Hugo Distler’s contribution to Lutheran church music of the twentieth century can hardly be overestimated. His clear musical language marked by lightness and transparency has influenced generations of church musicians and composers. With the Norddeutscher Kammerchor in top form, Maria Jürgensen has now recorded a program with works from Distler’s Liturgische Sätze and – as a complementary contrast – Hans-Werner Zimmermann’s jazz-inspired chorale variations on Distler’s Nürnberger Großes Gloria. The Liturgische Sätze (Liturgical Settings) are based on original Lutheran melodies from the Reformation period. The various Kyrie and Gloria settings of the sixteenth century continue to be used in Lutheran religious services. In Distler’s settings the text always occupies the foreground; unfamiliar harmonies sometimes result from his very individual, word-related part writing. The rhythmic refinements of this centuries-old music also fascinated Hans-Werner Zimmermann - and did so precisely in Distler’s version of the Nürnberger Großes Gloria(Nuremberg Great Gloria). The static chorale by Nicolaus Decius is transformed into a “walking bass” under the free soprano upper voice – a splendid effect! This extensive work displaying manifold contrapuntal virtuosity, from Sprechgesang to psalmody, ends with a magnificent intensification colored with blues allusions.

Alexander Veprik was regarded as a star in the young Soviet generation of composers of which Dmitri Shostakovich was a member, and his music was enthusiastically performed even in the distant West. But then he fell into disfavor as a victim of Stalin's anti-Semitic policies and was banned to the Gulag. His name disappeared from program pages - and has yet to reappear. Veprik's rehabilitation is long overdue, a fact impressively demonstrated by Christoph-Mathias Mueller on this new recording with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Highly expressive melodies, compelling expressivity, and captivating tone colors will fascinate our listening audience. Mueller's selection consists of works from very different phases in the composer's life. The "Five Little Pieces" as well as the "Dances and Songs of the Ghetto" play with the transmitted Eastern Jewish melodies that accompanied Veprik, who was born near Odessa, throughout his life. At the time Veprik, a professor in Moscow, was at the height of his popularity, and his pieces were even presented on one of the first music broadcasts on Radio Berlin. Veprik's last large-format orchestral work is entitled "Two Poems." Simply marvelous, how Mueller succeeds in capturing the very personal, unique intensity of this music with his Welsh orchestra! Masterful in it's instrumentation, this summit of the symphonic literature deeply and immediately moves listening audiences- especially when it is heard in the three dimensions of this high-resolution, very meticulously produced album.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

V5: COMPLETE PIANO MUSIC

V6: COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS

Classical Music

For the first time in modern history, the colour and beauty of music written by Joannis de Lublin in the 16th century comes to life. Sophisticated multi-channel technology creates a spectacular sound image: the church space stretches out around the listener and the music unfolds with impressive transparency and striking naturalness.

80 minutes of music of the very finest quality, a mix of well-known pieces and no fewer than twelve premiere recordings, symphonic, chamber music, chanson and solo works, instrumental and vocal music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Classical Modern, Jazz and New Music periods. A carefully put-together programme that is best enjoyed in one sitting.

Haydn's originality, wit and esprit are once again as impressive as the striking inventiveness and versatility of this highly acclaimed ensemble. If his opus one marks the birth of the genre, then opus 33 marks the rebirth, containing some of his most inspired and innovative music. Haydn skilfully plays with the listener's expectations by offering lots of surprising twists and the Leipzig String Quartet reveal and revel in the delights of Haydn's musical wit and invention.

Classical Music