A follow-up to the successful release of the first volume of piano music by Federico Mompou with Clélia Iruzum, volume II continues with thirty more tracks of hauntingly beautiful and memorable music by this unique Spanich composer and pianist. With her combination of colorful Brazilian spirit and musicianship, London-based pianist Clélia Iruzum is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge onto the international scene in recent years.

Grieg was the first great composer in the late 1880's to travel around Norway collecting folk tunes from the rural population and these proved to be a genuine source of inspiration to him. For John McCabe, as his original note for these recordings makes clear, Grieg was a far more significant figure than popular appreciation would suggest and these recordings came as quite revelatory in the early 1980's to wider audiences outside of the inner circle of specialists in Norweigian music.

This new SOMM release features two perennial favorites, the Glazunov and Dvorak Violin Concertos. They are often recorded together, deriving their inspiration from Russian Bohemia's musical heritage whilst still remaining close to Brahmsian Viennese traditions. Greek-born violinist Efi Christodoulou has been reviewd by The Strad as "a powerful violinist, demonstrating a high level of technical achievement" Efi is developing a career in the UK where she has recently given recitals at St. John's, Smith Square and Wigmore Hall.

With this release, SOMM continues its series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the remarkable pianist Valerie Tryon. It brings together three French works for piano and orchestra. Valerie Tryon's career as a concert pianist began while she was still a child. Before she was twelve she had broadcast for the BBD and she was one of the youngest students ever to be admitted to the Royal Academy of Music. Tryon's career has extended from England where she has played with many of the leading orchestras and condutors.

This is the second disc of songs with Sally Silver and Richard Bonynge appearing on SOMM. The collection of songs on this CD ranges across the whole of Massenet's career as a composer. This selection also includes duets and other settings for solo voice groupings, of which Massenet composed many.

"What an adventurous move it is for a record company to provide listeners with the opportunity to hear songs that have not been committed to disc time and time again." - IRR

Classical Music

This release brings exciting news for all lovers of English Song. This has been a close collaboration between SOMM and Andrew West partnering Susa Gritton, James Gilchrist and Roderick Williams, three charismatic singers at the top of their profession.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Incomparable composer and pianist John McCabe, who passed away in February 2015, had recorded Nielsen's Piano Music on LP for Decca's Ace of Diamonds back in 1975. More recently, the SOMM label was approached by John's wife, Monica McCabe, to ask if they would consider issuing it on CD. From an early age, John loved to explore little-known works and considered Nielsen's Suite, Op. 45 a true masterpiece. The piano music of Nielsen, whose 150th anniversary is celebrated this year, is overshadowed by his six symphonies but his piano music has always had a special place in the hearts of music lovers worldwide. These recordings have been unavailable for many years; now newly re-mastered, they are given a new lease on life and serve as a timely reminder of McCabe's unique interpretations.

This is the concluding disc in a four-CD collection of Beethoven's complete music for piano trio, recorded live by the Gould Piano Trio in a series of concerts at St. George's, Brandon Hill in Bristol, UK. We end the series with a unique coupling that marries the very first work Beethoven wrote for piano trio - the little Trio in E flat composed when he was 22 - with his last work, the supreme masterpiece known as "Archduke" written 20 years later. This CD marks the culmination of one of the most important chamber music recording projects by a British ensemble in recent years.

This SOMM release brings together the premiere recordings of three works for string quartet in magnificent versions for string orchestra. The Elgar and Arnold Quartets have been arranged for strings by the renowned composer David Matthews, while Robert Simpson made his own arrangement of a movement (Allegro Deciso) from his Third Quartet.

English pianist Leon McCawley leapt into prominence at the age of nineteen, when he won both First Prize in the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna, and Second Prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition. He has led a glittering career that includes recitals all over Europe, at Lincoln Center in New York, and appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony, Dallas Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra as well as several appearances at the BBC Proms. He has worked with Gatti, Paavo J�rvi, Kurt Masur, and Simon Rattle, among many others. On this, his fifth disc for SOMM, the pianist turns to Rachmaninov's Complete Preludes.

Pianist Sviatoslav Richter and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich were among Prokofiev's friends during the last years of his life. They inspired the composer to continue his work and he, in turn, dedicated his 1947 Ninth Piano Sonata to Richter. For Rostropovich he wrote an amazing group of late works, among which was the Sonata for Cello and Piano. Both the Ninth Piano Sonata and the C Major Cello Sonata are considered masterpieces, finding Prokofiev at the height of his powers. The two Sonatinas, Op. 54 are delightful miniature Sonatas, each lasting less than 10 minutes. The two illustrious artists featured on this disc, Donohoe and Wallfisch, partner each other affectionately and in perfect harmony in this recording.

Bebbington's acclaimed collaboration with SOMM yields new riches in this important release featuring three exhilarating works for piano and string orchestra, including the world premiere recording of Jacob's First Piano Concerto. A prolific composer, Jacob was also renowned as an expert on orchestration, and composers such as Vaughan Williams and Noel Coward entrusted him with arrangements of their music. Australian composer Malcolm Williamson was Master of the Queen's Music in the 1970s. of his four concertos, No. 2 is the most immediately accessible, displaying a variety of stylistic affinities from Stravinsky to Gershwin. Doreen Carwithen was married to her former teacher, composer William Alwyn, but was an accomplished composer in her own right. She completed her Piano Concerto in 1948, and it remains among her most substantial and beautiful scores.