For her debut album on the yellow label Camille has chosen music full of youthful invention - uplifting and positive. She brings her own sensitive interpretation to the French Romantic works for cello and orchestra by Saint-Saëns and Offenbach, including the former's First Cello Concerto, a masterpiece of its genre, and a delightful excerpt from the latter's Harmonies des bois “Les Larmes de Jacqueline”. The album was recorded with the Orchestre National de Lille and Alexandre Bloch, and also includes guest appearances by tenor Rolando Villazón and violinist Nemanja Radulović

Camille Thomas (cello), feat. Nemanja Radulovic (violin), feat. Rolando Villazón (tenor)

Composers

Offenbach, Jacques (1819-80)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)

Works

Offenbach: Barcarolle (from Les Contes d'Hoffmann )
Offenbach: Harmonies des bois, Op. 76
Offenbach: Introduction, Prière et Boléro for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 22
Offenbach: Je suis Brésilien, j'ai de l'or (from La vie parisienne)
Offenbach: La Vie Parisienne (Paris Life)
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Offenbach: Les Larmes de Jacqueline (No. 3 from Harmonies des bois, Op. 76)
Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila
Saint-Saëns: Suite for Cello & Orchestra, Op. 16b

This enthralling recital by the young American pianist George Li, silver medallist at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, marks his recording debut and launches a new relationship with Warner Classics. Captured at a live performance in the Mariinsky Concert Hall in St Petersburg, it presents a dramatically conceived programme of works by Haydn, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Liszt: a descent into deep darkness; re-emergence into the light, and a concluding, boisterous celebration.

George Li (piano)

Awards
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2017
Opus Klassik Awards 2018 Winner - Solo Recording - piano (19th century)

Composers

Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)
Haydn, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
Liszt, Ferencz (1811-86)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)

Works

Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 'Marche funèbre'
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 47 in B minor, Hob.XVI:32
Liszt: Consolation, S. 172 No. 3 in D flat major
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody, S244 No. 2 in C sharp minor
Rachmaninov: Variations on a theme of Corelli, Op. 42

Three exceptional artists join forces for an operatic treat! Star tenor Rolando Villazón, who was just named artistic director of Salzburg Mozart week, Ildar Abdrazakov, one of the most sought-after young basses in the operatic world (Vanity Fair), who is debuting on Deutsche Grammophon with this album and the in-coming music director of the Metropolitan Opera Yannick Nézet-Séguin - a conductor full of vim and vigor - with Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal.

Following Rolando's and Yannick's latest successful collaboration in DG's Mozart opera cycle (Le Nozze di Figaro), this recording includes a wide range of beautiful French/Italian duets for tenor and bass presented with dedication and passion!

Rolando and Ildar go back to 2009 when they first performed together in a production of 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at the Met. They re-unite to sing a colorful variety of beautiful opera duets from nineteenth century drammi giocosi and opéras comiques, such as the beloved “Au fond du temple saint” from Les pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) or “Ah, quando fia… Se inclinassi a prender moglie” from L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini) as well as the duet “Je suis Escamillo” from Bizet's famous opera Carmen.

Besides the renowned repertoire the artists also recorded two tracks with special arrangements referring to their personal life: the legendary Granada, standing for Rolando's Latin heritage, Ochi Chernye as a tribute to Ildar's home country Russia.

Rolando Villazón (tenor), Ildar Abdrazakov (bass)
Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Composers

Bizet, Georges (1838-75)
Boito, Arrigo (1842-1918)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Gounod, Charles François (1818-93)
Hermann, Florian
Lara, Augustin (1897-1970)
Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

Works

Bizet: Au fond du temple saint (from Les Pêcheurs de Perles)
Bizet: Je suis Escamillo, torero de Grenade! (from Carmen)
Boito: Son lo Spirito che nega (from Mefistofele)
Boito: Strano figlio del caos (from Mefistofele)
Donizetti: Ardir! Ha forse il cielo ... Ecco il magico liquore ... Va, mortale fortunate (from L'Elisir d'amore)
Donizetti: La vostra ostinazione...Prender moglie? (from Don Pasquale)
Donizetti: Sogno soave e casto (from Don Pasquale)
Gounod: Mais ce Dieu, que peut-il pour moi? (from Faust)
Gounod: Me voici! (from Faust)
Hermann, Florian: Ochi chyornye (Dark Eyes)
Lara, Augustin: Granada
Verdi: Propizio ei giunge! (from Simon Boccanegra)
Verdi: Vieni a me, ti benedico (from Simon Boccanegra)

Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann displays her wonderfully light voice with an album of 'Cleopatra' arias from operas by Vivaldi and Handel alongside undiscovered gems by Graun, Legrenzi, Hasse, Scarlatti, Mattheson and Sartorio.

