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Mozart, J. Williams et al.: Portrait of a Concertmaster / Ferenc Kiss
Bella Musica · Jul 2022CD$20.99 -
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Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1, Metaboles, Les citations / Casadesus, Lille National Orchestra
Naxos · Sep 2018CD$19.99 -
SaleMartinu, Gliere, Jaffe & Schulhoff: Entangled Strings
Brilliant Classics · Feb 2025CD$14.99$11.99 -
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SaleMoyzes: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 / Slovak, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Naxos · Aug 2018CD$19.99$13.99 -
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Furtwangler: Symphony No. 2 / Jochum, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
BR Klassik · Nov 2010CD$29.99 -
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Quartet Integra
Yarlung Records
CD
$21.99
Nov 21, 2025
... four of the brightest young stars in classical music today. We are enjoying another golden era thanks to Quartet Integra. -Martin Beaver, First Violin, Tokyo String Quartet Producer's notes: Yarlung Records returned to Zipper Hall at Colburn School in April, 2025 to record the debut album for Quartet Integra toward the end of the quartet's 3-year residency in Los Angeles. They had just returned from acclaimed performances in Wigmore Hall in London. The quartet left again after our recording for summer concerts (and a little bit of family time) in Asia before moving to Paris and Hannover in the autumn. Quartet Integra begins a two year residency in Paris at the Centre Europeen de Musique de Chambre and will continue study with Oliver Wille at the Hochschule fur Musik, Theater, und Medien in Hannover. We will miss the Quartet badly in Los Angeles and hope they return soon. This extraordinary young ensemble, Kyoka Misawa and Rintaro Kikuno on violins, Itsuki Yamamoto on viola, and cellist Ye Un Park play Classical, Romantic, Contemporary and Renaissance music equally well. In fact, we explore all four eras in this recording. We begin with Beethoven's last published work, String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Opus 135, written in 1826. Beethoven wrote this piece at the height of his Romantic powers, but the quartet looks back with irony and nostalgia to his classical period. Next, Quartet Integra tackles Ligeti's 1968 ground-breaking Sonata No. 2, which they played for me at their audition and which won me over immediately. Kyoka, Rintaro, Itsuki and Ye Un find beauty and repose in this seat-belts-required 25-minute work full of extended techniques and mid-20th-Century sound world while communicating humor and transcendent energy. Kyoka said "When people hear the name Ligeti, many tend to associate it with contemporary music and assume it will be difficult to listen to. But in reality, that's not the case. Especially the String Quartet No. 2, which we're performing this time - it's wild and destructive, yet it holds a kind of breathtaking beauty. It feels almost like watching a movie." Mike Wechsberg, an audience member at our special live concert recording session commented heartily how "Ligeti is not the sort of music I normally like, but THIS was magnificent! Bravo Quartet Integra!" We ended the concert with Green Mountains, Now Black, a new piece by David S. Lefkowitz which he completed in the spring of 2025. Donna Morton commissioned David's piece for Yarlung Artists and Quartet Integra through Yarlung's sister organization Coretet. Donna and her group have steadfastly supported new chamber music including from composers Caroline Shaw, Diego Schissi (who won a Latin GRAMMY® nomination for Nene, which he wrote for Yarlung's Sibelius Piano Trio), Jamie Thierman, Eric Nathan and Benjamin Taylor among others. Donna serves on the boards of both Yarlung Artists and Coretet, and we relished the opportunity to collaborate again as Coretet celebrates it's 10th Anniversary and Yarlung celebrates it's 20th. Beethoven wrote his last major composition, String Quartet Op. 135, in 1826. This was his final statement in his groundbreaking series. Opus 135 premiered in 1828, performed by Ignaz Schuppanzigh and his famous ensemble, a year after Beethoven died. When the members of Quartet Integra suggested we record this work on their debut album instead of Schubert's "Rosamunda" Quartet written only two years earlier, I initially demurred. Who needs yet another superb performance of Beethoven's final masterpiece?" I complained. "Who needs yet another Rosamunda?" Quartet Integra 'cellist Ye Un Park responded within milliseconds. She had a point, and I'm glad we recorded the Beethoven instead, at least on Quartet Integra's first Yarlung album! The ensemble had just performed Beethoven's first string quartet in London's Wigmore Hall in London, as well as "Rosamunda, " and they were game to expand their horizons and capitalize on their "Beethoven High." They also wanted to utilize the superb acoustics at Colburn School while the quartet was still living in Los Angeles, and we knew Zipper Hall would do the Beethoven special justice. Our recording concludes with David S. Lefkowitz' Green Mountains, Now Black. David's piece offers quotations from Monteverdi's earliest extant opera Orfeo (one of my favorites in the operatic literature) and additional quotations from Monteverdi's final opera The Coronation of Poppea, including it's magical and ever-so recognizable love duet between Poppea and the emperor Nero at the end of the opera. Instead of merely transposing my favorite arias, choral passages and this famous duet for string quartet, David wrote a work that explores the very nature of what it means