In the French Baroque period, a Tombeau refers to a piece of music in memory of a more or less beloved person, but sometimes also of a parrot or canary. This does not mean, however, that the pieces must necessarily be sad, somber music. The genre is also varied by the fact that a Tombeau can actually take on any type of movement - mourning takes place in major and minor, fast or slow. Michael D�cker, lutenist, music researcher, editor and spiritus rector of the ensemble nuovo aspetto, reveals to us here in exemplary fashion the sheer inexhaustible inventiveness and originality with which composers in the Baroque period could mourn.

A former master student of Rudolf Buchbinder, Irina Georgieva performs regularly in Switzerland, Italy, France, England, Morocco, the Balkans, and recently in South America. Whether Stefan Lano, Michal Nesterowicz, Pablo Gonz�lez or Sascha Goetzel - the list of conductors Irina Georgieva has worked with is impressive. Just as impressive is her repertoire, which comprises classical music from the Baroque to the present. She loves the virtuoso piano music of the late 19th and 20th century, which is characterized by an expressive tonal language, special moods, and differentiated timbres. For her debut with Prospero Classical, she has chosen her favorite composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Together with the Basel Symphony Orchestra, she interprets two of his best-known works. The Third Piano Concerto in D minor as well as the incredibly virtuosic "Paganini Variations".

The PROSPERO label presents here Nikolaus Harnoncourt's legendary Zurich farewell concert of November 2011. After 36 years of opera and concert activities at Lake Zurich, the maestro bid farewell to his orchestra and his audience with Mozart's Wind Serenade K. 361 and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The conductor originally intended to work on the Gran Partita at the performance venue, the Zurich Tonhalle. However, as he was already in poor health, the meticulous rehearsals typical of the maestro were moved to his home in St. Georgen in Upper Austria. The musicians of the Philharmonia Zurich (formerly the Zurich Opera House Orchestra), who were able to experience how the interpretation was fine-tuned there, still talk today with shining eyes about this intensive and immensely enriching collaboration. So it is not surprising that the orchestra gave literally 'everything' at the farewell concert for one of the most important of his guild, in order to give it's conductor a worthy musical farewell. Swiss radio raved at the time about a "breathtaking moment of the concert year 2011". One critic even spoke of the "craziest performance of Beethoven's Fifth ever heard in the Tonhalle Zurich". This concert event is now available in a sonically carefully restored 'splendid edition'. As a hardcover book with 44-page booklet, including many illustrations and never-before-published visual material. As a special musical bonus, the edition contains a rehearsal recording of Beethoven's Fateful Symphony.

At Christmas, we are especially touched by vocal music. Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio ensures sold-out churches for organizers. Last Christmas, Silent Night and Feliz Navidadare played over and over again in department stores. Choral music also provides a suitable musical setting for baking Christmas biscuits and wrapping presents. What is it that makes this music so appealing? Is it just the memories and traditions associated with it, or does the general atmosphere of Christmas songs already result in a radically different sound? Even in a secular world, Advent and Christmas maintain their central importance in the course of the year. The focus has evolved from the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus to a festival of mutual affection.

With his new album, baritone Holger Falk presents a fascinating voyage through the historic and contemporary Venice. On "Il Gondoliere Veneziano" he is accompanied by the baroque-ensemble Nuovo Aspetto and the sound artists Merzouga. On the occasion of the first night of the program at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Hamburger Abendblatt writes: "Holger Falk, equally sought after as an opera singer and Lied interpreter finds exactly the right tone for this delicate music: with a light sound that unites simplicity and sweetness in his almost tenor timbre. Like a vocal chameleon, Falk changes color following the changes of the music. He sneezes for example venomously over crusted lacquered monkeys, nasally imitating the vulgar language of the street ("Per mi aver Catina"). Musically, the program sets it's points primarily by clever arrangements. The group Nuovo Aspetto convinces with a colorful mix of historical instruments, from the baroque guitar to the transverse flute and from baroque harp to the Salterio, a baroque dulcimer. In addition, we have the fascinating "sound collages" from actual Venice, produced by the group Merzouga. An exquisite example of an intelligent concept: This is how contemporary sound technology and old instruments, noise and music, everyday life and art come together: for an entertaining trip with the gondolier Veneziano, which makes you want more".

Two historic recordings with famous conductor Karl Bohm and the Swiss/Hungarian pianist Geza Anda. The Mozart concerto dates from 1974 and marks the artist's last appearance with orchestra in Salzburg.

FORTUNA DESPERATA was the most popular Italian song of the fifteenth century century and one of the most popular works of the entire Renaissance. The Mirabile Consort has recorded old and contemporary variations of this song for recorder ensemble

Johann Sebastian Bach's Six Solo Cello Suites are some of the most iconic classical music works. They have inspired not only cellists and audiences but other artforms as well, and they have been featured in ballet and theatre productions, even in films. The Swiss cellist Maja Weber performs the complete cycle of six suites on an outstanding instrument: on the legendary Stradivari cello "Bonamy Dobrée-Suggia" (1717). Among those who have performed on this instrument is the English violoncellist Hancock, while it's owners include the English scholar Bonamy Dobrée, after whom the instrument is named. But the touching story of this valuable violoncello really begins with the mysterious and diva-like Portuguese violoncellist Guilhermina Suggia (1885-1950), whose playing on her favorite instrument combined technical perfection and great emotionality, allowing her to cast a spell on her listeners with her warm, deep tones. Outwardly eccentric and volatile, Suggia was essentially an intelligent, warm- hearted woman. The instrument was sold on her death and the proceeds used to support a scholarship at London's Royal Academy of Music. The Bonamy Dobrée-Suggia Violoncello is currently part of the collection of the Swiss Habisreutinger Stradivari Foundation. Maja Weber has played it all over the world at countless concerts during the last two decades.

Howard Griffiths, who has a strong emotional and professional connection with Turkey, has recorded exemplary works that demonstrate the diverse classical music culture in Turkey.

Armenian pianist Tsovinar Suflyan plays classical piano music from her homeland Armenia.

Francesco Tropea plays the Sonatas BWV 963 - BWV 970 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Recorded on a Steinway B Grand Piano.

Spanish music from the 17th century for trumpet and orgue.

All horn concertos by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed historically informed by Sibylle Mahni and the Brandenburger Symphoniker.

A very appealing compilation of popular classical works, partly original, partly especially arranged for pan flute and piano.

After his succesful debut album for Prospero Classical, pianist Sergey Tanin has now recorded Schumann's "Davidbündlertänze" and the "Faschingsschwank aus Wien"