Proper note new releases 6 13 jan 2014

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SOUNDTRACK NEW RELEASE - AVAILABLE NOW!

Paul Ferris

Witchfinder General (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

DWCR005 5052442004585 CD DE WOLFE £7.99 SOUNDTRACK The score for Witchfinder General, Michael Reeves’ highly regarded 1968 cult horror movie starring Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvie, Rupert Davies, Wilfrid Brambell and Patrick Wymark, sees its first ever release. Paul Ferris’ haunting soundtrack has never been released in its entirety, despite being praised by many as one of the best of the era. Remastered from the original quarter-inch tape (long presumed lost), the stylish package includes two “stings” not used on the final soundtrack. It also boasts liner notes by horror movie expert John Hamilton, detailed information regarding the film and its music and rare stills and photos from the original production. The soundtrack to Witchfinder General which starred horror legend Vincent Price in what is generally thought to be his finest screen role was composed by Paul Ferris, also well-known to exploitation movie fans for his scores to ‘The Sorcerers’ and ‘Blood Beast Terror’. Up until it now it remained unreleased, having been only recently discovered in the de Wolfe master-tape achive. With a haunting and melancholic British folk feel, the ‘Witchfinder’ music sits nicely alongside the other two holy-grail “Horror-Folk” soundtracks, namely ‘The Wicker Man’ and ‘Blood On Satan’s Claw’. The film soon achieved cult status due to battles with the censor over cuts, attempts by local authority licensing committees to ban it and the sudden death of director Michael Reeves from an apparent drugs overdose. “(4 stars) This first-time release for Paul Ferris's legendary score is stunning: pastoral English folk themes jolted by 12-tone horror. Essential.” - MOJO Tracks: Witchfinder General - Opening Titles / Drama Sting No. 1 / Captain Gordon Is That You? / Nearly Home / Peaceful Interlude / Hopkins and Stearne / A Ride In The Dark / By The Water / Interrogation Of the Priest / In The Tavern / The Gaol / In The Shadows / Stearne Attacks Sara / Nocturnal No. 3 / Sara's Tears / The Moat / Hanging From The Tree / Richard Rides to Sara / Soft Interlude / Action Mood / Not Selling / Stearne Escapes / It's My Justice / Master Loach / To Lavenham / Hopkins Confronted / Reunited / The Widower / Accused / The Castle Dungeon / Witchfinder General - End Credits / Witchfinder Intrigue (Bonus Track) / Witchfinder Tension (Bonus Track) Reviews confirmed in Record Collector (Jonny Trunk) + Uncut Reviews published in MOJO + on websites Freq + The Sunday Experience (blog)




ROCK/ELECTRONIC NEW RELEASE - 6/1/2014

Amatorski Impatience

CRAM203 876623006794 DVD CRAMMED DISCS £10.99 ROCK/ELECTRONIC ‘Impatience’, the experimental silent film directed in 1928 by Charles Dekeuleneire, is accompanied by original music written by the Belgian band Amatorski. The limited-edition DVD also features a film of a simultaneous live performance of the soundtrack by Amatorski as the film was screened at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels in 2012. The DVD contains a coupon with a unique code for downloading the audio soundtrack. Charles Dekeukeleire, was an unsung hero of early experimental cinema. Influenced by the ideas of Futurist and Dadaist artists, he wanted to create ‘pure cinema’. He was only twenty-three when he directed ‘Impatience’, which some international film historians place on the same level as Luis Bunuel’s ‘Un Chien Andalou’. Amatorski, who combine rock with electronic music, has been described by the Guardian as “the best Belgian act around at the moment”. They have written a magnificent new soundtrack for the film, a continuous, 36-minute piece which includes abstract sonic textures as well as soaring, enchanting melodies. Tracks: 1. Amatorski Perform Impatience Live At The Ancienne Belgique 2. Impatience By Charles Dekeuleneire DVD specifications: Rating: E (Exempt from Certification) Region code: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Total length: 73:16 Picture format: PAL, 16:9 Sound format: Dolby Stereo Subtitles: none




ROCK/ELECTRONIC LIMITED EDITION VINYL AVAILABLE NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!

Juana Molina Wed 21

CRAM220LP 876623007043 LP2 CRAMMED DISCS £12.99 ROCK/ELECTRONIC Juana Molina’s critically acclaimed album ‘Wed 21’ is now available as a limited edition 2LP vinyl (500 copies only). It includes a previously unreleased bonus track “De Algun Instinto Animal”.

‘Wed 21’ by the bewitching Juana Molina, sees all the various threads she's previously explored masterfully woven together with new elements. She creates a mischievous, playful, joyous series of songs, brimming with surprises. Molina has previously released four albums on Domino Records.

This time, she's remarkably expanded her palette of instruments, incorporating electric guitars, bass, drums and inventive electronics, thus giving 'Wed 21' a richer, broader sonic spectrum. In some of the tracks, Juana comes as close to a pop song format and to a full band sound as she ever did...while some other pieces are sinuous excursions through gamuts of feelings and textures. As the album unfolds, each of the eleven songs reveals new, delightful ideas, unexpected turns and inspired atmospheres.

Disc 1/Side 1 1. Eras 2. Wed 21 3. Ferocisimo

Disc 1/Side 2 1. Lo Decidi Yo 2. Sin Guia, No 3. Ay, No Se Ofendan

Disc 2/Side 1 1. Bicho Auto 2. El Oso De La Guarda 3. Las Edades

Disc 2/Side 2 1. La Rata 2. Final Feliz 3. De Algun Instinto Animal (bonus track) “(5 stars) The most satisfying realization of her Latin-tinged folktronica style.” - The Independent “(8/10 stars) Sensuous poptronica...With Wed 21, she's moved on to more colourful worlds, with buzzing electronics swarming around psychedelic rhythms, each song flooded with gentle melody.” - Uncut “(8/10 stars) This might just be her best work yet.” - MixMag




JAZZ NEW RELEASE - 2/12/2013

Threeway & Jim Hart

Looking Forward, Looking Back

JCCD115 0799665804183 CD JAZZ CAT £7.99 JAZZ ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back’ is the third album by Threeway, bassist/composer Ben Crosland’s chamber jazz trio, featuring Steve Lodder on piano and keyboards and Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn. The album also features star vibraphonist Jim Hart. After expanding the band into a sextet for the Brass Group recording of ‘An Open Place’, Crosland has returned to the trio format for this album, albeit with a twist - it features vibraphonist Jim Hart, as a special guest on half of the tracks. The album title reflects not only the new compositions that all three band members have contributed to this recording but also the pieces, performed in concert over the years, which the band has never previously had the opportunity to record. The adding of Hart's virtuoso vibes playing brings an added percussive edge to the music and variety to the album's sound texture. After leading his quartet, quintet and octet for fifteen years, Crosland formed the trio in 2004 with his two long-term associates, Waterman and Lodder, in order to explore the subtle and open possibilities of a group without drums. The trio approaches improvisation in a subtle manner; the interplay between the players creates a natural intensity combined with an acute sensitivity to dynamics. Personnel: Ben Crosland (bass), Steve Lodder (piano, keyboards), Steve Waterman (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jim Hart (vibraphone) “A chamber trio that generates intimacy and heat.” - MOJO “Three stellar musicians...the reactions and interplay are as near to perfection as anyone could want.” - Jazzwise Tracks: The Corridor of Uncertainty / Song for Dorothy / Soul Sample / Destination Unknown / CQD / Blues for Jeff / Modest Earner Ernie's Scarborough Seaside Escape / Lost Weekend / Firefly / Blue Butterfly / Slow Train Home / Sting in the Tail / Hymn for Christmas Reviews confirmed in The Observer, Jazzwise + MOJO





