Urspruch: Das Unmoglichste von Allem / Yinon, Broberg, Maier, Fendl, Wieben
Naxos
CD
$35.99Sep 24, 2013
Anton Urspruch was Franz Liszt’s favourite pupil and saw himself as a ‘progressive modernist’. His music, whilst influenced by his teacher, and by Wagner, diverged from the paths taken by contemporaries such as Reger and Richard Strauss. His masterpiece, the comic opera Das Unmöglichste von Allem, is constructed on a symphonic scale with a series of amusing plot lines powered by tuneful and inventive writing. Although the opera was well received early on by both critics and musicians, after Urspruch’s death it fell into oblivion until triumphantly revived by the forces on this live recording, the first performance of the original, uncut version of the opera.
Johannes Moser's acclaimed interpretation of Elgar's profoundly elegiac and lyrical Cello Concerto and of Tchaikovsky's elegant Rococo Variations returns to the market in an affordable stereo edition. The programme also contains Tchaikovsky's Nocturne and Morceau de Concert for Cello and Orchestra, as well as an arrangement of the famous Andante cantabile from his First String Quartet. Performed together with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under the baton of Andrew Manze, Moser's rendition was praised by Gramophone as "one of the finest we've had in years."
This new release from Herb Alpert Presents is the definitive retrospective on the illustrious career of one of America's most unique musical voices, Herb Alpert! Containing 63 tracks culled from 6 decades of the trumpeter's classic recordings, HERB ALPERT IS... is the perfect companion piece to the new 2020 feature length documentary of the same name. Presented in a hard bound Digi case with 3 discs and a 180-page book of vintage photos, extensive song credits, and a 7,500 word essay written by Bud Scoppa. The Digi case is housed in a custom slipcase with a screened printed smoked acrylic window.
It is impossible to imagine the modern bassoon without him: almost 200 years ago, Carl Almenrader, together with Johann Adam Heckel, founded the instrument-making workshop that continues to dominate the global bassoon market unchallenged to this day. Almenrader's skill on the instrument, his refined sense of tone, and Heckel's precision craftsmanship laid the foundations for the success that Almenrader carried out into the world as a travelling virtuoso with his own compositions. Michael Kaulartz and Carl Sonje Montag present Almenrader's duets in an impressively agile, virtuosic and yet surprisingly rich and varied manner.
Step into a world of musical elegance with this release featuring solo piano interpretations of the most famous compositions by J.S. Bach. This album is a celebration of Bach's genius, showcasing the intricate beauty and emotional power of his work through the expressive medium of solo piano. Performed by Tim Allhoff who has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians and ensembles, including Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Robbie Williams, Jules Buckley, Vision String Quartet, and many more, this collection promises to deliver a rich listening experience that bridges tradition and innovation. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the depth and complexity of Bach's compositions, making them accessible and captivating for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.
Organist Hansjorg Albrecht and his sound engineer Martin Fischer have collaborated again on a set of new Richard Wagner organ transcriptions. This time Albrecht plays the celebrated Woehl organ in the Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Munich. The transcriptions are by the young composer Axel Langmann, and by Edwin Henry Lemare. The Overtures to Die Feen and Das Liebesverbot are heard in world premiere recordings. Hansjorg Albrecht has released more than 20 albums on OehmsClassics, both as conductor and organist. They include the complete recording of Walter Braunfels' orchestral songs, which received many positive comments from the international media; and Richard Wagner's Ring ohne Worte in the orchestral version by Lorin Maazel, which was nominated for the German Record Critics' Prize. Hansjorg Albrecht was also nominated for a Grammy award in 2013 in the category Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his organ recording of Gustav Holst's The Planets.
The Miro Quartet, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, presents an album featuring the complete string quartets of Alberto Ginastera, one of the most influential Latin American composers of the 20th century. A master of vivid contrasts and emotional depth, Ginastera infused his music with the spirit of Argentine folk traditions, bold modernist language, and a profound sense of expression. These three quartets span the entirety of his creative development, tracing a fascinating journey across three distinct stylistic periods. The first two quartets are considered undiscovered masterpieces, often performed live to great reception but rarely recorded in their entirety alongside the third. The vibrant rhythmic energy and folkloric colours of the first quartet, the introspective lyricism of the second, and the haunting intensity of the third each reflect Ginastera's unique fusion of influences, drawing from composers like Bartok and Stravinsky to create a sound full of emotional rawness and storytelling. Together, these quartets form a powerful cycle, showcasing Ginastera's ability to create distinct narratives within each piece, while also weaving them into a larger, cohesive musical story. This is the Miro Quartet's third album on PENTATONE, following the recording of Beethoven's Complete String Quartets (2019) and Home (2024).