The legendary figure of Cleopatra is featured in more than 80 operas from the 17th and 18th centuries and is perfectly embodied by Regula's breathtaking, beautiful and expressive voice. Regula is joined on this album by one of Europe's finest Baroque ensembles, La Folia Barockorchester.

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice September 2017
Record Review 16th September 2017 Recording of the Week
Opus Klassik Awards 2018 Winner - Newcomer (singer)

Regula Mühlemann (soprano)
La Folia Barockorchester, Robin Peter Müller

Composers

Graun, Carl Heinrich (1704-59)
Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759)
Hasse, Johann Adolph (1699-1783)
Legrenzi, Giovanni (1626-90)
Mattheson, Johann (1681-1764)
Sartorio, Antonio (1630-80)
Scarlatti, Alessandro (1660-1725)
Vivaldi, Antonio (1678-1741)

Works

Graun, C H: Cleopatra & Cesare
Graun, C H: Tra le procelle assorto (from Cleopatra e Cesare)
Handel: Che sento?...Se pietà di me non senti (from Giulio Cesare)
Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Hasse, J A: Lascia, Antonio, deh lascia (from Antonio e cleopatra)
Hasse, J A: Marc' Antonio e Cleopatra
Hasse, J A: Morte, col fiero aspetto (from Antonio e cleopatra)
Hasse, J A: Quel candido armellino (from Antonio e cleopatra)
Legrenzi: Antioco il Grande
Legrenzi: Se tu sarai felice (from Antioco il Grande)
Mattheson: Die unglücksselige Cleopatra
Mattheson: Mein Leben ist hin (from Die unglückselige Cleopatra)
Mattheson: Ruhe sanft, geliebter Geist (from Die unglückselige Cleopatra)
Sartorio: Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Sartorio: Quando voglio (from Giulio Cesare in Egitto)
Scarlatti, A: Antonio, e qual destino (from Marc'Antonio e Cleopatra)
Scarlatti, A: Marc'Antonio e Cleopatra, H. 121
Scarlatti, A: Vò goder senza contrasto (from Marc'Antonio e Cleopatra)
Vivaldi: Il Tigrane (opera fragment)

Raphaela Gromes (cello), Julian Riem (piano)

Composers

Busoni, Ferruccio (1866-1924)
Capuis, Matilde Margherita Mary (1913-2017)
Casella, Alfredo (1883-1947)
Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario (1895-1968)
Martucci, Giuseppe (1856-1909)
Sinigaglia, Leone (1868-1944)

Works

Busoni: Serenata, Op. 34 (Kind.196)
Capuis: Animato con Passione
Casella: Notturno e tarantella, Op. 54
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Figaro Variations from Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville'
Martucci: Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 52
Sinigaglia: Pieces (2), Op. 16

Leif Ove Andsnes is one of the world's leading pianists, and winner of the BBC Music Magazine Award for Recording of the Year, 2015.

His new album is a personal selection of Jean Sibelius' unknown and remarkably beautiful piano gems.

Andsnes sees himself on a mission to present a neglected repertoire of the Finnish composer: “I'm really passionate about his piano music, which is so beautiful and haunting. How can there be a major composer out there with such accessible music that people don't know. The fact that many will be hearing it for the first time, that's a wonderful feeling.”