Esmond Selwyn Follow That

SLAMCD240 5028386024026 CD SLAM PRODUCTIONS £7.99 JAZZ Originally released on SLAM in 2000, ‘Follow That’ was Esmond Selwyn’s first recording as a leader. The original pressing sold out some years ago; the ensuing demand has resulted in this re-release of a great album. “A superb technician with flowing ideas and a driving energy, he propels his quartet through both standards and original compositions with great finesse”, wrote Howard Paul in Just Jazz Guitars at the time of it’s original release. With Paul Sawtell on piano, Bill Coleman on bass and Robin Jones on drums the quartet presents a programme of five standards - “Prelude to a Kiss”, “Serenata”, “Have You Met Miss Jones?”, “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” and “Just One of Those Things” alongside four original themes by Selwyn and Sawtell. Personnel: Esmond Selwyn (guitar) Paul Sawtell (piano), Bill Coleman (bass), Robin Jones (drums) Tracks: Blues for Wes / Prelude to a Kiss / Flight of Fancy / Serenata / The Wild Brown / One for My Dad / Have You Met Miss Jones? / Polka Dots and Moonbeams / Just One of Those Things

I Giganti Della Montagna

L’Arsenale Delle apparizioni

SLAMCD548 5028386054825 CD SLAM PRODUCTIONS £7.99 JAZZ I Giganti Della Montagna is a trio founded in 2012 by Sicilian saxophonist and composer Ferdinando D’Urso, with pianist Lorenzo Paesani and cellist Federico Sconosciuto. ‘L’Arsenale delle apparizioni’ is their first album, the music blends elements from western art music, improvised music, jazz and Sicilian folk music.

The name of the trio - I Giganti Della Montagna (The Giants of the Mountain) - and the title of the CD - ‘L’Arsenale delle Apparizioni’ - refer to the last work of Sicilian playwright Luigi Pirandello. ‘L’Arsenale delle Apparizioni’ is a place in this work where dreams and reality mingle, a place where negative is exorcised. All the compositions are by Ferdinando D’Urso except for “Due frasi”, written by Andjela Bizimoska and arranged by D’Urso. Personnel: Ferdinando D’Urso (saxophone), Lorenzo Paesani (piano), Federico Sconosciuto (cello)

Tracks: Al Qantar / Al gran sole (carico d'amore?) / VN / Due frasi / Rest / Mamu / Concerto sacro / Ginestra / Estratto da "Whisteling"





Szilard Mezei International Improvisers Ensemble Karszt

SLAMCD550 5028386055020 CD2 SLAM PRODUCTIONS £9.99 JAZZ The violinist, violist, double bass player and composer Szilard Mezei’s biggest project - two and a half hours of music he composed played by twenty-three international musicians. Recorded in Novi Sad, Serbia, Mezei is in complete control with baton and viola, conducting a majestic performance. On ‘Karszt’ Mezei explores the relationship between improvisation and composition (similarly to Witold Lutoslawski’s aleatoric music and Anthony Braxton’s creative music methods), incorporating elements of jazz and authentic folk music as well. The music is monumental in scale, rich in fascinating detail, with arrangements that are influenced by the work of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus. Disc 1: Hep 20 / Karszt Disc 2: Fák És Bokrok Suru Lombjaitól / From Foliage Of Trees And Shrubs / Macskák / Cats / Kéreg / Bark / Chopin Emlékére / In Memory Of Chopin / Hep 57 / Jugoplastika




JAZZ/ROCK NEW RELEASE - 13/1/2014

Skadedyr Kongekrabbe

HUBROCD2536 7033662025367 CD HUBRO £7.99 JAZZ/ROCK ‘Kongekrabbe’ is the democratic/anarchistic band Skadedyr’s debut album. They have swiftly gained a reputation as one of Norway’s most exciting ensembles. Skadedyr consists of a total of twelve musicians and an even larger assortment of instruments. With a brass section, guitars, keyboards, vocals, two drummers, strings and an accordion, the musical images and narratives just pour out of them. Skadedyr was founded by Heida Karine Jóhannesdóttir Mobeck and Anja Lauvdal, who also played in the now disbanded group Your Headlights Are On. These two musicians are also the driving force behind the inventive material on Skadedyr’s debut album. The members of the band rehearse and arrange all the music jointly - without notes, but with wide-open ears and eyes. Young, promising musicians from bands such as Moskus, Broen Ósk, Karokh, Snøskred, Skrap and Hullyboo are also part of the ensemble. The album was recorded live in the studio in the course of only one day with producer Andreas Mjøs (Jaga Jazzist), and bears witness to an extraordinarily coherent and original band with an appreciation of both the psychedelic, progressive and outrageous and the earthy and melodious aspects of music. The musicians in Skadedyr accept no limits and deny themselves nothing. They derive inspiration from every type of music that they love, and the large number of players enables them to let themselves loose in a correspondingly broad musical landscape. Tracks: Intro Linselus / Linselus/Due / Kongekrabbe / Partylus / Lakselus

Skadedyr Kongekrabbe (180g Vinyl)

HUBROLP3536 7033662035366 LP+CD HUBRO £9.99 JAZZ/ROCK ‘Kongekrabbe’ is the democratic/anarchistic band Skadedyr’s debut album. They have swiftly gained a reputation as one of Norway’s most exciting ensembles. Skadedyr consists of a total of twelve musicians and an even larger assortment of instruments. With a brass section, guitars, keyboards, vocals, two drummers, strings and an accordion, the musical images and narratives just pour out of them. This 180g vinyl edition is limited to only 500 copies Worldwide and also includes the CD with it. Skadedyr was founded by Heida Karine Jóhannesdóttir Mobeck and Anja Lauvdal, who also played in the now disbanded group Your Headlights Are On. These two musicians are also the driving force behind the inventive material on Skadedyr’s debut album. The members of the band rehearse and arrange all the music jointly - without notes, but with wide-open ears and eyes. Young, promising musicians from bands such as Moskus, Broen Ósk, Karokh, Snøskred, Skrap and Hullyboo are also part of the ensemble. The album was recorded live in the studio in the course of only one day with producer Andreas Mjøs (Jaga Jazzist), and bears witness to an extraordinarily coherent and original band with an appreciation of both the psychedelic, progressive and outrageous and the earthy and melodious aspects of music. The musicians in Skadedyr accept no limits and deny themselves nothing. They derive inspiration from every type of music that they love, and the large number of players enables them to let themselves loose in a correspondingly broad musical landscape. Tracks: Intro Linselus / Linselus/Due / Kongekrabbe / Partylus / Lakselus




