The Danish baritone Johan Reuter often sings leading roles at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is in high demand all over the world. He also loves the lied repertoire, however, and the work closest to his heart is the Schubert song cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey). For this new release, he wanted to record it not with the usual piano accompanist, but in an arrangement for string quartet. Richard Krug from the Copenhagen String Quartet made this highly idiomatic transcription of the piano part and the result is deeper, more moving and with full sound than in the original. This is truly a unique experience. Johan Reuter studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Academy of the Royal Theatre in his hometown of Copenhagen. He frequented masterclasses of Ernst Haefliger, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson and Richard Trimborn. Since 1996 he has been a soloist of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where he sings a large repertoire.

Classical Music

This new release, featuring a truly sensational Bruckner 9, is the premiere recording of the finale completed by Nors Josephson. Josephson writes of this release: “The present edition of the finale to Anton Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony is the result of a ten year-long project. I have utilised the sketches and score sketches to this movement that are found in the Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna, Austria, the Viennese Stadt-und Landesbibliothek and the Viennese Hochschule fur Musik und darstellende Kunst; all of these institutions kindly provided me with microfilms and photographic copies of these sources. In addition, Alfred Orel’s 1934 edition of most of these sources as part of the Bruckner Complete Works was of particular value. Thanks go to the Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna for sending me a copy of this edition.” Conductor John Gibbons brings a transparent and insightful interpretation to the entire work.

Classical Music

Classical Music

The Spiritual Revival Choir of Moscow was created in 1992, at the end of the Soviet era, a time when religious freedom was once again permitted in Russia. The choir's repertoire includes music of the renaissance, baroque, classical and romantic periods, as well as music by contemporary composers such as Alfred Schnittke. 'Serene Ecstasy' features the choir in sacred music by Russian composers from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The choir opens the program with "The Russian Soil," a hymn dedicated to Russian saints that is memorable for its rhythmic drive and exalted tone. Two sacred pieces by Tchaikovsky are marked by drama and, in "Eucharist" from the 'Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,' a sense of joy. The group's lush tonal quality is ideal in Ippolitov-Ivanov's pacific "Praise the Lord, O My Soul."
This recording consistently impresses with its excellent singing and fascinating repertoire; surely it's an ideal recording for all lovers of sacred music.

An overall glance at the history of opera shows that in many ways, the growth of multinational record companies after the end of the Second World War has had far-reaching effects. Up till then the national singing schools controlled the scene and nothing could have been more logical than for Italian, German, Russian and French singers to perform mainly in their own language. The language an opera was staged in depended on where the opera was being performed. For example: Boris Godunov wasput on in Russian at the Bolshoi, in Italian at the Scala, in French at the Opera, in German at the Staatsoper in Vienna, in English at Covent Garden and in English or Italian at the Met, depending on which company was performing. This release, despite it's 1962 recording, follows that same tradition of singing the presented opera in the language of the country in which it is being performed. In this case, Italian.

Anton Rubinstein’s Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 95, emerged in 1874 – ending a dry spell of roughly 20 years since his previous efforts in the genre. It came at a time when the future of the purely instrumental symphony was in doubt, reflecting the notion of Wagner and his disciples that Beethoven had exhausted the possibilities of symphonic development – and that the day of “synthetic” art (the “Gesamtkunstwerk”), with its blend of symphonic, vocal and theatrical elements, had arrived. Rubinstein did not agree, and composed his fourth symphony in an apparent effort to prove that Beethoven’s methods were still valid. This marks Delos’ second re-release of Russian Disk’s acclaimed series of Rubinstein’s orchestral music, as performed with authentic idiomatic flair by Igor Golovchin and his Russian State Symphony Orchestra.

“… a strong and individual artist whose depth of feeling and technical control are never in doubt.” (Gramophone) This lush and lovely album offers beguiling masterpieces for cello and orchestra by Russia’s most revered composer- played to perfection by the musical team of renowned Russian-American cellist Nina Kotova, with the legendary Russian maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev leading Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra- all musicians who have these soulful pieces in their very bones. Kotova and company begin with Tchaikovsky’s lively Pezzo capriccioso before serving listeners the main course: one of the world’s most beloved works for cello and orchestra, the gorgeous Variations on a Rococo Theme. Then the cellist bows out as we are treated to one of the composer’s greatest orchestral pieces of smaller scale, the shimmering Serenade for Strings. In all, it’s a program filled with soaring melodies and sheer musical delight.

