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HARMONY OF DIFFERENCE
YOUNG TURKS Sep 2017
Vinyl
$27.99

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 3 / Pletnev, Russian NO

PENTATONE

SACD

$21.99 Oct 30, 2012

With the Symphony No. 3, popularly referred to as the “Polish,” Mikhail Pletnev here completes his second cycle of the composer’s symphonies with the Russian National Orchestra. An earlier cycle dating from the 1990s with the same orchestra is still readily available on Deutsche Grammophon. Pletnev’s new cycle has much to recommend it. For starters, it’s all of a piece, by which I mean all six symphonies are performed by the same forces, for the same label (PentaTone), and they’re all in multichannel SACD format. As is true of most cycles, Pletnev’s is uneven. I raved about the conductor’s “Pathétique” in 35:3 and, having depleted my repertoire of adjectival superlatives on it, I was hard-pressed to express my even stronger endorsement of his “Little Russian” (No. 2) in 36:2. But my recommendations came with a caution that Pletnev’s approach to Tchaikovsky was super-charged and hyper-romantic.

Subjected to the scrutiny of others, not all of Pletnev’s releases in this new cycle have received unstinting praise. Colleague Boyd Pomeroy wondered if the conductor’s Fourth wasn’t too refined in a Karajanesque manner, while Peter J. Rabinowitz generally approved of Pletnev’s Fifth but noted some balance problems and a trace of the old Soviet vibrato. And even yours truly, after waxing ecstatic over Pletnev’s “Pathétique,” was not entirely convinced by the conductor’s follow-up “Winter Daydreams” (No. 1) in 35:6.

With this No. 3, we have the final curtain call for Pletnev’s PentaTone cycle and, as cycles go, I’d have to give this one an overall outstanding rating. Personally, I can’t get too excited about Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony. As I said in my review of Pletnev’s Second, between the Second and Third, it’s a tossup as to which is the weakest of Tchaikovsky’s six numbered symphonies. The Third Symphony was composed in fairly short order between June and August 1875, and there’s little evidence that Tchaikovsky fretted over it or kept tweaking it as he did with his First Symphony. For the neurotic and generally insecure composer, it seems that he was satisfied with the completed score and called it done. His only complaint was that the first performance could have gone better had there been more rehearsals. The work is unique among Tchaikovsky’s symphonies in that it’s the only one in five movements, and, unless one counts the composer’s abandoned Seventh Symphony in E?-Major, it’s the only one among the standard six that’s in a major key. It seems I’m not alone in my opinion of the work. Critical commentary has been mixed at best. Musicologist David Brown rated the Third, “the most inconsistent and least satisfactory of the symphonies and badly flawed” ( Tchaikovsky: The Crisis Years, 1874–1878 , and Tchaikovsky: The Final Years, 1855–1893 ). And to that I would add the least consequential.

If the score is one you find appealing, I can think of no better proponent of it than Pletnev. As with all previous releases in this cycle, Pletnev has the Russian National Orchestra playing in top form, and he finds many felicities in the piece, like the coquettish wind asides in the Alla tedesca movement that delight the ear and give Tchaikovsky’s note-spinning a serenade-like gracefulness.

The Coronation March that fills out the disc—or, to give its full title, Festival Coronation March —is one of those potboiler pieces composers are often called upon to provide for political events or ceremonies of state. In this case, the ceremony was the coronation of Tsar Alexander III in 1883. Tchaikovsky received the commission to write the piece from Moscow’s mayor—it was more of an order than it was an offer—while he was in Paris working on his opera Mazeppa , and he was royally roiled, writing to Nadezhda von Meck, “My plans have been upset by two unexpected and very burdensome tasks foisted upon me. The city of Moscow has commissioned from me a ceremonial march to be played at the festivities which are to be organized for the Sovereign at the Sokol’nikii. Hardly had I managed to reconcile myself to the thought that I must tear myself away from the opera for the march, when suddenly I received a letter from the festival committee about a cantata. Both works, especially the cantata, have to be ready very soon, a prospect which fills me with dread.” If he’d put as much time and effort into working on the assignments as he did kvetching to von Meck about them, he might have produced something more worthy of his reputation. Still, in the end, Tchaikovsky seems to have thought highly enough of his march to make a piano transcription of it. Shades of the 1812 Overture come to mind, but without the cannon, carillon, or La Marseillaise , and all condensed down to less than seven minutes. It’s not very good, but at least it’s loud.