CLASSICAL NEW RELEASE - 13/1/2014

Sounds Baroque, Julian Perkins, Anna Dennis & Andrew Radley

Conversazioni II - Duelling Cantatas

AV2296 822252229622 CD AVIE £8.49 CLASSICAL Harpsichordist extraordinaire Julian Perkins directs his period-instrument ensemble Sounds Baroque, joined by soprano Anna Dennis and countertenor Andrew Radley in Duelling Cantatas, the second of a series called Conversazioni that explores music which was presented at the artistic gatherings of 18th century Rome's Arcadian Academy. Following an acclaimed first release in a series called Conversazioni, exploring the wealth of vocal and instrumental music presented at the artistic gatherings of 18th century Rome's Arcadian Academy, 8232; harpsichordist extraordinaire Julian Perkins and his period-instrument ensemble Sounds Baroque follow with an equally scintillating concept album, Duelling Cantatas. Soprano Anna Dennis and countertenor Andrew Radley engage in a contest of style and beauty in cantatas by Handel, Gasparini and Alessandro Scarlatti, likewise the virtuoso instrumentalists in works by Caldara and Domenico Scarlatti. Breathing vibrant life into these spirited scores, Sounds Baroque suitably lives up to its motto, "Music for Then, Living Now." Personnel: Sounds Baroque, Julian Perkins (harpsichord, director), Anna Dennis (soprano), Andrew Radley (countertenor) Critical acclaim for Sounds Baroque's 'Conversazioni I - Cantatas from a Cardinal's Court' (AV2197): “Young musicians, fuelled by intellectual curiosity and a corporate commitment to excellence, with enterprise and genuine flair.” - Classic FM “A stylish ornament to the most discerning Cardinal's Court. Roll on Conversazioni 2!” - BBC Music Magazine “I look forward eagerly to the promised Conversazioni II.” - International Record Review Tracks: Francesco Gasparini: Io che dal terzo ciel (Venere e Adone) 1-14. Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria per due / Recitativo / Aria per due / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria per due Antonio Caldara: Trio sonata in E minor, op. 1, no. 5 (1693) 15-18. Grave / Vivace / Adagio / Vivace 19. Attributed to George Frideric Handel: Rondeau in G major 20. (Giuseppe) Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K 63 (Pietro) Alessandro (Gaspare) Scarlatti: Questo silenzio ombroso (Il Sonno) 21-23. Largo / Adagio / Adagio - [Andante] - Adagio - Andante Moderato 24. D. Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K 32 25. G. F. Handel: Sonata in G major G. F. Handel: Amarilli vezzosa (Il duello amoroso), HWV 82 26-37. Sinfonia - Allegro - Adagio / Menuetto / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria / Recitativo / Aria - Largo / Recitativo / Aria per due Conversazioni II will be supported by a launch event at the Purcell Room, London on 27 January 2014 Advertising in Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, Listen + Early Music Today





Elbipolis Baroque Orchestra of Hamburg & Jurgen Gross

Undercover Bach - Orchestral suites and concertos

CC72625 608917262520 CD CHALLENGE CLASSICS £8.49 CLASSICAL ‘Undercover Bach’ features the Elbipolis Baroque Orchestra of Hamburg and its director Jurgen Gross performing orchestral arrangements of music by J.S. Bach. The disc includes the Overtures, BWV 820, BWV 822, and BWV 1067a, the Concertos for Strings BWV 571 and BWV anh.152, and the Partita for Harpsichord and Strings BWV 1006.

The tradition of arranging other composers’ works was a convention in the early eighteenth century. As he grew older J. S. Bach practiced this more and more frequently for his own works, and this CD is aligned to this tradition. Five works have been recorded here in orchestral arrangements specially created by Jörg Jacobi. The disc also includes the presumed original version of the Overture in B Minor (BWV 1067) in a reconstruction by Werner Breig.

The Elbipolis Baroque Orchestra of Hamburg was established in 1999, and since then has received invitations to the Cologne Philharmonie and NDR Hamburg's "Das Alte Werk", and to several festivals including the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival and the Bachfest Leipzig. Since 2008 the orchestra has accompanied the Schleswig-Holstein-Musikfestival Choir under the direction of Rolf Beck, as well as the NDR Choir under the direction of Philipp Ahmann. In 2011 the group released its first CD for Challenge Classics (CC72531), which was devoted to the music of the early eighteenth century Dutch composer Johann Christian Schieferdecker.

Personnel: Elbipolis Baroque Orchestra of Hamburg & Jurgen Gross

Tracks: Overture in A minor for Flute and Strings, BWV 822 1. I. Overture 2. II. Aria 3. III. Gavotte en Rondeau 4. IV. Bourrée 5. V. Menuet I-III 6. VI. Gigue Partita in D Major for Harpsichord and Strings, BWV 1006 7. I. Sinfonia 8. II. Loure 9. III. Gavotte en Rondeaux 10. IV. Menuet I/II 11. V. Bourrée 12. VI. Gigue Concerto in G Major for Strings, BWV Anh. 152 13. I. Affectuoso 14. II. Allegro 15. III. Adagio 16. IV. Vivace Overture in F Major for Oboe and Strings, BWV 820 17. I. Overture 18. II. Entrée 19. III. Menuet - Trio 20. IV. Bourrée 21. V. Gigue Overture in A Minor for Violin and Strings, BWV 1067a 22. I. Overture 23. II. Rondeaux 24. III. Sarabande 25. IV. Bourée I/II 26. V. Polonaise 27. VI. Menuet 28. VI. Battinerie Concerto in G Major for Strings, BWV 571 29. I. Allegro 30. II. Adagio 31. III. Ciaconna - Allegro





Sinfonietta Riga & Claus Effland

Concertante - Virtuosic Wind Concertos

CC72621 608917262124 CD CHALLENGE CLASSICS £8.49 CLASSICAL This CD gathers together a group of rarely heard concertante pieces for various combinations of wind instruments by four composers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Franz Danzi, Agostino Belloli, Louis Emmanuel Jadin, and Ignaz Lachner. The soloists, Egils Sefers (clarinet), Niels Anders Vedsten Larsen (bassoon) David Palmquist (horn) are all members of the Danish Wind Quintet “Clarion”. The Sinfonietta Riga is conducted by Claus Efland. Apart from the Danzi work all these pieces presented here are receiving their first recordings. The concertanate works featured on this collection are Belloli’s concerto for clarinet, horn and orchestra, Danzi’s concertino for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra B flat major op. 475, Lachner’s concertino for horn, bassoon and orchestra op. 43, and Jadin’s symphonie concertante for clarinet, horn, bassoon and orchestra. Apart from the Danzi work all these pieces are here receiving their first recordings. Danish-born conductor Claus Efland is one of the most widely-respected and versatile conductors of his generation. Born in 1974, he later moved to London, where he studied conducting with John Carewe and Neil Thomson at the Royal College of Music. His studies were further consolidated by a period of work with the Staatskapelle Dresden where he acted as assistant to Sir Colin Davis. Claus Efland has received numerous awards for his conducting including the Theodore Stier Prize and the prestigious Scandinavian Léonie Sonning Award. In 2004 he was a prizewinner at the Donatella Flick Competition in London. He was appointed Music Director of the Bardi Symphony Orchestra’s in 2008. Personnel: Sinfonietta Riga, Claus Effland (conductor) Tracks: Agostino Belloli: Concerto for clarinet, horn and orchestra 1. I. Allegro giusto 2. II. Allegretto moderato: Thema, Variation 1 Adagio (Minore), Allegretto moderato, Variation 2, Variation 3 3. III. Allegro 4. IV. Andante moderato Franz Danzi: Concertino for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra B flat major op. 475 5. I. Allegretto 6. II. Un poco piu mosso 7. III. Allegro spirituoso Ignaz Lachner: Concertino for horn, bassoon and orchestra op. 43 8. I. Romanze: Andante 9. II. Allegretto moderato 10. III. Tempo di Polacca Louis-Emmanuel Jadin: Symphonie Concertante for clarinet, horn, bassoon and orchestra 11. I. Allegro 12. II. Adagio 13. III. Allegro





Lisa Jacobs & Ksenia Kouzmenko

Poeme - Franck/Ysaye: Duos for Violin and Piano

CC72624 608917262407 CD CHALLENGE CLASSICS £8.49 CLASSICAL This CD presents three virtuoso works for violin and piano, two by the Belgian composer Eugene Ysaÿe: Poème Elégiaque op. 12 and Extase op. 21, and a piece written as a wedding present for Ysaye by his friend Cesar Franck, the Sonata in A major. The performers are the highly talented Dutch violinist Lisa Jacobs and the pianist Gunar Letzbor. The title of Ysaÿe’s Poème Elégiaque op. 12 is derived from the middle section of the piece, which depicts a passing funeral procession accompanied by tolling bells. It was played at Ysaÿe’s own funeral. Cesar Franck’s Sonata in A Major was written in 1886 and is one of the composer’s most celebrated works. The young Dutch violinist Lisa Jacobs has performed the works featured here in many of her concerts since she first discovered them at the age of sixteen. Having started playing the violin at the age of six, she was accepted in the Young Talent class of the Utrecht Conservatory and continued studying with Ilya Grubert at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. At the age of only seventeen, Lisa made a successful debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Riccardo Chailly. She has won several first prizes in both national and international competitions, one of them being at the 2nd International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition in Lithuania 2005, where she also received the Audience Prize. Personnel: Lisa Jacobs (violin), Ksenia Kouzmenko (piano) Tracks: Eugene Ysaye: 1. Poème élégiaque, op. 12 2. Extase, op. 21 César Franck: Sonata in A major 3. Allegretto ben moderato 4. Allegro 5. Recitativo - Fantasia: ben moderato 6. Allegretto poco mosso





