On this release, Igor Markevitch conducts Verdi and Mussorgsky: two different words but each a unique, fantastic interpretation by the Russian conductor. Mussorgksy is also the arranger of the 6 Lieder with orchestra that are presented at the conclusion of this album. Verdi's Requiem was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist whom Verdi admired. It is rarely performed in liturgy, but is regularly performed as a concert work. Igor Markevitch was discovered in 1926 by Alfred Cordot, who took him to Paris in 1926 to study under himself and Nadia Boulanger at the Ecole Normale. He made his conducting debut at the age of 18 with the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. He became a well-respected interpreter of the French and Russian repertoire.

This new release features the rare and hard to find famous recording of the Brandenburg Concertos in 1963 by I Musici together with the most important soloists of the time. I Musici, also known as I Musici di Roma, is an Italian chamber orchestra from Rome formed in 1951. They are well known for their interpretations of Baroque and other works, particularly Antonio Vivaldi and Tomaso Albinoni. Among their engagements, the original chamber orchestra completed acclaimed tours of Southern Africa 1956, and again in 1967, with a few replacement performers. In the 1970s, I Musici recorded the first classical music video and, later, the group was the first to record a compact disc for the Philips label. One of their founding members and first violin, Felix Ayo, was still an active violinist as of 2017.

This publication collects for the first time some memorable interpretations of a pianist far from the Viennese tradition, generally centered on a grace and an executive civilization that privileged the almost abstract aspect of Mozart's pianism, to offer a more romantic and transgressive vision of Mozart's genius. The present recording comes from Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who was widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, and is sometimes proposed as the greatest of all. He was well known for his vast repertoire, effortless technique and poetic phrasing.

This release features nearly all of the compositions by Paul Hindemith, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Philharmonia Orchestra with the composer conducting. The recordings presented here were made between 1955-1956. Since Hindemith could play nearly all the orchestral instruments, had perfect pitch and had the richest possible experience as an orchestral musician, he was an ideal conductor. With his European tours after the Second World War, Hindemith increasingly developed his conducting activities; these took up all his time after 1953 after he had given up his work at Yale University. He had indeed conducted in public for the first time in 1915 and repeatedly guest conducted exclusively his own music in the United States, but after 1947 he also included music of other composers - at first Bach, Haydn and Mozart - on his programmes.

David Oistrakh Trio is an unofficial name for the trio organized in 1940 by David Oistrach with his long-time accompanist Lev Oborin (piano) and Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello). The ensemble of Moscow Conservatory professors had been performing until Knushevitsky passed away in 1963. Some critics cited the group as one of the greatest piano trios in the history and compared them with a legendary Alfred Cortot - Jacques Thibaud - Pablo Casals 1920-30s ensemble. The group recorded numerous Trios and Triple Concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and Shostakovich for Columbia, Melodiya, Angel Records, Preiser Records and other labels. David Oistrakh Trio also collaborated with Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. On this release, Urania Records presents recordings of Russian chamber masterpieces, made between the years 1950 and 1958.

Best known for his work with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appearance on the film Fantasia, Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) is one of the greatest names in conducting history. This 2-disc set continues the series which has been devoted to the late-fifties Capitol-EMI recordings of Stokowski. The repertoire chosen for this set is dedicated to that of the twentieth century, including works by Holst, Schoenberg, Bartok, and Loeffler.

Eccentric composer and virtuoso cellist in the service of the Prince of Carignan in Paris in the first half of the eighteenth century, Venceslaus Spourni has left us a large and very interesting group of publications, in which we find symphonies, concerts and Burlesques for pastoral instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy and the bagpipe, and collections of chamber sonatas, at least three of which are dedicated to his instrument. This is the first ever recording of Opus IV for two cellos, the success of which is evidenced by the inclusion of the second of these sonatas in a successful collection of "several eminent authors" published in London in 1748.

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The world premiere recording of Jean-Baptiste Janson's Cello Sonatas Ops. I and II performed by Claudio Ronco & Emanuel Vozza.

