Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

This new album is yet another sensational piano release from the North German Husum Festival of Rarities featuring some of the leading pianists of today performing many rare works for solo piano. Founded in 1987, the annual Rarities of Piano Music Festival in the North German town of Husum is a major event. Danacord is proud to release the recording from the 2015 Festival. Lovers of all Romantic piano music will appreciate this live recording featuring Jonathan Plowright, Jonathan Powell, Yuri Favorin, Martin Jones, and more. As an additional note- Danacord releases live recordings of this festival each year, and all previous recordings are available as well.

The Danish baritone Johan Reuter often sings leading roles at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is in high demand all over the world. He also loves the lied repertoire, however, and the work closest to his heart is the Schubert song cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey). For this new release, he wanted to record it not with the usual piano accompanist, but in an arrangement for string quartet. Richard Krug from the Copenhagen String Quartet made this highly idiomatic transcription of the piano part and the result is deeper, more moving and with full sound than in the original. This is truly a unique experience. Johan Reuter studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Academy of the Royal Theatre in his hometown of Copenhagen. He frequented masterclasses of Ernst Haefliger, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson and Richard Trimborn. Since 1996 he has been a soloist of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where he sings a large repertoire.

This new release, featuring a truly sensational Bruckner 9, is the premiere recording of the finale completed by Nors Josephson. Josephson writes of this release: “The present edition of the finale to Anton Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony is the result of a ten year-long project. I have utilised the sketches and score sketches to this movement that are found in the Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna, Austria, the Viennese Stadt-und Landesbibliothek and the Viennese Hochschule fur Musik und darstellende Kunst; all of these institutions kindly provided me with microfilms and photographic copies of these sources. In addition, Alfred Orel’s 1934 edition of most of these sources as part of the Bruckner Complete Works was of particular value. Thanks go to the Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna for sending me a copy of this edition.” Conductor John Gibbons brings a transparent and insightful interpretation to the entire work.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

This new release features studio and live broadcast recordings, never previously issued and newly remastered from the original tapes, of Romantic and 20th-century Danish music. Highlights include an atmospheric tone-poem by Gade, ballet and concert scores based on fairy-tales of Hans Christian Andersen, an overture to celebrate the end of the Nazi occupation of Denmark and a colorful set of orchestral variations based on Danish radio ?s theme tune. The performances bear witness to the high technical standard of the DRSO ?s playing, nearly 70 years ago, as well as to the tireless advocacy of Launy Grøndahl for the music of his own country.

This is the first recording featuring the new chief conductor of the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Marc Soustrot. The Maestro has chosen a programme of French music by Bizet. It is a winning combination of an orchestra famous for its brilliant Delius recording and an idiomatic French conductor. These works by Bizet can hardly be bettered. And with sound to match, this is truly "magnifique"! Marc Soustrot is considered a specialist of French orchestral literature. He is also well-known for his deep involvement in contemporary music, which he has cultivated since the beginning of his career. He has been the chief conductor and artistic director of the Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de la Loire, the Beethoven Orchester Bonn and Het Brabants Orkest Eindhoven. He has been chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra since the 2011/12 season and has led the orchestra in concerts in Sweden as well as on international tours. In addition, he has just recently taken on the position as chief conductor of the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra from the 2015/16 season onwards. The Danish city of Aarhus has been named European Capital of Culture in 2017. "Marc Soustrot manages the great feat of making the orchestral music, which blossoms out of its own unique world under his hands, serve the singer's sphere." - Frankfurter Neue Presse

The first (almost) complete recording of Nielsen's comic masterpiece, plus a previously unreleased fairy-tale rarity, under the inspirational baton of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra's founder-conductor. Launy Grøndahl knew both Carl Nielsen and Knud Jeppesen personally: he conducted their music with unrivalled sympathy and passion. His 1954 recording of Maskarade is full of native wit and simple joys, while Aesop's fable of The Eagle and the Beetle is dramatized as a typically Danish morality-tale of revenge on the high and mighty. Volume 5 is in preparation for a 2021 release and will have Grøndahl conducting 4 Danish symphonies and two orchestral suites.