Rinaldo Zhok

Liszt - Verdi: Complete Paraphrases and Free Transcriptions

ODRCD309 855317003097 CD ODRADEK RECORDS £8.49 CLASSICAL Italian pianist Rinaldo Zhok’s first recording for Odradek features Liszt’s complete Verdi operatic transcriptions and paraphrases, which he brings together for the first time on CD in their entirety. Zhok highlights what one might define the Verdian spirituality of these Liszt adaptations, projects the dramatic force of the characters of the arias, and creates a theatre without words and without images, suggested only by the sounds of the piano. The resulting exchange is quite wonderful: Liszt giving Verdi his hands, Verdi giving Liszt his voice. “I have always loved the simplicity and effectiveness of Giuseppe Verdi’s music, sophisticated yet popular, with its patriotic ideals and its innovative conception of the theatre, synonymous with the nascent state of Italy,” says Zhok. “I decided to concentrate on transcriptions and paraphrases of works that are otherwise not accessible to pianists. Verdi himself had almost no interest in composing absolute music, and wrote only two short and not very significant pieces for the piano.” Even if they are from very popular operas like Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, and Aida, Liszt’s paraphrases are not very widely known. He adapts the themes, enriches the harmonies, and personalizes the vocal texture, often making the original material more essential and less acrobatic, just the opposite of what one might expect from the virtuoso pianist par excellence, and the resulting arrangements have real beauty. Personnel: Rinaldo Zhok (piano) Tracks: 1. Don Carlo, Coro di festa e Marcia funebre R. 268, S. 435 2. Salve Maria! from I lombardi alla prima crociata (1st version) R. 264, S. 431 3. Rigoletto, paraphrase de concert R. 267, S. 434 4. Ernani, paraphrase de concert (1st version) R. 293, S. 431a 5. Miserere from Il Trovatore R. 266, S. 433 6. Ernani, paraphrase de concert (2nd version) R. 265, S. 432 7. Agnus Dei della Messa da Requiem R. 270, S. 437 8. Réminiscences de Boccanegra R. 271, S. 438 9. Aida, Danza sacra e Duetto finale R. 269, S. 436





Andreas Fischer, Pieter Van Dijk & Wolfgang Zerer

Regina Renata - Organ of St. Catherine Hamburg, works by Bach, Reincken etc.

ES2050 4015372820503 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL Regina Renata – the reborn Queen. The rebuilding of the Renaissance/Baroque organ in Hamburg’s main church St Catherine, which was almost completely destroyed by air attacks in 1943, has been a unique event for the international organ world. And here the reborn organ is heard in all its glory in performances by three highly distinguished organists, Andreas Fischer, St Catherine’s current cantor and organist, Pieter van Dijk and Wolfgang Zerer. Never before in the history of organ building has a historical instrument of this size been rebuilt in its original design and in its original location after it had disappeared and been replaced by another organ. Once again Hamburg thus possesses two representative instruments from the heyday of Hanseatic organ building, and so can regain its successes of the 17th and 18th centuries after losing its primacy as a European organ metropolis after the Second World War. On this recording Wolfgang Zerer plays music by Heinrich Scheidemann and Dutch organist Pieter van Dijk performs that of Jan Adam Reincken, both composers who were active at St Catherine’s. They also both play pieces by J S Bach while Andreas Fischer, organist of St Catherine’s since 1994, takes on more recent repertoire by the 19th and 20th century organist/composers, Heinrich F Degenhardt and Hugo Distler. All three interpreters were members of the rebuilding planning team for almost 20 years so it is no surprise that they chose works that are naturally closely connected to the great history of the St Catherine’s organ. Personnel: Andreas Fischer, Pieter van Dijk, Wolfgang Zerer (organ of St. Catherine Hamburg) Tracks: Heinrich Scheidemann: Magnificat VI. Toni 1. Versus 1 2. Versus 2 (auff 2 Clavir pedahl) 3. Versus 3 (pedaliter) 4. Versus 4 (manualiter) 5. Johann Adam Reincken: Choralfantasie “An Wasserflüssen Babylon” Johann Sebastian Bach: Fantasie und Fuge g-Moll, BWV 542 6. Fantasie 7. Fuge 8. Johann Sebastian Bach: “An Wasserflüssen Babylon”, BWV 653 9. Heinrich F. Degenhardt: Concertstück f-Moll Hugo Distler: Partita “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”, op. 8 II 10. I. Toccata 11. II. Bicinium 12. III. Fuge





Maria Lettberg

The Enchanted Garden - Piano Transcriptions of Russian Fairy Tales by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov & Stravinsky

ES2048 4015372820480 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL

Following her Scriabin recording for ES-Dur, pianist Maria Lettberg carries listeners off into the magic garden of Russian fairy tales and myths. This enchanting disc presents paraphrases on some well-known Russian operas by Mikhail Glinka and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov as well as Igor Stravinsky’s solo piano version of his ballet, The Firebird. The expert piano transcriptions of the Glinka and Rimsky-Korsakov works are made by some equally famous composers - and admirers - such as Liszt, Lyapunov and Rachmaninov. The sagas, fairy tales and songs tell of transformations, curses and promises from ancient times, which were systematically collected and published in the 19th century. The Russian opera librettists and ballet set designers of this time dug deeply into this treasure trove. Besides the son of the Tsar Sultan in the form of a bumble-bee, the colourful repertoire on Lettburg’s CD conjures up stamping dwarves, whispering fairies, rumbling snowstorms and gently falling snowflakes; past tears that don’t cry and eggs that cannot be broken; to the wonders of a white many-turreted city, the firebird who presents us with a golden feather, and the fantastical dwarf villain Chernomor (from Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila), whose magic garden was the epitome of Russian orientalism. One of the most exciting pianists in Europe, Maria Lettberg is a Swedish citizen, but she was born in Riga and currently lives in Berlin. Noted for her unusual concert programmes, her numerous CDs have also attracted international interest. They include piano pieces by Erkki Melartin and Alfred Schnittke and the entire solo piano works of Alexander Scriabin, which she completed with the acclaimed ES-Dur recording, Opus Posthum (2012) of his earliest works. Personnel: Maria Lettberg (piano) Tracks: Mikhail Glinka: 1. Circassion March (Chernomor’s March) from the opera “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (arr. Liszt) Two transcriptions from the opera “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (arr. Sergei Lyapunov) 2. Berceuse of the Fairies 3. Battle and Death of Chernomor Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: 4. Hymn to the Sun from the opera “The Golden Cockerel” (arr. Julius Chaloff) 5. Dance of the Tumblers from the opera “Snow Maiden” (arr. Isaac Mikhnovsky) 6. Flight of the Bumblebee from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” (arr. Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova) 7. The Three Wonders from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” (arr. Alexander Ziloti) 8. Song of India from the opera “Sadko” (arr. Maria Lettberg) 9. Snowstorm from the opera “Kashchei the Immortal” (arr. Joseph Strimer) Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird for solo piano (arr. Maria Lettberg) 10. Introduction 11. Tableau I: The Enchanted Garden of Kastchei 12. Dance of the Firebird 13. Khorovod (Round Dance) of the Princesses 14. Infernal Dance of All Kashchei’s Subjects 15. Lullaby (Firebird) 16. Kashchei’s Awakening - Kastchei's Death - Profound Darkness 17. Tableau II: Disappearance of Kashchei’s Palace and Magical Creations, Return to Life of the Petrified Knights, and General Rejoicing





Johannes Ernst & Christoph Israel

Found Pieces - Compositions for Saxophone 1929-1950

ES2047 4015372820473 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL Johannes Ernst, one of the best saxophonists in Germany today, has put together a fascinating selection of ‘Fundstucke’ from the saxophone literature of the 1930s and 40s that both entertains and amuses and most certainly will be a musical discovery for the majority of listeners.