Anne Boleyn is without doubt the most famous of Henry VIII's six wives. She was brought up for a time under the guardianship of Margaret of Austria, who was patron to some of the most famous composers in all of Europe, and then in the French court before her return to England in 1522. It was in France where the young Anne developed her keen musical tastes, and when a collection of her favorite works began to be assembled into what is now known as the Anne Boleyn Songbook (Royal College of Music, MS 1070). The book probably remained in her possession until her execution in 1536, when she was accused of adultery with no less than five men including her own brother, George, and luteplayer Mark Smeaton. Here Alamire explores the finest works in the Songbook by the greatest composers of the early 16th century, including Compère, Brumel, Mouton, and Josquin. Performances by Alamire are interspersed with French chansons and instrumental items for lute, harp and voice. The program concludes with a most haunting setting of 'O Deathe rock me asleep', not from the Songbook but possibly linked to Anne's fate while awaiting her execution in the Tower of London.
The arrangement of Albeniz's piano works for solo guitar, multiple guitars, and even guitar plus a melody instrument has a long tradition, beginning with Francisco Tarrega and Miguel Llobet as well as many other legendary guitarists. The arrangements and versions recorded here are not actually original arrangements but are compiled from a multitude of existing templates and suggestions from recordings.
2022 release. Herb Alpert, the prolific Tijuana Brass titan, returns with Sunny Side Of The Street. This new set of 11 songs contains gentle ballads like "Childhood" and "Time After Time", upbeat romps like "Pata Pata" and "Tickle Time" and covers of classic songs like "I'll Remember You" and Louis Armstrong's "On The Sunny Side Of The Street". Few artists in the history of American music have been able to stay relevant decade after decade like the 87-year-old Alpert. So, put on your shades and take a walk with Herb on the Sunny Side Of The Street.
For a decade, the trio of Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, and Ted Nash has coalesced into a singular ensemble highlighting impressive group interplay and creative interpretations of the music of their favorite composers. After years of focusing on the music of others, the drummer-less trio found it the right time to take on the compositions of it's members on the new recording, Triological. The relationships between Allison, Cardenas, and Nash have spanned decades. Woodwind master Nash enlisted Allison for the bassist's first professional gig in 1990. Their bond deepened later in the decade as they became members of the Jazz Composers Collective. Guitarist Steve Cardenas was brought into Allison's orbit in 2004, the two discovering a deep connection evidenced on the many projects they have worked on together. The trio came together when Cardenas and Allison were approached with a gig in Upstate New York. For the performance, they decided to focus on the music of guitar legend Jim Hall. After a first rehearsal, Cardenas and Allison decided to add a horn to the mix in homage to the revolutionary trio of Jimmy Giuffre, which had featured Hall and bassist Ralph Pena. Their choice of Nash as the woodwind voice was inspired and the trio has been impressing listeners ever since. The configuration of the trio may owe much to the model of that Giuffre group. They reference, but do not intend to duplicate, that trio's example, as the instrumentation has allowed for an openness to explore any musical direction, from free to folk, all in the most conversational of manners. Naturally, the group's first recording, Quiet Revolution (Newvelle and Sonic Camera Records, 2016/2018), featured their arrangements of Hall and Giuffre. Their next recording, Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs (Plastic Sax Records, 2019) presented the trio's takes on the music of Leonard Bernstein's beloved musical. Their 2022 Sunnyside recording, Healing Power, celebrated the genius of Carla Bley and their 2024 release, Tell The Birds I Said Hello, shined light on the brilliance of Herbie Nichols. When faced with choosing another composer to feature, the trio reached a creative dead end. They felt that it was time to do something conceptually different and that provided a reflection of where they were as an ensemble. Each being a celebrated composer in his own right, the trio decided it was time for a new challenge: To write for this themselves. The trio members knew that a program of original music from each member would provide a fantastic mix of music, as they all write so differently from one another. The trio brought three pieces each (plus one more for Allison) to record at Matt Balitsaris's Maggie's Farm Studio over two days in late June 2025. The trio of Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, and Ted Nash has spent ten years honing an individual group sound by funneling the influences, their years of experience, and their love of discovery. It is through that prism that their new recording, Triological, highlights a new side of the trio's personality, as they explore their own compositions.
