Naxos
Naxos, the world's leading classical music label, is known for recording exciting new repertoire with exceptional talent. The label has one of the largest and fastest growing catalogues of unduplicated repertoire available anywhere with state-of-the-art sound and consumer-friendly prices. The catalogue includes classical music CDs and DVDs as well as other genres such as jazz, new age and educational.
4217 products
Cimarosa: Requiem In G Minor / Trevor, Kucerova, Kruzliakova, Ludha, Belacek
Domenico Cimarosa’s abilities as an operatic composer are evident in his large-scale Requiem in which the soloists and chorus range from the mournful supplication of the opening movements, through vivid evocations of the ‘day of wrath’ and the praises uttered by the heavenly hosts in the Sanctus, to the prayers for mercy, peace and eternal light which conclude the work. Composed to commemorate the death in 1787 of the wife of the French ambassador in St Petersburg, its overall character is one of classical restraint.
Spanish Classics - Arámbarri: Basque Songs, Etc / Mentxaka
Arnesen: Infinity / Rinsema, Kantorei
None of this says anything about how “good” the music is; in fact, some listeners will likely find these pieces not challenging enough–a little too easy to listen to, a little too similar in style and mood. But I wouldn’t go that far. Arnesen builds his music on rich, lush harmonic structures–so yes, there are lots of chords, beautiful, flowing, often the foundation for melody (Flight Song), but sometimes the vibrant, resonating clusters of tones make their own powerful effect without need for a real tune–for example in O Sacrum Convivium, which will remind some listeners of the style of Morten Lauridsen.
Versions of the text in the opening work, lines discovered on a Nazi concentration camp wall (it begins, “I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining…”) have been set by many composers, and Arnesen’s proves as poignant as any, particularly as it focuses so pointedly on the few words–three short lines–capturing in varied musical repetitions the deeply felt, personal, truthful sentiment expressed by that anonymous author in that awful, desperate time and place. Arnesen’s melodic facility appears perhaps most strongly in his Flight Song, which he wrote for Anton Armstrong’s 25th year as St. Olaf Choir conductor–a lovely melody you might have heard someplace before, but not quite. Throughout the program you notice how Arnesen often manages to create engaging pieces of five, six, or seven minutes seemingly without a whole lot of material–again, somewhat in the mold of Lauridsen, but less prone to direct repetition, so the music is more open, more expansive–and we’re just carried along by the dynamic flow of harmony and the beauty of these voices. What finer advocates for his music could a composer have than these excellent singers of Kantorei?
And as for the music itself, I’ve said before: any competent composer can write really difficult music intended only for professional singers (not that there’s anything wrong with that); but it takes a special kind of composer–such as Arnesen–who understands the nature and complexities of choral composition and knows the nature and complexities of singers and singing–and is able to create music of high quality and sophistication that’s both satisfying and accessible to a vast community of accomplished yet non-professional musicians and legions of serious listeners, most of whom appreciate an occasional challenge but who also crave the pure pleasure of musical experience where voices simply soar and harmonies shimmer and there are no grimaces or gritted teeth or ruffled ears anywhere to be found. Yes, there are one or two pieces here that push the schmaltz level slightly past my limit–but even so, that’s a small price to pay for the hour of “pure pleasure” on the rest of the program.
– David Vernier (ClassicsToday)
Soler: Sonatas For Harpsichord Vol 12 / Gilbert Rowland
Includes sonata(s) for keyboard by Antonio Soler. Soloist: Gilbert Rowland.
Debussy: Orchestral Works Vol 7 / Thibaudet, Meyer, Markl, Lyon NO
"We've reached Volume 7 in Naxos's superb Lyonnaise exploration of Debussy's orchestral works with the thrilling Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra, superbly played here by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. It's a grand showpiece, reminiscent of César Franck's Symphonic Variations but painted in Debussy's inimitable palette."
