Two violoncellos piccoli, one with four strings, the other with five, making a total of nine strings: it is as if a new instrument were born, an organ with strings instead of pipes, to perform virtuoso polyphonic masterpieces with a larger, enriched sound palette. Taking Gustav Leonhardt's keyboard transcriptions of the Suites, Sonatas and Partitas as his point of departure, Mario Brunello adds a new sonic dimension to three of Bach's solo pieces for unaccompanied violin and cello, making the polyphony previously confined to only four strings audible. He is partnered by his longstanding friend the specialist Mauro Valli, who has already appeared on Arcana with his personal reinterpretation of the Cello Suites (Bach in Bologna A459, 2019).

Playing Franz Schubert's music on the unusual instrument known as the "arpeggione" in an ensemble with the combination of Schrammel harmonica and contraguitar known as the "Wiener Packl" (Viennese posse) in traditional Viennese music - as far-fetched as this combination may seem at first glance, on closer inspection it is not so outlandish, given that the inventor of the arpeggione, Johann Georg Stauffer, also made the first attempts to develop the contraguitar. And the Schrammel harmonica was also invented around the same time, also in Vienna! On this album by the title "Arpeggione.200," Peter Hudler, Andreas Teufel and Daniel Fuchsberger perform Schubert's popular Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in addition to different Ländler and their own arrangements of songs like "Trockne Blumen," "Du bist die Ruh" or "Sei mir gegrüßt," opening a gateway to a very special, distinctly poetic, lyrical sound world which also highlights the close relation of Schubert's works to traditional Alpine folk music.

An experienced early-keyboard specialist brings his expertise to the 'New Testament' of the piano repertoire. 'Period' performances of Beethoven sonatas have become relatively mainstream during the present century, through artists such as Robert Levin and Ronald Brautigam. Through them, we have learnt, or rediscovered, that the turns of phrase in Beethoven's musical thinking take on a particular shape and agility when played and heard on the kind of instrument for which he was writing. All the same, most modern fortepianos are exactly that: modern. In this bold new project, Simone Pierini presents the first nine of Beethoven's sonatas-from Op.2 to Op.10-on fully original instruments of the period. These instruments are identified as the work of piano-makers Johann Haselmann (end of 18th century-early 19th century), Matthias Müller (1822), and Conrad Graf (1830). Simone Pierini complements the sonatas with several standalone pieces: the Allegretto in C minor WoO53, Andante Favori WoO57, Bagatelle in B flat WoO60, the Rondos Op.51, Variations in D Op.76 and the Polonaise in C Op.89. The set thus surveys the first 20 years of Beethoven's career as a composer, from the Op.2 sonatas of 1795 to the Polonaise which he wrote in 1814-15. During those two decades, his style underwent far-reaching changes, which in themselves have come to define the passage from the Classical to the Romantic style in music. All the same, Beethoven was and is Beethoven all the way through, as inimitable and distinct in the coursing momentum and sometimes surprising breadth of Op.2 as in the inward gaze of the Andante favori and the sideways look at popular dances in the Polonaise: all of them, in their way, inheritances from and developments of Haydn's style. Simone Pierini's previous fortepiano albums for Brilliant Classics include sets of sonatas by Luigi Cherubini, JB Cramer (Beethoven's publisher in London) and Helene de Montgeroult. He brings to this repertoire a deep understanding of both it's context and the nature of the instruments on which these composers were working at the turn of the 18th to the 19th centuries: equipped with a lighter touch than many modern pianos, and a more intimate tone. Reviewing the album of de Montgeroult, the Fanfare critic remarked that Pierini 'plays with tremendous energy and conviction.'

The album Bohemian Legacy by Trio 258 is a heartfelt tribute to three generations of Czech composers - Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak, and Josef Suk - whose music embodies the soul of Bohemian culture. The program begins with Smetana's Piano Trio in G minor, a deeply personal and tragic work written in the wake of his daughter's death, where raw grief intertwines with Bohemian folk melodies and a sense of resilience. Dvorak's Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor follows, showcasing his synthesis of Bohemian lyricism and Germanic symphonic structure, combining folk-inspired dance rhythms with Brahmsian complexity. The album concludes with Suk's Elegy in D-flat Major, dedicated to poet Julius Zeyer and inspired by his poem Vysehrad, a reflective and nostalgic ode to Prague's cultural and spiritual heritage. Together, these works form a tapestry of national identity, friendship, and artistic lineage - an exploration of emotion, beauty, and belonging through music. In their liner notes, Trio 258 (Lestari Scholtes, Eduardo Paredes Crespo, and Leonard Besseling) emphasize the importance of language, nature, and folk tradition in shaping Czech music. They describe their interpretive process as an "immensely valuable journey," seeking to find their own voice while honoring the composers' intentions. Through this album, the trio not only presents technically accomplished performances but also reflects on the Bohemian spirit - one that fuses melancholy and vitality, individuality and tradition. Their recording is both a musical homage and a personal exploration of how the language of music can bridge generations, resonating with the timeless ideals of freedom, emotion, and national identity