to be a string quartet. And he experiments with the genre, pushes boundaries, and incorporates his own despair witnessing the burning of much of Los Angeles in the spring of 2025. David and his wife Laurie could see flames and smoke not too far away from their home as he composed this work. Nero himself famously allowed a good chunk of downtown Rome to burn, exercising (and bragging about) his dubious leadership in the process. David layers Octavia's farewell to her beloved city with the giddy love duet between Octavia's husband, the emperor, and his mistress Poppea, to tell the story of David's own distress while writing the piece. Green Mountains, Now Black not only refer to Monteverdi himself (Green Mountain) but the fire which turned so many of our spring green mountains to char in Los Angeles. Despite David's gloom and worry during our fires, his iridescent string writing shows itself proudly and his many glorious and lyrical passages outnumber the darker ones. As musicians, the members of Quartet Integra communicate superbly with audiences and with each other as they explore the depths and details of these musical scores. With generous support from Sel, Nick and Martin at Colburn School, we worked with Quartet Integra on April 13-15, 2025 and ended our recording session with a live concert for invited guests from the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society on April 15th. You can enjoy videos of this concert on YouTube's YarlungChannel. Fellow recording engineer and equipment designer Arian Jansen and I used SonoruS Holographic Imaging technology in the analog domain to refine the stereo image, Yarlung's SonoruS ATR12 to record Agfa-formula 468 analog tape, the Merging Technologies HAPI to record 256fs DSD in stereo and surround sound and the SonoruS ADC to record PCM. We used our friend Ted Ancona's AKG C24 microphone previously owned by Frank Sinatra, and Yarlung Audio vacuum tube microphone amplification designed and built by Elliot Midwood. In closing, it was Donna Morton and Martin Beaver who suggested Yarlung support Quartet Integra and Martin coordinated their audition. The Quartet has been lauded as the most exciting ensemble to emerge from Japan (and Ye Un from Korea) since the famous Tokyo String Quartet formed in 1969 at Juilliard. I love a certain symmetry here: two of the non-Japanese born musicians playing as members of the Tokyo String Quartet were Yarlung Special Advisor Martin Beaver, who became principal violin in 2002, and Clive Greensmith, who joined Tokyo as cellist in 1999. Both Martin and Clive performed with the Tokyo Quartet until the ensemble gave their final concerts in 2013, and now Martin and Clive co-direct Chamber Music at Colburn School and have mentored the four members of Quartet Integra. Before their Colburn residency, Quartet Integra won a four-year fellowship with Suntory Hall's Chamber Music Academy where they were coached by Tokyo Quartet members Koichiro Harada, Kikuei Ikeda and Kazuhide Isomura. This is generational integrity and communication worthy of Kyoka, Rintaro, Itsuki and Ye Un. As we celebrate Yarlung's 20th Anniversary, we are enjoying thinking back to our original inspiration. We began working with young musicians starting international concert careers and sharing their transformative performances with the world. Yarlung Records takes it's name from the Yarlung Valley in Central Tibet, which legend holds as a meeting place between heaven and earth. It is in this valley, at the site of Yambulakhang Castle in our Yarlung Records logo, where Heaven and Earth touched in order to transform humanity. What could be a better metaphor for the transformative power of great music? I feel a deep connection between this mythical name for our record label and Quartet Integra. Hearing them play and working with these four good-natured and talented people reminded me why we created Yarlung Records in the first place. Despite my earlier comment, Quartet Integra is not a Japanese ensemble. Three of their members come from Japan and one from Korea, but they are inherently international. Quartet Integra lived in California these past years, and as indicated will spend the next several years in France and Germany. Their ties to the famous Tokyo String Quartet increase the Japanese-ness of Quartet Integra, but Tokyo String Quartet was actually founded in 1969 at Juilliard in New York City, not Japan. In planning their album cover, this image of the Toyosaki Kompira Shrine Torii Gate on the west coast of Hokkaido jumped out at us, and reflected Quartet Integra's refreshing vitality. As does the inspiration for the name of Yarlung Records, a Torii gate symbolizes a portal to the sacred in Shintoism connecting everyday reality with transcendence. -Bob Attiyeh, producer
Tribute to the Czech Masters / Petrdlík, Prague Mixed Choir
ArcoDiva
SACD
$18.99
Mar 12, 2021
The contents of this release present a selection of roughly a century of Czech choral works performed by Prague Mixed Choir and soloists. The wealth of choral works left to us by Czech composers is very rich and amazing - this new album features pieces of Antonín Dvorák, Vítezslav Novák, Bohuslav Martinu and Zdenek Lukáš. Prague Mixed Choir has long been one of the top Czech non-professional choirs. It has enjoyed much success at home and abroad and has won several awards at prestigious choral competitions, including the international competition Praga Cantat. In addition to its domestic concerts, the choir proudly performs Czech music on foreign concert tours, of which it has completed more than sixty to date. These include visits to most European countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel, China, and Egypt.
