Legendary composer for stage and screen John Williams has admired the United States Marine Band, the "President's Own," since childhood - and in recent decades, the maestro and ensemble's mutual admiration has deepened amidst a series of collaborations marking the group's major anniversaries. The culmination of this twenty-year relationship was Williams' return to conduct the band's 225th anniversary gala concert in July 2023, along with the release of this 2026 album, John Williams and 'The President's Own,' Vol. 3. Completing a trilogy of albums issued by Naxos of America, this live recording brings the outstanding virtuosity, good cheer, and moving musicianship of that 2023 Kennedy Center concert to the world.

Mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlu has chosen four of the two dozen individual songs and song cycles that the world-famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) wrote during his lifetime. Ester Pavlu's magnificent voice as well as her and her convincing stage presence make her one of the most promising mezzo-sopranos of the current generation, who wins the admiration of audience and critics both on domestic stages and abroad. Charles Spencer is one of the most sought-after piano accompanists worldwide who regularly collaborates with many of the world's most renowned singers.

Ever since playing Hugleiding (Meditation) by composer Karolina Eiriksdottir for the first time back in 2006, this Icelandic solo violin music project has been melting in my veins. In 2013, John Speight wrote his Soliloquy (track 7 and 8) at my request. Two more recent commissions are on the album, both from composers who play the violin: Fragile Stillness by Lilja Maria asmundsdottir and Aria by Maria Huld Markan. Iceland has a long tradition of violin playing and according to folklore every farmer in certain valleys up north was a fiddler. Ea Fantasia (track 4), my own composition, is inspired by the opening track Alia Fantasia by Nicola Matteis Jr. He was the London-born son of the Italian composer Nicola Matteis, who wrote Ayers and Grounds. Nicola Junior was a violinist like his father and lived in Vienna, where he composed numerous ballets for the imperial opera. His bariolage (arpeggios over four strings) remind me of the opening of Fratres by Arvo Part and Bach's Chaconne-key works in the violin repertoire-both of which have been a great inspiration to me. In Fragile Stillness (track 2), Lilja Maria asmundsdottir experiments with textures. Or as she puts it: "The piece is inspired by a weather condition called froststillur. It is characterized by an intense calmness where there is no wind and a crisp, frozen atmosphere. Karolina wrote Meditation (track 3) in 1996 for violinist Hlif Sigurjonsdottir, who premiered the piece in June 1997. Meditation is in one movement, built on ideas which change and develop, and the composer describes it as "variations without a theme. Aria (track 5) by Maria Huld Markan was written for me in 2023. Her solo piece is written under the influence of Maria Callas and her romanticism and lontano as she sings Puccini. Maria is reflecting on the concept of the genius, and motifs are flowing from all the fountains contemplating the romantic violin repertoire. On his Adagio (track 6), composer Tryggvi Baldvinsson writes: "This small Adagio can be seen as a short play in which three distinct characters appear. Each has it's own traits, it's own personality. The encounter between these characters is bound to have a profound and lasting impact on them. As for the actual course of events, I leave that entirely to the listener's imagination. The piece was composed for Rut Ingolfsdottir, who premiered it in 1997. John Speight is an English-Icelandic singer and composer I got to know through working with the Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, playing and recording his works. He wrote Soliloquy (track 7 and 8) in 2012 and it is the only piece on the album in two movements. The first movement is slow and thoughtful, while the second is crazy and furious. Tranquility (track 10) by Sveinn Ludvik Bjornsson is possibly the shortest piece I have ever played. The story of it is longer than the piece itself-and too good to omit. Sveinn Ludvik, who is visually impaired, was renting a studio in an old banana storage in Brautarholt, Reykjavik. To enter his studio he had to walk through the studio of artist Helgi Valgeirsson. Above the door there was a painting by Helgi which inspired Sveinn Ludvik deeply; he had the sense it was very somber in it's mood-a naked woman with her back turned. Moved by the scene he wrote Tranquility. Later, when discussing the piece with Helgi and admiring the tragic impact of the naked woman in the picture, Sveinn was shocked to discover that the painting, in fact, was of bananas and oranges. Veronique Vaka Jacques, a Canadian-Icelandic composer and trained classical cellist, grounds her work in the geology and topography of Iceland. In Ofdune (track 9), a map of North Iceland serves as groundwork, with the geographical details of a descending river abstractly translated into the work's time progression, using the river's path through hills and valleys as a loose blueprint. This concept of descent is echoed in the title, Ofdune, which is derived from the Old English meaning "downwards" or "off the hill". Jon Nordal's Hvert orstutt spor (Each Tiny Step, track 11) is from the play Silfurtunglid by Icelandic Nobel Prize-winning author Halldor Laxness. This is a famous Icelandic song, here in my gospel music influenced arrangement for solo violin. I tried to stay true to the beautiful and simple melody and the text of the poem filled with nostalgic longing. - Una Sveinbjarnardottir Recorded in Reykholtskirkja West Iceland January 24. - 25. 2025 Una Sveinbjarnardottir, Violin Ragnheidur Jonsdottir, Tonmeister Dan Shores, Recording, Editing, Mixing, & Mastering Engineer Eva Schram, Photography Una Sveinbjarnardottir, Liner Notes