FANFARE: Jerry Dubins

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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 3 / Pletnev, Russian NO
PENTATONE Oct 2012
SACD
$21.99

The Backyard of the Village – Orchestral works by Xiaogang Y

Signum Classics

Vinyl

$24.99 May 15, 2026

This Signum Classics release presents four orchestral works by leading Chinese composer Xiaogang Ye, performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dane Lam. Recorded in February 2024 at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the album features The Backyard of the Village alongside two concertante works: The Memories of Mount Jing Gang with violist Diyang Mei, and My Faraway Nanjing with cellist Guy Johnston, plus the overture The Loquat in Five Colors. Ye's music blends contemporary orchestral writing with Chinese history, landscape, and cultural memory, reflecting his distinctive international voice.

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The Backyard of the Village – Orchestral works by Xiaogang Y
Signum Classics May 2026
Vinyl
$24.99

Mix & Match

BORIS TCHAIKOVSKY - EARLY WORKS FOR ORCHESTRA
NORTHERN FLOWERS Oct 2016
CD
$16.36

Children, Musical Portraits for Piano Solo

NEO CLASSICS

Vinyl

$42.99 Feb 20, 2026

Children - Musical Portraits for Piano Solo is the second solo piano album by internationally renowned artist, pianist, and composer Andy Pavlov. Truly unique artistic statement featuring 24 compositions in all tonalities, each one a unique musical portrait of a real or imagined character. Neoclassical Piano Music - Hypnotising, Minimal, Seductive, Emotional The album was composed in the home of Dutch composer Simeon Ten Holt in Bergen, the Netherlands, this album invites you into an intimate, imaginative sound world. A unique double vinyl with 12 solo piano tracks on each LP!

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Children, Musical Portraits for Piano Solo
NEO CLASSICS Feb 2026
Vinyl
$42.99

SHOSTAKOVICH: Moscow, Cheryomushki
Chandos Nov 1997
CD
$43.99

Ukranian Moods: Piano Miniatures / Petrychenko

Ars Produktion

SACD

$21.99 Jan 29, 2016

A program combining the musical traditions of Western Europe and Ukraine. The first part presents two composers, whose work is rooted in the classical traditions: Levko Revutsky and Viktor Kosenko. The remaining three, Kolessa as well as Igor and Juri Shamo, strove to draw on a greater number of folkloristic motifs. It was the piece Carpathian Fantasy by Juri Schamo, which gave her the idea to this program, because the work itself stands for the combination of musical traditions.

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Ukranian Moods: Piano Miniatures / Petrychenko
Ars Produktion Jan 2016
SACD
$21.99

Petrushka

Wergo

$20.99 Jul 13, 2018

The young Stravinsky became acquainted with large parts of the Western music repertoire through piano arrangements. That might have been one reason for his later compositional practice to arrange major works for piano duet or for two pianos as well. With the new album "Petrushka", the Bugallo-Williams Piano Duo has achieved it's intention to present a complete collection of Igor Stravinsky's published piano arrangements. The present recording contains two ballets which show Stravinsky's compositional development within the genre: the almost film-like burlesque "Petrushka" (1910/11) as well as the abstract late work "Agon" (1953/57) which puts the ancient Greek concept of competition into a contradictory musical setting. In addition, it contains two arrangements of concert pieces: "Concertino" for string quartet (1920) lives on the alternation between homogeneous instrumental passages and soloistic crossed accents. The orchestral "Scherzo a la Russe" (1944) as 'jazz commercial' testifies to Stravinsky's adaptation to his life in America as well as to his love of the Russian types of form at the turn of the century. In their recording, Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams present the special charms of Igor Stravinsky's music in 'black and white': The piano arrangements reflect the sheer brilliance of his oeuvre in a concentrated form.