The idea for recording the ‘Musical Finds’ on this album germinated as long ago as 1994 when Ernst met the saxophonist Ingrid Larssen in Berlin as he was preparing to enter the Gustav Bumcke saxophone competition named after her father. He was amazed to read her reviews and learn of her popularity in the late 1930s, a period in which he previously thought the instrument had been in almost terminal decline. The then leading saxophone soloist, Sigurd Raschèr, had emigrated as early as 1933; many composers who wrote music for the saxophone, including Hindemith, Krenek and Weill, had done likewise, and others such as Erwin Schulhoff and Victor Ullman were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis. After meeting Larssen, Johannes Ernst began to search out more and more sheet music from the time and rediscovered the engaging repertoire on this disc. For a long time the fashion was to write entertaining pieces which ranged from late Romantic character pieces to up-to-date dance music – such as those by Albert Brau and Ludwig Kletsch’s The Laughing Saxophone. Much more serious are the Four Little Pieces by Hans Felix Husadel, then a professor at Berlin’s Academy of Music. Ernst and his accompanist Christoph Israel open their recital with a song from 1950, the delightful Liebeslied by Rudolf Wagner-Regeny, and finish it in playful style with the only piece from an earlier era, that mother of all virtuoso pieces, Louis Mayeur’s Grande Fantasie Brillante on themes from The Carnival of Venice. Personnel: Johannes Ernst (saxophone), Christoph Israel (piano) Tracks: 1. Rudolf Wagner-Régeny: Liebeslied (Love Song) 2. Richard Beckmann: Erzählendes Saxophon (Narrating Saxophone) 3. Albert Bräu: Kleines Ballett (Little Ballet) 4. Hans Velebil: Pan. Valse Phantastique Hans Felix Husadel: Vier kleine Stücke (Four Little Pieces) 5. I. Preludium 6. II. Serenade 7. III. Phantastischer Marsch 8. IV. Scherzo 9. Richard Beckmann: Sehnsucht (Longing) 10. Ludwig Kletsch: Das lachende Saxophon (The Laughing Saxophone) 11. Gustav Bumcke: Konzert-Walzer op. 48 12. Willy Menden: Saxo-Flip 13. Albert Bräu: Saxophon-Akrobatik 14. Erwin Höhne: Im fliegenden Hamburger (In the Flying Hamburger) 15. Ercole Gatti: Lontano 16. Louis Mayeur: Grande Fantaisie Brillante





Faberge Quintet

Adolphe Blanc: String Quintets No. 3, 4 & 7

ES2046 4015372820466 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL In quintet music with double-bass two great works stand out: Dvořák’s famous String Quintet op. 77 and the even better-known Trout Quintet by Schubert. Most audiences would be hard put to name further valuable works for this arrangement of strings but Hamburg’s Fabergé Quintet have rediscovered three such and deservingly recorded them for the first time: the String Quintets Nos. 3, 4 and 7 by the 19th-century French composer Adolphe Blanc (1828-1885). Classical or romantic chamber music was little composed between 1820 and 1870 in France, the public being excited primarily by opera and instrumental programme music, but amongst the serious composers of French chamber music during this period – aside from George Onslow and Louise Farrenc – was the violin and viola player Adolphe Blanc. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Fromental Halévy (the teacher of Gounod and Bizet) and at times worked as the orchestra conductor of the respected Parisian “Théâtre Lyrique”. Blanc’s chamber music is extensive: as well as seven string quintets, he penned string trios and quartets, piano trios, quartets and quintets and a septet for wind, strings and piano. Formally Blanc generally oriented his compositions to the established if by his time already somewhat outdated patterns of the Viennese classics. How originally and inventively he was able to write within this framework is proven for the first time by the five members of the NDR Symphony Orchestra who comprise the Fabergé Quintet in the three remarkable string quintets they have recorded here. Personnel: Rodrigo Reichel, Frauke Kuhlmann, Bettina Lenz (violin), Gerhard Sibbing (viola), Sven Forsberg (cello), Peter Schmidt (double bass) Tracks: String Quintet No. 3 in D major 1. Allegro moderato 2. Moderato quasi andante 3. Allegro String Quintet No. 4 in E flat major 4. Allegro risoluto 5. Andante quasi Adagio 6. Allegro risoluto 7. Finale: Allegro String Quintet No. 7 in E flat major 8. Allegro 9. Andante 10. Scherzo Tarantelle: Allegro vivace 11. Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro moderato





David Geringas & Ian Fountain

Pohadka - Dvorak, Janacek, Mahler & Suk

ES2045 4015372820459 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL Eminent cellist David Geringas and Ian Fountain, an exceptional pianist and sensitive chamber music partner, have been playing together as a duo for many years and together developed this programme telling sonorous fairy tales: Pohádkas, as they are called in Czech - stories from other places and times. Dvořák, Janáček and Suk come from Bohemia and Moravia, and even Mahler, though considered an Austrian composer, was born in Czech Kalischt and grew up in Iglau. Personnel: David Geringas (cello), Ian Fountain (piano) Tracks: Josef Suk: Balada a serenada op. 3 1. Balada 2. Serenada Antonin Dvorak: 3. Klid | Waldesruhe op. 68 No. 5 4. Rondo op. 94 5. Melodia aus Zigeunermelodien op. 55 (bearb. von Lev Limsky) Leos Janacek: Pohadka | Märchen JW VII/5 6. I. Con moto. Un poco piu mosso 7. II. Con moto. Adagio 8. III. Allegro 9. Leos Janacek: Presto JW VII/6 Gustav Mahler: 10. Fünf Rückert-Lieder: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (arr. by David Geringas) 11. Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen: Ging heut' morgen übers Feld (arr. by David Geringas) Kindertotenlieder (arr. by Viktor Derevianko) 12. Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n! 13. Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen 14. Wenn dein Mütterlein 15. Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen! 16. In diesem Wetter!





Deborah Voigt, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra & Jeffrey Tate

Divine - Wagner: Scenes from Gotterdammerung; Stravinsky: Apolon Musagete

ES2044 4015372820442 CD+DVD ES-DUR £10.99 CLASSICAL This concert is something special due to the presence of the superstar American soprano Deborah Voigt and the magnetic direction of English conductor Jeffrey Tate. "What he brings out in the orchestra scenes from “Twilight of the gods” is indeed “divine”," said one German critic. Indeed, 'Divine' is the title of this CD/DVD release in which scenes from Gotterdamerung are preceded by Stravinsky’s ballet Apollon Musagète. The concerts of the Hamburger Symphoniker are always remarkable - director Daniel Kühnel and the renowned orchestra director Jeffrey Tate have made excellent - and enviable - names for themselves since the start of their cooperation in 2009 with their distinguished programming for the orchestra. And they follow unusual paths: In order to record this live concert in the Hamburg Laeiszhalle (in 2012) for the DVD, the Hamburger Symphoniker was the first German classical music organisation to partially finance it via crowdfunding, the new form of donation collection online. The DVD contains 10 minutes of bonus material - ‘Behind the Scenes’ interviews with Deborah Voigt, Jeffrey Tate and others. Personnel: Deborah Voigt (soprano), Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate (conductor) Tracks: Igor Stravinsky: Apollon Musagète - Ballet in Two Tableaux and Ten Scenes 1. Prolog: Die Geburt des Apollon 2. Variation des Apollon 3. Pas d'Action (Apollon und die drei Musen) 4. Variation der Calliope 5. Variation der Polyhymnia 6. Variation der Terpsichore 7. Zweite Variation des Apollon 8. Pas de Deux (Apollon und Terpsichore) 9. Coda (Apollon und die Musen) 10. Apotheose Richard Wagner: Scenes from Götterdämmerung 11. Vorspiel: Orchesterzwischenspiel & Lass ich, Liebste, dich hier 12. Vorspiel: Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt 13. Act III Scene 2: Trauermarsch 14. Act III Scene 3: Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort 15. Act III Scene 3: Mein Erbe nun nehm ich zu eigen 16. Act III Scene 3: Grane, mein Ross! Sei mir gegrüßt!