Alligator's Grammy Award winning, best-selling title of all time, remastered on CD with the added bonus track -Something to Remember You By. Universally recognized as one of the greatest blues albums of all time. A celebrated studio "cutting contest" between three legendary blues guitarists. Albert and Johnny are sadly no longer with us, but Robert Cray continues to record and tour, and is one of the best-selling blues artists in history with over 2.3 million career units scanned.
Margutti & Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Works for Choir & Guitar - R
Dynamic
CD
$16.99Sep 20, 2024
Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Romancero gitano for mixed choir and guitar sets some of Federico Garcia Lorca's most evocative and intimate Andalusian poetry. Marked by dramatic contrasts the music fuses colouristic ideas with rich polyphonic writing - performed here in an accurate critical edition. Corrado Margutti's Rivers, designed to accompany Romancero gitano, is a kaleidoscope of forms, styles and images that pays homage to Castelnuovo-Tedesco as well as encoding hidden references to other musical luminaries, forming a musical journey through time and space.
A luscious pair of late-Romantic chamber works by a little-known pupil of Giuseppe Martucci, in new recordings by an Italian ensemble with a notable track record of success in reviving such rarities. Born in 1875, Guido Alberto Fano emulated the model of his teacher Martucci in pursuing a multi-faceted career as composer, conductor, pianist and teacher. At the age of 30 he became director of the conservatoire in Parma before transferring, in 1916, to the Sicilian city of Palermo. A year later he wrote this powerful and turbulent Piano Quintet, which sets out in a broad, contented and Brahmsian vein of expression before venturing into more troubled and chromatically contemporary harmonies, to which a finale brings resolution via a noble chorale theme. At the Quintet's climax, this theme soars over the texture on a solo trumpet, in a stroke of instrumental imagination which anticipates Honegger's Second Symphony by two decades - and indeed the 45-minute Quintet has the dimensions of a 'veiled symphony' in the manner of Brahms's early chamber works and sonatas. Wistful, major-minor Brahmsian motifs and harmonies still permeate the String Quartet which Fano composed in 1941 - another distinctively 'wartime' work - but whether through age or experience they are suffused with a late-style radiance which brings the style of the Quartet closer to Richard Strauss and Debussy. The Ensemble Mark Rothko is a flexible line-up of Italian musicians who specialising in reviving forgotten chamber works of the late 19th and early 20th century. Their discography includes albums dedicated to Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Karl Weigl, and this collection of Guido Alberto Fano marks their debut on Brilliant Classics.
Grieg: Complete Music for Piano 4-Hands; Peer Gynt Suites / Plano, Del Negro
Brilliant Classics
CD
$10.99$13.99Save 20%May 26, 2023
During the years leading up to the beginning of the 20th century, Edvard Grieg was the most significant Scandinavian composer. His 4 Norwegian dances Op. 35 are arrangements for piano four-hands of old folk tunes. The Symphony in C minor was composed in 1863–64. The melodies of its second and third movements later came to be known in the present arrangement for piano duet known as 2 Symphonic Pieces Op. 14. Grieg composed a score for Peer Gynt of some 90 minutes of incidental music, from which he selected the most beautiful numbers for two orchestral suites which he arranged in versions for piano solo and piano four-hands.
Grieg wrote the 2 Walzer-Capricen Op.37 for piano four hands in 1883. The 2 Nordic Melodies, Op. 63 were originally written for string orchestra in 1895. The work is dedicated to the Norwegian and Swedish ambassador to Paris Frederik Due. Due sent Grieg some compositions for violin and piano, and one of his melodies appears in the first piece: ‘In Folk Style’. The second piece, comprising the ‘Cow-Call’ and ‘Peasant Dance’, is a reworking of two pieces (Nos. 18 and 22) from Grieg’s Op. 17 (25 Norwegian Folk Ballads and Dances).
REVIEW:
Grieg had a mastery of the two-piano idiom that is well represented here by Plano and Del Negro. I am very pleased to have this excellent release in my library. It has great piano sound and some of my favorites along with a few rare pieces.