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Petrushka
Wergo Jul 2018
CD
$20.99

Kabalevsky: Piano Pieces For Children / Kirsten Johnson
Nimbus Jun 2014
CD
$20.99

Britten: Young Person's Guide... / L. Slatkin

RCA

$17.99 Jan 29, 2009

A strikingly alert, fresh-faced reading of the Young Person's Guide, but the major attraction is the Sinfonia da Requiem, which immediately impresses with the focus and sheen of the orchestral playing.

I haven't enjoyed Britten's endlessly resourceful Young Person's Guide so much in ages... [A] strikingly alert, fresh-faced reading... When it comes to the Grimes Interludes, [Slatkin] concentrates on meticulous refinement, with radiantly airy textures throughout: the results are more coolly detached than we are used to hearing and often strikingly beautiful... [W]hat's more, [he] offers a notable bonus in the shape of a lucid and (once again) strikingly refined account of the ''Passacaglia'' from the same opera.

So what is left on the RCA collection? Well, there's a most eloquent, beautifully poised rendering of the Purcell Chaconne—Britten's loving realization can rarely have sounded more beguiling. But the major attraction here is the Sinfonia da Requiem. This could hardly start more promisingly, with fearsome ff timpani blows and balefully growling tuba. Again, what immediately impresses is the focus and sheen of the orchestral playing, but there's a price to pay, perhaps, in the shape of some lack of emotional thrust. It's the Dies irae centrepiece which bears this observation out most clearly: the demons certainly don't scamper quite as malevolently as they do on the composer's own 1964 Decca recording (which still, by the way, sounds absolutely stunning three decades on!)... Of course, this movement's shattering disintegration is as hair-raising as ever, and in the concluding ''Requiem aeternam'' Slatkin transmits a soothing, consolatory glow that many will find deeply moving.

In sum, [a] superior, finely engineered [addition] to the Britten discography; indeed, I can't imagine the majority of collectors will find much to disappoint them here.

-- Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone [3/1994]

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Britten: Young Person's Guide... / L. Slatkin
RCA Jan 2009
CD
$17.99

Jascha Heifetz Collection, Vol. 5: The 1911 Russian Recordin

Doremi

$20.99 Feb 17, 2017

Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) was a Lithuanian-born violinist, who is considered by many music scholars to have been the greatest violinist of all time. He moved to the United States as a teenager, where his Carnegie Hall debut was famously well-received. A virtuoso since childhood, Fritz Kreisler, another leading twentieth century violinist, wrote upon hearing Heifetz’s debut: “We might as well take our fiddles and break them across our knees.” This is the fifth volume from DOREMI of historic Heifetz recordings, and features the newly discovered recordings of the ten-year-old Jascha, made in Russia in 1911. It is their first release in 105 years.

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Jascha Heifetz Collection, Vol. 5: The 1911 Russian Recordin
Doremi Feb 2017
CD
$20.99

HOMMAGE A DIAGHILEV

WARNER CLASSICS

Vinyl

$82.49 Apr 15, 2022

This 3LP set is the reissue of the 1954 box initiated by Walter Legge, EMI's famous producer, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Diaghilev's death. The cover reproduces the original illustration purposely designed at the time by Natalia Goncharova, one of the famous set painters of the Ballets russes. The 32-page booklet, richly illustrated with historical photos, sketches of costumes, and sketches of sets, includes the notes from the 1954 edition by Igor Marketvitch. It is in English and French, and features a short excerpt of 'Le Ballet' by Boris Kochno along with work presentations by the British dance specialist Cyril W. Beaumont.

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HOMMAGE A DIAGHILEV
WARNER CLASSICS Apr 2022
Vinyl
$82.49

SWAN LAKE

WARNER CLASSICS

Vinyl

$38.41 Mar 10, 2017

Limited triple vinyl LP pressing. Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, with it's story of magical transformations, love and deceit and it's irresistibly melodic score, defines Romantic ballet. It is no coincidence that conductor Andre Previn has described himself as "a complete romantic" and that this recording has become a classic of the catalogue. When it was made in 1976, Previn had spent the best part of a decade as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. With their combination of show business flair and deep sensitivity, he and the LSO's players proved to be the ideal team for Tchaikovsky's glorious ballet music.