-- Stephen Pritchard, The Observer [11/19/2011]
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Etc/ Kuchar, Ukraine National So
Hadjidakis: For A Little White Seashell / Danae Kara
HADJIDAKIS For a Little White Seashell. 6 Popular Pictures. Suite for Piano, “Ionian.” Rhythmology • Danae Kara (pn) • NAXOS 8.570957 (73:01)
Manos Hadjidakis was born in northern Greece in 1925. He was a constant and authoritative presence in the chaotic Greek scene of the latter half of the 20th century, but was also active in the movie business. His song Never on Sunday won an Academy Award in 1960 for the film of the same name. He died in 1994. This CD presents a collection of his solo piano music, spanning a period from 1947 to 1971. Although he took some classes at the Athens Conservatory, he was largely self-taught. Nevertheless, his music is well constructed and compelling. His language is mainly derived from folk sources, primarily dance, with vibrant rhythms and interesting harmonic flashes elevating the material from banality. Juilliard-trained Greek pianist Kara presents the music with delightful energy and color.
FANFARE: Peter Burwasser
Mozart: 6 Violin Sonatas, K. 10-15 (Versions for Flute and P
Ireland, J.: Piano Trios / Cavatina / Berceuse / Bagatelle /
Ries: Complete Works for Cello, Vol. 1 - Cello Sonatas / Rummel, Stroissnig
Ferdinand Ries’s life and work are inextricably intertwined with those of his friend and teacher Beethoven, and both Cello Sonatas, Op. 20 and 21 were dedicated to cellist Bernhard Romberg, who performed regularly with Beethoven. Ries exploits Romberg’s extraordinary sound quality in the lower register of the cello in music that resonates with references to colleagues such as Haydn and Hummel. Ries’s final Cello Sonata, Op. 125, completes a triptych that richly deserves its place in the cello repertoire. This release joins an ongoing program of releases of music by neglected composer Ferdinand Ries. This has included an edition of his complete piano sonatas and sonatinas played by Susan Kagan, to whom “classical music lovers owe a debt of gratitude for rescuing these attractive keyboard creations from the undeserved obscurity that they’ve been languishing in for the past two centuries or so.” (Halesowen News) Acclaimed cellist Martin Rummel has recorded widely for labels including Paladino Music and Capriccio. His recordings for Naxos include works for cello and piano by Joseph Merk and Reinhold Gliere. Recordings by pianist Stefan Stroissnig include Beethoven’s Second and Fourth Piano Concertos with the RSO Wien conducted by Heinrich Schiff on the Gramola Records label, and his recording of the Four Impromptus Op. 90 by Franz Schubert and the Sonata in B minor by Franz Liszt was awarded the ‘Pasticcio Prize’ by Austrian Radio.
Asian Music for String Quartet
Dittersdorf: Sinfonias / Cassuto, Et Al
Guitar Music of Mexico / Perera
The contemporary guitar music scene of Mexico is a vibrant and active community of composers, many of them concert guitarists themselves. The new generations of composers are creating a fascinating new repertoire which, while rooted in the historical elements of the Mexican musical heritage with its traditional melodies and indigenous folkloric vitality, embraces the sophistication of European compositional techniques. Evocations of period and place can be heard in Oliva’s Images of Yucatán and Gerardo Tamez’s Aires de Son, reminiscent of the music of southern Mexico. There are also personal homages such as award-winning guitarist Perera’s romantic Marina and Helguera’s poignant Un retrato (A Portrait).
