The general title of this CD, though not mentioned on the cover, is “Danish Orchestral Music”. Not only it showcases some of the best of Danish music from the romantic school to the contemporary but also it is showing off the extraordinary level of the conservatoire orchestra of Aarhus city.

Complete Works For Four Hands,

Complete Works For Four Hands,

Beethoven: The Late String Quartets

Works For Double Bass And Pian

Complete Songs, vol. 2

In the summer of 1910 Carl Nielsen was asked to write incidental music for the inauguration of Denmark’s first open-air theatre in the royal deer park (Dyrehavbakken) just north of Copenhagen. This theatre was in use for about three decades and Nielsen composed for a few dramas for this theatre. As the scores have never been published, the music was little known to the later generation. In collaboration with Odense Symphony Orchestra, Kontrapunkt revived these “unknown” Nielsen works to add to our Nielsen series. Though the scoring is limited to voices, wind instruments and some percussion due to the open-air circumstances, music is very typically Nielsen from his most creative period.

It was in 1998 when Denmark’s leading violinist of younger generation Søren Elbæk first performed with Argentinean Alicia Petronilli as a member of The Danish Chamber Players. Since then tango became part of his favourite repertoire. Elbæk’s rich and passionate sound suites the genre perfectly. In this intimate duo setting the two elite instrumentalists give the Latin American popular music a new artistic dimension with their unique and highly intriguing interpretation. The programme encompasses the wide range of tango spectrum including the classic Nostalgias by Cadícamo and the works by contemporary Astor Piazzolla, not to mention the famous “Tango Jealousy” of Danish Origin.

Since her 1994 sensational recording debut with Orchestral Leider/Vier Letzte Lieder and Wesendonk Lieder on Kontrapunkt label, the Danish soprano Elisabeth Meyer-Topsøe’s career has soared to the new height in the international opera scenes. This is her first recording of songs which she dedicates to HM Queen Ingrid Queen Mother who is from Sweden and is turning 80 this month. Meyer-Topsøe’s tie to Sweden is quite special through her education there and being a pupil of the Swedish legendary soprano Birgit Nilsson.The songs recorded here are with special relation to Sweden.

More than forty years separate Marin Marais' Premier Livre de Pieces de Violes (1686) from the Cinquieme (1725). Despite the novelty of the basso continuo, the First Book is still the work of a composer who had inherited a tradition that developed in France during the 17th century. The Fifth, published a few years before his death, is a moving and perfect testimony to a musical language that was also in it's twilight years. The Second, Third and Fourth books reveal not only the evolution of musical forms but also the ineffable talent that ensured Marais' position as the undisputed master of his art, one that was inextricably linked to the spirit of French music of the Grand Siecle. Marin Marais' Pieces de Viole were recorded complete and first released in stages between 2014 and 2021; they are now issued as a boxed set to mark Francois Joubert-Caillet's appointment this year as professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

MASS NO. 6 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, D

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)

The piano was a constant throughout Luciano Berio’s life. Not only is there a considerable quantity of early chamber music which makes use of it, but it assumes a truly important role in any number of his works. The earliest work on this recording is the Petite Suite, written when Berio was 22 years of age. In spite of its very traditional name, the Piano Sonata is one of his last works, completed in 2001 to a commission from the Zurich Festival, but arising from an earlier, brief work called Interlinea, written in 2000 for Pierre Boulez’s 75th birthday.

Stellar Italian pianist Matteo Bevilacqua makes his Grand Piano debut with this album of Berio’s complete piano works. He is joined by Luca Trabucco in the works for piano four hands Canzonetta and Torch. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Berio’s death.

REVIEW:

In 2007, Andrea Lucchesini recorded most of Berio’s piano music. He had the immediate advantage of having worked on this music with Berio. What differences are there then, in how these two fine virtuosi perform Berio?

Take Sequenza IV. Lucchesini plays in a more exciting, brilliant way, and total playing time for the piece is slightly faster in his hands than Bevilacqua's. The latter’s reading, not surprisingly, is more relaxed, less flashy and more reflective. Bevilacqua also uses the third pedal, producing a sort of random hidden melody. I also prefer the recording.

The Six Encores are stylistically quite contrasted, but meld together successfully. Again, Bevilacqua takes his time. Entirely appropriately, he brings out a feeling of dreamy impressionism in three encores, for example Erdenklavier.

The Petite suite gets its first recording here. It is not really a neo-classical work. but can be thought of as Bach re-imagined through the a Prokofiev lens. The piece is often witty, vibrant, and most enjoyable. This recording may help it find a secure way into the general repertoire.

Cinque variazioni is dedicated to another Luigi Dallapiccola. Such music seems quite out of fashion nowadays, but nonetheless, this is a captivating performance. This also applies to Rounds, perhaps the most pointillistic work of the set, a sort of half-way house between Webern and Stockhausen’s Klaverierstücke.

Andrea Lucchesini premiered the Piano Sonata in 2001. Bevilacqua gives a thrilling and sparkling interpretation, but suspect he has learned a little something from Lucchesini: he enables the more dreamy qualities to come to the fore where necessary. There is a gripping drama here which holds the attention.

Two four-hand duets, Canzonetta and Touch, cap the program. They are small in duration but large in scope. Luca Trabucco is Bevilacqua’s very able partner.

Ivan Moody’s booklet notes feature a very perceptive essay and descriptions of the music.

-- MusicWeb International (Gary Higginson)

‘Da-da-da-DAAAAH, Da-da-da-DAAAAH’: the start of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is really famous. See if you recognise it! It’s just one of many popular pieces here. There are some animals, too—an elephant and a swan. And right at the end, guess which boy wizard joins the party…Come and join it too!

A bird dancing, an ox on a roof, flowers doing a waltz, a swan twirling about…what world is this? This is the magical world of ballet. The stage is full of people in colourful costumes, but nobody speaks. All the stories are told by music and dancing. Composers have written such exciting pieces for ballet: listen to this collection and see which ones you like best!

GUITAR STORIES

Svyati - Steven Isserlis plays the music of John Tavener

This CD contains both DDD and ADD recordings, and also includes both monaural and stereo recordings.

ROSSINI: ARIAS RICCIARELLI, H

Classic Gershwin

DINNER FOR TWO

BERNSTEIN CENTURY - MOZART: PI

GUBAIDULINA: SOLO PIANO WORKS

Includes chaconne(s) by Johann Caspar Fischer. Soloist: Gustav Leonhardt.

1995 NEW YEAR'S CONCERT MEHTA