REVIEW:

What’s so singularly impressive about Kotova’s interpretation and exposition of Tchaikovsky is her awareness of the music’s meaning. This allows her to eschew exhibitionism and translate Tchaikovsky’s musical purpose with pensive meticulous introspection.

Her understanding and elucidation of Tchaikovsky is nonpareil, flamboyant yet measured, but still emanating the turbulence of the music’s emotional impact. Her technique is immaculate and, in combination with her intuitive feel for Tchaikovsky, the end result is a confection of pure elegance.

– Huffington Post

Classical Music

In addition to being the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra's principal flutist, Iceland native Stef�n Ragnar H�skuldsson has forged a distinguished simultaneous career as a soloist and chamber musician. On this, his debut solo CD he offers an impressive and varied program of classic works for flute and piano by mainstream composers, plus a haunting unaccompanied flute novelty composed by a fellow Icelander. Michael McHale, with whom Mr. H�skuldsson collaborates, is one of Ireland's leading all-around pianists. "Stef�n Ragnar H�skuldsson played with agility and warmth" - New York Times.

The Swedish award-winning string orchestra, Musica Vitae, directed by violinist Malin Broman and accompanied by pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips, is showcased here in a sparkling performance of Felix Mendelssohn's challenging Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra. The concerto is coupled with Felix's sister, Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn's, String Quartet, here for the first time recorded in an arrangement for string orchestra. As a bonus, Malin and Simon also perform four songs by Fanny, arranged for viola and piano. Musica Vitae Chamber Orchestra is the ensemble that brings live music - indeed the music of life - to each and every individual member of the audience. The vast realm that is art music is handled with the utmost precision and elegance by it's 15 string players. The repertoire consists of baroque and romantic as well as modernist and contemporary music from a wide variety of genres. Musica Vitae appear on stages big and small in Sweden and abroad. Internationally, the orchestra has been warmly greeted in China, the United States, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and Spain to name but a few countries.

Mauro Giuliani was a composer deeply rooted in the everyday musical life of the Vienna of his era, a city on which Mozart had recently left his mark, where Haydn's art had come to his final flowering and where Beethoven and Schubert were soon to tower above all others. Never in the history of the guitar has the instrument been so close to and so in tune with the great names of classical music. On this release, Antonio Puccio presents Giuliani's complete Rossiniane and Pot-Pourris. Giuliani arranged many nineteenth century opera themes for the guitar. His work Le Rossiniane includes numerous themes from the operas of Rossini, including Otello, L'Italienne a Alger, Cendrillon, and others. He wrote his Pot Pourri in 1811, more than a decade before his Rossiniane. These two sets of pieces have been rarely performed and recorded, and quite unfairly so. Originally recorded and released to great acclaim in 1999, this album is now available nearly twenty years later, and still just as significant.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

The 5 piano concertos of Rubinstein opened a new era in the history of Russian piano art, setting the stage for the great Russian concerto masterpieces, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. This is the 3rd in Delos’ current series of Russian Disc re- and features the 2nd and 4th concertos, as performed by distinguished, Russian-trained artists.

The young Polish pianist Martin Labazevich has teamed up with his compatriot, the emerging conductor Ewa Strusińska to record their debut Delos disc: a highly appealing all-Polish program of beloved musical gems for piano and orchestra as well as engaging orchestral selections. Add the young virtuosos of the Beethoven Academy Orchestra to complete a supremely gifted and accomplished musical team. “… a pianist with great audience appeal and virtuosity…” (Horacio Gutierrez) “Ewa Strusinska left an indelible impression … with her dynamic and incisive direction.” (The Northern Echo)

... a work written by a young, ebullient, but quite mature talent, and distinguished, beyond it's broad scope and youthful freshness, by a remarkably unified conception. Thus did Russian master P.I. Tchaikovsky describe the long-neglected "Ocean" Symphony (Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 42 - Original Version) by Anton Rubinstein, his composition teacher at (and the founder of) the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His "Ocean" symphony is a bold and highly original programmatic work that convincingly evokes the struggle of man against the elemental forces that rule the seas. Echoes of composers like Mendelssohn and Schumann are heard in the work, no doubt the result of Rubinstein's European training and exposure - yet there remains a certain Russian pathos and earthiness. Also heard here is a colorful suite of dances from Rubinstein's oriental-flavored opera, Feramors. Igor Golovschin and his Russian State Symphony Orchestra provide skillful and idiomatically true performances.

