This recording presents, from the hands of one of the most appealing performers of her generation, harpsichord works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, leader of the French 18th century clavecin school. Céline Frisch's Bach interpretations and recordings have earned her great international music press acclaim. Her affinities also draw her to play French music of the Louis XIV era, the English Virginalists and German 17th century music. She also delights in exploring 20th-century and contemporary music.

The music of Johann Strauss reflects a lifestyle, a refinement ... a true Viennese tradition. At the same time, this music simply creates joie de vivre, an almost uncontrollable urge to dance. It is these feelings and these emotions Anima Eterna and its leader, Jos van Immerseel communicate with delicacy and conviction; also with a view to the greatest possible proximity to the score as it was conceived at the time of its creation.

Bach composed these and other famous works, including the Brandenburg Concerti and the Cello Suites, during his Capellmeister years in Anhalt-Cöthen, Saxony, 1717-23. Violinist Hélène Schmitt, a fixture on European stages, mostly plays the solo violin repertoire of the 17th - early 19th century. She shows a special interest in and affinity for Italian and German music and culture. The international critics always receive her concerts and recordings enthusiastically.

The recording’s program unites some of Bach’s best known organ works with some recently discovered chorale fantasias. The score of “Wo Gottder Herr nicht bei uns hält” was all but unknown until March 2008 when a quality copy was found at a public sale. Part of the REWIND collection, this disc is an excellent introduction to the organ works of J.S. Bach, as well as to the ‘Diapason d’Or – Arte’ awarded complete Bach organ works as performed by noted Belgian organist Bernard Foccroulle (b. 1953).

Quite possibly the most melodically gifted composer to have ever lived, Franz Schubert’s uniqueness extends as well to his individual works notoriety, some of which is universal, as in the Trout Quintet, much of which remains in the shadows, even unfinished, as is the beautiful Notturno or the F major quartet, D487. Consistent throughout however is the composer’s grace, elegance and Biedermeyer charm, firmly in evidence on this recording.

Mozart called him “Papa Haydn”. And it is true that the influence of Joseph Haydn on Mozart's music was strong, as is true also of early Beethoven, to whom he dedicated his first piano sonatas. It is also true that the production of these two composers of genius has draped somewhat of a shadow over Haydn’s work, even if it is just as great and unique. These six baryton trios are excellent examples of the unique, crucial work of the first composer of the “Viennese trinity”.

Sergei Prokofiev, the great 20th century composer of such works as Peter and the Wolf, the ballet music Romeo and Juliet and music for the Sergei Eisenstein’s film Alexander Nevski was also a great pianist: five of his orchestral concertos are dedicated to this instrument. These live performances from 2004 feature noted Franco-Lebanese pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha (b. 1958). Mr. El Bacha’s first recording, dedicated to Prokofiev’s early work, won the Grand Prize of the Académie Charles Cros.

This recording presents some of the most beautiful passages in all baroque violin repertoire, combining Italian sensuality with French grace and refinement. Idolised as both performer and composer during his lifetime, Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764) was murdered in circumstances still mysterious. In 2000, violinist Patrick Cohën-Akenine founded Les Folies françoises to tackle a vast baroque instrumental and vocal repertoire with a true chamber music approach.

A man of contrasts and dramatic intensity, Beethoven is one of the most striking figures in all music history. He wrote the works presented on this recording during the period in which he was gradually becoming aware of his growing deafness. Upon its release, this debut album of the Beethoven’s clarinet trios by the Ensemble Kheops - clarinetist Ronald Van Spaendonck, cellist Marie Hallynck and pianist Muhiddin Dürrüoglu - earned high critical praise.

Mozart's 40th symphony, perhaps his most beautiful and well known, has an intensity that allows us to sense the depth of tragic sentiment then occupying Mozart’s mind. His 41st, and last, symphony – the “Jupiter” – a titanic work in many regards – is an expertly assembled mix of tradition and innovation. Founded in 1987 by Jos van Immerseel, the multi-award winning Anima Eterna Brugge, now a full-bred, period instrument ensemble, boasts an impressive repertoire ranging from Bach to Gershwin.

Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife and muse, for whom, and at whose side, he composed these works written during the years in which his love for her – still no more than a young girl – began to bloom, are all filled with passionate romanticism. Eric Le Sage is one of today’s leading pianists of the French piano school. In 2010, he very successfully came to the end of a project that he had cherished and prepared for a long time: recording Robert Schumann’s complete works for piano.

Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturnes possess those grand melodic qualities that form the basis of the charm and seduction of his inspiration. These 1993 recordings find the pianist playing a Broadwood piano (c. 1845), a make Chopin himself played upon in England in 1848. The Flemish pianist Luc Devos (b. 1960) is regularly invited to perform in concert as a soloist with Belgian and foreign orchestras and has collaborated with such renowned artists as Arthur Grumiaux, Sigiswald Kuijken and Augustin Dumay.

Johannes Brahms’ compositions for clarinet, among the most poignant in his oeuvre, were inspired by his propitious encounter with the famed clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld. Three Belgian virtuosi, the late clarinetist Walter Boeykens, noted pianist Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden and modern and baroque cello master Roel Dieltiens, came together in 1989 to record these late-Brahms clarinet-centered chamber music masterpieces.

Bach composed these and other famous works, including the Brandenburg Concerti and the Cello Suites, during his Capellmeister years in Anhalt-Cöthen, Saxony, 1717-23. Violinist Hélène Schmitt, a fixture on European stages, mostly plays the solo violin repertoire of the 17th - early 19th century. She shows a special interest in and affinity for Italian and German music and culture. The international critics always receive her concerts and recordings enthusiastically.

This recording features two trio and two solo performances of works by Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók. Florent Héau, one of the major figures of the French clarinet school, is clarinet professor at the Paris CRR. Pianist Anne-Lise Gastaldi, a former student of noted pianist Anne Queffelec, is pianist for the George Sand trio. David Lefèvre is a gifted representative of the younger generation of violinists and artistic director of the Val d'Isère MusicaVal Chamber Music Festival.

Works of Lorenzo Allegri (1573-1648) and Giovanni Battista Buonamente (d. 1642)] intersperse the music of Monteverdi coeval Domenico Belli d. 1627), a mysterious figure with a capricious personality who left behind some rather startling music. Formed in 1998, Le Poème Harmonique, led by their artistic director Vincent Dumestre, center its artistic activity around 17th- early 18th century vocal and instrumental music, being often enriched by interaction with other artistic disciplines in performance.

Sergei Prokofiev, the great 20th century composer of such works as Peter and the Wolf, the ballet music Romeo and Juliet and music for the Sergei Eisenstein’s film Alexander Nevski was also a great pianist: five of his orchestral concertos are dedicated to this instrument. These live performances from 2004 feature noted Franco-Lebanese pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha (b. 1958). Mr. El Bacha’s first recording, dedicated to Prokofiev’s early work, won the Grand Prize of the Académie Charles Cros.

In this disc wild jigs and melancholic songs lead us both into the atmosphere of court and that of taverns. This shows-to those who still deem it necessarythe extent to which baroque esthetics are made up, in one movement, of both erudite art and popular art. This recording shows the Witches at their British best!

These transcriptions for piano quartet of Gustav Mahler’s 5 Rückert Lieder, Richard Wagner’s Wesendonck cycle and two excerpts from Tristan und Isolde were accomplished by pianist Christian Favre the Quatour Schumann’s pianist, among whose members also includes cellist Tedi Papavrami. The featured singer on this 2007 recording is the much-honored, famed British soprano Dame Felicity Lott, whose operatic, concert and recording career is ample and distinguished.

Virtuoso baroque-era violinist Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762) transcribed for string orchestra Arcangelo Corelli’s celebrated sonatas for violin, op. 5. One of the finest baroque ensembles in the world, the Ensemble 415’s full, dense sonority is ideally suited to this music’s sublime intensity. The ensemble, led by its founder Chiara Banchini, regularly presents some of the great masterworks of Boccherini, Mozart and composers from the Italian Baroque.

The brilliant Argentine musician Astor Piazzolla, who revolutionised the traditional tango through his use of jazz elements, counterpoint, extended harmonies and dissonance, has constantly appealed to wide audiences, as well as fascinating classical musicians. Here Astoria (string quintet, piano, accordion), led by Christophe Delporte, gives a delightfully lively rendering, capturing the rhythm and all the lyricism and charm of Piazzolla'stango nuevo.

This disc was shaped by the encounter between one of the great composers of our time, Mauricio Kagel, a unique and engaging pianist, Alexandre Tharaud, and some of his close chamber music partners. It reaches out to its audience with a great sense of humour and tenderness.