David: Lalla Roukh / Fiset, Brown, Opera Lafayette
"The best of the music has great charm and is less self-consciously exotic than the orientalia of, say, Bizet or Massenet. Noureddin's serenades re ravishingly sung by Emiliano Gonzalez Toro. Marianne Fiset is supremely elegant in the title role." -- Tim Ashley, The Guardian [4/10/14]
“All the principals have firm, clear voices...Marianne Fiest as the heroine has a bright, perfectly placed soprano, attacking even the most exposed notes with precision.” -- Gramophone [6/2014]
Beyond Bach & Vivaldi - Rare Unaccompanied Works for the Baroque Violin / Lodge
Though Bach’s set of six ‘Sonatas and Partitas’ represents the pinnacle of writing for the solo violin, the Baroque repertoire was rich in compositions for the unaccompanied violin, much of which remains little explored. On this recording Augusta McKay Lodge, hailed as “the real thing, a true virtuoso” (Seen and Heard), explores masters of the genre such as Biber, Locatelli and Pisendel but delves deeper to include the impassioned works of Nicola Matteis, the Franco-Italian warmth of Thomas Baltzar and a series of other long-overshadowed works by their contemporaries.
Balfe: Satanella / Bonynge, Victorian Opera Orchestra
Review:
Bonynge is unsurpassed in this repertoire; he keeps it zipping buoyantly along, effortlessly supporting his singers and clearly relishing every baleful horn call, rippling harp and languishing cello solo. His cast, too, feels near-ideal. The young Chinese-born tenor Kang Wang is a Rupert of considerable dash, and Sally Silver sings the title-role…with sweetness and sparkle.
– Gramophone
Granados, E.: Piano Music, Vol. 5 - Escenas Poeticas / Azul
Tchaikovsky: Piano Music Vol 2 / Oxana Yablonskaya
Orchestral Works Vol 14 - Glazunov: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Debussy: Clair De Lune And Other Piano Favorites / Thiollier
Includes work(s) for pno by Claude Debussy. Soloist: François-Joël Thiollier.
Wieniawski: Music For Violin And Piano / Migdal, Migdal
The reputation of Polish pianist, composer, conductor and educator Józef Wieniawski has proved less robust than that of his famous elder brother, the violinist Henryk Wieniawski, but during his lifetime he was considered one of Europe’s finest musicians. The brothers performed together extensively for a time, and the virtuoso elements in the violin part of the youthful Allegro de sonate and Grand Duo polonais can be credited to Henryk. Józef’s Violin Sonata reveals elegant sophistication, expressive depth and jocular playfulness in exploring the full expressive range of both instruments.
Wagner: Orchestral Excerpts, Vol. 1
Swedish Orchestral Favourites Vol 2 / Sundkvist, Swedish Co

This is an incredibly beautiful CD, one that will surely be played repeatedly around here. The repertoire is mostly for string orchestra and every piece is a romantic gem. Lars-Erik Larsson's music occupies half the CD, and ranges from the tuneful Little Serenade to the eloquent, soul searching Adagio. Gunnar de Frumerie wrote romantic music within a neo-classic framework, and his Pastoral Suite, exquisitely played here, is a prime example. Kurt Atterberg's Suite, which began life as music for a play called Sister Beatrice, is perhaps on a more spiritual level than the pastoral works of the other composers. Atterberg's use of modality at times makes it reminiscent of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantastia, and it is just about as lovely and nearly as significant. The lovely little Blomdahl romance might come as a surprise to listeners who only know this composer from his stringent, modern-to-the-max compositions. The playing throughout is incredibly beautiful. This orchestra plays with a rich, ripe tone that is completely disarming, and conductor Petter Sundkvist gets the utmost in nuance from every player. The Naxos sound is full and warm with lots of well-defined bass. This CD is a real find.--Rad Bennett, ClassicsToday.com
Abdi: Rumi
Classics at the Movies: War
MARTINU: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 5
Goehr: Marching to Carcassonne
Lamenti Barocchi Vol 3 / Vartolo, Capella Musicale Di San Petronio
the sheer joy of hearing Italian singers in this repertoire where so much rests on the text, especially since these are singers whose accuracy of pitch and sureness of focus means that they can sing together with instrumental clarity -- Early Music Review
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 12, 13 & 14 (version for piano
