Classical Music

Musician, composer, and teacher Harald Genzmer (1909-2007) grew up in a musical household. He was exposed to and influenced by such composers as Rudi Stephan, max Reger, Richard Strauss, and Paul Hindemith from a young age. Genzmer held the position of director of studies at the Breslau Opera, taught classes at the Volksmusikschule in Berlin-Neukolln, and was a professor of composition and music theory in Munich from 1957-1974. Genzmer had a vastly varied output, as is shown on this recording. This program includes orchestral chamber, piano, organ, and choral music.

The art of the fugue of Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as a fundamental achievement of music history. The version in print belongs to the unquestioned canon of the interpretive history as well. The burden of the work had so far been so heavy that one could easily overlook the fragmentary and sometimes foreign character of this version. But there is a history of work, and whoever wants to come to Bach’s only self-contained version must go to the earlier possible version. Bach’s Art of the Fugue is a collection of polyphonic pieces developed from a single main theme. The well-known and recent version was completed by Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel, after his death. This release, however, shows an even earlier version believed to be done entirely by Bach. This study and recording by Kalberer becomes a whole of theory and practice, an integral process of philosophical theory, musicological research, absolute artwork, autonomous sound events and subjective perception of the listener.

A richly rewarding set from Israeli alto Zvi Emanuel-Marial with arias written for alto castrato that range from the early Mozart's Mitridate to Handel's Serse and movingly featuring this gifted singer's range with his portrayal of Orfeo from Gluck's incomparable Orfeo ed Euridice.

...and yet it moves! - The famous exclamation attributed to Galileo Galilei after his judgement by the Catholic church raises associations with groundbreaking modernity and the triumph of truth and reason against their attempted suppressino. Galileo and the effect of his work reaches far beyond this oft-glorified moment of resistance against the church, however. The Duo Steimel-Mücksch presents the various faces of Galileo as a physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher in this recording: starting with Mario Mary's piece "Las intuiciones de Galileo", the duo has commissioned composers to write for the unusual combination of guitar and accordion and to let themselves be inspired by the work and personality of Galileo. The results of this porject are as multifaceted as Galileo's work itself - philosophical thought stands next to research about astronomical constellations and physical concepts. In addition to the four commissioned pieces and the composition by Mario Mary, two works by Jose M. Sanchez-Verdi and Christopher Brandt can be heard which each explore the various possibilities presented by this interesting instrumental combination. The heterogenous nature of this music can be seen clearly in the instruments themselves: the breathy, sustained sound of the accordion contrasting with the direct, quickly decaying sound world of the guitar. In close cooperation with the composers, a musical representation of the enigmatic and ultimately revolutionary personality of Galileo has been created.

What does a saxophone player who is neither interested in big band music nor in jazz do when he wants to play and record exciting music for his instrument? He commissions good composers to write pieces for him and his instrument. In between this album’s musical pieces are actress recitations of short prose pieces by two persecuted European Jewish writers, Joseph Roth and Rajzel Zychlinski. Christian Segmehl is one of today’s most promising classical saxophonists. He has played with renowned orchestras the world over, and is devoted to playing chamber music in all its variety.

Based in Germany but native to India, Pervez Mody is a virtuoso concert pianist who has been noted for his multifaceted, colorful musicianship that features absorbing passion and powerful expression. +For many years, Pervez Mody has studied the piano repertoire of Alexander Scriabin very intensively and his interpretations have earned praise from experts and concert audiences alike. +"Pervez Mody, an exceptional musician and a unique artist...has a deep connection with Scriabin. - Martha Argerich

There are more songs and lieder devoted to Christmas by European composers - the major and the minor - than to any other religious feast of the year. It was particularly during the Romantic period that classical composers wrote a plethora of songs in one way or another dealing with Christmas. This two disc, thirty-three song collection shows the richness and diversity that went into these songs, and the cast range of emotions and pictures they evoke. Featured performers are American soprano Rebecca Broberg, the piano pianissimo musiktheater Ensemble, Munich and pianist Hans Martin Gr�bner.

• Peter Ruzicka is a renowned contemporary German composer and conductor • The young and upcoming cellist Valentiu Radutiu won the opportunity to premiere “Rezitativ”, one of the works heard on this disc • Booklet notes in German and English include writings on the works and performer biographies

Classical Music

• New 2012 recording of this massive early Schoenberg opus, an apotheosis of late-Romanticism • Günter Neuhold leads the Bibao Symphony Orchestra • Booklet and sung text in German and English; includes performer biographies

Classical Music

• Austrian composer faded almost completely from history following his early death 100 years ago • These two CDs resurrect and present some of the nearly 180 songs he composed during his lifetime • Booklet notes and sung texts in German and English include essay on Wolff, the music and performer biographies

Classical Music

Classical Music