With "Kiss of Fire," Spark present their newest project and once again make a powerful statement of musical boundary-breaking. The ensemble is known for it's distinctive and varied programs that move beyond traditional genre limits and continuously redefine classical music. For Kiss of Fire, Spark has collaborated with the W�rttembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn. This encounter gives the characteristic sound a new tonal dimension and expands the ensemble's spectrum with an additional orchestral color. A special highlight of the album is the world premiere recording of the commissioned work by Dutch composer Chiel Meijering.

French Cello Sonatas, Vol. 4 - Magnard & Vierne

Brouhaha: Shaped by Fire is a recording and performance project, combining music with anthropology to highlight our connections to our nature and origins. From noisy social gatherings around fires 800,000 years ago to virtual meetings over Zoom today, we humans have created and solved an amazing array of problems. Even as we shape the world in unprecedented ways, we remain an integral part of nature, intertwined with it's rhythms and cycles. Project founder and violinist Maiani da Silva has commissioned six stylistically eclectic composers to write for solo violin based on what intrigues them about our human nature and our place in the ecosystem. In addition, Maiani and the composers have collaborated with world-renowned scientists to gain insights on their chosen theme. What results is an imaginative collection of works that both transcends stylistic labels and embraces intellectual inquiry, while highlighting an important duality: "our ability to work with or against our environment, [which] has been with us from the beginning" (Ian Gottlieb, composer of Shaped by Fire). The drive to express and understand are both deeply human. Brouhaha combines two cultural pillars-art and science-to further ask: What separates and also connects us to the delicate web of nature, our environment, other species, and one another?

Poetry Chopin's piano concertos are the perfect fusion of virtuosity and heartfelt expression. In this edition, Christian Zacharias brings every intimate and exuberant moment to life with unparalleled sensitivity. Listeners will be captivated by the lyrical depth and poetic nuance of each movement. Clarity Recorded in the historic Salle Metropole with MDG's signature audiophile approach, this release delivers an immersive, natural sound. Newly remixed and mastered for Super Audio CD, every note resonates with clarity, depth, and spatial precision. The result is a listening experience that feels both immediate and timeless. Synergy Zacharias' long-standing partnership with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne shines throughout these performances. The orchestra provides an attentive, finely balanced accompaniment, allowing the pianist's interpretation to flourish. This synergy transforms every passage into a vivid, emotionally engaging musical dialogue. Legacy Originally recorded in 2003, this edition preserves the freshness and brilliance of the original sessions. It is a milestone in MDG's Preziosa series, offering a rare combination of historical insight, artistic excellence, and technical mastery. A must-have for collectors, audiophiles, and classical music enthusiasts alike.

Black Mountain features original compositions by Alexej Gerassimez and Gordon Hamilton, who also conducts this recording with the NDR Radiophilharmonie. The program explores the dynamic interplay between orchestral sound and percussion, with a highlight being the work Leviathan by John Psathas-a powerful composition for percussion and orchestra, written specifically for Alexej Gerassimez.

