Violinist Alexandra Tirsu presents her debut album comprising concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich and Paul Hindemith. Shostakovich's music has resonated with her since childhood, it's atmosphere reflecting the war stories she grew up with. Violin Concerto No. 1 unfolds like a psychological journey-from a shadowy opening to a fierce scherzo, an emotionally charged passacaglia, and a wildly ironic finale. Hindemith's rarely performed Violin Concerto, which Alexandra first explored at the ARD Competition in Munich, reveals a different voice: clear, structured, and quietly expressive. Recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, this album captures a moment of depth, identity, and emotional connection through two powerful 20th-century works.

Christianity, in all it's forms, excels through it's high degree of adaptability. We encounter one of the more fascinating examples of adaptation in Latin American Catholicism that developed in the colonies of "New Spain." Not least did the veneration of Mary find an especially receptive genius loci here, whose musical disposition soon wedded to an artistic concept that was the non plus ultra for the rulers of the Old World. For some composers, the transatlantic regions thus had such appeal that they abandoned their traditional sphere of activity. One of them was the Italian Ignacio de Jerusalem, who worked at the cathedral in Mexico City; he was joined by the Mexican "home-grown talent" Manuel de Sumaya, as well as two Spanish musicians who were known and beloved in the land of the Aztecs only for their printed works. This yields a truly exquisite mix for Christmas.

This release is the world premiere recording of Estonia's first major work in art music in it's original score and sung in Estonian. Rudolf Tobias (1873-1918) is widely celebrated in Estonia as the 'father of Estonian music' and considered as the first Estonian composer to have obtained a degree in composing after completing his studies at the St Petersburg Conservatoire. In this recording the composer's magnum opus, Joonas (Jonah Oratorio) is performed by a first-class Estonian line up led by the award-winning ensembles Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and conductor Tonu Kaljuste.

Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova's new release, Liberte, is a cultural and musical dialogue between France and America. The influence of jazz plays a central role in this tribute to French and American composers whose work transcends genres and borders. Performed together with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon under Pablo Gonzalez, the album's core pillars are Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Also featured are short solo pieces that echo it's central themes: three miniatures by Germaine Tailleferre, Time Peace, a miniature by Andrew Blickenderfer, and the jazzy Valse from Partita No. 5 by Fedorova's compatriot Myroslav Skoryk. Two French chansons round out Liberte, an album where freedom, jazz, and the shared spirit of France and America meet in music.

The viola bastarda is much more than just a specific instrument: it is also a technique for playing the viola da gamba that involves developing a vast skill in ornamentation over the entire range of the instrument and covering all the tessituras from bass to soprano. Today's performers are faced with a repertoire compiled by a few virtuosos, while at the same time they have to reconstitute a performing practice that exists only in a few historical treatises. Manon Papasergio has devoted her first recording to this art form and it's development during the exciting transitional period from the Renaissance to the Baroque.

David Amram's career as a versatile composer, conductor and multi-instrumentalist has spanned more than 70 years. Recorded here in it's world premiere, Voyages for Solo Violin in three movements evokes ancient Egypt, Native American and African roots music and, in the words of the composer, "the tradition of the fiddler as a keeper of the flame." Ranging from prayer-like melodies to blues and polyrhythms, the Piano Sonata is one of the most jazz-influenced of any 20th-century work in this genre, while the Violin Sonata brings classical and jazz idioms together in music that inspired a collaboration with the writer Jack Kerouac.

Mendelssohn's music contains a fascinating duality: deeply rooted in German Romanticism, inspired by Bach and Beethoven, but at the same time shaped by his Jewish origins and the tension between these two worlds. This complexity unfolds in a special way at Christmas time in particular - as a bridge between traditions, cultures and spiritual experiences. An album that combines the festive warmth and spiritual depth of the Christmas season with the radiant music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. A unique musical language - full of light, inwardness and festive joy

This album features some of the most beloved works from the piano repertoire, all united by a common theme of distant reminiscences of lost happiness-either directly expressed in the titles of the pieces or subtly woven into the music, as in Schubert's Sonata in A Major, written just months before his death. It is both a tribute to Beethoven's style and a quintessential example of Schubert's unique blend of intimate emotions, expressed through lyrical motifs. While the virtuosic pianism is never absent, it takes a back seat to the emotional depth and expressiveness at the heart of the work. The cycles of Leos Janacek were composed during the darkest period of his life. His On an Overgrown Path memorializes his daughter, who tragically passed away, while In the Mists with it's transparent texture and innovative harmonies captures the internal void and confusion of the composer. Schumann's Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) evokes the perspective of an adult looking back with nostalgia, longing for the simplicity and innocence of childhood. The music, with it's straightforward and sometimes naive language, mirrors the idealized view of the past. Min Jung Lee, a versatile and sensitive artist, delivers a deeply evocative interpretation. In her delicate readings, she perfectly captures the essence of these compositions, painting a misty portrait of the personal experiences of the composers, transposed into musical form on the staff.