VIOLIN DECLAMATIONS FROM THE TWILIGHT OF THE WORKE
URLICHT AUDIOVISUAL
CD
$18.06
Jan 12, 2018
A Grammy®-nominated recording artist, a concert violinist since the age of four, and an award-winning performer (GOLD MEDAL at the 2017 Global Music Awards), Elmira Darvarova caused a sensation, becoming the first ever (and only so far) woman-concertmaster in the history of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. With the MET Orchestra she toured Europe, Japan and the United States, and was heard on the MET's live weekly international radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, CDs and laser discs on the Sony, Deutsche Grammophon and EMI labels. As concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera she has performed with the greatest conductors of our time, including the legendary Carlos Kleiber. She studied with Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School in London (on a British Council scholarship), with Josef Gingold at Indiana Universtiy in Bloomington (as one of his assistants), and, privately, with Henryk Szeryng.
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL AN ERA: ALBUMS 1980-1984
UNIVERSAL UK
CD
$20.99
Jun 06, 2025
Essential Tracks From Iconic Albums... This 4CD set opens with a trio of tracks from stunning debuts: 'A Ray Of Sunshine' from 'Fantastic', the 1983 debut album from Wham, 'Lemon Firebrigade' from Haircut 100's 'Pelican West', and the sumptuous 'Show Me', the opening track from 'The Lexicon Of Love' from ABC. Huge 1983 albums are up next from Culture Club, with 'Black Money' from 'Colour By Numbers', and 'This City Never Sleeps' the closing track on 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)' from Eurythmics. Another epic closer from Alison Moyet with 'Where Hides Sleep' from her solo debut 'Alf' is followed by 'Frankie's First Affair' from another 1984 debut, 'Diamond Life' from Sade. Roxy Music's 1982 'Avalon' included 'The Space Between', whilst Japan with 'Talking Drum' from 'Tin Drum' leads a stellar run of iconic albums from Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17, Ultravox and The Human League with 'The Things That Dreams Are Made Of' from 1981's hit-packed 'Dare'. The first disc closes with Donna Summer from her Quincy Jones produced 1982 eponymous album, Tina Turner with the opening track from her landmark 1984 release 'Private Dancer' and Bruce Springsteen from his 1980 double classic 'The River', while the final track 'Mystery Achievement' was the final track on the Pretenders debut 'Pretenders' released just two weeks into 1980 - and sounding as fresh today as it did over 45 years ago. Wham! Are back opening CD2 with 'Heartbeat' from 1984's 'Make It Big' - an album that housed multiple #1 singles. Soft Cell are featured next with 'Secret Life' from their remarkable debut 'Non- Stop Erotic Cabaret', and a track that would be a #1 10 years later as a cover version, 'Young At Heart', is featured from Bananarama's 1983 debut 'Deep Sea Skiving'. A run of superb synth pop including Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones and Bronski Beat follows, before a couple of r&b influenced tracks from Shalamar, from their hit-filled 'Friends' album and Imagination from 'In The Heat Of The Night'. New-wave pop from Toyah, Kim Wilde and Culture Club come ahead of a couple of great covers: - 'Are You There With Another Girl?' from Mari Wilson, and Carmel's take on 'Tracks of My Tears' from 1984's 'The Drum Is Everything'. Next up a masterful jazz-influenced collaboration between The Style Council & Tracey Thorn, ahead of the title track from Paul Simon's 'Hearts And Bones', and a beautiful ballad 'Turn Out The Light' from Joan Armatrading's 1980 'Me Myself I' - all leading to the closing song, the title track from Paul Young's 1983 #1 'No Parlez'. CD3 opens with a stellar line up of the era's most sophisticated pop. Leading off with the timeless 'The Chauffeur' from Duran Duran's enormous second album 'Rio', before 'Taking Islands In Africa' a stand-out from Japan's 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids'. Tears For Fears made their album debut in 1983 and the title track from 'The Hurting' is featured along with a great pop moment, 'Black Night White Light' from Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 1984 debut 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome'. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark are up next alongside Laurie Anderson from 'Big Science', The Cure from 'Seventeen Seconds' and Joy Division from 'Closer'. U.S. Alt-pop tracks from R.E.M. and The Psychedelic Furs come ahead of synth led gems from Blancmange, China Crisis and The Associates. 