Awards
Gramophone Awards 2014 Finalist - Instrumental
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2014 Newcomer Award
Radio 3 Building a Library February 2018 Also Recommended

Igor Levit has recently given highly acclaimed debuts in major musical centres across Europe and is being hailed by international critics as one of the most outstanding pianists of our time. Levit is a BBC Young Generation Artist and currently features in the “ECHO Rising Star” program of the European Concert House Organization. Not just another young aspiring pianist releasing his debut album, he is an outstanding artist who meets the exceptionally high technical and interpretative demands of this extraordinary repertoire. Despite his young age, Levit's interpretations display a rare depth and maturity, making for extremely well-balanced renderings on an artistic level of the great piano masters of our age. The Russian-German pianist performs one of the largest chunks of piano repertoire - Beethoven much-revered five late sonatas opp. 101, 106 and 109-111. Here, Beethoven's late piano sonatas can be discovered in a most natural & tonally beautiful way. Written between 1816 - 1822 when the composer was completely deaf, Beethoven's last sonatas are highly subjective artistic and personal confessions. The sonatas constitute one of the cornerstones of Beethoven's mysterious late style next to the five last quartets.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

Berliner Philharmoniker, Lorin Maazel

Composers

Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)

Works

Rachmaninov: Aleko
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 - arrangement for orchestra

Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink

Awards
Building a Library December 2014 First Choice

Composers

Bruckner, Anton (1824-96)

Works

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major

Elin Rombo (soprano), Stella Doufexis (mezzo), Tilman Lichdi (tenor), Tareq Nazmi (bass)
Munchener Kammerorchester, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Peter Dijkstra

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Mass in C minor, K427 'Great'

2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme 'There was hardly a household in the land', writes Lyn Macdonald, 'there was no trade, occupation, profession or community, which was not represented in the thousands of innocent enthusiasts who made up the ranks of Kitchener's Army before the Battle of the Somme...' The year 1916 was one of the great turning-points in British history: as the youthful hopes of a generation were crushed in a desperate struggle to survive, and traditional attitudes to authority were destroyed for ever. On paper, few battles have ever been so meticulously planned. Yet while there were good political reasons to launch a joint offensive with a French Army demoralized by huge casualties at Verdun, the raw troops on the ground knew nothing of that. A hundred and fifty thousand were killed in the punishing shellfire, the endless ordeal of attack and counter-attack; twice that number were left maimed or wounded. Here, almost for the first time, Lyn Macdonald lets the men who were there give their own testimony. Their stories are vivid, harrowing, sometimes terrifying - yet shot through with humour, immense courage and an astonishing spirit of resilience. 'What the reader will longest remember are the words - heartbroken, blunt, angry - of the men who lived through the bloodbath...a worthy addition to the literature of the Great War...'Daily Mail Over the past twenty years Lyn Macdonald has established a popular reputation as an author and historian of the First World War. Her books are based on the accounts of eyewitnesses and survivors, told in their own words, and cast a unique light on the First World War.

Hymns and Choral Concertos

Ensemble Cherubim, Marika Kuzma

Ukrainian-born Dmitry Bortniansky studied composition in Italy and later became the first native Kapellmeister to the Russian Czars. His choir was renowned throughout Europe. As a composer for the Orthodox Church, which forbids the use of musical instruments, Bortniansky developed a symphonic approach to choral writing that influenced all later Slavic composers and gives his Choral Concertos their absolute distinctiveness. The Cherubic Hymn No. 7 is among the best-known of all Slavic choral works. Concerto No. 32 was beloved of many of his Slavic successors, including Tchaikovsky. This recording of the concertos is the first to restore authentic early nineteenth-century Church Slavonic pronunciation and reintroduce fine details found in archival sources.

This disc includes two of the most popular of all Bortniansky's Choral Concertos, Nos. 6 and 32. The composer's training in Italy equipped him to write these strong works, which remain admired examples of this unusual genre.