Robert Schumann's romantic universe invites us to approach it through five pieces of chamber music in step with the composer's mood: by turns fanciful, testy, or jovial, it can also be meditative, tender, or melancholic. A beautiful union of the viola and the clarinet.

Baroque bad boy Francesc Valls shook the music world by not conforming to standard practice and using unconventional harmonies and gratuitous dissonance. Ensemble Bachwerkvokal led by Gordon Safari take this controversial Catalan composer from the time of Bach out of the archives and present his extraordinary works for the first time in this world premiere recording.

SteepleChase Records proudly presents the debut album of drummer Matt Garrity, a long-standing figure in the New York jazz scene whose artistry has matured over three decades of collaboration with legends such as Joe Lovano, Vincent Herring, and Joel Forrester. Suits And Scotches captures the essence of Garrity’s musical journey, featuring original compositions and fresh interpretations of jazz standards performed by his seasoned quartet which delivers a cohesive and swinging set that reflects both tradition and innovation. Garrity’s path diverged from the 1990s “Young Lions” wave, yet his commitment to the craft never wavered. After relocating to Woodstock, NY, (originally from Ithaca, NY) he founded Barnstock, a vibrant performance space that has become a Hudson Valley jazz hub. Encouraged by bassist Ambrosio and connected to SteepleChase producer Nils Winther, Garrity finally steps forward as a leader and composer. “Drummer Matt Garrity, always fluidly shifting from staccato fill patterns to soft accompaniments in just the way the composition seems to need.” -All Music Guide

Ning Feng, together with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin conducted by Antony Hermus, releases the violin concertos of Johannes Brahms and Carl Goldmark. This pairing is particularly apt as these works were both written in 1877, and the composers were dear friends. In Goldmark's lyrical Violin Concerto, Ning Feng plays the original 5-minute cadenza which is seldom heard in it's entirety. Written only a few months after the Goldmark, Brahms' famous Violin Concerto in D, Op.77 needs little introduction. Ning Feng has long been associated with this concerto, having played it when he won First Prize in the International Paganini Competition 2006 as well as First Prize in the 2005 Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

World-premiere recordings of early works that shed new light on a foundational figure in Mexican classical music. Until recently, it was widely believed that Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) only began composing in his thirties-during the final decade of a life tragically cut short by alcoholism and pneumonia. By the age of 39, he had already secured his place as the most important Mexican composer of his generation, with orchestral masterpieces such as Sensemayá and La noche de los Mayos: works notably less indebted to European models than those of his elders and contemporaries, including Carlos Chávez. The rediscovery of these manuscripts, as recently as 2024, reveals that Revueltas had in fact been composing from his teenage years, and that he was an accomplished pianist as well as a violinist. This pioneering album presents 24 piano pieces, none exceeding four minutes except for a two-movement Sonatina, with the longest being a Lento doloroso. Most date from 1915, when Revueltas studied at the National Conservatoire, though later works stem from his years in Chicago (1919) and 1924, when he wrote his final piano piece, a Satie-like caprice titled Tragedia en forma de rábano (Tragedy in the Form of a Radish). Together, these works form a kind of musical diary, reflecting both the influence of his teachers, Manuel Ponce and Felipe Villanueva, and the emergence of a distinctly Mexican voice evolving between romanticism and modernism. Of Mexican and German heritage, pianist Rodolfo Ritter-professor at the Conservatoire in Mexico City-is a leading advocate for the music of his homeland. As performer, editor, and musicologist, he has premiered numerous works by Mexican composers while also performing the concerto repertoire from Chopin to Bartók. His combination of scholarship and artistry makes him the ideal interpreter to bring these long-forgotten piano works by Revueltas to international attention.