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice September 2017
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2017
Presto Recording of the Week 15th December 2017
Gramophone Magazine November 2017 Editor's Choice
The New York Times Recordings of the Year 2017

Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Composers

Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957)

Works

Sibelius: Barcarola, Op. 24, No. 10
Sibelius: Elegiaco, Op. 76 No. 10
Sibelius: Esquisses (5), Op. 114
Sibelius: Five Pieces, Op. 75 'The Trees'
Sibelius: Impromptu in B minor, Op. 5, No. 5
Sibelius: Impromptu, Op. 5, No. 6
Sibelius: Koivu (The Birch), Op. 75/4
Sibelius: Kylikki, Three Lyric Pieces, Op. 41
Sibelius: Romance in D flat major, Op. 24, No. 9
Sibelius: Rondino in G sharp minor, Op .68 No. 2
Sibelius: Six Bagatelles, Op. 97
Sibelius: Six Impromptus, Op. 5
Sibelius: Sonatina in F sharp minor, Op. 67 No. 1
Sibelius: Ten Piano Pieces, Op. 24
Sibelius: Ten Pieces, Op. 58 No. 4: Der Hirt
Sibelius: The Spruce Tree Op. 75 No. 5
Sibelius: Valse Triste, Op. 44 No. 1

Discs: 2 CDs

Awards
Presto Recording of the Week 25th August 2017
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2017

Evgeny Kissin releases Beethoven album to launch new exclusive collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon after 25 years.

Evgeny Kissin skyrocketed to international fame as a piano sensation in the 1980s.

He entranced international audiences with captivating interpretations of Romantic masterworks during his teens, and has since flourished as one of the world's most charismatic and visionary performers. Today he is a living legend, one of the most iconic names and magnetic personalities in all of music..

Kissin's discography so far contains landmark recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, critically acclaimed collaborations with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado among them.

Selected by the artist himself, this luxurious Beethoven double album represents Kissin's personal journey with the composer's solo work over the last decade and includes some of Beethoven's greatest and best-loved solo piano works such as the 'Moonlight' Sonata or the 'Appassionata' - most of them never released before.

This album is a first in a series of releases renewing the relationship between Kissin and Deutsche Grammophon.

Composers

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Works

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Beethoven: Variations (32) on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO 80

L'arte del mundo, Werner Ehrhardt

Composers

Ordonez, Karl von (1734-86)

Works

Ordonez: Symphony in B flat, Brown I:B2
Ordonez: Symphony in C major, Brown I:C13
Ordonez: Symphony in D major, Brown I:D 5
Ordonez: Symphony in F minor, Brown I:F12

Nils Mönkemeyer has been hailed as one of the leading violists of his generation. For this recording, Nils has selected four of his favourite works by Walton, Bruch and Pärt and is joined by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Markus Poschner. The Viola Concerto by Sir William Walton (1902-1983) showcases traditional English tone, enhanced by the sounds and rhythms of jazz. The German composer Max Bruch (1838-1920) is represented by two Romantic works, Kol nidrei, the original cello part of which acquires a unique timbre in Nils Mönkemeyer's arrangement for the viola, and the Romance for viola and orchestra. The fourth and final major work included here is Fratres by Arvo Pärt (*1935). Although published in 1977, it had to wait until 2008 to be heard in its version for viola, string orchestra and percussion.

Nils Mönkemeyer (viola)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Markus Poschner

Composers

Bruch, Max (1838-1920)
Pärt, Arvo (b.1935)
Walton, William Turner (1902-83)

Works

Bruch: Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Bruch: Romance for viola & orchestra/piano, Op. 85
Pärt: Fratres for Viola & Orchestra
Walton: Viola Concerto

Mezzo-soprano Lena Belkina's first album garnered high praise: “She sings Desdemona's 'Willow Song' from Rossini's Otello with lyrical intensity... Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto” from La Cenerentola is sharp-witted and brilliant”, opined Das Opernglas, while WAZ (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung) wrote: “The coloratura is splendidly placed whether she's mobilizing Tudor fury (in Anna Bolena), questioning her heart in the Barber of Seville or letting the soul of 'Tanti affetti' (La donna del lago) overflow with elegant beauty.”

For her second album, “Classic Vienna”, she has recorded the most famous representatives of Viennese Classicism, Mozart (1756-1791), Haydn (1732-1809) and Gluck (1714-1787), with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andrea Sanguinetti. Her Mozart selections include the aria “Parto, ma tu ben mio” from La clemenza di Tito, “Il padre adorato” from Idomeneo and the concert aria “Ch'io mi scordi di te?”. She sings Gluck's arias “Che puro ciel” from Orfeo ed Euridice and “Oh, del mio dolce ardor” from Paride ed Elena as well as Haydn's aria “Se non piange un' infelice” from L'isola disabitata and his Scena di Berenice. The programme is rounded off with the overtures from Mozart's Così fan tutte, Gluck's Armide and Haydn's Acide e Galatea.