1981's biggest selling album in the UK was 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier' from Adam & The Ants and 'Ants Invasion' taken from it is featured next along with The Teardrop Explodes from 'Kilimanjaro', Echo & The Bunnymen with 'Crystal Days' from 'Ocean Rain', The Jam from 'Sound Affects', and Aztec Camera with 'We Could Send Letters' from their 1983 debut album 'High Land, Hard Rain', whilst the discs' sign-off is from Nick Heyward with the gorgeous 'The Day It Rained Forever' from his fantastic solo debut 'North Of A Miracle'. The final disc kicks off with a run of classic synth led epics: New Order open with 'Age Of Consent' from their second album 'Power, Corruption And Lies', and 'Hard Times', from the 1982 remix album from The Human League using the name The League Unlimited Orchestra. Visage released their second album 'The Anvil' in 1982 and the title track is up next along with three more title tracks: Simple Minds with 'New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)' from their brilliant 1982 release, Talk Talk with 'The Party's Over' from the same year, and The Fixx with 'Reach The Beach' - from their 1983 second release which gave them a Top 10 U.S. album. In 1984, David Sylvian released his first solo album 'Brilliant Trees', and from it the outstanding and atmospheric 'Nostalgia' shares a jazz-infused sophistication with 'Almost Blue', up next from Elvis Costello & The Attractions. The Cure released their fifth album 'The Top' in 1984, and it's opening track 'Shake Dog Shake' features ahead of 'Angels On The Balcony' from Blondie, featuring their signature sound and taken from 1980's 'Autoamerican' - and from the same year - Dexys Midnight Runners from 'Searching For The Young Soul Rebels'. In 1982 The Clash released 'Combat Rock', and 'Overpowered By Funk' is included. Next up are The Police with their fusion of post punk and 'reggae rock', from their 1980 #1 album 'Zenyatta Mondatta' with 'When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around', followed by Grace Jones' breathtaking version of 'Nightclubbing'. The opening track 'Tyler' from UB40's acclaimed 1980 debut 'Signing Off' comes ahead of the closing tracks, both of which featured on albums released on the influential 2-Tone label; The Selecter with the title track from 1980's 'Too Much Pressure', and The Specials with their cover of 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)', the opening track on their 1980 album 'More Specials'. 72 fantastic tracks - A sampler of the iconic albums that represent an incredible period of creativity and originality: NOW That's What I Call An Era : The Albums 1980 1984.
Mozart, J. Williams et al.: Portrait of a Concertmaster / Ferenc Kiss
Bella Musica
CD
$20.99
Jul 15, 2022
Ferenc Kiss was born in Budapest in 1943.He began to play the violin and piano at the age of 5, first learning with his father who was concert master of the Hungarian Radio Orchestra, then at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1959, and also inDüsseldorf with Sándor Végh. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 20, and from 1965 he played throughout Europe, Mexico and Japan, as well as making recordings for numerous Radio and TV Stations all over the world. From 1963 he became concertmaster of the Philharmonia Hungarica, then later at Opera Saarbrücken 1968-74, München Symphonie Orchestra 1974-79, and from1979 at the German State Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a guest concertmaster and soloist for many years with orchestras such as the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Köln Radio Orchestra, Opera Nürnberg, Basque National Orchestra (San Sebastian), Orchestra Sinfonica di Bolzano e Trento, Symphony Orchestra Xalapa (Mexico) and Pro Arte Orchestra München. This is his first Portrait album.
EXECUTIONER COLLECTION
ARROW VIDEO
Blu-Ray
$35.49
Jan 10, 2023
Fists flurry and blood flows as legendary cult director Teruo Ishii (Shogun's Joy of Torture, Horrors of Malformed Men) joins forces with martial arts legend Shin'ichi 'Sonny' Chiba in this bone-crunching double whammy of classic karate exploitation from Toei. Ryuichi Koga (Chiba) is a descendent of the Koga Ninja school, now earning his living through more nefarious means as a gun for hire. When he is enlisted to take down a drug cartel alongside Hayabusa (Makoto Sato), a disgraced former narcotics detective now operating within the criminal underworld, and renegade Aikido master Sakura (Eiji Go), tensions grow among this three-man team of ne'er-do-wells as each come to question each other's motives. Koga returns in the even more gung-ho follow up, Karate Inferno, as the ringmaster of a gang of thieves plotting to steal a priceless jewel from a master criminal. Making it's High Definition home-video debut, The Executioner is presented in both it's original Japanese-language version and with the English dub track from the 1970s North American release. Fans of the Street Fighter star will delight as Chiba pitches himself into a succession of freewheeling action and feisty fight scenes in this double dish of martial arts mayhem, all served up in director Ishii's characteristically lurid style.
Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1, Metaboles, Les citations / Casadesus, Lille National Orchestra
Naxos
CD
$19.99
Sep 14, 2018
A fiercely independent composer, Henri Dutilleux wrote music that is refined, colorful and scrupulously crafted. Symphony No 1, his first purely orchestral score, established his international reputation. Structurally unconventional- it opens, unusually, with a passacaglia- it illustrates his principle of ‘progressive growth’ through its sustained lyricism and towering, chorale-like statements. Metaboles was inspired by the virtuosity of the woodwind section of George Szell’s Cleveland Orchestra. Distinctive instrumentation for each movement allows for deep expression, jazzy rhythms and moments of irony. The enigmatic diptych Les Citations quotes from fellow composers Benjamin Britten and Jehan Alain. After over 40 years at the head of the Orchestre National de Lille (ONL), of which he was the founder, Jean-Claude Casadesus enjoys an international career that has brought seasons in Germany, Russia, Japan, Latvia, and in Lille. His 30 albums with the orchestra have won critical and public acclaim and as a guest conductor he has appeared in Moscow, Singapore, Montreal, Baltimore, Seoul, St. Petersburg and Berlin. He is an enthusiastic champion of contemporary music and set up residences for composers with the Lille orchestra.
Martinu, Gliere, Jaffe & Schulhoff: Entangled Strings
Brilliant Classics
CD
$11.99
$14.99
Save 20%
Feb 07, 2025
A unique recital of 20th-century chamber music, essentially melodic but expressively rich, woven seamlessly together by a Spanish-based duo. In the 20th century, many composers embraced the unique combination of the violin and cello, producing a diverse and captivating repertoire. Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger take the listener on an engaging journey from Reinhold Gliere's post-romantic Huit Morceaux for violin and cello (1909), Bohuslav Martinu's folk-influenced Duo No.1 (1927) to Erwin Schulhoff's avant-garde Duo (1925) and Don Jaffe's moving autobiographical suite, The Last Days (2000). These compositions showcase the immense artistic possibilities offered by the juxtaposition of the violin's virtuosity with the cello's depth of sound. Similarly, the duo repertoire of the 20th century shows the evolution of musical language as composers introduced special playing techniques, unconventional harmonies, and rhythmic complexity, pushing the boundaries of tradition. While Gliere, Martinu and Schulhoff are all established names, these works for violin and cello have not received the attention they deserve. They are all products of their composers' full maturity, and perhaps it is only a reluctance on the part of performers and listeners to embrace the possibilities of the violin-cello combination that has prevented them becoming much better known. In each case, the composers demonstrate that no piano is required to anchor the string instruments, when the imagination is fired up, the melodies are firmly shaped and the dialogue engaging. The case of Don Jaffe is different: born in 1933 in Riga, of Jewish descent, he eventually became renowned as one of the foremost cello teachers in the former Soviet Union. However, finding postwar Soviet culture hardly less anti-Semitic than the Nazi regime, he emigrated to Israel and later moved to Germany. He only began composing late in life: this four-movement duo draws on the composer's experience of observing a close friend's painful battle with a terminal illness. Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger are colleagues in the Symphony Orchestra of Galicia; as Orphelion, they have toured festivals across Europe and in India, Japan, and South America. - In the 20th century, several composers embraced the combination of the violin and cello, producing a diverse and attractive repertoire for this ensemble. From Reinhold Gliere's (1875-1956) post-romantic Duos for violin and cello "Huit Morceaux", Bohuslav Martinu's (1890-1959) folkloristic Duo Nº.1 to Erwin Schulhoff's (1894-1942) avant-garde Duo (1925) and Don Jaffe's (b. 1933) autobiographic "The final days", these compositions show the artistic possibilities offered by the rich combination of the violin's virtuosity with the cello's depth of sound. Similarly, the duo repertoire of the 20th century shows the evolution of musical language as composers introduced special playing techniques, unconventional harmonies, and rhythmic complexity, pushing the boundaries of tradition. - Played by the ensemble Orphelion, consisting of Deborah Gonsalves and Berthold Hamburger.