Bach's 15 two-part Inventions and the 15 three-part Sinfonias played an important role in Bach's teaching. These pieces, although today mainly associated with basic keyboard training, are not at all easy and in fact are sophisticated, small-scale masterpieces. They were not composed simply to provide technical training in keyboard playing but, perhaps more important, to teach keyboard players how to compose. In 1720, Bach's oldest son Wilhelm Friedemann (1710-84) was already of an age appropriate for introducing him into the family trade of musician. So Bach started for him a music notebook: a Clavierb�chlein which included these Inventions and Sinfonias. In learning and playing these works, Bach affirmed, a diligent student would be taught "a clear manner for playing not only in two voices but also in three obbligato parts and, furthermore, not only how to invent good musical ideas [inventiones] but also how to develop these well. And above all, how to achieve a cantabile manner of playing, and additionally to obtain a strong foretaste of Composition. " Wolfgang R�bsam is internationally known as an authoritative Bach interpreter, from recordings of the organ and harpsichord on several different labels. This new recording is played on a lute-harpsichord, an instrument that Bach would have had at home for both music-making in the family and for teaching. The touch required and the sonority produced is delicate, subtly shaded, and closely related in it's effect to the music of Bach's French contemporaries, whose music he knew well, such as Fran�ois Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Louis Marchand. The sound is warmer, as it has gut strings and no dampers. "These lovely performances memorably showcase R�bsam's sensitive and poetic side. Recommended. Performance: 9," wrote Jed Distler of ClassicsToday. Com about the earlier issue of R�bsam's recording of Bach's French Suites (BC 96227).

The Opera Comique in Paris has a long tradition of giving stylish performances dating back to the 18th century. Five imaginative and critically acclaimed productions are featured in this collection of French operatic masterpieces. Bizet's 'Carmen', which received it's premiere at the Opera Comique in 1875, is performed on period instruments conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Ambroise Thomas's 'Hamlet' features the stellar French baritone Stephane Degout in the title role. Messager exemplifies the spirit of La Belle epoch in 'Fortunio'; Gounod fuses Romanticism with the supernatural in 'La Nonne sanglante'; and the outstanding French soprano Sabine Devieilhe takes the lead role in Delibes's tragic tale of passion and loyalty, 'Lakme' - one of the jewels of the Opera Comique.

When Josefine entered her second half-century in 2021 (sometimes it's permissible to mention the age of a lady...), Norrbotten Big Band decided to celebrate her achievements by commissioning six big band pieces from composers who, at different times and on different occasions, have been connected with Josefine. We are very happy with the result and confident that the sometimes challenging nature of the music will create a portrait of Josefine with all her magnificence on full display.

Internationally acclaimed cellist Benedict Kloeckner and pianist Yo Kosuge join forces for a compelling collaboration. Both artists bring extensive experience from major festivals and leading orchestras, along with many years of chamber-music and recital performances. For this album, they selected popular works and arrangements as follows: Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata; Lullaby; Nacht und Tr�ume (Night and Dreams, arr. Kloeckner) / Mendelssohn - Sonata in D major; On Wings of Song (arr. Popper); Song Without Words (Op. 109).

The violin concertos by Max Bruch and Johannes Brahms are among the most significant works in the violin concerto repertoire. They are regarded as highly virtuosic and place great demands on the soloists. They were composed in the 19th century and remain an integral part of the concert repertoire to this day. They showcase different facets of Romanticism: Bruch's work is melodic and emotive, whereas Brahms' concerto is more monumental and symphonic in scope.

