BEETHOVEN: VLN CTO / SONATA PRIMAVERS

Ll Pomo d'Oro and Zefira Valova focus here on the little-known violin concertos of the second half of the eighteenth century. Bringing together the works of Franz Benda and Johann Gottlieb Graun (in a world premiere recording), pillars of the orchestra at the court of Frederick II of Prussia, as well as those of the Venetian virtuoso Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen and the iconoclastic Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges (also in a world premiere recording), this album offers a bright panorama of the evolution of the genre, culminating in Mozart's achievements in the last quarter of the century, of which Il Pomo d'Oro and Zefira Valova offer us a glimpse with the famous Rondo in C K. 373.

The ensemble Aedes began it's musical journey with Poulenc, under the impetus of conductor Mathieu Romano. Here, at the head of Les Si�cles, Romano returns to the unclassifiable composer to record two of his major works. In the pious contemplation of the Litanies, here performed in the manuscript version, and the orchestral luxuriance of the Stabat Mater, spirituality is expressed through music that is lively, sensitive and even, at times, sensuous. Sculpting out every phrase and note, always at the service of the text, the ensemble and Mathieu Romano confirm their affinity with the composer's language. As an interlude Mathieu Romano has included a secular piece, O doulx regard, o parler gratieux, by the Renaissance composer Cl�ment Janequin. The boundaries between earthly love and mystical love are thus abolished in favor of pure emotion.

In 1914, Stravinsky, more than ever, was taken up by his interest in pagan Russia and it's folk rituals. He worked on the composition of Les Noces, intended for the Ballets Russes, until 1923. These "choreographed scenes with music and voices" represent, in four tableaux, the Russian folk wedding ritual. Sober, stylised, razor-sharp, Stravinsky's music combines rhythmic brutality with an incantatory force, evoking both the timelessness and the inexorability of that ritual. There were several attempts at different instrumentations of the work. Here Mathieu Romano, the Ensemble Aedes and Les Si�cles present the world premiere recording of the full 1919 version (completed in 2007 by Theo Verbey), written for an ensemble of percussion instruments, two Hungarian cymbaloms, a harmonium, a pianola, and voices. The same unusual instrumentation, clear, incisive, precise, is used for Robin Melchior's arrangement of Ravel's Bol�ro: an unexpected and amazing, suave, and totally successful.

Written between 1887 and 1890, Gabriel Faur�'s Requiem is among the best-loved pieces in the choral repertory. Traditionally, Requiems are serious, prayerful laments for the dead. Faur�'s was altogether different. In place of the usual somber mood, his is noted for it's calm, serene and peaceful outlook. The composer revised and expanded the work several times, but it is the original version that is performed here using period instruments and performance practices. This sublimne recording, featuring Ensemble Aedes and Les Si�cles led by Mathieu Romano, also includes Poulenc's Figure Humaine and Debussy's Trois Chansons

The recordings for HOME.S. were made only a few weeks before Esbj�rn Svensson's sudden death 2008. Svensson recorded the music in his Swedish home. For almost ten years afterwards, the album rested untouched in his wife Eva's personal archive. These new recordings are the only ones that show Svensson in a setting other than that of the trio: Intimate, concentrated and completely one with himself.

Classical Music

INTRODUCING THE SUSO / GLASS QUARTET

A sound alchemist, Maurice Ravel recreated his own works for piano in orchestral versions that soon brought them universal acclaim. Jean-Fran�ois Heisser, a disciple of Vlado Perlemuter, is now part of a Ravelian genealogy imbued with elegance and emotion. Conducted from the piano, in collusion with the musicians of the Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine (OCNA), the Piano Concerto in G major revives the Mozartean tradition so dear to the composer.

As a young chorister, the fourteen-year-old Franz Schubert penned his first string quartets, a genre that he would continue to explore until the last years of his life. Fifteen quartets, of remarkable originality and bewitching lyricism, entered into history, bearing at once the legacy of the Classical Era and a vision of the future. These works are marked by the tides of life - disillusion, illness, but also the flourishing of a magisterial mind. "The communion with a confidential soul, the discovery of indescribable colors, the admiration of a remarkable message whose ideas never cease to evolve and inspire... This is part of a distinctive journey that will leave an everlasting mark upon us. The recording of the Octet two years ago was just the initial building block of a project dear to us, one that we now see fulfilled through this immersion dedicated to Schubert."

