LIGHT & DARKNESS: WORKS FOR SAXOPHONE

RAFAL ZAPALA: FUTILITY

This is the fourth Romantic Piano Concerto album from Simon Callaghan, and that combination of talents which made his first three so successful- not least a flair for exploring the neglected byways of the Romantic repertoire, and the technique and musicianship to do them justice-proves just as compelling here.

One of the twentieth century's best-loved choral works, Durufle's Requiem-a magical synthesis of the old (plainsong) and the new (a harmonic language appropriate to it's time and place) - continues to cast it's potent spell over performers and listeners alike. This new recording from Stephen Layton and his Trinity forces fully deserves to be regarded as 'definitive'.

As a conductor, philosopher, mathematician and composer, Ernest Ansermet occupied an exceptional position in the world of music. At the frontier of modernity, he offered up recordings of music by several composers whom he counted among his friends: Debussy, Ravel, Roussel and Stravinsky but also Honegger, Frank Martin, Bartok and Prokofiev - all of whom are represented in this collection of recordings made for Decca between 1929 and 1955. The collection opens with a recording of six of Handel's Op. 6 Concerti Grossi made with a specially formed band of London musicians, the 'Decca String Orchestra' in 1929, the year in which the label was founded. Ansermet returned to the studio to record for the label from 1946 and from then on became one of it's most frequently recorded conductors. Fortunately, the music of his friend Igor Stravinsky is strongly represented in this collection. Of other composers Ansermet knew personally, several landmark recordings of works by Maurice Ravel are significant. 1952 was a particularly busy year for the conductor and his Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - with recordings of Handel, Prokofiev as well as his famous interpretation of Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande". An orchestral version of Mussorgsky's two-minute "Gopak" was recorded as the last work in this collection. The stereo recording from 1955 was only available as a test pressing - this box presents it as a veritable world premiere.

The 'heavenly lengths' Schumann loved in late Schubert are as much in evidence in the sublime G major quartet as in the other large-scale works of Schubert's final years. The Takács Quartet's earlier Hyperion recordings of Schubert were hailed as 'near ideal' and 'superlative' and this new release is every bit as fine.

Lang Lang presents with this album a treasure trove of musical discoveries. Saint-Saens's Piano Concerto No. 2 was recorded with a stellar cast, the Gewandhausorchester and Andris Nelsons and is for Lang Lang a true romantic masterpiece that rivals the greats like Rachmaninoff or Tchaikovsky.

Arditti Quartet & Alberto Rosado - Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez: Infinita Domenica - For Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez it is essential to approach the works on this album with an open mind and to explore other forms of instrumental expressivity and sonic emotionality. He draws significant conclusions from these seemingly fragile figures, gestures and minimal elements, which evolve and multiply to achieve a great expressive and formal perspective. All this affirms a hallmark that reveals a great continuity and coherence among the works included on this album.

MIRROR MUSIC

IN A TIME LAPSE (REIMAGINED)

The album is inspired by the poetry of William Butler Yeats, in particular his work Sailing to Byzantium. The main composition, which features five recorder sizes from tenor to garklein, explores themes of time and transcendence, depicting a journey to an imaginary Byzantium where the poet is transformed into a golden bird. The four movements correspond to stanzas in Yeats' poem, with recurring elements such as a lyrical refrain and a gyre reflecting the poet's themes. The trajectory of the piece rises, mirroring the poetic theme, and integrates both old and new forms, incorporating extended techniques and exploring microtones. The Etudes de concert, written separately but complementary, serve as a sonic precursor to the Byzantium piece, showcasing conventional and extended recorder techniques within various musical forms. The two electronic pieces act as interludes between the main works, offering a diverse musical experience that blends ancient traditions with modern sensibilities. Created in collaboration with experimental musician Scott Taylor, the album reflects a fusion of musical styles and approaches.

VIVALDI: THE FOUR SEASONS (THE DECCA COLLECTION)

MICHAEL NYMAN SONGBOOK

The nine Beethoven Symphonies are considered to be one of the greatest musical testaments of all time and are a key staple in every conductor's repertoire. Simon Rattle performed the complete cycle with the Wiener Philharmoniker in live concerts, recorded for EMI between 29 April and 17 May 2002 at the historic Musikverein in Vienna. 'These are not interpretations set in stone, deeply as Rattle has obviously thought them through; and his encouragement of the brilliant VPO woodwind and horn soloists to challenge each other in imagination and individuality adds to the impression of joyful discovery.' - GRAMOPHONE

Julius Asal - "Scriabin - Scarlatti" / Scriabin - Scarlatti creates a dreamlike meditation in which the boundaries between pieces, eras and states of mind fade away. Julius Asal's full performance of the Sonata is framed by a selection of Scriabin's etudes and preludes, six sonatas by Scarlatti and two improvisatory Transitions by the pianist himself.