Myron Silberstein, Brooklyn-born (in 1974) and a long-term resident of Chicago, belongs to that centuries-old tradition of the composer-pianist. But here the distant roots are not so much in Mozart and Beethoven as in Copland and Barber. Silberstein's language echoes the tradition of earlier American composers like Creston, Mennin, and Persichetti, and his tonal harmony may remind some listeners of mid-twentieth-century jazz, especially in it's sense of improvisatory freedom. Like much of American culture more generally, it is open, outgoing, and often positive in spirit.

A longtime Delos partner, composer Mark Abel releases his seventh album on the label. Matter-of-factly titled 4.4.2, it features the world premiere recording of four works for two musicians. A combination of vocal and chamber music, the album offers an enticing glimpse into Abel's wide-ranging soundworld, showcasing one of America's most original compositional voices alongside an impressive roster of internationally accomplished artists. The five-star cast includes rising mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh, flutist Alice K. Dade, violinist Jennifer Choi, cellist Jonah Kim and pianists Michael McMahon, Ieva Jokubaviciute and Keisuke Nakagoshi, and the composer himself on the organ. 4.4.2 is sure to continue to solidify Mark Abel as "a compositional master of intriguing contemporary music."

Puccini is renowned as one of the greatest opera composers of all time, and his early works - before Manon Lescaut catapulted him to international fame - offer a fascinating insight into his development as a composer. John Wilson and Sinfonia of London explore this repertoire with characteristic style and commitment, leading us on a journey through student compositions and orchestral extracts from his earliest operas. Studying under Amilcare Ponchielli at the Milan Conservatory from 1880 to 1883, he created the Preludio sinfonico (loosely based on Wagner's Prelude to Lohengrin), the Scherzo, Trio, and Adagetto, and Capriccio sinfonico, his graduation piece, which famously pre-echoes the opening of La bohème by a decade. The one-act opera Le villi was composed for a competition launched by the publisher Sonzogno (Puccini didn't win), whilst themes from the contemporaneous Tre minuetti and Crisantemi (both for string quartet) were subsequently re-cycled in Manon Lescaut. Verdi's publisher, Ricordi, bought the rights to Le villi, and commissioned a new work at the same time: Edgar, which, largely owing to the absurd plot, is arguably Puccini's only failure, despite some fully mature music easily the match of the more celebrated scores.

Nikolay Roslavets was one of the great musical innovators of the 1920s, described by Stravinsky as "the most interesting Russian composer of the 20th century," but vilified by the Soviet regime on account of his constant experimentation. His Piano Trio No. 4 is notable for it's romantic and passionate spirit and complex polyphony. Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2 is one of the most harrowing and revered of all his chamber works. The Piano Trio No. 1, a remarkable composition for a 16-year-old student, is a work of romantic intensity cast in a musical language recognisably that of Shostakovich.

Castelnuovo-Tedesco's chamber works were composed early and late in his career. He considered the Piano Quintet No. 1 in F major from 1932 to be the best of all his chamber works from that period. It exudes Romantic candour and contrapuntal richness, full of lively themes and with a colourful atmosphere. The beautiful Piano Quintet No. 2, composed in 1951, draws on the composer's memories of a serene and rustic Tuscany. Quartetto Adorno's 'reference-worthy performance' (Classicstoday. Com) of the complete string quartets is on 8. 574580.