Amaryllis Quartett, Ensemble Obligat & Imme-Jeanne Klett

Japanese Landscapes - Works by Wolfgang-Andreas Schultz

ES2042 4015372820428 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL Wolfgang-Andreas Schultz’s interest in the cultures of the Far East and particuarly in traditional Japanese culture began towards the end of his schooldays in the early 1960s. This CD present’s three of the Hamburg composer’s works inspired by Zen Buddhism, all created in relatively close succession: the String Quartet No 3 ‘Landscape of Listeners – Four People’ of 2004/05, the quartet ‘Images at the Bottom of the Lake’ (2009/10) based on the idea of a Japanese flautist playing at a lakeside or in a boat, and ‘Japanese Foggy landscape’ for flute, ths shapes of which remain half-hidden through quartet tones, swaying rhythms and a sound that includes, as with Japanese flutes, noise elements. Personnel: Gustav Frielinghaus, Lena Wirth (violin), Lena Eckels (viola), Yves Sandoz (cello), Imme-Jeanne Klett (flute), Anette Behr-König (violin), Boris Faust (viola), Clemens Malich (cello) Tracks: Landschaft der Horchenden - String Quartet No. 3 (2004/2005) 1. Landschaft mit Rätselbild 2. Der See der Trauernden (Portraits der vier Menschen) 3. Der Garten der Liebenden 4. Das Tal der Dämonen 5. Der Wald der Verwandlungen 6. Der Berg des Schauens 7. Bilder auf dem Grund des Sees for flute and string trio (2009/2010) 8. Japanische Nebellandschaft for solo flute (2003)





Maria Lettberg

Opus Posthum - Alexander & Julian Scriabin: Early Piano Works

ES2040 4015372820404 CD ES-DUR £8.49 CLASSICAL “Several years ago I presented a recording of all piano works with opus numbers by Alexander Scriabin. I rehearsed, played in concerts and then recorded eight CDs, 207 works, and eight hours of music”, notes pianist Maria Lettberg. “Scriabin’s music becomes accessible via a roundabout route but then it gets under your skin and intoxicates you like a drug, makes you euphoric, addicted and...happy.” With the present recording of the early works without opus numbers, she happily completes her mammoth survey of Scriabin.

Scriabin started to compose at a very young age. In the years 1885 to 1889 he made a catalogue of his works in a sketch book, in which around 50 pieces are listed. Some of these pieces were later revised and released by Scriabin, some only published after his death and many are missing. Maria Lettberg has recorded the extant pieces at ES-Dur in cooperation with Deutschlandradio Kultur. In addition to fugues, waltzes and early first versions of sonatas, there are three first recordings of works that were only edited in 1997: Two scherzos and the piano piece in B minor. The disc ends with four preludes which are sombre and mystical. It is uncertain whether these pieces come from Alexander Scriabin or his son Julian, who also composed early in his life but tragically drowned in the Dnieper aged only 11. Personnel: Maria Lettberg (piano) Tracks: Alexander Scriabin: 1. Waltz in D flat major (1886) 2. Waltz in G sharp minor (1886) 3. Mazurka in B Minor (1889) 4. Mazurka in F major (1889) 5. Mazurka in B Minor (1886) (Appendix) 6. Nocturne in flat major (1884-1885) 7. Sonata-Fantaisie in sharp minor (1886) 8. Feuillet d'album de Monighetti (1889) 9. Scherzo in E flat major (1886) 10. Scherzo in A flat major (1886) 11. Piano Piece 1887 B-flat minor 12. Variations on a Theme of M-ll Egoroff F Minor (1887) Sonata in E flat minor (1887-1889) 13. I. 14. II. 15. III. Presto 16. Fuge (of 4) F minor (1888) 17. Fuge (of 5) E Minor (1892) 18. Etude in D-sharp minor, Op 8 No 12 (Alternate Version 1894-95) 19. Canon in D minor (1883) 20. Feuille d'album in F sharp major (1900) Julian Scriabin (1908-1919): 21. Prelude op. 2 (1918) Two Preludes Op. 3 (1918) 22. I. 23. II. 24. Prelude (1919)





David Geringas

Geringas plays Bach Plus - Bach, Gubaidulina, Krenek, Vasks etc.

ES2036 4015372820367 CD2 ES-DUR £12.99 CLASSICAL The distinguished Lithuanian-born cellist and conductor David Geringas performs an unusually broad repertoire, from early baroque to contemporary music - a testimony to his flexibility and curiosity. The Rostropovich student and winner of the First Prize and Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition (1970) can now look back on a decade-spanning career, and with it on decades of special engagement with Bach’s Six Suites for solo cello. Geringas has throughout his life been dedicated to the development, performance and discovery of new music. From this came the idea to combine Bach’s Cello Suites with short works by contemporary composers as “set pieces, links, separators or intermediaries”. With most of these brief contemporary pieces there is only a partial direct relationship through some of the composers’ use of fragments of Bach; more often the links are via atmosphere, internalisation, key or character. As well as David Geringas’ choice of more commonly-played works by Pablo Casals (his celebrated Song of the Birds), Sofia Gubaidulina, Ernst Krenek, Victor Suslin and Peteris Vasks, there are also new and, in part, previously unrecorded pieces by John Corigliano and Geringas himself. As an introduction to the Fifth Bach Suite - and specially composed for this 2-CD set - is the interlude by Anatolijus Šenderovas, who has been a close friend of the cellist since childhood. Personnel: David Geringas (cello) Disc 1: 1. John Corigliano: Fragment aus “Fancy on a Bach Air” J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 1 G-Dur BWV 1007 2-7. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Menuet 1-2 / Gigue 8. Anatolius Senderovas: Interludium J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 5 c-Moll BWV 1011 9-14. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Gavotte 1-2 / Gigue 15. Viktor Suslin: Schatz-Insel J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 6 D-Dur BWV 1012 16-21. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Gavotte 1-2 / Gigue 22. Pablo Casals: El Cant dels Ocells - Song of the birds (Version für Violoncello solo, arr. David Geringas) Disc 2: 1. Sofia Gubaidulina: Aus Präludien Nos. 1-10: No.3: Con sordino - senza sordino J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 2 d-Moll BWV 1008 2-7. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Menuet 1-2 / Gigue 8. David Geringas: Sandigloria J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 3 C-Dur BWV 1009 9-14. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Bourée 1-2 / Gigue 15. Ernst Krenek: Nachdenklich op. 184a (1963) J.S.Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo Nr. 4 Es-Dur BWV 1010 16-21. Prélude / Allemande / Courante / Sarabande / Bourée 1-2 / Gigue 22. Peteris Vasks: Fragment aus Gramata cellam





