Classical Music

Idil Biret made her first piano recordings when she was only eight years old. She walked into ORTF (French Radio and Television Broadcasting) and performed works by Couperin, Bach, Beethoven, and Debussy. Over the course of her career, she made over 80 recordings for albums, LP's, and television. The Idil Biret Archive (IBA) will bring together, as copyrights are obtained, as many of her recordings as possible. For this volume, she performs the Brahms Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34, alongside the London String Quartet.

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 65: Brahms: Piano Quartets Nos.

The renowned horn player Martin Owen is joined by the violinist Francesca Dego and pianist Alessandro Taverna in this varied and compelling programme. Mozart's Horn Quintet, KV 407 is one of the earliest examples of the horn in chamber music - although this partnership was embraced by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann among many others. The Quintet is unusually scored for horn, violin, two violas, and cello, but the majority of the melodic interplay in the work occurs between the horn and the violin, so replacing the lower strings with piano works very well. Brahms's Horn Trio was the first major work for this instrumentation, and remains one of the finest in the repertoire. The horn is often seen as symbolic of the forest - an important entity in German culture - and Brahms commented that his inspiration for the piece came to him whilst out walking though woodland. Ligeti's Hommage � Brahms was very much inspired by Brahms's Trio, although influences of Bartok and Hungarian folk music also play their part. In the final piece, Schumann's 'Duet' from Phantasiestucke, the horn simply replaces the original cello part in this ultra-romantic miniature.

Susanne Westenfelder, music theorist and music journalist, writes in the booklet for the latest addition to the Calmus CD library 'Liebesleid', among other things: 'In 2017, the two researchers Kazuma Mori and Makoto Iwanaga published a study. The result: songs that bring tears to our eyes seem to have a cathartic effect on us, calm us down and even make us feel good afterwards. A German newspaper concluded what we all already suspected: Music helps against lovesickness. Tear-jerking songs for tear-jerking eyelids. ' We have taken on this mission - as usual across styles and eras. We move between baroque (Johann Grabbe: Three Madrigals) and contemporary music (Gordon Kampe: 'Je deviens fou... ') and also make a stopover in the German Romantic period with works by Johannes Brahms and another with folk songs from the British Isles (John Rutter: 'Five Traditional Songs'). We have also been able to recruit outstanding arrangers to tailor some of the love song dramas to us. These include our house and court arranger Juan M. V. Garcia with 'Hallelujah' and 'Another Love' as well as ex-King's singer Philip Lawson with the eponymous arrangement of Fritz Kreisler's 'Liebesleid'. Because alongside all the heartache, there is always certainty at the end: 'And if you are ever sad, don't despair, because it will always be like today: love's sorrow is followed by love's joy. '

Brahms's two masterpieces for cello and piano are heard in new recordings by Emanuel Gruber and Arnon Erez. The Jerusalem Post wrote that Emanuel Gruber is "one of our great artists" citing "his extraordinary capacity for projecting the deepest meaning of the music". Awarded the Pablo Casals prize by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, he also won the Concert Artists' Guild Auditions early in his career. Arnon Erez has performed in major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Beethoven Halle in Bonn, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

The Teatro La Fenice opened in 1792 and is one of the most renowned and most beautiful theaters in the world. First performed in 2004, the New Year's Concert at Venice's Teatro La Fenice celebrates it's 20th anniversary in 2024 with an extravagant program. Conducted by Maestro Fabio Luisi, this prestigious event features an exquisite blend of symphonic works and operatic masterpieces, including arias from operas such as Tosca, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot. Accompanied by beautiful ballet interludes and a lively tribute to the 70th anniversary of Italian television, soprano Eleonora Buratto and tenor Fabio Sartori shine on stage and ring in the New Year with a burst of joyous brilliance.

Brahms' lifelong preoccupation with the solo voice can be heard to great effect in this sixth volume of his complete songs. The ghostly and dreamlike opening of the Four Duets, Op. 28 and moods of desolation and loss in the Nine Songs, Op. 69 are linked by the unusually disparate subjects in each set, while the playful spirit of southern Italy and Spain forms part of Op. 58. The programme ends with great musical beauty, depth, and even touches of crude humour in Five Songs, Op. 72.

Once again, cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca renews artistic perspectives in relation to his instrument. With "Legacy" (V7259) released in early 2023, he questioned the notion of heritage in music, through a mirroring between the concerti by Haydn and the works of his master Porpora, not forgetting to highlight fruitful interactions with Mozart. "Wonderful World", the fruit of a collaboration with Yann Arthus-Bertrand, awakened our consciences to environmental issues (V7362, 2021).

This is the first recording of pianist Igor Levit, conductor Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic with Brahms' two Piano Concertos. The release is a triple-CD album with Levit's recording of Brahm's late solo piano works opp 116-119. As a special encore Levit and Thielemann also play the four-hand Brahms Waltz op. 39/15 together.

REVIEW:

Levit’s utterly compelling accounts of the late sets are the more impressive element in this collection. He does not put a foot wrong in any of them; each piece is perfectly shaped, its subtly varied emotional charge instantly identified. It’s hard to think of many better recordings of these 20 gems, and certainly not of all four opus numbers together.