Krasa Quartet, a young ensemble specializing in music by Jewish authors from the Terezin Ghetto, are releasing their debut album, with compositions by Hans Krasa, Erwin Schulhoff and Karel Ancerl. Krasa's Theme with Variations and his String Quartet, Schulhoff's Divertimento for String Quartet and Ancerl's Two Student Fugues all come from early stages of these composers' careers, before the political events in the aftermath of the First World War drastically affected their lives. In 2012, four young musicians who met during their studies at the Prague Conservatory decided to found their own ensemble. The members of Krasa Quartet - Marie Forestova, sarka Petrikova (first violin), Jan Paloucek (second violin) and Daniel Menhart - were then of similar age as these authors would have been while working on their early compositions. Now, having gained experience performing at festivals in Czechia and abroad and participating in master classes (Pavel Haas Quartet, Hagen Quartet), the quartet are relaesing their debut album. Besides quartet classics, such as, for example, works by Ludwig van Beethoven, the ensemble's repertoire encompasses 20th-century music, with special emphasis on works of Hans Krasa and other Terezin authors. Krasa Quartet regularly collaborate with foremost instrumentalists, including pianists Jan Bartos and Marek Kozak, as well as with choirs and dance ensembles. For several years, the ensemble performed as part of the ballet production Vertigo at the National Theatre in Prague.

The compositional career of Robin Stevens, Welsh-born (in 1958) and Manchester-based, is divided into two periods, separated by a period of illness. The first mainly produced chamber music and works for the church that employed him; restored to health, he found an appetite for larger forms, writing three substantial concertos and a number of other orchestral works. Stevens' substantial, four-movement Cello Concerto is something of a symphony-with-cello, casting the orchestra in kaleidoscopic discussion with the soloist. Here the Concerto sits between a charming orchestral miniature and a searching symphonic poem.

American Tapestry by the Calidore String Quartet weaves together a panoramic portrait of American musical expression across the 20th and 21st centuries. The programme spans Samuel Barber's lyrical String Quartet No. 1, featuring the iconic Adagio; Wynton Marsalis's jazz-inflected At the Octoroon Balls; and John Williams's With Malice Toward None-here in it's world premiere string quartet version. The album concludes with Erich Korngold's radiant String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, written in postwar Los Angeles. Together, these works reveal a vibrant continuum of American artistry-a sound world both richly diverse and deeply unified in spirit.

It was nothing short of a sensation: in the autumn of 2021, the Female Symphonic Orchestra Austria (FSOA), under the direction of it's founder and chief conductor Silvia Spinnato and featuring Jacquelyn Wagner - one of the most sought-after and successful sopranos in the lyric and youthful-dramatic repertoire - gave the posthumous world premiere of the Hymnische Symphonie (Hymnic Symphony) by Bruckner's student Mathilde Kralik von Meyrswalden at the International Brucknerfest in Linz. This performance came more than 80 years after the final version was completed. "A sensational symphonic rediscovery," proclaimed the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten, and the concert audience cheered. Now, the live recording of this concert is being released, paired with the Piano Trio in F major, also composed by Mathilde Kralik. Her early chamber music, after all, was well received by Eduard Hanslick, the universally feared music critic, and her songs, which form the main part of her oeuvre, were popularly sung. In contrast, the few symphonic works from her pen almost without exception ended up in a drawer and, after her death in Vienna in 1944, fell into near-total obscurity until today.

SOMM RECORDINGS celebrates the powerful and dynamic relationship between soloist and orchestra with three works by Nimrod Borenstein, whom Opus klassiek called "Brilliant... an inspired composer but also an inspiring conductor." Borenstein leads the English Chamber Orchestra in his Concerto for mandolin and orchestra; Shakespeare Songs for soprano and orchestra; and Legende - Concerto for oboe and orchestra. The program features mandolinist Alon Sariel, honored for his "dazzling virtuosity" by The Vancouver Sun; soprano Sarah Fox- Honorary Fellow at the University of London's Royal Holloway College and winner of the Kathleen Ferrier and John Christie awards-praised for her "shining intelligence" by Gramophone; and oboist Sanja Romic, hailed by Zubin Mehta for her "musical depth and lovely tone" and applauded worldwide for her expressive sound and charismatic stage presence. Nimrod Borenstein-whose substantial catalogue currently numbers more than 100 works ranging from orchestral and chamber music to solo instrumental pieces-made his SOMM debut [SOMMCD 281] conducting the first recordings of his Piano Concerto, piano quintet Light and Darkness, and Shirim for solo piano, celebrated by Pizzicato as "feel-good music of exquisite quality." With reference to this present release, Borenstein describes the relationship between soloist and orchestra as having an epic, almost theatrical quality. "It can become a moment of confession, or of confrontation," he says, "a personal voice rising against, or carried by, a collective force." These elements are richly evident in all three works presented here. While the qualities of a mandolin can be delicate, quiet, and soft, Borenstein's choice in composing his Concerto for mandolin and orchestra was to create a work that feels monumental in scope while showcasing the virtuosic capabilities of the instrument. To this end, the composer explored many of the technical ideas and expressive tools pioneered by Paganini for the violin, adapting them to the mandolin's unique sound. This release of Borenstein's Shakespeare Songs reprises his performance in March 2025 at London's Cadogan Hall with Sarah Fox and the English Chamber Orchestra. In choosing and setting these five Shakespeare sonnets, Borenstein has created both variety and a sense of overall structure ranging from the enchantment of pure beauty in "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" to the despair-turned-hope in "When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes." The two-movement Legende - Concerto for oboe and orchestra was written for and premiered by Sanja Romic in 2024. The slow, dance-like opening is like a preamble to a tale about to be told; "Let me tell you a story about a legend I once heard." The second and final movement is more fiery, with contrasts leading to a faster tempo return of the opening theme, creating a sense of narrative closure before a brilliant, virtuosic conclusion.