Composers

Bortnyansky, Dmitri Stepanovich (1751-1825)

Works

Bortnyansky: Kol slaven
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 1 - Vospoyte Hospodevi pesn' novu
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 15 - Priidite, vospoim lyudiye
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 18 - Blaho yest' ispovyedatisya Hospodevi
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 21 - Zhiviy v pomoshchi Vyshnyaho
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 27 - Hslasom moim ko Hospodu vozvakh
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 32 - Skazhi mi, Hospodi, konchinu moyu
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 6 - Slava vo vyshnikh Bohu
Bortnyansky: Sacred Concerto No. 9 - Sei den', yeho zhe sotvori Hospod'
Bortnyansky: The Cherubic Hymn (No. 7)

An orchestra has lots of different instruments producing lots of different sounds.

Whether they're playing on their own or all at the same time, it can be a tremendously exciting experience to listen to them. From Wagner's grand 'Ride of the Valkyries' to Tchaikovsky's gentle 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', you can hear on this album how the character of an orchestra changes all the time!

Artists

Maria Larionoff (violin), Josef Bogacz (violin)

Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Lyon National Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lille, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Košice, James Judd, Barry Wordsworth, Marin Alsop, Gerard Schwarz, Nicholas Ward, Anthony Bramall, Jun Märkl, Kenneth Jean, Christopher Lyndon-Gee, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Michael Halász, Johannes Wildner, Uwe Mund

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Bernstein, Leonard (1918-90)
Bizet, Georges (1838-75)
Brahms, Johannes (1833-97)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Haydn, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich (1839-81)
Offenbach, Jacques (1819-80)
Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeievitch (1891-1953)
Rimsky Korsakov, Nikolay Andreyevich (1844-1908)
Shostakovich, Dmitri (1906-75)
Smetana, Bedrich (1824-84)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)
Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872-1958)
Wagner, Richard (1813-83)

Works

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica'
Bernstein: Candide
Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1
Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
Debussy: Children's Corner
Haydn: Symphony No. 6 in D major 'Le Matin'
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492
Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina
Offenbach: Orphée aux Enfers
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60
Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
Shostakovich: Festive Overture, Op. 96
Smetana: The Bartered Bride
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves
Wagner: Die Walküre

Acclaimed Polish-born tenor Piotr Beczala pays tribute to the Austrian singer Richard Tauber (1891-1948), one of the most widely celebrated musical celebrities of his time. Recognized by many as one of the greatest tenors in the world, Piotr is regularly praised for his artistry, immaculate musicianship, keen interpretive intelligence, and flawless, elegant delivery. A perfectly cultivated and stylish singer, he is currently at the pinnacle of his career

A prominent exponent of popular song and operetta, Tauber's career is closely associated with operetta's golden age in pre-war Europe

In this recording Beczala shares his deeply honed affinity for this timeless, eternally popular music - a delightful recital of operetta favourites by Lehár, Kálmán, Robert Stolz, Johann Strauss II, among others - and continues the tradition set forth by legendary predecessors like Fritz Wunderlich and Nicolai Gedda

Features special guest appearances from Anna Netrebko (“Lippen schweigen”), The Berlin Comedian Harmonists, Avi Avital, Austrian soprano Daniela Fally and a unique “duet” with Richard Tauber himself, using special 21st century technology and a recorded master from 1934.

Composers

Bohm, Carl (1844-1920)
Erwin, Ralph (1896-1943)
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup (1843-1907)
Kalman, Emmerich (1882-1953)
Lehár, Franz (1870-1948)
Romberg, Sigmund (1887-1951)
Rotter, Fritz (1900-84)
Siecynski, Rudolf (1879-1952)
Stolz, Robert (1880-1975)
Tauber, Richard (1891-1948)

Works

Bohm, C: Still as the Night
Grieg: Ich liebe Dich, Op. 5 No. 3
Kalman: Komm, Zigány! [Countess Mariza]
Kalman: Wenn es Abendd … Grüß mir mein Wien (from Gräfin Mariza)
Lehár: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (from Das Land des Lächelns)
Lehár: Freunde, das Leben ist lebenswert (from Giuditta)
Lehár: Gern hab' ich die Frau'n geküßt (from Paganini)
Lehár: Lippen schweigen (from Die Lustige Witwe)
Romberg, S: Serenade (from The Student Prince)
Rotter: Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame
Siecynski: Wien, du Stadt meiner Traüm
Stolz, R: Das Lied ist aus (The Song is Over)
Stolz, R: Ich liebe dich!
Stolz, R: O mia bella Napoli
Stolz, R: Ob blond, ob braun, Ich liebe die Frau'n
Tauber: Der singende Traum
Tauber: Du bist die Welt für mich

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) started learning piano at the age of three and began composing two years later. What is less widely known is that he was also an accomplished violinist.

