Johann Strauss the Elder’s compositions of the mid-1840s are among his very finest. As ever they are saturated with his seemingly inexhaustible vitality and invention, qualities admired by dancers and critics alike. The Austrian Celebration March was written, in dashing military fashion, for the unveiling of a monument to Emperor Franz I. In Bohemian Girl Quadrille, Strauss uses themes from the Irish composer Michael William Balfe’s then wildly popular opera The Bohemian Girl to such dizzying effect that it was encored three times. Sounds of the Vltava, written following the devastating flood in the spring of 1845, was a gift to the citizens of Prague.

This selection is available for a limited time as a special import.

Godowsky, L.: Piano Music, Vol. 7

GIBBS: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3

CUI: Suites Nos. 2 and 4 / Le Flibustier

Selections recorded in September and November 1979.
Includes traditional work(s). Soloists: Takako Nishizaki, Siufan Chan, Kuen Koo Kwok.

Joly Braga Santos' Second Symphony, at 48 minutes, has all of the urgency and ambition of a young man's enthusiastic revelry in writing for a really large orchestra. The composer was all of 23 when he wrote it, and early or not, the piece sustains its length with little apparent effort. As usual in the first four symphonies, the influences of Vaughan Williams and Respighi aren't too far away, but that's all they are. There's no mistaking a tremendous individual talent at work here. Just listen to the gorgeous slow movement--melodically distinctive and magnificently scored (the evocative coda features a mysterious timpani duet under ethereal strings). Even the finale, a highly sectional amalgam of slow introduction, allegro, fugue, and slow epilogue leading to a grandiose conclusion, hangs together remarkably well, borne on the wings of the composer's unflagging inspiration.


The coupling, a short ballet entitled Crossroads, takes Portuguese folk music as its source of inspiration, but belongs to the composer's later, spikier period. Marvelously scored for chamber orchestra, Santos' use of folk melodies and rhythms shows the same sort of naturalness and ease typical of Bartók in, say, the Dance Suite. In other words, the music's roots don't compromise its modernity. As with all the discs in this remarkable series, the composer's friend and colleague Alvaro Cassuto leads performances of great warmth, intensity, and color. He captures the quiet intimacy of the symphony's pastoral third movement as well as the epic bigness of vision of its climaxes. Under his baton, the Bournemouth Symphony plays with tremendous conviction and confidence, and the recorded sound is terrific. Don't miss this one!
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

The combination of Western violin and Chinese pipa is an unusual one. Nevertheless the timbre of the bowed instrument and of the plucked strings of the Chinese lute go well together. The program includes pieces originally for pipa solo or for violin solo. These pieces have been arranged by the well-known Chinese composer Huang Xiaofei for both instruments.

The Central Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Popular Chinese Mel

T he Strauss family was one of music's greatest dynasties. In this glittering disc, we hear such classics as the Radetzky March of Johann Strauss I, and his son, Johann Strauss II's overture to Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron), one of the enduring masterpieces of the Viennese concert repertoire. The irresistibly exciting Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning) offers thunderous delight, whilst Ander schenen blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube) is one of the most unforgettable melodies ever written. Strauss the Elder's second son, Josef, was an outstanding composer in his own right, as demonstrated by the frenzy of excitement that is the Jokey-Polka (Jockey-Polka). After positions as Chief Conductor of Prague State Opera and First Permanent Conductor of Leipzig Opera, Johannes Wildner was the General Music Director of the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Westphalia (Germany) for ten years from 1997. His years of experience as a member of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra have given his conducting a distinctive stamp.

From one of the most famous 19th-century families of musicians and known as “The Strauss of Berlin”, Hungarian-born Josef Gung’l toured widely with his orchestras, and the series of 61 concerts they gave at Hasselbacken, Stockholm in 1871 became one of the greatest events in the history of music in Sweden. This programme recreates such an evening at Hazel Hill, with waltzes such as Gung’l’s memorial to Johann Strauss I, Die Immortellen, dances by celebrated contemporaries, and nephew Johann’s famous march En Avant! - Naxos

Siegfried Wagner, the son of Richard Wagner and his second wife Cosima, composed seventeen operas in total, expertly written in a late romantic style derived from the influence of Humperdinck. His subjects are generally drawn from medieval German sources, often preoccupied with witchcraft and magic. Der Kobold (The Goblin) was created in 1904. A bonus feature includes "The Making of Der Kobold", a film by Stephan Kelch.

Siegfried Wagner
DER KOBOLD

Verena – Rebecca Broberg
Gertrud – Regina Mauel
Ekhart – Andreas Mitschke
Trutz / Satyros – Achim Hoffmann
Fink / Heliodoros – Johannes Föttinger
Kümmel / Faun – Philipp Meierhöfer
Friedrich / Eros – Volker Horn
Der Graf – Nicholas Isherwood
Dei Gräffin / Eukaleia – Martina Borst
Jeannette – Ksenija Lukic
Jean – Marco Bappert
Knorz – Joachim Höchbauer
Käthe – Heike Kohler
Seelchen – Young Jae Park
Galgenmännchen – Franziska Ulrich
Ein Geck – Philipp Hoferichter
Hofdamen – Evdoxia Fotiou, Regina Mauel
Höflinge – Philipp Hoferichter, Johann Winzer

Furth Heinrich-Schliemann-Gymnasiums Children's Chorus Choir
PPP Music Theatre Ensemble, Munich

Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra
Frank Strobel, conductor

Peter P. Pachl, stage director

Recorded at the Stadttheater Fürth, Germany from 8 November to 3 December 2005, and at Stadthalle Bayreuth, Germany on 21 November 2005.

Bonus:
- The Making of Der Kobold – a film by Stephan Kelch (in German only)
- 3D animated version of the set model by Achim Bahr
- Photographs of the production.

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, German
Running time: 206 mins
No. of DVDs.: 2 (DVD 9)

SUPPE: Overtures, Vol. 6

SCHWEITZER: Alceste

While globalization advances, all countries staunchly retain two unique features: their distinctive national flag and a bonding national anthem. The anthems reflect an enormous indigenous diversity, but relatively few are generally known by citizens of other nations, making any comprehensive compendium a source of endless interest and discovery. We invite you to take a musical tour of Naxos’ definitive set of national and regional anthems, from Algeria to Kuwait. Lapland to Zanzibar, and all stops in between. You’ll be delighted by the gems that are waiting to be discovered and compiled into either personal or family favorites. And you can check out the flags in the process with our informative supporting booklets! Welcome to the Naxos set of The Complete National Anthems of the World.