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Since it's foundation in 2013, the Berlin Opera Group has made a name for itself with Berlin premieres such as Donizetti's Deux Hommes et une Femme and Betly, and other operatic rarities. This album is a Deutschlandfunk Kultur recording of the 2021 performance of Pietro Mascagni's Zanetto from the Konzerthaus Berlin. Yajie Zhang was also heard in the role of Ugo d'Asti (OC989). The orchestra of the Berlin Opera Group plays under the direction of Felix Krieger.

Jean-Efflam Bovouzet's acclaimed cycle of Mozart's piano concertos reaches it's conclusion with this twelfth volume. The programme offers a suitably celebratory mood: the Overtures to Idomeneo and La finta semplice frame the A major and D major Rondos for piano and orchestra and the Concerto for three pianos, and ends with the double piano concerto. Bavouzet comments: "As one reaches the conclusion of a series of recordings that has stretched over a long period of time, the feeling of fulness at having arrived at one's goal always blends with an immediate sense of nostalgia for the recording sessions, marvellous moments engaged in the search for a truth that always remains beyond reach. After a span of nine years, we arrive at the end of this complete recording project with the devoted members of Manchester Camerata and my friend Gábor Takács-Nagy. Gábor's plan to combine them with operatic overtures was certainly most appealing, but the task of playing the entirety of this enormous corpus of concertos seemed to me gigantic! And then a few considerations very quickly made me conscious that a rare opportunity now presented itself to me, which it would have been ill-advised to pass up: this intense musical fellowship with Gábor and the joy of making music with him, the excellence of the members of Manchester Camerata and their untiring energy and suppleness in accepting our continual musical 'experimentations', and, finally, the wonderful chance for once in my life to have at my side a born, inspiring Mozartian, my wife, Andrea Nemecz."

Lise Davidsen / James Baillieu - "Live at The Met" / On September 14, 2023, Lise Davidsen became one of the youngest singers ever invited to give a solo recital at the Metropolitan Opera, a house with which she has a very special relationship: "I consider the Met my second home, " she says, "but that doesn't mean one will be asked for something so special as this, so I was very touched when Peter asked me." With pianist James Baillieu, Lise performed a program including highlights from her Met roles, as well as a variety of song literature, plus some lighter pieces from the world of operetta and musical theater. Peter Gelb (General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera) believes Lise Davidsen is "the greatest Wagnerian talent since Birgit Nilsson and Kirsten Flagstad. Her voice in the Met's luxurious acoustics sounds extraordinary, with incredible beauty but amazing power." Although still in her thirties, "she's the consummate artist."

Nicola Benedetti -"Violin Cafe" - Violin Cafe brings together music that represents the different musical strands of Nicola's life and career, from virtuosic showpieces to French romance, contemporary favorites and Scottish folk, freshly arranged for a new dynamic group of instruments: violin, guitar, accordion & cello, and smallpipes. This inventive new line-up of instruments delivers a communal, conversational "evening cafe appropriate" sound. A sound with the flexibility to work across genres, cultures and performance environments. The album reunites Nicola with audiences she has known and been supported by for over 22 years. This is a thank you to the people of all ages, from all around the world, who share a deep love of classical music and the violin, whose children Nicola has taught after concerts and whose curiosity of the arts she shares.