This is the first recording dedicated to J.B. Janson, virtuoso, composer and teacher of the second half of the 18th Century. Together with the Duport brothers, he was the major representative of the French cellist school, and in the year of the foundation of the Paris Conservatory he became its first professor. Unjustly forgotten by history, his first compositions represent in an exemplary way the turning point of European musical taste from the Style Galant to Classicism.

In these first two works, the wealth of technical innovations, as well as the narrative and visionary energy of musical inventions, lead us to think that the perfect alchemy arisen from the encounter of a brilliant and infinitely curious mind, which certainly was Berteau's, with the miracle of a child prodigy, ended up in an unfulfilled promise, a broken dream that dissolved into oblivion. Thus the famous Jansons will be forgotten, while the fame of the Duports lingers in the historical memory up to our days.

The three-act opera semiseria Adelson e Salvini by Vincenzo Bellini was based on the 1772 novel Epreuves du Sentiment by Francois-Thomas-Marie de Baculard d’Amaud, and draws on a previously performed French play of 1803 by Prospere Delamare. With libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, the opera was first written as Bellini’s final project at the Naples San Sebastiano Conservatory. It was first performed in early 1825. This new release features that original 1825 version, presented by a stunning lineup of soloists, the Orchestra Accademica del Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, Roma, and Ensemble vocale del Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, Roma.

Two composers: one Italian, the other German. The first born in the late 17th century, the second in the 18th century. Both musicians in the service of the princes of Monaco, now together on this album, including world premiere recordings and produced in collaboration with the Archives and Library of the Palace of Monaco. Furiosi Affetti is a group of musicians all specializing in Baroque practice. Their aim is to present Baroque music in a new light, first to Italy, then Europe, and then the world. Their concert and recording activity range is vast, encompassing various expressions of the time including chamber music, theater pieces, and sacred works.

Luigi Borghi had an innovative interest for the viola. In his adaptation of the part originally conceived for the cello, the composer emphasizes all the potential abilities of the instrument, never skimping on the virtuoso passages and giving to the part a leading role and not that of an orchestral filler. Borghi’s 6 Duets for a violin & cello or violin & tenor, op. 5 are presented here in the version for violin and viola for the first time on period instruments. Renowned period musicians Lorenzo Gugole and Giorgio Bottiglioni beautifully interpret this set.

Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo was also a great pianist. This album offers listeners the chance to see the composer under this light. The works are performed here by pianist Marco Sollini. Marco Sollini, who has been lauded by critics and fellow musicians for his energy, technique, and sincerity, has performed throughout Europe, United States, Latin America, Indonesia and Africa. In addition to his work as a recitalist, he has performed with many orchestras, including the Dohn�nyi Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Concert Orchestra (M�V), and the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra. He has broadcast for RAI (Italian radio), Radio Vaticana, Tunisian National Radio, and Serbian Radio and Television, among others. He is particularly interested in rare and unpublished Italian works and has released the premiere recordings of the complete piano works of Puccini, Giordano, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Bellini, Verdi, Persiani and Offenbach. The German Rossini Society magazine has called his Chandos Rossini piano recordings 'an exemplary edition'.

The DUO ALTERNO, defined by Los Angeles Times “the high theatrics Duo with a strong personality”, by The Washington Post “the duo with a big voice and a fine sense of comedic timing”, by la Repubblica “the duo that gives voice (and piano) to the Italian century”, by the Globe and Mail “the inventive Duo” and by The Indu of Chennai “an electric experience”, was born in Torino (Italy). With its performances of over than 70 Italian living composers, the DUO is considered one of the most significant reference points in the vocal-piano repertorio of works by composers ranging from the early 20th century to today. Since its debut in Vancouver in 1997 it has kept concert and master-classes in over thirty countries. Many composers (including Giacomo Manzoni and Ennio Morricone) have written pieces for soprano Tiziana Scandaletti and pianist-composer Riccardo Piacentini, both of whom are graduated with top marks in History of Music as well as in their respective fields of performance. On this new release, the Duo performs songs for soprano and piano written during the final year of Francesco Paolo Tosti’s life.

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