Moyzes: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 / Slovak, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Naxos
CD
$13.99
$19.99
Save 30%
Aug 10, 2018
Alexander Moyzes was among the leading Slovak composers of his generation, drawing inspiration from the traditions and landscape of his own country while absorbing a number of wider contemporary trends. His Symphony No. 3, or Little Symphony is derived from an earlier Wind Quintet, while Symphony No. 4, with its occasional suggestions of Mahler and Sibelius, combines protest at the injustice of war with the past history of the Slovaks. The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra was established in 1929 as the first professional symphony orchestra in Slovakia. The orchestra is currently led by conductor Mario Kosik. It has made a large number of recordings for labels including Opus, Supraphon, Naxos and Marco Polo. In addition to regular season concerts, which feature works by Slovak composers, many of them as premieres, the orchestra has performed at concerts abroad, visiting Austria and Hungary, and touring in Europe, Japan, and Korea.
SYMPHONY NO.3, METAPHYSICA; HARP CONCERTO
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
Vinyl
$51.49
Aug 21, 2026
SYMPHONY NO.3, METAPHYSICA; HARP CONCERTO Internationally acclaimed Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with celebrated harpist Emmanuel Ceysson, in a major world premiere recording that pairs his Symphony No. 3 'Metaphysica' with his new harp concerto - a virtuosic, genre-defying work. 2-LP set.
Sauret: 24 Etudes Caprices, Op. 64 Nos. 1-7 / Rashidova
Naxos
CD
$19.99
Jun 09, 2017
A supreme virtuoso, the French violinist, composer and teacher Emile Sauret was acclaimed by the greatest musicians of the century, including Sarasate and Liszt. He wrote a series of charming genre pieces (available on Naxos 8.572366) but also a sequence of 24 Etudes-Caprices which marry virtuosity with every expressive opportunity available to the instrument. The result is one of the unsung but major cycles for solo violin spanning all twenty-four keys. The Azerbaijani-born British violin virtuoso, soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and orchestral director Nazrin Rashidova made her solo debut at the age of three in Baku and was awarded a gold medal by the Cairo Opera House for an exceptional violin recital three years later. Establishing FeMusa in 2008, Britain’s first female chamber orchestra in sixty years, is merely the latest in a series of achievements. She entered the Royal Academy of Music in London at the age of fifteen, where she had the privilege to play on a rare collection of violins by Antonio Stradivari. She studied with professors Erich Gruenberg, Felix Andrievsky and Lydia Mordkovitch. A prizewinner in several international competitions, she has appeared on international television and radio, played for royalty and other dignitaries, and has also performed in the US, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East.
Ukai – 迂回
Genuin
CD
$20.99
Feb 07, 2025
On her captivating journey, Susanne Frohlich explores not only the vast family of recorder but also their literature. She presents some of the results of her studies in her new GENUIN album, which features Japanese music from 400 years ago alongside contemporary compositions, including several world premiere recordings. Listeners will experience works by Markus Zahnhausen, Chaya Czernowin, Gerriet Krishna Sharma, Sarah Nemtsov, and even Susanne Frohlich herself. This album pushes the boundaries of recorders that have been technically enhanced, unveiling fascinating soundscapes like never before!
Furtwangler: Symphony No. 2 / Jochum, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
BR Klassik
CD
$29.99
Nov 16, 2010
FURTWÄNGLER Symphony No. 2 • Eugen Jochum, cond; Bavarian RO • BR 900702 (2 monaural CDs: 82:54). Live: Munich 12/9–10/1954
One fact has been demonstrated to me as I did some research for this review: There is no logic whatsoever in pricing practices of the record industry. The major competition for this release is Daniel Barenboim’s Chicago Symphony Teldec recording (43495), which is also on two discs. Teldec U.S.A. priced it as two full discs—so on Amazon it sells for about $30, and on ArkivMusic for $34.99. However, on the British site MDT.uk.com its price for U.S. customers is listed as $18.50, because Teldec in Europe decided to price it as if it were one disc (which is rational, since it is just two minutes over the limit for one disc). On the other hand, this Bavarian Radio release seems to be treated in precisely the opposite manner: $26.77 is the U.S. price listed on MDT, but it is only $19.99 on ArkivMusic! You figure it out—I can’t!
Time for full disclosure: At the time of Barenboim’s recording (2001), I was managing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and I played a role in persuading him to conduct the piece and him and Teldec to record it. Because of that I could not review it for Fanfare , but two reviewers did, in 26:2. Marc Mandel liked it very much but felt that Furtwängler’s own Vienna Philharmonic performance issued on Orfeo trumped Barenboim’s in the concluding section of the finale, where Mandel felt Barenboim let down just a bit. Martin Anderson expressed no reservations at all, in an unreservedly enthusiastic review.