Pinchas Zukerman & Marc Neikrug recorded Mozart's sonatas for violin and piano in 1990. Now, for the first time, the cycle is available in a complete edition. As a bonus to this 6CD set, a duo sonata by Mozart's son, Franz Xaver, is included. (Franz Xaver was born on 26 July 1791, just five months before his father died).

Pinchas Zukerman (b. 1948) has remained a phenomenon in the world of music for over four decades. His musical genius, prodigious technique and unwavering artistic standards are a marvel to audiences and critics alike. Devoted to the next generation of musicians, he has continued to inspire younger artists with his talent and passion for the music.

Catalogue No: 88765424922
Label: Sony
Length: 7 hours 17 minutes
Discs: 6 CD Box Set

Pinchas Zukerman (violin) & Marc Neikrug (piano)

Composers

Mozart, Franz Xaver (1791-1844)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart, F X: Grande Sonate
Mozart: Six Variations in G minor on 'Hélas, j'ai perdu mon amant', K360
Mozart: Variations (12) in G major on 'La Bergère Célimène, K374a (K359)
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 17 in C major, K296
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 18 in G major, K301
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 20 in C major, K303
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 23 in D major, K306
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 24 in F major, K376
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 27 in G major, K379
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 28 in E flat major, K380
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 32 in B flat major, K454
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 33 in E flat major K481
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 36 in F major, K547 'For Beginners'
Mozart: Violin Sonatas

Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir Charles Mackerras
Recorded: 1980-03-26
Recording Venue: Sofiensaal, Vienna

Composers

Janáček, Leoš (1854-1928)

Works

Janáček: Sinfonietta
Janáček: Taras Bulba
Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen - Suite

The latest release by the Signum Quartett showcases music written during the 20th century.

Berg, Bartók and Schnittke all took different approaches in their quest to further the development of the string quartet and this makes for an interesting and varied programme.

Composers

Bartók, Béla (1881-1945)
Berg, Alban (1885-1935)
Schnittke, Alfred (1934-98)

Works

Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, Sz 85
Berg: String Quartet, Op. 3
Schnittke: String Quartet No. 3

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Carlo Maria Giulini

Composers

Schubert, Franz Peter (1797-1828)
Schumann, Robert (1810-56)

Works

Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D944 'The Great'
Schumann: Manfred Overture, Op. 115

New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli

Composers

Respighi, Ottorino (1879-1936)
Works

Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3, P. 172
Respighi: Fountains of Rome
Respighi: Pines of Rome
Respighi: The Birds

Camilla Tilling, Sarah Connolly, Timothy Robinson, Neal Davies, Barbara Bonney (soprano)
Gabrieli Consort & Players, The English Concert, Paul McCreesh, Trevor Pinnock

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate, K165
Mozart: Mass in C minor, K427 'Great'

Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 are poles apart in their musical style and make a highly interesting pairing for this new release. Symphony No. 1 is rooted in the symphonic tradition and has a particular tunefulness reminiscent of Tchaikovsky, whereas Symphony No. 4 is highly original and introverted, often being seen as modern and 'cubist' by listeners in the 1890s.

The Minnesota Orchestra and its music director Osmo Vänskä were highly praised for their previous release of Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 (BISSACD1986), being called 'a fine start to what may be the benchmark cycle for the 21st century' by Gramophone, and nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance.

Vänskä has really enhanced the quality of the Minnesota Orchestra since he took the position of musical director in 2003. He has since had his tenure extended many times and continues to carve an international reputation for the ensemble.

This release has advertising planned in Gramophone magazine as part of a 'new orchestral features on BIS'.

Awards
Gramophone Magazine August 2013 Editor's Choice
Grammy Awards 56th Awards (2013) Best Orchestral Performance

Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä

Composers

Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957)

Works

Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63