Chinese pianist Yuja Wang, who won the Grammy Award for the first time in 2024, held a recital in Vienna in 2022, opening an eclectic repertoire and demonstrating incredible His broad repertoire and performance techniques have been highly praised. / Yuja Wang believes that all tracks should have a life of their own and reflect my current feelings. She demonstrated her fiery virtuosity in little-known works by Ligueti and Kapustin; highlighted her mature musicianship in masterpieces by Beethoven and Scriabin; and composed in Spain Master Albanese's Iberian selections demonstrate timbral control and imagination. The four splendid encore pieces are American Grass, Mexican Aquiz, Romantic Era Brahms and early classical Gluck, which is like a small keyboard music history. - This set of seemingly random mash-up styles of music selections from different eras turns out to be highly cohesive after actual listening. The theme of one piece may express tension, which may awaken or hint at the music content that follows. Like an art curator with a rich knowledge background, displaying paintings by different artists in a museum requires careful consideration of the venue, size of the paintings, background of the paintings, style, etc. Yuja Wang is able to push the limits of dynamics without losing emotion and delicate interpretation. Miriam Damev, a well-known European art journalist, summed up this wonderful recital in just a few words in the Austrian Standard newspaper - "This concert hall is crazy."

Global cello sensation Hauser is back with Classic II, an all-new selection of his favorites among the most beautiful melodies in classical music, following up on the success of his 2020 album Classic. - For Classic II, Hauser reunites with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ziegler, and arranger/orchestrator Robin Smith, with whom the cellist worked closely in featuring the cello in the arrangement of each track. - Classic II reimagines instantly recognizable, song-like melodies by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Donizetti, Dvorak, Mahler, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Schubert, most of them written for solo instruments, voices or an entire orchestra and never before adapted for the "voice" of the cello. Hauser also brings his singing style to two beloved melodies in the Baroque style - the Albinoni "Adagio" and the Adagio from Alessandro Marcello's famous Oboe Concerto - as well as a pair of contemporary pieces, Michel Colombier's "Emmanuel" and composer/pianist Yurima's "Kiss the Rain."

A fascinating new name bursts into our Romantic Piano series with the two concertos by Thomas Tellefsen, here coupled with an extended concert piece by series stalwart Friedrich Kalkbrenner. All three works here enjoy Howard Shelley's trademark dexterity and exuberant bravura technique.

ETUDES MELODIQUES

Yunchan Lim is the one of the most talked-about classical artists on the planet. In 2024 he presents his debut studio album on Decca Classics - the Chopin Etudes, Op.10 & Op.25. "To me, Chopin is a composer who yearned for the past. I wanted the album cover to feel like solitude and nostalgia, and to look like you have come across an old photo." - Yunchan Lim

CD + DVD edition. In celebration of their 20th Anniversary, ground-breaking classical crossover group Il Divo, perform a very special evening of music at the Taipei Music Center, Taiwan. Delivering timeless pop classics and traditional standards, Il Divo raise the bar, reinforcing their status as performers and vocal power-houses. Comprising Urs Buhler (tenor) of Switzerland, Sebastien Izambard (tenor) of France, David Miller (tenor) of America, and new member Steven LaBrie (baritone) of America, the quartet present a truly cinematic musical experience that will remain a bench mark in audio visual performance for decades to come. Complementing the music, Il Divo also document the first 20 years of their career, set against the modern cosmopolitan metropolis of Taipei, as they take us through the journey so far and future aspirations. Presented in glorious 4k video and 5.1 audio.

STRAVAGANZA

Double vinyl LP pressing. In a Landscape is the ninth studio album by British composer Max Richter. The album sees Richter returning to themes he previously explored on his 2004 album The Blue Notebooks. It was recorded in Studio Richter Mahr in Oxfordshire.

AMERICAN COUNTERPOINTS

Feel More. Think Less. During the winter of 2023, pianist and composer Stephan Moccio traded his home of Los Angeles for the South of France to record his album "Legends, Myths and Lavender", far away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan chaos at the iconic Chateau Miraval. Stephan Moccio: "Three things I'm most passionate about-music, wine, and architecture-combined into this experience".