Marcus Paus (b. 1979) is one of the most sought after Norwegian composers. His catalogue includes numerous chamber, solo, choral and orchestral works, along with several operas, and music for stage and screen. He is noted for having re-embraced tradition, tonality and melody, and has been lauded by critics in Norway and abroad. Paus was named Composer of the Year 2017 by the Norwegian Music Publishers Association. This release presents a diverse cross-section of the Paus’s output, from the darkly colored to the resolutely joyful. Perhaps a particular highlight is Love’s Last Rites for solo violin and strings played with sumptuous beauty by the great Henning Kraggerud.

Pianist Sinziana Mircea writes of her new release: “I do not know how to write poems, but I love reading them, as I love the poetry of the music and the music of a whispered love poem. My [album] is a sound poem dedicated to Love. In all its forms. It resonates with the first verses of Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem “Unending Love”… In the most wonderful way, my favorite Bengali poet brings together philosophy and religion, blended with the deep emotions we all experience in our lives.” Young Romanian pianist Sinziana Mircea had her debut at the Romanian Athenaeum, the main venue in her country, at the age of 7, followed by numerous appearances in Europe. She made her American debut at the age of 11 and began touring at the age of 14. She was the first Romanian pianist to be granted a scholarship from the Van Cliburn Foundation and TCU School of Music at PianoTexas Festival & Academy. She is an active chamber musician, soloist, and is a Steinway Artist.

Eleonora Spina and Michele Benignetti are two compelling, talented young musicians that come from strong and varied backgrounds as soloists and chamber musicians. Their acclaimed recording of Brahms’s complete works for two pianos has been praised by audiences and critics alike. The duo performs regularly throughout Europe. In 2015, their recital for the live show “Generation Jeunes Interpretes” at the Auditorium of the Maison de la Radio in Paris was broadcast by the famed France Musique National Radio. The duoship began in 2013. They are currently studying at the Hochschule fur Musik in Graz under the guidance of Professors Gil Garburg and Sivan Silver. For this release, they perform works for two pianos by Samuel Barber, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Sergei Rachmaninov. The varied programme proves the duo’s ability to cross genres.

Both intensely lyrical and impressively virtuosic, Alberto Bologni already has many recordings to his name. He has also given world première performances, as soloist or in chamber groups, of works by Castagnoli, Dall’ Ongaro, Festa, Giusti, Landuzzi, Luporini, Morricone, Senanes, Solbiati, Zangelmi. This release presents works dedicated to, or premiered by him. Two well-established English composers are paired with three Italians and an Argentinian. Especially notable is the inclusion of Threads by Peter Seabourne, which was dedicated in part to Alberto Bologni. Together they create a kaleidoscopically diverse and enthralling cross section of possibilities, each realized impressively by the one-man orchestra that is Alberto Bologini!

Vladislav Mikhalchuk was born on the 28th of March 1996 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the family of Vladislav, there were no professional musicians, but all the relatives were fond of music and that was what brought him to the P. Serebryakov Children's Art School at the age of 5. His desire to devote his life to music and become a professional pianist came at 11 years old when he heard one of the records of the legendary American pianist Van Cliburn. His parents supported him in this and in 2010 Vladislav entered the Secondary Special Music School at the St. Petersburg Conservatory to the class of Vladimir Suslov, the winner of the All-Russian competition "The Best Teacher of Children's Art School" (2010). The first piano teacher was Natalia Kuznetsova, with whom Vladislav was studying up to grade 7. For the first time, he publicly appeared at the Sheremetevsky Palace at the age of 8 at the school's annual concert, and all subsequent years led an active concert life. For this release, he has chosen to include works by Haydn, Brahms, Scriabin, Rachmaninov, and Liszt- a fitting programme for a rising star.

Peter Seabourne: Steps, Vol. 2 "Studies of Invention"

300 years have passed since Johann Sebastian Bach wrote these incredible Suites for solo cello. Thanks to great cellist Pablo Casals, who discovered the manuscript in the 20th century, we play and listen to this day. The Suites have been analyzed so many times that there is no need for me to do it again. I would, however, like to tell you about my story with Bach. I was very young when I first heard his music. I can still remember that the piece was played by organ and cello. But the biggest impression came to me during my teen years while attending concerts in The Organ Hall of my most beloved and beautiful city of Lviv, Ukraine. I felt like I needed to be there and I was there. Every day for almost three months. From then on, I knew that he will always be my favorite composer. His music is the highest achievement of human civilization. I hear the cosmos with no end. Filled with spiritual love, through his harmonies, the music opens windows to eternity. I was fortunate to become a cellist and so happy that Bach wrote for cello, too. Pablo Casals' inspired my interpretations, and later - Glenn Gould. As so many cellists, I have been studying the suites for my whole life. My interpretations change and I will forever remain a student of the work. (Natalia Khoma)

Chopin & Scriabin: Piano Music

Liszt’s music very often has external inspiration. It attempts, that is to say, to translate and communicate emotions that have been aroused in the artist by nature, poetry or painting. The pieces recorded here are not just a combination of well-organized notes. They offer something that goes further, something not visible in the score to the naked eye, something that impresses the listener as a true “vision.” It is from this that Liszt’s music derives its strongly evocative power, its capacity to recreate in sound natural, human and spiritual realities. Jacopo Mai was born in Grosseto in September 1996. He obtained the first level Diploma Accademico in Piano with full marks, honors and special mention at the ISSM “P. Mascagni” of Livorno, where his teacher was Maestro Daniel Rivera. In parallel with his musical studies, he attended the Liceo Classico “Carducci-Ricasoli” of Grosseto, obtaining the Classical High School Diploma in 2015. He won first prize in the Literary Competition held by the Italian “Dante Alighieri” Society with “La Nave in Dante”. He has attended numerous international piano competitions, obtaining mentions and first prizes as a soloist, duet partner, and chamber musician. He has also given numerous recitals for cultural associations in Tuscany.

Peter Seabourne: Steps, Vol. 3 "Arabesques"

Viola Dolorosa

Ondrej Vrabec is one of the world’s truly great horn players. Solo horn of the Czech Phil since the age of 17, numerous works have been dedicated to him, and he has released many albums both as player and conductor. This disc features two established British composers, teacher and pupil: Robin Holloway and Peter Seabourne. Their music exhibits something of a shared language and aesthetic, but each has an instantly recognizable and distinctive voice (something perhaps not so common nowadays). Holloway’s two Partitas were written for Barry Tuckwell in the 1980s. Seabourne’s “The Black Pegasus” is a significant recent addition to the canon. The album also includes solos, duets and quartets. All are première recordings. One of the most important horn releases, and its memorable performances are sure to delight!

Stanford: Complete Works for Piano Solo, Vol. 2

Seabourne: Sonata Appassionata, On the Blue Shore of Silence

Rota & Pirrone: Piano Works