At first glance, the street singer and florist Sonja could be taken for Eliza Doolittle's cousin. But while she unwittingly becomes part of a linguistic experiment conducted by two elderly friends and blossoms into a fair lady, the protagonist of the operetta, composed by Leo Fall in 1922 to a cheerful libretto by Lo Portem and August Neidhart, she deliberately allows herself to be used as the subject of a bet. American millionaire Brown wants to marry his daughter Mabel to inventor Mr George for financial reasons, but she has her eye on George's secretary and will only comply if her official fiance can turn any street girl into an 'interesting woman' within three weeks. Exquisite, inventive music accompanies the cheerful events peppered with local dialects, whose tongue-in-cheek ending turns the tables on the original bet

In Good Company marks the powerful debut of Argentine alto saxophonist Tomás Martínez on SteepleChase in June 2026. At just 26 Martínez brings a rich tone, agile bebop phrasing, and a deep command of jazz tradition. The album features two standout groups: a New York quartet with Michael Weiss, David Wong, and Kenny Washington, recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio, and a vibrant trio session from Buenos Aires with Paul Sikivie and Teo Pérez. Mixing classics, bebop lines and originals, Martínez honors mentors like Charlie Parker, Barry Harris, and Charles McPherson while asserting a voice entirely his own. A fresh, swinging new presence on the international jazz scene. Martínez has performed at major venues across Argentina and Europe, and was named a Distinguished Personality and Cultural Ambassador of his hometown. He is also an active educator, teaching jazz saxophone at the college level and leading workshops and masterclasses. Currently based between Buenos Aires and New York, he continues to perform, record, and teach.

Saxophonist Clio Theodoridis and pianist Jonathan Nemtanu present their debut album, Nostos, named after the ancient Greek word for "return" or "homecoming." The album traces a musical and personal odyssey shaped by movement between cultures, places, and musical traditions. From Suite hellenique by Pedro Iturralde, rooted in Greek heritage and Mediterranean colour, to Recit et Lied, Op. 31 by Canadian composer Mathieu Lussier, the program reflects a life lived between past and present, departure and arrival. Works by Fazil Say, Suite for Saxophone and Piano, Op. 55, and Alexis Ciesla, Ocres rouges, further occupy musical crossroads between East and West, tradition and innovation, forming a cohesive program that highlights the expressive range of the saxophone-piano duo. Born in Athens and now based in Quebec, Clio Theodoridis is recognized for the finesse and depth of her playing across the classical saxophone repertoire. Pianist Jonathan Nemtanu combines an active career as a chamber musician with cultural leadership, and is noted for his musical dialogue and artistic vision. Together, they perform as Duo Aster.

Under Italian skies, the young Handel chiselled the human soul into music, providing Roman palaces with secular cantatas of incandescent virtuosity. This theatre of passions explores the thousand faces of love: from the torments of the dizzying Il delirio amoroso, to the lightness of Sans y penser, through to the chains of Un'alma innamorata and the lamentations of Crudel tiranno amor. Soprano Marie Lys lends her exquisite voice to the heroines of the "dear Saxon". Under the baton of Ga�tan Jarry, the Orchestre de l'Op�ra Royal revives this baroque ardour with supreme elegance.

Now recognised as one of the pioneers of microtonal music and performed throughout the world, Ivan Wyschnegradsky nevertheless composed pieces for solo piano, an instrument he particularly loved, throughout his life. This recording is unique: it brings together the composer's complete works for solo piano, known as 'normal' piano. Most of these pieces, previously unpublished, are being released for the first time. The programme offers a journey backwards in time, from his mature years to his early compositions: from the etude sur le carre magique sonore, Op. 40, to the preludes of his youth written in Petrograd (Saint Petersburg) in 1916, shortly before he left Russia for good to settle in Paris, where he lived until 1979. The pianist Martine Joste, who knew the composer well, premiered many of his works in his presence. Ivan Wyschnegradsky particularly appreciated her dynamic and sensitive playing. In 1983, she founded the Ivan Wyschnegradsky Association with Claude Ballif to raise awareness of this major figure of the 20th century. This disc sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the composer's personality and highlights his creative journey. The disc, co-produced with the Ivan Wyschnegradsky Association, with the support of the Francis and Mica Salabert Foundation, is released on the Shiiin label, accompanied by a 33-page booklet published in French and English.