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SWAN LAKE
WARNER CLASSICS Mar 2017
Vinyl
$38.41

LETTERS FROM PARIS

DECCA

$14.62 Oct 03, 2025

Alexandra Whittingham - "Letters from Paris". From melancholy miniatures to the soaring melodies of French chansons, this is an album which gives us the space to contemplate, marvel and hope. Letters from Paris features specially commissioned new arrangements and guest appearances from other musical stars of Alexandra's generation.

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LETTERS FROM PARIS
DECCA Oct 2025
CD
$14.62

Mix & Match

COMPLETE CHAMBER MUSIC & LIEDER RECORDINGS

DECCA

$223.99 Jan 19, 2024

Harmony in Friendship" - 50 Years of Chamber Music & Lieder Recordings with Friends & Family! Insights, perfectionism, dedication - all these qualities are key to Ashkenazy's music making, as soloist and collaborator, in both chamber music and as conductor. Ashkenazy was principal conductor, then music laureate of the Sydney Symphony. The Complete Chamber Music & Lieder Recordings complements Vladimir Ashkenazy's Complete Solo Recordings (Decca, Limited Edition 89 CDs + 1 Blu-ray Audio) and collects his recordings with orchestral colleagues (Barry Tuckwell, Catherine Hewgill, Frank Cohen, Andre Previn), renowned soloists (including Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell, Ida Haendel) and his sons (Dmitri and Vovka) on works ranging from Mozart to Szymanowski, taking in a large corpus of Beethoven's chamber music with piano and Brahms. 51-CD limited edition box set in original jackets, richly illustrated with rare and beautiful photographs of Ashkenazy, a comprehensive index and an authentic liner note by his friend and producer Jeremy Hayes. Vladimir Ashkenazy (Piano)

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COMPLETE CHAMBER MUSIC & LIEDER RECORDINGS
DECCA Jan 2024
CD
$223.99

Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev / Arvids Jansons

ICA Classics

$26.99 Mar 08, 2024

Arvīds Jansons (1914-1984) was born in Liepāja on Latvia’s west coast. He studied violin from 1929 until 1935 at the Conservatory of Liepāja, then composition and conducting (under Leo Blech) at the Conservatory of Riga from 1940 until 1944, while working as a violinist at Riga Opera.

In 1944, he was appointed conductor of Riga Opera, then of the Latvian Radio Orchestra (1947–1952), and in 1952 he was appointed associate conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic under Yevgeny Mravinsky. He toured frequently with them as well as with other Russian orchestras, to the UK and to the Continent, from 1970 onwards.
Jansons became principal guest conductor of Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra in 1965 at the personal invitation of Sir John Barbirolli, who knew of Jansons as an expert orchestral conductor but a genius in the rehearsal studio. It was in Manchester that Jansons collapsed and died from a heart attack in 1984 while conducting a concert with the Hallé. Arvīds was the father of Mariss Jansons (1943-2019).

The key point about this release is that Arvīds Jansons’s recordings are extremely rare and will be sought after by collectors. This 2-CD set is the first to release Arvīds Jansons’s recordings with the celebrated Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev / Arvids Jansons
ICA Classics Mar 2024
CD
$26.99

