Chiara e Serafina was the young Donizetti's first opera composed for La Scala in 1822. A tardy librettist and an incoherent plot resulted in the premiere being a fiasco but Donizetti's music is characterful with delightful duets, trios and ensembles. This 200th anniversary live recording from the 2022 Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo is performed on period instruments and conducted by Sesto Quatrini.

The fourth volume in this series explores a pivotal decade in Claudio Santoro's compositions, traversing his move from serialism towards nationalism. The release starts with the transitional, reflective Canto de Amor e Paz and continues with Symphony No. 4, one of his most accessible and influential works, and his brief Symphony No. 6 of 1958. The concertante works for saxophone and violin show his command of dance rhythms, colourful lyricism and virtuosity.

Raff completed the score of his little-known opera Die Eifersuchtigen, heard here in it's world premiere recording, a few weeks before his death. With tight organisational control, a strong grasp of musical and dramatic relationships, and speech melodies based entirely on German prosody, Raff's final opera is marked by clarity, concision and economy of means. World premiere recording

Paul Wranitzky was a characterful composer with a masterful sense of orchestration, as this series has demonstrated. The composer's mature Symphony in C major is a fine example of his abilities, and the finale of the Symphony in D major bursts into life in true Janissary style. Wranitzky's command of singspiel and music for the stage show equal excellence in these fields. World premiere recordings. (Vol. 6: 8.574454; Vol. 5: 8.574399; Vol. 4: 8.574290; Vol. 3: 8.574289; Vol. 2: 8.574255; Vol. 1: 8.574227)

Astor Piazzolla's Tango Suite, for two guitars, is one of the finest duo works in the repertoire, offering fireworks and percussive effects as well as exquisite melancholy. Yuri Liberzon has arranged the much-loved Oblivion for guitar, while Leo Brouwer's arrangement of La muerte del angel is full of vivacity and colour. Cinco piezas was Piazzolla's first work for classical guitar; the Tango-etudes, originally for flute, shows the guitar's range and versatility in Manuel Barrueco's arrangement. Tango No. 2 from Tango Suite will be pre-released as a digital single on 9.50323 on 30 August.

Franz Liszt's Weihnachtsbaum ('Christmas Tree') is an all-embracing impression of Christmas that includes traditional carols alongside childhood and adult views of the season. The dark chromaticism of Die Trauergondel II is a tribute to Wagner, contrasting with the brighter range and yearning lyrical lines of the Wiegenlied. Many of these works remained unpublished in Liszt's lifetime, and are genuine rarities even today.

Based on a story by Gogol, Modest Mussorgsky's unfinished Sorochintsi Fair is a comic opera in which amorous encounters intermingle with a devil's curse. Potentially a compelling and original drama, Salammbo was Mussorgsky's first attempt at an opera. Both works are world premiere recordings of chamber versions arranged by Fabrice Bollon, using only original material as their basis.

Beethoven's Sonatas for Piano and Cello, Op. 5 are revolutionary works, with neither instrument subservient and the piano fully independent. This release also features his vivacious variations on 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen' and 'Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fu�hlen' from Mozart's Die Zauberflote. Volume 2 is scheduled for release on 8.574530 in November.

Famous for his role as the keyboard player in rock band Genesis and as a solo artist, Tony Banks was always fascinated by the idea of writing orchestral music. His success incomposing for films led to the acclaimed Seven - A Suite for Orchestra. The intense orchestral sound pictures in Seven, Six and Five rank among some of Banks's most accomplished works, marrying experimentation with form and structure, and a trademark melodic character which powerfully conveys both melancholy and joy. Originally released on individual discs as 8.57414, 8.572986, 8.557466

Classical Music

Aynur is the best-known Kurdish singer of our time and stands for modern Kurdish folk music. Like very few artists, she reaches people of all ages with her music and connects the younger generation with the roots of Kurdish music by sensitively and imaginatively combining the heritage and treasures of her homeland's musical past with a musical language of today that has been praised internationally. The successful album Rabe, released in 2023, is now also available as a high-quality vinyl version.

Classical Music

VIVALDI: Dresden Concertos, Vol. 4

CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Krakowiak

LALO: Symphonie espagnole / SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen / RAVEL