Janina Baechle & Markus Hadulla

Gustav Mahler: Urlicht

MAR18092 063757180920 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL The songs (lieder) presented in this recording are among Gustav Mahler’s most representative. Performed by mezzosoprano Janina Baechle and accompanied by pianist Markus Hadullawith, this truly magical CD should find instant favour with Mahler enthusiasts and lovers of lieder generally. Except for the musical settings of poems by Friedrich Rückert, the lieders are all based on Mahler’s own poems or folk poems out of “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (“The Boy's Magic Horn: Old German Songs”), a particular favourite of Mahler’s and great source of inspiration to him. Best known for her performances with the Vienna State Opera, Janina Baechle is an immensely talented artist on the verge of a world carreer whose voice has been described by German publication Der Western as having “a wonderful timbre, shimmering like glowing velvet with radiant high notes”. Personnel: Janina Baechle (mezzo-soprano), Markus Hadulla (piano) Tracks: 1. Urlicht 2. Das Himmlische Leben 3. Das Irdische Leben 4. WO Die Schönen Trompeten Blasen 5. Revelge 6. Wenn Mein Schatz Hochzeit Macht 7. Ging Heut Morgen Übers Feld 8. Ich Hab' Ein Glühend Messer 9. Die Zwei Blauen Augen Von Meinem Schatz 10. Ich Atmet' Einen Linden Duft 11. Liebst DU Um Schönheit 12. Blicke Mir Nicht In Die Lieder 13. Um Mitternacht 14. Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen





NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Kristjan Jarvi

Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen; Daniel Schnyder: Krisis / Psalm

MAR18082 063757180821 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL From the destruction of Munich in WWII to the terror attack of 9/11, the themes of war and reconciliation are at the core of this CD, which centres Richard Strauss’ masterpiece Metamorphosen between two compositions by contemporary composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder. The programme reflects the conflicts raging around us today and mankind’s optimism for a better future. Performed by the NDR Radio Philharmonie conducted by Kristjan Järvi and featuring Finnish soprano Susanna Levonen, this is an imaginative and impressive release that deserves wide attention. Kristjan Järvi is an Estonian-American and the brother of internationally know conductor Paavo Järvi. Personnel: Susanna Leoven (soprano), NDR Radio Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi (conductor) Tracks: Daniel Schnyder: Krisis 1. The Age of Darkness and Sorrow 2. The Day of Rage And Ire 3. Prayer And Transformation 4. Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen 5. Daniel Schnyder: Psalm for Orchestra and Soprano





Janina Baechle & Charles Spencer

Was Liebe Sei - Liszt: The Complete Songs Volume 2

MAR18072 063757180722 Hybrid SACD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL This second release in an edition dedicated to the lieder of Franz Liszt features mezzosoprano Janina Baechle and Charles Spencer. The pianist of choice for the whole series, Charles Spencer has the distinction of having been the last accompanist to the great mezzosoprano, Christa Ludwig. Although Liszt is mostly considered an important virtuoso pianist and composer of symphonic epics, his lieder offers the essence of his entire oeuvre. A master of melody, many of his lieder are captivating for the beauty of their vocal parts, but it’s is the expressive quality of his music that brings them to life so delightfully. Best known for her performances with the Vienna State Opera, Janina Baechle is an immensely talented artist with a rapidly rising profile around the world. Her voice has been described by German publication Der Western as having “a wonderful timbre, shimmering like glowing velvet with radiant high notes”. Personnel: Janina Baechle (mezzo-soprano), Charles Spencer (piano) Tracks: 1. Was Liebe Sei? (1) 2. Mignons Lied 3. Freudvoll Und Leidvoll 4. ES War Ein König In Thule 5. Der DU Von Dem Himmel Bist 6. Über Allen Gipfeln Ist Ruh 7. Die Loreley 8. Was Liebe Sei? (2) 9. Il M'aimait Tant 10. La Tombe Et La Rose 11. Oh Pourquoi Donc 12. Was Liebe Sei? 13. Die Fischerstochter 14. Verlassen 15. Einst Wollt' Ich Einen Kranz 16. Gebet 17. In Liebeslust 18. Ich Scheide 19. Lasst Mich Ruhen 20. Des Tages Laute Stimmen Schweigen





Adrian Erod & Charles Spencer

Kling Leise, Mein Lied - Liszt: The Complete Songs Volume 1

MAR18062 063757180623 Hybrid SACD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL This first release in an edition dedicated to the lieder of Franz Liszt, features Hungarian baritone Adrian Eröd, accompanied by Charles Spencer. The pianist of choice for the whole series, Charles Spencer has the distinction of having been the last accompanist to the great mezzo-soprano, Christa Ludwig. Although Liszt is mostly considered an important virtuoso pianist and composer of symphonic epics, his lieder offers the essence of his entire oeuvre. A master of melody, many of his lieder are captivating for the beauty of their vocal parts, but it’s is the expressive quality of his music that brings them to life so delightfully. Adrian Eröd first success on the opera stage was in 1996 as “Billy Budd” at the Vienna New Opera in the first performance of Britten’s opera in Austria. Since then he has performed lead rolls in countless operas and sang with the Vienna Philharmonic under Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Helmuth Rilling, Riccardo Muti and Zubin Mehta, as well as the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle. He has sung the role of Faninal in Strauss’ Rosenkavalier and has released a recording of Schuberts’ Die Winterreise on the Gramola record label. Personnel: Adrian Erod (baritone), Charles Spencer (piano) Tracks: 1. Kling Leise, Mein Lied 2. S'il Est UN Charmant Gazon 3. Enfant, SI J'étais Roi 4. Comment, Disaient-Ils 5. Anfangs Wollt Ich Fast Verzagen 6. Morgens Steh' Ich Auf Und Frage 7. IM Rhein, IM Schönen Strome 8. Ein Fichtenbaum Steht Einsam 9. Benedetto Sia Il Giorno 10. Pace Non Trovo 11. I' Vidi In Terra Angelici Costumi 12. Nonnenwerth 13. Isten Veled 14. Le Juif Errant 15. Gestorben War Ich Vor Liebeswonne 16. Got Not, Happy Day 17. Hohe Liebe 18. Der Fischerknabe 19. Der Hirt 20. Der Alpenjäger 21. Angiolin Dal Biondo Crin





Pacific Trio

American Composers - Gershwin, Bernstein, Copland & Muczynski

MAR18052 063757180524 Hybrid SACD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL On this disc the renowned Pacific Trio perform works by composers who in the opinion of the late Leonard Bernstein, represent the true essence of American classical music forms; Gershwin, Copeland, Muczynski, and of course, himself. Featured works include Gershwin’s suite from Porgy and Bess, Copeland’s Study on a Jewish Theme, Bernstein’s Piano Trio, and Muczynski’s First Piano Trio, Op.24. Founded in 1979 in Los Angeles, the Pacific Trio has played more than 1,000 concerts to audiences in the USA, Canada and Europe. Beside its concert tours it also works as trio-in-residence at Idyllwild Arts Summer Program in Southern California. In 1986 the trio gave its New York debut at Lincoln Center and three years later recorded its first CD with trio works by Brahms and Shostakovich. It is also admired for its interpretations of music by Beethoven, Dvorak, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, Smetana and others. “Chamber music of the highest order...The musicians revealed themselves as each having prominent qualities as soloist while always understanding how to offer themselves, breathing as one breath, in service to the larger picture. The Pacific Trio earns its right to appear on the great stages of the world.” - Bruchsaler Rundschau, Germany Personnel: Edith Orloff (piano), Roger Wilkie (violin), John Waltz (cello) Tracks: George Gershwin: Suite from Porgy and Bess 1. Ouverture 2. Summertime 3. My Man's Gone Now 4. It Ain't Necessarily So 5. Bess, You Is My Woman 6. There's A Boat Dat's Leaving Soon For New York 7. Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way Leonard Bernstein: Piano Trio (1937) 8. I. Adagio Non Troppo - Piu Mosso - Allegro Vivace - Meno Allegro - Largamente 9. II. Tempo Di Marcia 10. III. Largo - Allegro Vivo E Molto Ritmico 11. Aaron Copland: Vitebsk - Study on a Jewish Theme (1929) Robert Muczynski: First Piano Trio, Op. 24 (1966) 12. Allegro Con Moto 13. Allegro Giocoso 14. Andante 15. Finale: Allegro Con Spirito 16. George Gershwin: Second Prelude




CLASSICAL/JAZZ NEW RELEASE - 13/1/2014

Arte Quartett

Different Worlds - Rabih Abou-Khalil, Terry Riley, John Zorn etc.