NARRATES PROKOFIEV'S PETER & THE WOLF

CLASSICAL MUSIC ON

Vinyl

$46.99 May 15, 2026

David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf (1978) is a classical music album containing David Bowie's narration of Sergei Prokofiev's 1936 composition Peter And The Wolf. The music is performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy. The album reached number 136 on the US Pop Albums chart. Side One contains the narration by David Bowie of public domain material originally written by Prokofiev. The second side of this LP features Eugene Ormandy conducting Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ormandy and the aforementioned musicians from Philly also back up Bowie on side one. Critics lauded the album, saying Bowie 'found his most charming guise since Hunky Dory.' He tells the well-known fable with his usual eloquence and style, and gives instructions at the beginning for kids to understand how the music corresponds to characters in the story. The accompaniment from the Philadelphia Orchestra is first rate. The Music On Vinyl re-release includes detailed liner notes on the project by Mary Campbell, specifically geared to 'introduce children to the sounds of the individual instruments in the symphony orchestra.' Both Prokofiev and Britten wrote their respective pieces with this aim in mind. David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on yellow colored vinyl. The record comes in a deluxe sleeve finished with linen laminate and includes an insert with liner notes. LISTEN: *180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL *DELUXE SLEEVE FINISHED WITH LINEN LAMINATE *INCLUDES INSERT WITH LINER NOTES *SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S CLASSIC PETER AND THE WOLF NARRATED BY DAVID BOWIE *PERFORMED BY THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA UNDER EUGENE ORMANDY *GRAMMY-NOMINATED ALBUM *LIMITED EDITION OF 2000 INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED COPIES ON YELLOW COLORED VINYL Track listing: Side A 1. Peter and the Wolf, Op. 65 (A Musical Tale for Children) Side B 1. Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 3

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NARRATES PROKOFIEV'S PETER & THE WOLF
CLASSICAL MUSIC ON May 2026
Vinyl
$46.99

Parallels - Late Romantic & Contemporary Organ Music / Ffinch

Divine Art

$20.99 Mar 01, 2024

Parallels is meticulously curated album that explores the organ’s remarkable breadth and sonority. Featuring three monumental organ works and delightful arrangements of English classics, the collection is a testament to the grandeur and versatility of the instrument.

Florence Price's Suite No. 1, makes its debut commercial recording. This substantial and captivating composition draws inspiration from spirituals, hymns, and pentatonic themes, showcasing a harmonious fusion of jazz influences. The rhythmic drive and themes in the final Toccato pay homage to the engaging Rubrics by Dan Locklair, creating a seamless connection between the featured works. The album's title, Parallels, reflects Florence Price's artistic vision, aiming to convey a heritage through the past while being influenced by contemporary contacts. This intention is beautifully realised in Suite No. 1, where the chromatic harmony reminiscent of Suite Gothique meets the rhythmic vitality of Rubrics. As a nod to the present day, the album includes Alexander's own arrangement of Coldplay's hit single Paradise, seamlessly blending modernity with Price's timeless compositions. Parallels is not just an album; it's a transformative auditory experience that invites listeners to explore the intersections of tradition and innovation on the Harrison and Harrison organ. The past converges with the present in perfect harmony.

The surprise appearances of music not typically associated with the organ successfully adds an element of excitement and discovery. The album also features splendid organ arrangements of English staples like Elgar's Chanson de Matin and Pomp and Circumstance, further showcasing the instrument's versatility. "Parallels" is an invitation to discover the intersections of tradition and innovation, a celebration of timeless compositions, and a showcase of the capabilities of Cheltenham College Chapel’s Harrison and Harrison organ. This album also celebrates the 150th anniversary of Gustav Holst’s birth with the inclusion of Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity fromThe Planets Op. 32 arranged by Thomas Trotter.

Alexander Ffinch has established himself as a renowned organist with performances spanning the UK, Europe, USA, and Asia. Notable for his role as the College Organist at Cheltenham College since 2004, Alexander oversees daily organ performances in the College Chapel and accompanies choirs while maintaining an active schedule as a recitalist, featuring prominently in events like the Cheltenham International Music Festival and BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. His 2019 album, "Transformations" (DDA 25193), received critical acclaim.