Classical Music

Classical Music

In the wake of the beloved Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky's untimely passing in November 2017, tributes, memorials and musical event dedications have flowed non-stop. But none thus far has matched the sheer scope, power and sonic splendor of this all-Russian performance of Verdi's blockbuster Requiem Mass. The all-star cast of soloists- soprano Dinara Alieva, mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova, tenor Francesco Meli and bass Dmitry Belosselsky- sing their hears out for Dmitri, under the baton of the vaunted Maestro Yuri Temirkanov leading the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bolshoi Theater Chorus. The result is an incredibly heartfelt and moving musical tribute to one of the greatest baritones who has ever lived.

On this generous last installment of their Schubert-Brahms pilgrimage, Pieter Wispelwey and Paolo Giacometti serve us three iconic sonatas, including a world premiere. In it's original hue of G Major, Brahms' first violin sonata op. 78 is more scintillating and transparent than the D-major cell adaptation, and much more enchanting in it's opening Vivace. Brahms' third violin sonata op. 108 fuses surprising ebullience with superior mastery of form, in an epic piece which is an undiluted kick in the groin when played on a cello. And thankfully, Pieter and Paolo revisit Schubert's Arpeggione, that gem of intimacy, fragility, frivolity and humbling, unattainable beauty. A fitting final, in all respects.

Can we get into Beethoven’s creative mind, especially in the last phase of his life when he was coping with severe hearing loss? Tom Beghin’s new recording of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Opus 109, 110, and 111 is an artistic exploration of how Beethoven’s musicking was shaped by the work environment he created with the help of colleagues and friends. Not only does pianist Tom Beghin perform Beethoven’s trilogy of pianistic masterpieces on a magnificent new replica of Beethoven’s Broadwood piano, he uses a reconstruction of the Gehormaschine that was mounted on the composer’s piano so he could continue to create music as his hearing declined. “You do hear better when you bring your head under this machine, don’t you?” Andre Stein asked Beethoven. Two centuries later, we too can bring our heads under the machine and wonder: Do we hear Beethoven differently? Beghin draws us inside the hearing machine, where we feel as well as hear the essence of Beethoven’s rambunctious and irresistibly poetic musical vibrations. Inside the Hearing Machine invites us into the multisensory playground of a deaf composer for whom the machine was more than a hearing aid and who interacted with his instrument through much more than sound.

Classical Music

Brigitte Fassbaender said: ‘Gundula Janowitz possesses one of those voices where you have only to hear a couple of notes and you immediately know who it is. Her elegant timbre and unmistakably instrumental way of forming the phrases is unique.’ Few singers have voices that approach the purity of Janowitz’s: with its very fast vibrato and ‘white’ production, the focused sound can soar, swoop and dip with astonishing ease and control, the vocal line becoming almost liquefied into a seemingly endless melisma. Janowitz’s recorded catalogue, tends to misrepresent the focus of her career because it downplays her work as a recitalist. Of course, she did tape all of Schubert’s songs for high voice but apart from a couple of late song recitals and a disc of Hindemith’s Das Marienleben, that is all we have to remember her by as a performer of song. So this album will be a welcome addition to her discography. For her Athens recital, Janowitz chose two composers absolutely at the centre of her song repertoire, Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss, with a third, Robert Schumann, forming a bridge between the two.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Gyorgy Sebok (1922-1999) was a Hungarian-born American pianist who was also renowned as a teacher and giver of masterclasses. He made more than 16 recordings for the Erato label as a soloist early on in his career. He has received countless honors and awards throughout his career in recognition of musical life. His fellow Hungarian pianist Livia Rev said of him: “one of the greatest pianists in the second half of the century, if not the greatest.” Cellist Janos Starker, with whom Sebok played for more than six decades, pulled even fewer punches: “First hand, second hand, or in recordings, Gyorgy Sebok is the greatest pianist who ever lived,” and also “one of the greatest teachers of all time.” This live recording was made at the 1991 Grange de Meslay Recital, Parcay-Meslay, France.