This new volume in the 'Next Generation Mozart Soloists' series features Mozart's very first piano concerto (K. 37), composed when he was just 11 years old, and his very last, the Concerto K. 595, finished on 5 January 1791, exactly 11 months before his death. "The combination of the naive and youthful first concerto with the mature last concerto and it's reflection of how much Bach's music had affected him shows just how extraordinarily his brilliant mind had developed", says pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen, who performs them under the baton of Howard Griffiths. She studied with Joan Havill, Imogen Cooper, Richard Goode and Andras Schiff at the Kronberg Academy. Bla� sparovec, principal clarinettist of the Gurzenich Orchestra in Cologne, takes on one of Mozart's very last works, the famous Clarinet Concerto K. 622, "a concerto that can only be compared to an opera in which the basset clarinet plays all the roles", says sparovec.

After two centuries, Reicha's trios are brought to life with irresistible energy Anton Reicha was probably right when - unlike his colleagues - he avoided promoting his own works, being aware that his genius would not be fully appreciated until long after his death. His spirit of experimentation anticipated some of the phenomena of 20th-century music (minimalism, microintervals etc.). It is only now, in the 21st century, that his name is becoming more widely known, without constantly having to bring up his inspirational friendship with Beethoven or make reference to his more famous Parisian pupils like Berlioz, Gounod, or Franck. Following the premiere recording of his complete Piano Concerto (Bartos, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Popelka 2025), Reicha's Six Piano Trios, Op. 101, finally make their debut in a reference recording. It took all of 202 years since the first printed edition (1824) for one of his last opuses to find it's way onto a recording of the interpretive and technical quality that the music deserves. Here, the composer's constant surprises keep his listeners alert, and the technical demands on the musicians clearly show that the trios were written for elite performers. In this music, the composer's visionary imagination anticipates the full-blooded Romanticism of Robert Schumann and his contemporaries. The marvellous Trio Bohemo has received deserved acclaim for it's Supraphon debut (Smetana, Schubert, 2024). For this recording in Vienna, they invited the proven recording team of producer Andrew Keener and sound engineer Oscar Torres. Up in the musical heavens, Reicha is surely smiling at the invigorating result, made even more vivid in Dolby Atmos sound.

For more than twenty years, Haruki Murakami's novels have captivated him time and again: for pianist and composer Tim Allhoff, works such as Kafka on the Shore, 1Q84, and Naoko's Smile are more than mere literature-they are inspiration, guidance, and an enigmatic mirror of his own emotional world. With his new solo album Between Here and Nowhere, which will be released on May 15, 2026, by Neue Meister and is now the eleventh album in his discography, Allhoff has created a musical homage to the cult Japanese author, whose books have long since become a soundscape in their own right.

Pieces for Lutha" Anders Ericson plays this unique instrument from the Gustavian era, and presents an unknown part of the late 18th century Swedish musical landscape to the modern audience. Lute player Anders Ericson plays recently restored instruments by Swedish 18th century master luthier Johan Jerner, that take us back to an intriguing and intimate sonority from another time. Swedish composers Cloos, Ankar and Wikmanson clearly display the high musical and technical level of early Swedish "Luthenists". Each work on "Solo Pieces for Lutha" is a world premiere recording, which makes this disc truly exciting. An unknown musical treasure and an unheard instrument resounds!

For more than twenty years, Haruki Murakami's novels have captivated him time and again: for pianist and composer Tim Allhoff, works such as Kafka on the Shore, 1Q84, and Naoko's Smile are more than mere literature-they are inspiration, guidance, and an enigmatic mirror of his own emotional world. With his new solo album Between Here and Nowhere, which will be released on May 15, 2026, by Neue Meister and is now the eleventh album in his discography, Allhoff has created a musical homage to the cult Japanese author, whose books have long since become a soundscape in their own right.