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Parallels - Late Romantic & Contemporary Organ Music / Ffinch
Divine Art Mar 2024
CD
$20.99

LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS

VINYL PASSION

Vinyl

$28.99 Jul 25, 2025

The Rite of Spring: Scenes from Pagan Russia in Two Parts. It was Igor Stravinsky who dragged classical music, kicking and screaming, into the twentieth century. Sure, his contemporaries had paved the way. No longer was the Romantic melody-rich work the dominant force. The new way was about orchestral colors and tone painting. But it was Stravinsky who broke altogether with the Romantic past and created Modernism. It was almost as if all the old rules had not just been bent but completely destroyed. In the modern world, anything goes. Stravinsky made a name for himself at a very early age. In his twenties, his work, Fireworks brought him to the attention of Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballet Russes, who commissioned from Stravinsky a ballet based on the Firebird legend. It was a huge success and Diaghilev commissioned two more. The results were Petrouchka and The Rite of Spring. The story of the premier of The Rite of Spring is famous. The audience was first treated to Les Sylphides, a ballet based on the music of Chopin. The Rite of Spring was to follow. No doubt lulled into a pleasant, dreamy state by the earlier work, and expecting something similarly pastoral with the Rite, named after all about the most pleasant of seasons, they were in for a rude shock. A clue comes from it's subtitle: Scenes from Pagan Russia. It opened with a bassoon bleating way higher than any bassoon was ever supposed to go and then descended into 30 minutes of barbarism and pagan ritual sacrifice. The music was jarring, dissonant, difficult. The huge percussion sections pounded out primitive rhythms, and Nijinsky's provocative choreography challenged the audience's sensibilities. This version was recorded at the Ballroom of the St. George Hotel, Brooklyn, NY, January 5 & 6, 1960 with The Columbia Symphony Orchestra. TRACKLIST: SIDE A: Premier Tableau : L'adoration de la Terre Part 1 - Adoration Of The Earth 1. Introduction 2. Augures Printaniers - Danses Des Adolescentes 3. Jeu Du Rapt 4. Rondes Printanieres 5. Jeu Des Cites Rivales 6. Cortege Du Sage 7. Le Sage 8. Danse de la Terre SIDE B: Second Tableau: Le Sacrifice Part 2 - The Sacrifice 1. Introduction 2. Cercles Mysterieux Des Adolescentes 3. Glorification de L'elue 4. Evocation Des Ancetres 5. Action Rituelle Des Ancetres 6. Danse Sacrale (L'elue)

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LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS
VINYL PASSION Jul 2025
Vinyl
$28.99

RACHMANINOV: THE BELLS & SYMPHONIC DANCES

LPO

Vinyl

$61.49 Aug 22, 2025

Rachminov's Symphonic Dances was one of the first four releases on the LPO Label. As a celebration of the LPO 20 Anniversariy, they are releasing a new recording of the Symphonic Dances, recorded in March of 2023, paired with Rachmaninov's The Bells. Both recordings are performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of our prinicpal conductor, Edward Gardner. The Bells, a choral symphony incorporates Edgar Allan Poe's namesake poem, with a traditional Georgian melody Dies Irae. Motifs of Dies Irae can also be heard in the final movement of the Symphonic Dance; where the Dies Irae theme represents Death.

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RACHMANINOV: THE BELLS & SYMPHONIC DANCES
LPO Aug 2025
Vinyl
$61.49

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Arrangement for Piano & Orches

Brilliant Classics

Vinyl

$34.99 Nov 07, 2025

In the year 2007 pianist and composer Alexander Warenberg reworked Rachmaninoff's second symphony into a full scale piano concerto. Ever since this works gained popularity and recognition as a new repertoire work, having been performed by acclaimed soloists and orchestras all around the world. Alexander Warenberg tackled the seemingly ludicrous task of changing the iconic second symphony into a work with an important piano part. Warenberg has meticulously reworked the four movements of the symphony into the regular three movements of Rachmaninoff's concertos. In this process the piece has been reduced by some 40% and several necessary re-orchestrations have been carried out. The result is more than just an interesting experiment, this spectacular, virtuoso concerto shows off Warenberg's unique talent as a 're-composer', and it conquered the hearts of those who love their Rachmaninoff. Pianist Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy took it upon himself to familiarize himself with this entirely new score. And so did conductor Theodore Kuchar with the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra. Their brilliant performance is a truly romantic one. The score is published by Boosey & Hawkes. A treat for any Rachmaninoff and piano lover!

