One of the most unusual combination of instruments in Mozart compositions, the basset horn trio are played here by the members of Odense Symphony Orchestra with whom Kontrapunkt has produced complete series of Carl Nielsen symphonies and Ib Nørholm symphonies.

Following the highly successful CD of Sofia Gubaidulina’s cello works (32176), Henrik Brendstrup one of Europe’s best cellists of the younger generation recorded here a collection of cello works by the three representative composers from Eastern Europe. His new partner on piano is a young Gislinge who only two years after her debut has already established herself as one of the leading soloists in Europe.

Piano works by Charles Griffes (1883-1920) have not been recorded by many, in spite of their striking beauty and strength. Denmark’s leading pianist Poul Rosenbaum who specialises in performing contemporary works interprets here all solo piano works by this great American composer. Rosenbaum studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Juilliard School. He made his debut in New York in 1978.

For Denmark’s leading flautist Toke Lund Christiansen, French flute music has become a major part of his repertoire. His earlier releases include “Jacques Ibert: Chamber Music With Flute” (32202) and “La Flute Parisienne” (32186). Christiansen’s outstanding technique and delicate musicality suit Roussel perfectly. This release is the first complete collection of Roussel’s flute music in the chamber settings.

Works For Flute And Piano

Sonatas

The First Bass of the Royal Opera Aage Haugland marked the 100th appearance at New York’s Metropolitan Opera a few years ago. He performs all major cities’ opera houses with prominent conductors e.g. Ozawa, Abbado, Solti, Maazel a.o. Here on his second CD on Kontrapunkt. Haugland accompanied by Jens E. Christensen sings and recites hymns by the famous 18th century Danish poet H.A. Brorson.

Australian born, Israeli by nationality, clarinettist Ron Chen-Zion has been a member of the premier Danish chamber group Esbjerg Ensemble since 1991. Chen-Zion is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and was appointed principal clarinettist of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra in 1990. The following season he moved to Europe to join Esbjerg Ensemble and since then Ron Chen-Zion has been one of the most sought after soloists throughout Europe. For his debut CD as soloist Ron Chen-Zion chose the complete clarinet works by Max Reger, not very often recorded repertoire, accompanied by his regular duo partner, pianist Roglit Ishay from Israel.

Works For Cello And Piano

Two of the most original contemporary composers Gubaidulina and Górecki wrote a number of intriguing pieces which evolve around organ. Denmark’s leading organist Jens E. Christensen has quite a few releases on Kontrapunkt including highly acclaimed “Iberian Organ Music” (32035) and “J.S. Bach/Orgelbüchlein” (32136/7).

Symphony 1

Complete Violin Sonatas

Rued Langgaard and Otto Mortensen are the two intriguing names in the early 20th century of Danish music, where the new current of modern approach to the music is apparent. Both composers show however strong attachment to the Danish romanticism. While Langgaard in the recent years has gained international recognition Mortensen is largely unknown outside of Denmark.

Born in 1963, Bo Andersen belongs to that generation of Danish composers whose formative years coincided with a period of far-reaching artistic reconsideration on the part of many of his older compatriots. Although several composers, such as Holmboe, retained their loyalty to a conservative tradition, many of those who were then the younger generation had in the 60s and early 70s embraced the ideals of the post-war avant-garde, only to become disillusioned with its more extreme, and ultimately anti-communicative manifestations. The result was a new search for a compositional – and expressive – rhetoric which would achieve a balanced synthesis of tradition and innovation. Like his teacher Ib Nørholm, Bo Andersen adopts an approach which aims at accessibility without any compromise in originality. Andersen studied composition with Nørholm at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where his teachers also included Yngve Trede and Erik Norby, and like so many Danish composers, he also studied the organ. Andersen is also a graduate of the University of Copenhagen, where he read Musicology and Nordic philology.

Daphnis et Chl覇

The third volume of Chamber Music series by Denmark’s leading composer Ib Nørholm features his works for clarinet trio.

Complete Works For Solo Viola

HIGDON

Sonatas for Violin And Piano

Spanning the last two thrids of the 20th century, this anthology of orchestra works represents the ongoing efforts made by Americna composers to engage and communicate with their concert audience. Includes: Barber: Symphony No1, Copland: Appalachian Spring, Higdon: blue catherdral Theofanidis Rainbow Body.

Since its foundation in 2013, the Berliner Operngruppe 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 recording of the world premiere of Donizetti's opera Dalinda from the Konzerthaus Berlin on 14 May 2023, the opera that emerged from the censorship and plagiarism confusion surrounding Lucrezia Borgia, but which did not withstand the censorship either and disappeared unperformed until it was found a few years ago by the musicologist Eleonora Di Cintio.

Sonatas For Cello And Piano

Complete Chamber Works For Bas

Works For Violin And Piano

Cellist Troels Svane chose Max Reger’s complete cello works for his debut CD as soloist. Troels Svane is now 31 years old and landed the principal cellist’s position at the Copenhagen Philharmonic at the age of 19. After four years with the Philharmonic he became soloist and has since performed as a recitalist and chamber musician throughout Europe, South and North America. As the member of the Copenhagen Trio he has recorded 20 CDs for Kontrapunkt label.