— The Guardian

The young flutist Alissa Rossius Dausgaard presents her GENUIN debut album, featuring her own transcriptions of Johannes Brahms' violin sonatas for flute and piano. Alongside pianist Gerhard Vielhaber, she interprets these autumnal-romantic treasures with sensitivity and broad phrasing. The duo highlights the characters of the three sister works with great attention to detail - an exciting repertoire addition for musicians and audiences alike!

His 16th album with Signum Classics, the Welsh pianist, Llyr Williams, brings a profound musical intelligence to his work as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. His new album of compositions by Johannes Brahms offers a comprehensive exploration of Brahms' introspective and expressive piano works. In addition the album features Variations on a theme by R Schumann, Op 9 - harking back to Williams' celebrated album of works by Robert Schumann (SIGCD756) released in January 2024. ? "... The performances are always immaculate, their working out totally lucid; it's unquestionably thoughtful, authoritative playing." - The Guardian. Llyr Williams' long and successful collaboration with Signum Records includes the 8-disc box-set 'A Schubert Journey' (2020), the 12-volume 'Beethoven Unbound' (2018), a 'Wagner Without Words' double album (2014) and highlights from Liszt's 'Annees de pelerinage' (2012).

In her new album acclaimed pianist Tomono Kawamura invites listeners on a satisfying journey through classical piano music. Blending personal favourites with timeless masterpieces, Tomono's profound connection to the piano is evident in every piece. Her distinct poetic sensitivity and technical brilliance bring each composition to life, creating a deeply personal and immersive musical experience. The album opens with Tchaikovsky's Autumn Song, Op. 37a No. 10, from The Seasons. Tomono captures the reflective and nostalgic mood of October, emphasising the delicate interplay of light and shadow in this evocative work. The journey continues with Sibelius's "Edit," Op. 76 No. 2, where Tomono masterfully balances subdued elegance with quiet intensity, reflecting the stark beauty of the Finnish landscapes that inspired it. Brahms' Hungarian Dance adds a lively burst of energy, with Tomono navigating it's spirited rhythms and fiery folk influences with joyful intensity. Her deep affinity for Chopin shines through in her performances of six of his works, each chosen to highlight different facets of his genius. From the lyrical intimacy of his nocturnes to the virtuosic brilliance of his etudes, Tomono's interpretations resonate with the emotional depth central to Chopin's music. The album also explores diverse stylistic periods with selections from Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Grieg. Tomono's performances reflect a profound understanding of these great piano works, whether it's the crystalline precision of Scarlatti's sonatas, the sweeping passion of Rachmaninoff's preludes, the dreamlike textures of Debussy, or the rugged beauty of Grieg. A highlight of Reminiscence is Tomono's original composition, Variations, which bridges classical form with contemporary expression. This piece showcases her creativity and deep understanding of the classical tradition, offering a fresh voice while paying homage to the composers who have shaped her musical journey. Reminiscence is more than just a collection of piano works; it reflects Tomono Kawamura's lifelong devotion to music. Through her thoughtful interpretations and masterful technique, she offers listeners an experience that lingers long after the final notes fade. About Tomono Kawamura: Born in Japan, Tomono Kawamura began piano studies at three and made her orchestral debut at fifteen. After winning numerous competitions in Japan, she received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she graduated with First Class Honours. Tomono has performed as a soloist across Asia, Europe, and the UK, including at Wigmore Hall. She is also a celebrated performer on luxury cruise ships worldwide. Tomono's rich career and dedication to her craft are evident in every note of Reminiscence, offering listeners a glimpse into the soul of a true artist.

Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan present Brahms' two Cello Sonatas, alongside their arrangement of his Violin Sonata in G Major on the cello. This Brahms portrait is a logical next step after the duo's acclaimed interpretation of Beethoven's complete Cello Sonatas, released in 2022. While Beethoven's sonatas reveal the gradual ascendancy of the cello as the proper solo instrument over the piano, Brahms opens a new chapter in the history of the cello sonata, realizing a glorious marriage of equals between the two instruments. This congenial relationship between cello and piano is further enhanced by Weilerstein and Barnatan, whose musical partnership (in addition to their thriving solo careers) has been a stable factor over the years.

Since signing an exclusive contract with PENTATONE, Alisa Weilerstein has released Transfigured Night (2018) as well as Bach's Cello Suites (2020), while also featuring on Old Souls (2019) and Inon Barnatan's Beethoven Piano Concertos Part 1 (2019), on which she performed the composer's Triple Concerto. This album was part of Inon Barnatan's complete Beethoven piano concertos recordings on PENTATONE, of which Part 2 appeared in 2020. 2021 saw the release of his solo album Time Traveler's Suite, while Rachmaninoff Reflections appeared in 2023, followed by Darknesse Visible in 2024. Brahms Cello Sonatas is the second PENTATONE album by Weilerstein and Barnatan. Their interpretation of Beethoven's complete Cello Sonatas appeared on the label in 2022.

Piano Concertos