These are the first recordings of the two sonatas for cello and piano and of the last trio for violin, cello and piano by the Russian romantic composer Anton Rubinstein. The works are performed by three fine musicians often playing together and giving a fully convincing performance of these rare works. On the re-issue of the original album a bonus album is included with the first release of the original master tape of the last Rubinstein trio, a large-scale work showing deep understanding of the chamber music combination from this big Russian.

Founded in 1987 the annual Rarities of Piano Music Festival in the North German town of Husum is a major event. Danacord is proud to release the recording from the special 30th Anniversary Festival in 2016 featuring again rare piano music played by some of the leading pianists of today. Lovers of all Romantic piano music will appreciate this live recording featuring Johann Blanchard, Severin von Eckardstein, Ziata Chochieva, Martin Jones, Hubert Rukowski, Florian Noack, Joseph Moog, and more, including world-famous piano duos. As an additional note- Dacord releases live recordings of this spectacular festival each year, and all previous recordings are available as well.

This album is the final volume in the retrospective series featuring Finn Videro, undoubtedly the best Danish organist ever. This album features the legendary recordings on the 17th century Compenius organ together with the much sought after baroque German organ works. Also included is a rare live recording from Dallax, Texas from Videro’s teaching years. Viderø was born in Fuglebjerg, Næstved. He was the organist at the Reformed Church in Copenhagen from 1928 to 1941, the Jægersborg Church from 1942 to 1947, the Trinitatis Church in Copenhagen from 1947 to 1971 and St. Andreas Church in Copenhagen from 1971 to 1977. He was guest lecturer at Yale University and held an honorary doctorate from the University of Åbo in Finland. In 1933, he co-published with Oluf Ring a widely used organ primer. His organ playing was uncompromising and many believed that Viderø's musical interpretations were as close to the authentic, artistic and historical representation intended by the composer as one could get.

Danish conductor and composer Launy Grøndahl (1886-1960) was the leading figure developing the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra all from the very first beginning of the orchestra in the 1920s until his retirement in 1956. He worked closely with composer Carl Nielsen and his recording of the Nielsen 2nd and the 4th Symphonies are now the benchmark for how these works should be heard. The new series of album releases will contain every single recording which can be found of Grøndahl, both live and studio recordings as well as his commercial releases. New digital transfers and extensive booklet notes. Volume 2 is in preparation for a September 2020 release and will have Launy Grøndahl conducting Grøndahl, 2 albums with his own orchestral works. Another first ever release.

Founded in 1987, the annual Rarities of Piano Music Festival in the North German town of Husum is a major event. Danacord is proud to release the recording from the 31st festival in 2017 featuring once again rare piano music played by some of the leading pianists of today. Among the highlights you will find the truly remarkable pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin and very rare piano works by Blagoy and Dupont. Many of the works are first ever album recordings and, as usual, are all unedited live performances. All lovers of piano music will want this release, not only because of the first class pianism from truly outstanding performers, but also because the quality of the often unknown and rare mostly romantic piano music is of such invaluable substance. Critics are raving about the piano sound.

Danish composer J.P.E. Hartmann was the leading romantic Danish composer who influenced generations of Danish composers, not least Niels W. Gade and the son Emil Hartmann. He was a prolific composer and composed in all genres. His extensive music for piano is sadly too little known outside Denmark, but with its romantic tone, melodic charm and harmonies known from Schumann and Mendelssohn it will come as a pleasant surprise to all lovers of romantic music for piano. Danish pianist Thomas Trondhjem is here presenting the second album of a complete recording of all the works for solo piano by J.P.E. Hartmann. The first volume received very positive comments from many critics.

The first-ever complete LP collection of Ignaz Friedman’s recordings has been much sought after by collectors and admired by critics since its original LP release in 1985. Newly remastered for its first modern release, this set celebrates the artistry of a uniquely gifted musician. The ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, Chopin mazurkas and Songs without Words of Mendelssohn are classics of the gramophone, which now speak to a new generation of listeners more clearly than ever before.

