Emil Gilels Legacy, Vol. 8: Studio & Live Recordings (1950-1

Franck, Vierne & Kuerti: Cello Sonatas

Art of Johnny Cowell: Virtuoso Trumpet Gems

Pianist Anton Kuerti has performed with leading orchestras around the globe and has appeared in recital in more than forty countries. In Canada alone he has appeared in 150 communities and performed with every professional orchestra in the country, including 41 concerts with the Toronto Symphony. Kuerti has recorded every Beethoven concerto and sonata, the Brahms and Schumann concertos, and all of the Schubert sonatas. He is the recipient of the prestigious Leventritt Award, which he won in 1957, as well as a Banff Centre National Arts Award, the Schumann Prize of the Schumann Gesellschaft, and Canada’s Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Here he performs two works by Schumann, the composer on whose compositions he always hung his hat: the Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, and the Fantasie in C Major. “One of the truly great pianists of this century.” (CD Review) “The best pianist currently playing” (Fanfare)

Jascha Horenstein (1898 - 1973) was a well-known and respected conductor but lived somewhat in the shade of the likes of Bruno Walter or Otto Klemperer during his lifetime. His legacy is now undergoing a remarkable renaissance, and over the past few decades record collectors and musicologists have come to greatly appreciate his contributions. Many of his live recordings are now being discovered, pulled from radio archives and released on CD and digital venues. He is now considered one the very top ranking conductors of the 20th century. This release features Horenstein conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Korngold’s Prelude and Carnival from Violanta and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1, and he conducts the Orchestre Radio Symphonique, Paris on Hindemith’s Symphony: Mathis der Maler.

Lili Kraus Rarities: Bach & Mozart

Richter Archives, Vol. 1: Beethoven Late Piano Sonatas (Live

Jascha Horenstein conducts the French National Orchestra with soloists Pilar Lorengar, Marga Hoeffgen, Josef Traxel, and Otto Wiener.

Julius Katchen, Vol. 1: Bach & Beethoven (Live)

Yona Ettlinger Vol. 1: Clarinet Concertos

Menahem Pressler, Vol. 1: Mendelssohn

Described by the New York Times as "born to the instrument," cellist Ofra Harnoy is one of the most illustrious classical performers of her generation. Born in Israel, she studied with her father, with Vladimir Orloff and William Pleeth and in masterclasses with Mstislav Rostropovich, Pierre Fournier and Jacqueline du Pré. After her family moved to Canada, she was invited to perform as a soloist with the Toronto and Montreal Symphony Orchestras at age 10. Winning the 1982 International Concert Artists Guild award in New York led to her concerto and recital debut in Carnegie Hall, which earned both public and critical acclaim, and in 1983 she was named Young Musician of the Year by Musical America Magazine. She has since appeared as soloist with major orchestras on five continents and has been featured in hundreds of televised solo concerts across the globe. She has recorded more than 40 albums. In addition to standard cello repertoire, she presented the world premiere recordings (and performance) of the Viotti and Offenbach Cello concertos as well as 26 concertos by Vivaldi. This release features works by Offenbach, Tchaikovsky, and Saint-Saens.

In 1967, New York Impresario Sol Hurok presented Mstislav Rostropovich in 8 monumental evenings in Carnegie Hall from Feb. 23 to March 12, 1967. Rostropovich performed 30 cello concertos - offering standard concerto repertoire and new works, several of which were written for him and two were world premieres. From these, a selection of 22 concertos from the actual 1967 performances are presented in this set. This marathon program features works from Elgar, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Respighi, Hindemith, Honegger, Britten, Khrennikov, and more.

Richter Archives, Vol. 18: 1958 Budapest Recital (Live)

William Primrose Collection, Vol. 1