For the second project in it's Meridiane series, Sjaella explores the music of cultures whose languages exist only as mother tongues for minorities. On this new album, spoken, the a cappella vocal ensemble shares it's fascination for cultural diversity and vocal sounds through new interpretations of traditional music. The arrangements of folk songs and dances, as well as new compositions, represent sound worlds that move between tradition and modernity. Sjaella's Meridiane series, which continues on Fuga Libera, is a succession of colourful musical treasures that strengthens the ensemble's connection to it's own cultural roots.

Pianist and composer Eduard Kiprsky, a native of St. Petersburg and winner of countless international composition awards, has long been involved with writing song cycles. On this album, titled "Friedensgebet" (Prayer for Peace), mezzo-soprano Margarita Gritskova-a beloved ensemble member of the Vienna State Opera-and Alexander Mikhailov, tenor at St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, join Kiprsky at the piano to perform a selection of his songs. These settings of poems by Heinrich Heine, Eduard Morike, Hermann Hesse, Joseph von Eichendorff, and Clemens Brentano, among others, explore doubt, loss, and suffering, yet also love, hope, and resilience. Framing the vocal works are two instrumental pieces: the Arioso for Piano, Violin, and Cello and the award-winning "Friedensgebet" String Quartet, which lends the album it's title.

For Jakob's Mirror, composer and saxophonist Robin Verheyen (b. 1983) sought inspiration far from home, retreating to the Albers Foundation in Connecticut to reflect on the life and work of painter Jakob Smits (1855-1928). Smits, who settled in the Belgian Campine and captured it's light and landscapes in a personal, timeless style, became a guide for Verheyen's own exploration of identity, memory, and belonging. Rather than translating Smits' canvases literally, Verheyen immersed himself in their atmosphere, while also listening to the music of Smits' era, including Flemish folk songs-one of which briefly surfaces in the score. Written for the Goeyvaerts String Trio and percussionist Robin Schulkowsky, the work weaves together European harmonic traditions, jazz's rhythmic vitality, and echoes of Verheyen's roots in the Campine. Jakob's Mirror is both homage and self-portrait: a meditation on landscape, light, and the enduring pull of home.

Baroque giants La Serenissima return with VIVALDI 8 - VOLUME 2, following their previous instalment in February 2025 of Vivaldi 8 Volume 1. Recognised for 'whipping up a storm with Vivaldi', La Serenissima is 'one of Britain's best-loved chamber orchestras' (The Telegraph) known for their outstanding performances, championing a host of neglected Italian baroque composers. Uniquely, the group's entire repertoire is edited from source material by founder and violinist, Adrian Chandler OSI. Praise for Vivaldi recordings by La Serenissima: 5 stars "After being obsessed by the composer and his music world for more than 30 years, Chandler by now is Vivaldi incarnate" - The Times

Francesco Saverio Geminiani (1687-1762), born in Lucca, began his study at an early age with his father, but his most important lessons followed in his years with the great Roman Master, Arcangelo Corelli. Composition lessons with Alessandro Scarlatti helped inspire and solidify his craft. In 1714 Geminiani settled in London, where he quickly gained fame as an ensemble player, concert violinist, and teacher. Here he became friends with Handel and led the orchestra during many performances together. Geminiani enjoyed great success not only in London, but also in Ireland where he spent a considerable amount of time. In 1760 he settled in Dublin, dying there in somewhat impoverished circumstances in 1762. Geminiani's playing was distinguished by it's great expressiveness, richness of dynamic coloring, extraordinary liveliness, and a strong temperament. Tartini tellingly called Geminiani "il furibondo" - the furious one! Among his most significant contributions to the Baroque concerto repertoire are his Concerti grossi Opp. 2 and 3, published in 1732 and 1733 respectively. These sets each consist of six concertos and follow the model established by Corelli, particularly his Concerti grossi Op.6. However, Geminiani's works are more expansive and harmonically adventurous. They often feature intricate contrapuntal writing and dramatic contrasts between the concertino (the group of solo instruments) and the ripieno (full ensemble), a hallmark of the concerto grosso form. Op.2 is notable for it's lyrical elegance and refined structure, while Op.3 reveals a bolder, more expressive style, perhaps reflecting Geminiani's growing independence from Corelli's shadow. These works were not only designed for public concert performance but also for teaching and domestic music-making, showing Geminiani's skill in balancing artistic depth with accessibility. Geminiani's Concerti Grossi were well-received in his time and continued to be admired for their rich textures and expressive power. They exemplify the late Baroque ideal of merging virtuosity with emotional intensity. Today, they remain a staple of early music ensembles, highlighting Geminiani's role as a key figure in transmitting and transforming the Italian Baroque tradition for an international audience. Played by the Italian elite group L'Archicembalo, who previously recorded, to great critical acclaim, the String Concertos by Vivaldi for Brilliant Classics.

To acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley, experimentation and eclecticism are second nature. Known for his sensitive piano arrangements of alternative music, he returns with LOTUSLAND: a riveting collection of popular hits, imbued with classical profundity and romantic pianism. The selection is highly diverse. To name but a few, O'Riley rubs shoulders with John Coltrane, Erik Satie, Joni Mitchell, Duke Ellington, and even Radiohead - the latter being a particular favorite of the pianist, who made a name for himself with classical arrangements of the band's hits some 20 years ago. It's important to note that O'Riley's music transcends mere homage; rather, he effortlessly infuses the material with late Romantic grandeur and brilliance. O'Riley has taste, and the listener benefits: this is enrichment of the material, in the truest sense.

In 1392, King Charles?VI of France was declared insane. In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, his repeated absences left the field open to princes hungry for power and wealth. Thus began three dark decades for the kingdom of France, torn apart by civil war between Armagnacs and Burgundians, scarred by the bloody defeat at Agincourt, and ultimately handed over to the English crown in 1420. This is the epic tale Into the Winds brings to life, shedding light on a period as fascinating as it is overlooked, where the contours of a new musical art were already taking shape.

Pierre Dumoussaud conducts a 'dream orchestra' comprised of chamber music players, regulars at Deauville's Easter Festival (Festival de Paques) in an unusual two-part work by Schonberg: the two "chamber symphonies," scores which are as teeming with detail as they are moving, attesting to the composer's soul-searching and experiences at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. In a string orchestra version, Langsamer Satz by Anton Webern, a student of Schonberg, adds all it's romantic fervour as a counterpoint.

John Ireland is widely regarded as one of the greatest British composers of the twentieth century. His contribution to the piano solo repertoire is of great significance. This album, performed by award-winning pianist Rebeca Omordia, is an exploration of John Ireland's piano music composed over a period of almost forty years. His distinctly English yet individualistic musical style is reflected in works bearing evocative titles that reveal Ireland's deep connection to landscapes and literature, creating a unique sound world. The release includes Decorations, published in 1915, as the earliest pieces; the substantial Piano Sonata in E minor (1920), described by Lisa Hardy in her book as "the outstanding example of all British piano sonatas"; the large-scale Sarnia: An Island Sequence (1940-41); and Columbine, the last piano piece he wrote, from 1951.

Lennart Simonsson, piano Per V Johansson, bass Joakim Ekberg, drums

PEDACITO DE TIERRA is a deeply personal work led by GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Jose Antonio Zayas Caban, rooted in his vision to honor the stories of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the Twin Cities. While grounded in local voices, the piece resonates far beyond Minnesota - speaking to the experiences of Puerto Ricans across the United States and echoing themes shared by immigrant communities everywhere: displacement and belonging, memory and identity, longing and resilience. Composed by Angelica Negron and performed by Zayas Caban alongside saxophonist Ryan Smith and pianist Casey Rafn, the work layers oral histories, electronics, and chamber instrumentation to explore the complexity of cultural identity. Shaped by the voices of Puerto Rican storytellers, PEDACITO DE TIERRA reflects Jose's commitment to lifting up community narratives through music that is as nuanced and resilient as the people it represents.

This release is devoted to the complete set of six Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo, Op. 1 by Felice Giardini (also known as Degiardino), published in London in 1751. Born in Turin in 1716, and passing away in Moscow in 1796, Giardini stands as a bridge between eras and styles, forging a distinctive voice, in which diverse musical languages merge with remarkable balance. A virtuoso of string instruments, he masterfully explored their possibilities, during the delicate transition from the Baroque to the early Classical period, an era often defined as the galant style. The Op. 1 collection belongs to Giardini's early years, and it's formal structure reflects typical Baroque conventions: all six sonatas are laid out in three movements, alternating fast and slow tempi, occasionally bearing the markings of stylized dance forms (such as minuets, and gigues) reminiscent of Baroque suites. The main performers of this rediscovery, are I Solisti Ambrosiani (v. tc 681302, tc 670203, tc 670291) with Davide Belosio on violin, Claudio Frigerio on cello, and Nicola Bisotti on harpsichord.