Barenboim’s still remains the only readily available and enjoyable modern stereo recording. Alfred Walter’s Naxos effort is flabby beyond description, and one’s mind wanders halfway into the first movement, never to return. A performance by Georg Alexander Albrecht on Arte Nova is better, but not at the level of Barenboim or Furtwängler. Takashi Asahina’s fine Japanese recording from 1984 is just about impossible to obtain in the West (and may be so in Japan, too, for all I know). There are actually five (!) Furtwängler performances on disc, one a studio recording for DG, the other four all live readings. By far the best is the VPO on Orfeo (C365 941 B). It has good monaural 1950s broadcast sound, inspired playing, and of course the advocacy of the composer, who just happened to be one of the great conductors of the 20th century.
Both Barenboim and Furtwängler persuade one that this is an important, enjoyable score. As different writers have pointed out, there are elements of Bruckner, Strauss, Schmidt, Rachmaninoff, and probably others in its blood. It is old-fashioned for its time, to be sure, and it has its longeurs. But it is deeply moving, a work filled with some considerable anguish (much of it was written in Switzerland where Furtwängler had fled because he learned that he was on a Nazi assassination list, and where he was unable to conduct until he was cleared of Nazi affiliation charges by the Allies). It is also a work that doesn’t really sound like anyone else, despite having elements of many. In the end, one’s interest is maintained by the skillful orchestration and a strong element of melodic inspiration. For those interested in Furtwängler or in late-Romantic music, both Furtwängler’s and Barenboim’s recordings are valuable.
So where does this first-time issue of a 1954 broadcast fall? Right at the top level with those other two recordings. I reviewed the Furtwängler Orfeo release (a 1953 performance recorded in Vienna’s Musikvereinssaal) in the Classical Hall of Fame in Fanfare 18:5, and commented that it had some of the best recorded sound of any Furtwängler recording. That is true—but the Bavarian Radio folks were doing it even better in the middle 1950s, and what we have here is truly fine monaural recorded sound equal to many studio recordings being made at that time. It still of course cannot equal the sound quality of the Barenboim recording.
What distinguishes Jochum’s reading from the other two is his different approach to orchestral sonority and his tauter reading in general. Barenboim and Furtwängler both built their orchestral sound from the bottom up. Everything rested on a foundation of the basses and cellos, and, where appropriate, the lower brass. Jochum’s sound is brighter—it wouldn’t be fair to call it “top down,” but it is definitely a lighter sonority, with more emphasis on the upper strings and brass than is the case in the other two. What it lacks in lushness it compensates for with brighter colors. Add to that his extra dash of rhythmic snap, and you have a performance different enough to warrant exploration by anyone who loves this work. I would still not be without the composer’s own and the Barenboim, but I am very happy to have added this to my library. Renate Ulm’s very interesting and informative notes are an added plus.
FANFARE: Henry Fogel
Transkrypton: Piano and Accordion / Duo Wolanska/Gajda
DUX
CD
$21.99
Sep 17, 2021
On the present release Duo Wolanska/Gajda presents transcriptions for Piano and Accordion. DUO WOLAŃSKA/GAJDA is an unusual chamber music ensemble. The combination of piano and accordion opens unlimited performance possibilities. Two solo, independent instruments collide with each other on a sonoristic level, thus creating a new quality of instrumental dialogue. Established in 2014, the ensemble is formed by pianist Julia Wolańska-Gajda and accordionist Michał Gajda. On a regular basis, the artists give concerts in Poland and abroad (New York, Virginia, Arkansas, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Austria, Germany, or the Netherlands). They have already performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world: New York’s Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Mozarteum Saal in Salzburg, Musikverein in Vienna, Kioi Hall in Tokyo, or Guri Art Hall in Seoul. Duo Wolańska/Gajda has won a number of coveted awards and accolades. They are prizewinners of, among others, the Gold Medal in the 4th Manhattan International Music Competition (2019), 1st prize in the 1st Vienna International Music Competition (2019), 1st prize in the Salzburg Grand Prize Virtuoso Inter-national Music Competition (2018), 1st prize in the 54th Internationaler Akkordeonwettbewerb Klingenthal (2017), ‘Top Winner’ 1st prize in the 25th Ibla Grand Prize World Music Competition in Ragusa (2016), or 1st prize in the Val Tidone International Music Competitions (2015).
Pinnacle Ridge
Nimbus
CD
$20.99
Sep 06, 2019
The Greek word 'kosmos' is our ethos in a nutshell. It means the world, the universe, people, order from chaos, honour and is also the name of a flower. Kosmos transcends boundaries, and connects people from all around the world. With our shared passion for music from across the globe -from Argentina to Japan-we create bridges between classical and non-classical music, and our music dances across them. All the music on this album is arranged and composed together by us for our signature combination of violin, viola and classical accordion. This recording is a one-off performance, just as each and every one of our concert performances is always novel and singular. Kosmos is a trio of award-winning, international musicians who have performed worldwide, with live broadcasts on national radio including BBC Radio and Classic FM. They regularly tour international festivals (including Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Scotland, Channel Islands). In 2018 acclaimed composer Errollyn Wallen wrote a Triple Concerto for Kosmos, which was premiered at the Jersey Royal Opera House and Chichester Cathedral. Their previous album released by Nimbus, Pomegranate, was highly acclaimed as 'a delight from start to finish' by Guy Rickards of Gramophone Magazine.