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Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Arrangement for Piano & Orches
Brilliant Classics Nov 2025
Vinyl
$34.99

FOLKS

SUNNYSIDE

$16.63 Aug 05, 2022

The idea that the creation of an infinite number of melodies is attainable from just 12 tones has always fascinated me. Additionally, I find it intriguing that folk music, the traditional music of the people in a country or region, is strikingly analogous in it's raw melodic content despite developing in relative isolation to one another over hundreds of years. As I composed the music for this album, I had the idea of folk melodies in mind: minimal but not minimalistic - simple but not simplistic - miniature melodic moments; specifically crafted for skilled improvisers to instantly absorb and interpret. Apart from the composed melodic content, this music was fully improvised without frameworks or forms. // The melodies set the tone for group improvisation. "Heaven Above" is the only exception, in which the improvisations occur within a circular form over a predetermined harmonic sequence and tempo. // John, Michael and I have been playing together for several decades resulting in a deep, nearly telepathic, musical connection.

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FOLKS
SUNNYSIDE Aug 2022
CD
$16.63

Les Ballets Russes, Vol. 2
SWR Mar 2008
CD
$20.99

MERCURY MASTERS: THE MONO RECORDINGS

ELOQUENCE AUSTRALIA

$177.90 Jun 16, 2023

Limited Edition · Original Jackets Collection. A tour de force of thrilling orchestral playing and brilliant audio engineering, Antal Dorati's mono recordings are collected for the first time. Newly remastered, this collection comprehensively documents a golden era in American classical recording and most of these vividly characterized recordings appear on CD for the first time. The Hungarian conductor Antal Dorati joined the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra as it's music director in 1949, and immediately began making it into one of the orchestral powerhouses of the post-war United States. Mercury began recording the ensemble in 1952 and continued to do so until his departure in 1960. Dorati's 51 albums (24 mono, 27 stereo) are a testament to what he achieved with the orchestra during his eleven years there. They reveal a musical personality centered on dynamism, intensity, and an exceptional ability to persuasively articulate rhythms. Eloquence presents the most complete ever reissue of the Dorati/Minneapolis legacy in two 'original jackets' boxes, faithfully representing the contents of the albums as they were first issued. New remastering made or supervised by Thomas Fine, son of Mercury's long-time chief engineer and producer, as well as original remastering for CD by Wilma Cozart Fine, bring this legacy to life as never before. Thomas Fine contributes a 'sessionography' to each box detailing the technical facets of the Mercury Living Presence recordings, and Dennis D. Rooney is the author of authoritative booklet notes surveying the history of the partnership on record as well as his personal memoirs of the period. The mono box begins with a blistering Firebird Suite of Stravinsky and ends with a contemporary Hungarian pairing of unrivalled idiomatic flair, brilliance (Kodaly's Peacock Variations) and lurid, controlled violence (Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin). Further highlights include the three Tchaikovsky ballets, in versions that quickly became gramophone classics and 'library choices' and stayed that way for decades. Particularly noteworthy is the first CD release of Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty recordings requested time and again for reissue. Dorati's feeling for dance is further underlined by more landmark Ballets Russes scores - Sacre, Petrouchka, Daphnis - and Viennese waltzes. The legendary 1812 Overture recording is reissued with the original 'Making Of' commentary by Deems Taylor. Taylor also narrates versions of Britten's Young Person's Guide and the Nutcracker Suite. Even rarer are the three musical stories originally released on Mercury's subsidiary 'Wing' label and narrated affectionately by Jerry Terheyden. 'Sonic spectacular' scores by Rimsky-Korsakov, Respighi and Richard Strauss leap from the speakers in Mercury's Living Presence sound, remarkably vivid even in mono. Dorati's firm sense of rhythm and form gives strong contours to symphonies from Mozart to Copland. The last two albums on the set are devoted to the two LPs Dorati recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As sequels to the Eloquence boxes dedicated to Kubelik in Chicago and Paray in Detroit, these Dorati collections comprehensively document a golden era in American classical recording.

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MERCURY MASTERS: THE MONO RECORDINGS
ELOQUENCE AUSTRALIA Jun 2023
CD
$177.90

SYMPHONY 7 OP 60 LENINGRAD
IMPORTS Jun 2018
Vinyl
$34.99