On his new double vinyl album, Jakob Buchanan masterfully blends the ultra-local folk music and the unique character of the landscape, with some of the world's leading names in modern jazz, and one of Denmark's many great string quartets Artos Quartet A few years ago, jazz composer and trumpeter Jakob Buchanan moved to Mols. Here, he sits and plays in an old circus wagon on Thorup Mark, gazing over the rolling hills and becoming absorbed in an old booklet of folk tunes by the local legend, fiddler Peter Madsen (1865-1900). One autumn day, he tries out the old dance tunes on his trumpet while looking out across the landscape. The tunes turn into hymns, and it feels as if an old soul is reborn floating across the warm, hilly land, a landscape that writes it's own silent music on the horizon every day. Composer and trumpeter Jakob Buchanan was recently honored as Jazz Composer of the Year 2024 at the Danish Music Awards for the album Song & Wind, featuring the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Copenhagen Boys' Choir, late percussionist Marilyn Mazur, and conductor Carsten Seyer-Hansen (OUR Recordings). https://www. Buchanan. dk/ Swedish bassist Anders Jormin is one of the world's most distinguished jazz bassists. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the rare Jan Johansson Prize, the Swedish Radio Guldkatten Award, and The Royal Swedish Academy of Music's Grand Prize. His solo album Alone became a cult classic and was named Record of the Year in all categories worldwide in 1991. #https://ecmrecords. #com/artists/anders-jormin/ New York legend Chris Speed is a tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His work spans widely rooted in jazz, yet extending into various forms of folk, classical, and rock music. Speed is associated with a wide range of ensembles and has been a prominent and influential voice in jazz and improvised music for over three decades. #https://www. #chrisspeed. com/ Pianist and composer Simon Toldam is one of Scandinavia's most exciting and acclaimed musicians. He has released 17 albums, five of which have won Danish Music Awards, including Orchestra of the Year 2021 and Best Album 2019. He is a member of the Danish record label ILK Music. #http://www. #simontoldam. com The Artos Quartet was founded in the summer of 2018 and has quickly established itself on the Danish music scene. It's vision is to perform string quartet music at the highest level and to promote awareness of the vast repertoire of quartet works written by the most beloved composers. The Artos Quartet serves as the artistic leadership and resident ensemble of the Artos Festival in Aarhus. The quartet consists of Tue Lautrup, Sarah Lucy Foldager, Sanna Ripatti , and Brian Friisholm. #https://artosquartet. #dk/

A first-ever complete recording for collections of Baroque chamber music which capture the elegance, formality, and lively culture of London in the 1710s. London in the early 18th century was a city animated by music: Italian opera dominated the newly built theatres, French-style dances brought refinement to the salons, and the English cathedral tradition had fully adapted to a native style of text setting. It was from within this vibrant soundscape that William Babell (c. 1690-1723) emerged-an English musician of remarkable versatility, whose keyboard brilliance and expressive chamber works captured the spirit of his place and time. Babell's first teacher was his father, a bassoonist in the orchestra of the Drury Lane Theatre. He rapidly followed in his father's footsteps, playing in the private band of King George I, and was appointed organist of All Hallows, Bread Street, a position he held until his untimely death. His reputation as a keyboard virtuoso was widespread; Johann Mattheson extolled his organ playing as even superior to Handel's. As for his own music, it's principal surviving remnants are these two collections of sonatas dating from 1716 and 1720. They were conceived for oboe or violin with continuo; the musicians of Cappella Musicale Enrico Stuart have taken a fairly liberal approach, by sharing the melody part in the different sonatas between violin, flute, and oboe, which are supported by a rich continuo group of bassoon, cello, and harpsichord or organ. Not the least attractive aspect of this solution is it's variety across the sequence of 24 sonatas. The influence of Arcangelo Corelli-the Roman violinist-composer whose Op. 5 sonatas (published in 1700) shaped much of 18th-century chamber style across Europe-is evident in Babell's approach. Babell's sonata structure-especially the slow-fast alternation, proportions of movements, and rhythmic gesture-bears the stamp of this Corellian model, though with English lightness and a flair for ornamentation. This arrangement not only showcases the instrumental diversity at the heart of the two volumes of sonatas, but also evokes the experience of an 18th-century London salon, where violin, oboe, and flute might seamlessly succeed one another in an evening of chamber music.