MAR18042 063757180425 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL/JAZZ ‘Different Worlds’ by the saxophone ensemble Arte Quartett shows its unique artistry in a stunning journey through various musical realms and styles, performing music composed by Rabih Abou-Khalil, Terry Riley and John Zorn amongst others, alongside traditional Swiss folk music. Starting from their homeland Switzerland, they first explore their Alpine roots by transforming folk song forms and alpenhorn impressions into what could be called a spiritually inspired mountain fantasy in four movements. Yet from the fifth track, the quartet moves on into a very different musical field with compositions by Rabih Abou-Khalil and John Zorn, where the free imagination of today’s jazz composers meets Middle-Eastern scales and expressiveness. With the last track, “Indian Trail”, homage is made to Indian raga music in cooperation with minimalist pioneer Terry Riley, taking the quartet into yet another musical sphere, rocked by percussion, voice and effects. Personnel: Beat Hofstetter (soprano saxophone), Sascha Armbruster (alto saxophone, trumpet sax), Andrea Formenti (tenor saxophone), Beat Kappeler (baritone saxophone) Tracks: 1. Sascha Armbruster: Chintro 2. Hans-Jürg Sommer: Moos-Ruef 3. Trad./Beat Hofstetter: L'hioba 4. Trad./Beat Kappeler: Schönster Abendstern 5. Rabih Abou-Khalil: Dreams Of A Dying City 6. John Zorn: Tiferet 7. John Zorn: Nevalah 8. John Zorn: Mahshav 9. John Zorn: Mikreh 10. Rabih Abou-Khalil: Arabian Waltz 11. Beat Kappeler/Terry Riley: Indian Trail





Janina Baechle & Charles Spencer

Chansons Grises - Reynaldo Hahn, Alexander Zemlinsky, Lili Boulanger etc.

MAR18032 063757180326 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL ‘Chansons Grises’ was Jinina Baechle debut album as a recitalist. Sighted as one of the great mezzo-sopranos of our time, this superb disc of 19th and 20th century songs by German and French composers more than qualifies such accreditation. An important moment in Janina Baechle’s life was when she met Charles Spencer who accompanies her on this disc. He was Christa Ludwig’s accompanist for twelve years until her good-bye tour in 1993 and he passed most of her song parts to Janina. Among the other singers he has worked with are June Anderson, Gundula Janowitz, Marjana Lipovsek, Jessye Norman and Thomas Quasthoff. Personnel: Janina Baechle (mezzo-soprano), Charles Spencer (piano) Tracks: Reynaldo Hahn: 1. Chanson D'automne 2. Tous Deux 3. L'allée Est Sans Fin 4. En Sourdine 5. L'heure Exquise 6. Paysage Triste 7. La Bonne Chanson Alexander Zemlinsky: 8. Die Drei Schwestern 9. Die Mädchen Mit Den Verbundenen Augen 10. Lied Der Jungfrau 11. Als Ihr Geliebter Schied 12. Und Kehrt ER Einst Heim 13. Sie Kam Zum Schloss Gegangen Lili Boulanger: 14. Dans L'immense Tristesse 15. Attente 16. Reflets 17. Le Retour Darius Milhaud: 18. Chant De Nourrice 19. Chant De Sion 20. Chant De Laboureur 21. Chant De La Pitié 22. Chant De Résignation 23. Chant D'amour 24. Chant De Forgeron 25. Lamentation 26. Alma Mahler: Lobgesang





Reinhold Friedrich, Manhattan Brass, NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Kristjan Jarvi

Daniel Schnyder: Brass

MAR18022 063757180227 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL Composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder’s dedication to wind instruments is fully documented on this 2004 recording titled, ‘Brass’. It unites three of his works with the great musician Reinhold Friedrich, one of the leading classical trumpeters of our time. Also on hand are members of New York’s famous brass quintet, Manhattan Brass featuring jazz trumpeter Lew Soloff among its ranks. Orchestral parts are provided by the NDR Radio Philharmonic and the Absolute Ensemble, both conducted by Kristjan Järvi, younger brother of Paavo Jävia and principle conductor of the Tonkünstler Orchestra, Vienna Well aware of the challenges of Schnyder's Trumpet Concerto, which reflects the wide possibilities of the modern trumpet, Friedrich is able to transform his instrument into a global voice, combining classical finesse with the delicate phrasing of jazz. Personnel: NDR Radio Philharmonic, Absolute Ensemble, Kristjan Jarvi (conductor), Manhattan Brass, Daniel Schnyder (saxophone soloist on "Little Songbook"), Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet & flugelhorn soloist on "Trumpet Concerto"), David Taylor (bass trombone soloist on "Subzero") Tracks: 1. Trumpet Concerto Part I 2. Trumpet Concerto Part II 3. Trumpet Concerto Part III 4. Little Songbook: Dancer 5. Little Songbook: Love Affair 6. Little Songbook: Voyager 7. Little Songbook: Blue And Lonely 8. Little Songbook: Bananas 9. Little Songbook: Catch Me 10. Subzero Part I: Subzero 11. Subzero Part II: Sama'i Thaqil 12. Subzero Part III: Zoom Out





Sabine Meyer, Trio Di Clarone, Michael Riessler & Pierre Charial

Paris Mecanique - Francaix, Poulenc, Satie etc.

MAR18012 063757180128 CD MARSYAS £8.49 CLASSICAL ‘Paris Mécaniq’ presents some of the most charming and unique small works from early 20th century in new arrangements done especially for Sabine Meyer, her clarinet playing colleagues and Pierre Charial’s barrel organ. Most of the compositions date from “les années folles”, the “crazy years” of Paris, when classical composers discovered the music-hall, when exotism and early jazz were en vogue and "ballets russes" and "groupe des six" urged excitement. Some interesting new pieces, written mainly by Michael Riessler and obviously inspired by the moods and motifs of historical crazy Paris, have been added to the program. Listening to "Paris Mécanique" is a wonderful way of enjoying Trio di Clarone's artistic stature in an unusual and amazing context that is both classically based and totally entertaining. Personnel: Sabine Meyer, Wolfgang Meyer, Reiner Wehle, Michael Riessler (clarinet), Pierre Charial (barrel organ) Tracks: 1. Riessler-Charial-Dole: Introduction Méc./le Flaneur Des Deux Rives 2. Gabriel Pierné: Marche De Fauves 3. Jean Francaix: Pambiche 4. Jean Francaix: Danses Exotiques: Baiao 5. Jean Francaix: Danses Exotiques: Nube Gris 6. Jean Francaix: Danses Exotiques: Samba Lente 7. Jean Francaix: Danses Exotiques: Mambo 8. Jean Francaix: Danses Exotiques: Merengue 9. Francis Poulenc: Sonate Pour Deux Clarinettes: Presto 10. Francis Poulenc: Sonate Pour Deux Clarinettes: Andante 11. Francis Poulenc: Sonate Pour Deux Clarinettes: Vif 12. Michael Riessler: I Venti 13. Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche: Vif 14. Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche: Modéré 15. Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche: Brazileira 16. Erik Satie: Jack In The Box I 17. Leroy Anderson: The Typewriter 18. Leroy Anderson: The Syncopated Clock 19. Erik Satie: Jack In The Box II 20. Erik Satie: Java Martienne 21. Leroy Anderson: Fiddle Faddle 22. Daniel Goyone: Le Vilain Petit Canard 23. Michael Riessler: Conchita 24. Michael Riessler: Mots Croisés 25. Leroy Anderson: Jazz Pizzicato 26. Scott Joplin: Solace 27. Ennio Morricone: A L'aube DU Cinquième Jour

Proper note new releases 6 13 jan 2014

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