Accadmia del Piacere delivers a disc full of energy, colours and invention, faithful to it's name: Academy of Pleasure.

Classical Music

In the Upper Austrian Schlagl Abbey there are numerous instrumental instrumental concertos, mostly for solo violin, but often also for harpsichord.�The demands on the violin soloist are enormous. There must have been a very talented violinist on site. Ars Antiqua Austria has brought some of the concertos back to life. An exciting journey into the still unknown past.