Late Night Ballads
Storyville Records
CD
$19.99
Apr 17, 2026
With a career spanning more than six decades, Danish saxophonist Karsten Vogel is one of the true veterans of Scandinavian music. On his new album Late Night Ballads, recorded with pianist Mads Sondergaard, bassist Peter Hansen and drummer Klaus Menzer, Vogel turns his focus inward, returning to the core of his jazz roots with a deeply reflective and intimate recording. The album is slated for release on Storyville Records on February 20. On Late Night Ballads, Vogel interprets seven classic ballads from the American songbook alongside one original composition. Late Night Ballads unfolds in the quieter hours, offering music that is atmospheric, lyrical, and deeply contemplative. It can serve as a gentle soundtrack to an evening gathering, but it also rewards close listening, revealing subtle musical details and a beautifully balanced sound. With Sondergaard, Hansen, and Menzer providing understated yet highly assured accompaniment, the performances unfold with elegance and restraint. Vogel's playing is marked by maturity and introspection, qualities that have always been present in his music, but which here come fully into focus. Karsten Vogel has left an indelible mark on Danish music as a musician, composer, and bandleader. His unmistakably personal alto saxophone sound has been heard across rock, jazz, and jazz-related genres on more than 75 releases, and his career has taken him far beyond Denmark's borders, with concerts across Europe, the USA, Japan, and India. He is widely known as a founding member of legendary jazz-rock bands Burnin Red Ivanhoe and Secret Oyster, and today stands as one of the few active musicians remaining from the early 1960s Danish music scene. In addition, his long-running work in radio has brought him a broad and devoted audience. Renowned British jazz critic Richard Williams once wrote in Melody Maker: "There aren't many alto saxophonists to whom I'd rather be listening. He has a lovely tone - slender, fibrous and very human - and a shallow vibrato: a highly distinctive combination." Late Night Ballads is firmly rooted in straight-ahead jazz, both in repertoire and instrumentation. It is a quiet but powerful statement from an artist whose long journey through jazz, rock, and fusion now culminates in a recording of remarkable warmth, depth, and clarity.
Mozart, Schumann, Kurtag, Prokofiev & Kovacs: Chamber Works
Musicaphon
CD
$16.99
Sep 20, 2019
The sound of the unusual combination of clarinet, viol and piano fascinated many great composers. The merger of dark, noble and sensual tones with brilliant, virtuosic and melodic expression allows this ensemble to produce varied and diverse soundscapes and to abduct the listener into unusual lyrical spheres. Konstantin Selheim is among the most sought-after instrumentalists of his generation. After studying violin at Hannover University of Music and Theater, in 1996 he began viola studies with Volker Worliizsch and Hartmut Rohde. He has been strongly influenced by Tabea Zimmermann, Rainer Moog, and Yuri Bashmet. The pianist Katharina Sellheim shows a remarkable musical versatility. She gets engaged as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist regularly. She gives recitals in the important musical centers of Europe, such as Vienna Berlin, and Paris, as well as cities worldwide. Hungarian-born Lazlo Kuti grew up in a musical family and began playing in a brass ensemble as a child. He went on to study at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He is a winner of the Concertino Praga International Music Competition, and performed as a young soloist in Prague, Vienna, Graz, and Japan.
COMMON GROUND
MPS
CD
$16.36
Sep 30, 2022
2022 collaboration between saxophonist Bill Evans and guitarist Robben Ford. Ford and Evans have shared the stage in Europe, North America and even Japan and already released one album, The Sun Room, together in 2019. With Common Ground, they continue their creative relationship.
CRESCENT
UNIVERSAL JAPAN
SACD
$32.99
Jun 13, 2025
Super Audio CD (SACD) disc is not compatible with regular CD player or drive. This disc format is compatible only with SACD player. Japanese SHM-SACD pressing, packaged in a paper sleeve. This will play on Super Audio CD players, but they do not play on regular CD players. Universal. 2025.
ALFIE
UNIVERSAL JAPAN
SACD
$32.99
Jun 13, 2025
Super Audio CD (SACD) disc is not compatible with regular CD player or drive. This disc format is compatible only with SACD player. Japanese SHM-SACD pressing, packaged in a paper sleeve. This will play on Super Audio CD players, but they do not play on regular CD players. Universal. 2025.