This release marks the 29th on the LPO label conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, and is the first Jurowski-conducted Richard Strauss release to date. Vladimir Jurowski has a strong affinity with Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow), and chose to conduct a selection of orchestral highlights from the opera rather than the composer's own published Fantasie. He went on to conduct the complete opera at the Metropolitan Opera in 2013. "If the evening can boast a hero, the honor must go to Vladimir Jurowski, who conducts with abiding passion, sensitivity and propulsion." (The Financial Times) The performances of the three works on this release were also critically well received, with the soloists within the Orchestra noted for their 'poise' and 'exquisite handling' of Die Frau ohne Schatten and Jurowski's 'perfect blending of rich textures' in Eine Alpensinfonie. The Dance of the Seven Veils was performed as part of the opening concert of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's critically acclaimed The Rest is Noise festival of music which shaped the twentieth century. "Jurowski and the LPO set the scene with an outstandingly delicate performance of the Dance of the Seven Veils." (The Financial Times)

WAR REQUIEM

The work of Bernhard Lang is difficult to fit into any one musical category. His oeuvre references a wide variety of musical styles and genres. The three works on this release showcase an enormous amount of virtuosity. This makes for a highly concentrated and intimate experience for both the performers and their audiences.

Classical Music

Classical Music

At 100 minutes long, Glass's Fifth Symphony is his magnum symphonic opus. The piece reflects a journey of human experiences through texts of the world's various 'Wisdom Traditions' (religions). Because of it's size, the piece is rarely performed. Conductor Julian Wachner played the symphony at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in November 2016 and immediately resolved to make a new recording with the full resources of Trinity Wall Street in New York including NOVUS NY, Trinity Choir, Trinity Children's Choir, Downtown Voices and soloists Heather Buck, Katherine Pracht, Vale Rideout, Stephen Salters, and David Cushing. A bonus DVD features a concert video of the performance at Trinity Church in New York City, and an extended interview with Julian Wachner and Philip Glass.

RITE OF SPRING / FIREBIRD SUITE EXCERPTS

ORCHESTRAL MASTERPIECES

Zubin Mehta has long been a constant in Munich's musical life. Mehta has enjoyed an artistic relationship and deep friendship with the Munich Philharmonic in particular for decades. Since he conducted his first concert with the orchestra in 1987, he has been a regular guest and was appointed the orchestra's first and so far only "conductor emeritus" in 2004. Twenty years later, the orchestra celebrated this milestone anniversary with a Brahms cycle, including all four symphonies and both of the piano concertos performed by one of today's most acclaimed and admired pianists: Yefim Bronfman.

Zubin Mehta has long been a constant in Munich's musical life. Mehta has enjoyed an artistic relationship and deep friendship with the Munich Philharmonic in particular for decades. Since he conducted his first concert with the orchestra in 1987, he has been a regular guest and was appointed the orchestra's first and so far only "conductor emeritus" in 2004. Twenty years later, the orchestra celebrated this milestone anniversary with a Brahms cycle, including all four symphonies.

Tirimo is a fine pianist with first-rate technical command, and understands Debussy's world well. (Gramophone). "Probably first choice for those wanting a modern digital recording offering the complete set... recording most realistic and natural." (Penguin Guide). "A most enjoyable recital, and one for which listeners will be grateful... What is Impressive is the pianist's integration of fragility and firmness, simplicity and complexity." (Gramophone). "I'm glad to be able to praise a fluid but unhurried Jeux d'eau that is well served, too, by the velvety-rich recorded sound... it 's attractive. So are the Sonatine, and the tenderly solemn Pavane pour une infante d�funte." (Gramophone). "Dickinson made Satie's music a center point of his repertoire, and his thoughtful approach to this highly rewarding music is all his own... variety of articulation and color is fully at the service of the composer." (Penguin Guide).

Classical Music

The complete Symphonies of Tchaikovsky along with other favourite orchestral works in one box set. Featuring famous Russian conductors such as Rozhdestvensky, Mravinsky, Svetlanov, Kogan and Kondrashin along with famous artists such as Richter, Oistrakh and Rostropovich.

Leopold Stokowski was one of the pre-eminent conductors of the early to mid 20th century. For the first time ever his complete recordings for the Everest and Vanguard labels are in one box set.

For this box, ALTO has compiled ten albums by as many outstanding pianists of the 20th century. These include both exemplary recordings and new compilations by ALTO as well as live recordings from the catalogs of the great labels. The entire 20th century is covered from Artur Schnabel and Artur Rubinstein to Marta Argerich with works by composers they were highly celbrated for. The interested enthusiast doesn't get a random grab bag here, but rather a well-thought-out program that also impresses connoisseurs. 10 Giants of the Keyboard: Marta Argerich; Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Ravel, Prokofiev Vladimir Ashkenazy; Chopin Alfred Brendel; Schubert including complete Impromptus Emil Gilels; Schumann, Chopin, Tchaikovsky GLenn Gould; Bach 1955 Goldbergs, Partitas, Fugues Vladimir Horowitz; Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Scriabin, othrs Wilhelm Kempff; Mozart concerti Sviatoslav Richter; Iconic Schubert Artur Rubinstein; Chopin Favourites Artur Schnabel; Beethoven collection