John Rutter/Steven Osborne/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - "Reflections". This new recording is the first orchestral album from one of Britain's most beloved composers, Sir John Rutter. Released just ahead of Rutter's 80th birthday in September 2025. Known around the world for his choral music, the album includes the first recording of Rutter's rarely heard piano concerto, Reflections, performed by pianist Steven Osborne and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer himself. In addition to the piano concerto, the album includes the orchestral works Celebration Overture, Four Miniatures for Orchestra, Cityscapes, and Elegy. Rutter's music is performed across the globe, and he has received many honors, including a CBE in 2007 and a knighthood in 2024 for services to music. Being knighted by King Charles III, a strong supporter of the arts, was a particularly special moment for Rutter. CD Digisleeve.

Two years after his first solo-piano album, JB Dunckel has reimagined it's delicate melodies for string quintet. On Paranormal Music Chamber, the ten dreamy, moody tracks blossom into a warm palette of colours through minimalist yet sophisticated arrangements and production. First and foremost a "reveur d'harmonies" ("dreamer of harmonies"), JB has teamed up with composer and pianist Harry Allouche to create these arrangements for a string quintet, specially formed by five musicians from the Orchestre de l'Opera national de Paris. Double bass, cello, violins and viola-sometimes joined by flute-significantly broaden the tonal spectrum of the pieces, while preserving or even amplifying their original sensibility, freedom and momentum. Whilst simple and accessible, Paranormal Music Chamber is nonetheless a very sophisticated album, the result of rigorous work at every stage of it's conception. It is no easy feat achieving a work that is at once modern and complex, yet uncomplicated-a showcase of heartfelt and deeply human aspect.

From Etienne Gara: "This album is a beautiful patchwork of short pieces that cannot be more different one from the other and span from the Baroque era to tomorrow. Think of it as an Advent calendar for listeners, where each piece opens a new window into a musical universe all on it's own. On this album, you'll find Classical music canons, film-music from Pulp Fiction and Psycho, miniatures by Philip Glass, and small curiosities written just for us that help bridge the gap between Classical music and today's diverse audiences. Delirium Musicum and Cabinet of Curiosities both carry that mischievous DNA that transcends borders and brings the excitement that unapologetic passion and commitment trigger. In other words, you have here a delirious concert where everyone will find something they know, something they love, and something that will trigger their curiosity."

Thibaut Garcia is one of the most acclaimed classical guitarists of his generation, praised for a playing style that combines virtuosity and poetic sensitivity. Born from a deep artistic friendship with guitarist Antoine Morinere, this album offers a fresh take on Bach's masterpiece Goldberg Variations, now reimagined for two guitars. The arrangement, from Garcia and Moriniere themselves, is the result of a full year of work during which, quoting the artists, they focused on "how to adapt the keyboard work for two guitars, while preserving the illusion of a single performer". Twin guitars helped in their artistic endeavour: the album is recorded on two guitars cut from the same tree, and realized especially for the project by French luthier Hugo Cuvillier.

MIKHAIL PLETNEV / CHOPIN & SCRIABIN: PRELUDES - The legendary pianist, Mikhail Pletnev, proudly presents his first Deutsche Grammophon recording in decades: Chopin & Scriabin: Preludes. The renditions captured reflect a master's perspective on two masterpieces of the piano repertoire. In a historic milestone for DG, the engineering team captured the performances on a pure analog vinyl format (AAA), the first time since the 1980s that this has been done for a frontline release. The analog version was recorded on a Studer tape machine with two custom-made Sennheiser microphones, while at the same time an 11-channel microphone setup was used for the digital CD version. The tape was cut and pasted with the virtuosity of earlier sound engineering, so to speak "by ear" at the Emil Berliner Studios, while the same cuts had to be made visually on the computer.

Pianists Bertrand Chamayou and Leif Ove Andsnes join forces to record Schubert's magnificent Fantasia in F minor, presenting a landmark Schubert 4 Hands album. This release arrives 40 years after Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia's legendary CBS recording and 60 years after Benjamin Britten and Sviatoslav Richter's historic Aldeburgh Festival performance. The duo delivers breathtaking interpretations that could establish this recording as the new reference for Schubert's Fantasia. The album pairs the Fantasia with other Schubert four-hand works composed in 1828, the year of the composer's death, offering a deeply intimate and historically informed program.