Danish composer Leif Kayser could have been 100 years here in 2019 and we are releasing for the first time on modern technology two rare LP issues, one with the Hindemith-inspired Horn Concerto and the Trio which has strong resemblance to the French school. Most important is a series of piano music performed by the virtuoso composer himself. This album is done using the original master tapes and is probably the most significant example of the art of Leif Kayser, a composer strongly in the line of Nielsen. Leif Kayser was an organist and composer. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen with Poul Schierbeck and Hilding Rosenberg and with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. He later returned to the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen as a teacher. He had extensive concert activities as an organ and piano soloist. His works include orchestral music (four symphonies etc.), compositions and transcriptions for concert band, film music, piano, organ, and chamber works; choral music (five masses etc.) and songs, including children's songs.

Ulla Kappel was for years the leading Danish authority on the music by Buxtehude and Danacord was lucky to make this early LP release where Ulla Kappel plays some of the masterworks for harpsichord by Buxtehude. It is now available for the first time in new digital transfer. Also included are a few bonus tracks with never before released recordings featuring the Hungarian master organist János Sebestyén in music he never recorded commercially before. A must for all! Ulla Kappel was born in Munster, Westfalia, Germany in 1936 to Danish parents. She graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Copenhagen, with diplomas in piano, harpsichord and organ. Further studies in harpsichord in Paris and Basel, organ studies in Innsbruck and Muri. During the period 1968-1974 she was a teacher of the harpsichord at the Conservatory in Copenhagen; and from 1975 organist at Slangerup Church, the old church of the famous Danish poet and bishop Thomas Kingo, a contemporary of Buxtehude.

Founded in 1987 the annual Rarities of Piano Music Festival in the North German town of Husum is a major event. Danacord is proud to release the recording from the 3rd Festival in 2019 featuring again rare piano music played by some of the leading pianists of today. Among the highlights you will find the truly remarkable pianist Cyprien Katsaris and very rare piano works by Bizet and Fontana. Many of the works are first ever recordings and, as usual, all are unedited live performances. All lovers of piano music will want this release, not only because of the first class pianism from truly outstanding performers, but also because the quality of the often unknown and rare mostly romantic piano music is of such invaluable substance. Critics are raving about the piano sound and the long and informative booklet.

The Danish organist Kristian Krogsoe is the cathedral organist for the second biggest Danish town, Aarhus. The cathedral has the biggest Danish cathedral organ build by Danish organ builder Frobenius. All of the music on this new release is by an organ master, and it all comes back to Bach- it is all either by J.S. Bach himself or inspired by Bach with arrangements done by Guilmant, Middleschulte and Max Reger. The famous Chaconne for solo violin is here receiving a truly stunning performance in an idiomatic arrangement by the German Middleschulte. Overpowering is the Liszt organ work Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, not to be diminished by the Max Reger Fantasy and Fugue on BACH. These works are all brilliantly recorded, and the release includes an extensive booklet.

The Anthology of American Piano Music is designed to show the stylistic breadth, high musical quality and great originality of the best American piano works. While the preceding three volumes presented works for solo piano by multiple composers related to one theme (Vol. 1, "American First Sonatas"; Vol. 2, "Music of the Night - American Nocturnes"; Vol. 3, "American Landscapes"), Vol. 4 is dedicated to one composer, presenting the complete works for piano and orchestra by George Gershwin. Vol. 5, a theme CD focusing on "American Dances", is currently in preparation.

The great pianist Paderewski said: "After Chopin, Moszkowski best understands how to write for the piano, and his writing embraces the whole gamut of piano technique". Presented here on this album, Etsuko Hirose showcases the wide range of the piano music by an extraordinary composer who was a star in his lifetime but is now in need of a romantic revival. Born in Nagoya in Japan, Etsuko Hirose began studying the piano at the age of three. When she was only six, she performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto no.26 with orchestra. After pursuing her studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in the class of Bruno Rigutto and Nicholas Angelich, she has received the guidance of Alfred Brendel, Marie-Francoise Bucquet and Jorge Chamine. A prizewinner at prestigious international contests such as the Frederic Chopin Competition for young pianists (Moscow), the G. B. Viotti and the Munich ARD Competition, she won First Prize at the Martha Argerich Competition in 1999, which launched her solo career.