Lena Belkina (mezzo)
ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrea Sanguineti

Composers

Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-87)
Haydn, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Gluck: Armide
Gluck: Armide Overture
Gluck: Che puro ciel (Orfeo ed Euridice)
Gluck: O del mio dolce ardor (from Paride ed Elena)
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice
Haydn: Acide e Galatea: Overture
Haydn: Berenice, che fai? (Scena di Berenice), Hob XXIVa:10
Haydn: L'isola disabitata
Haydn: Se non piange un infelice (from L'isola Disabitata)
Mozart: Ah, qual gelido orror...Il padre adorato (from Idomeneo)
Mozart: Ch'io mi scordi di te?... Non temer, amato bene, K505
Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588
Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588: Overture
Mozart: Idomeneo, K366
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito, K621
Mozart: Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio (from La Clemenza di Tito)

On her new album “Russian Light”, Olga Peretyatko presents favourite arias and songs from her homeland Russia - by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. Many of them are well known (Rachmaninov's Vocalise) but there are also unknown rare jewels on the album like the songs from Rachmaninov or the opera arias by Shostakovich. She teamed with the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in Russia, and excellent for this kind of repertoire with conductor Dimitry Liss, specialist for this repertoire.

The main focus of “Russian Light” falls on excerpts from operas that have left a deep imprint on Russia's national music. Among these are Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmila as well as Rimsky-Korsakov's The Golden Cockerel, The Snow Maiden and The Tsar's Bride. The latter piece represents a personal triumph for Ms Peretyatko, for she sang the role of Marfa under Daniel Barenboim to open the 2013 season at the Berlin State Opera. With her silvery timbre and solid mastery of coloratura she thrilled not only the audience but the critic of Der Tagespiegel: “Olga Peretyatko projects Marfa as a being so delicate and other-worldly that it strikes the knowledgeable listener to the core.”

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice June 2017
Opus Klassik Awards 2018 Winner - Solo Recording (Opera Arias)

Composers

Glinka, Mikhail Ivanovich (1804-57)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)
Rimsky Korsakov, Nikolay Andreyevich (1844-1908)
Shostakovich, Dmitri (1906-75)
Stravinsky, Igor Feodorovich (1882-1971)
Works

Glinka: Grustno mne, roditel' dorogoy! (from Ruslan and Lyudmila)
Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila
Rachmaninov: How fair this spot, Op. 21 No. 7
Rachmaninov: Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne, Op. 4 No. 4
Rachmaninov: Spring torrents, Op. 14 No.11
Rachmaninov: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Rimsky Korsakov: Eastern Song: Enslaved by the rose, the nightingale Op. 2 No. 2
Rimsky Korsakov: Hymn to the Sun
Rimsky Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or
Rimsky Korsakov: Lullaby of Volkhova (from Sadko)
Rimsky Korsakov: Marfa's Scene & Aria: In Novgorod from The Tsar's Bride
Rimsky Korsakov: Plenivshis rozoj, solovey, Op. 2 No. 2
Rimsky Korsakov: Sadko (opera)
Rimsky Korsakov: Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden)
Rimsky Korsakov: Snow Maiden's aria (from The Snow Maiden)
Rimsky Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride
Shostakovich: Chasy na ploshchadi zazhglis (from Cheryomushki)
Shostakovich: Moscow-Cheryomushki, Op. 105
Shostakovich: Ya v shkolu kogda-to khodila (from Cheryomushki)
Stravinsky: Nightingale's Song (from The Nightingale)

Avi Avital (Mandolin/Mandola), Omer Avital (Bass/Oud), Itamar Doari (Percussion), Yonathan Avishai (Piano/Keyboards), Uri Sharlin (Accordion)

“The music on the album is about this special bond between Omer and myself, between the history and cultural identity we share with each other. Here I might be said to hoist a flag and return to my roots. It's very intensive, extremely authentic, and it means a great deal to me.” Avi Avital

“Explosively charismatic” (New York Times) in live performance, Avital has been described as playing “with the freedom of rock or jazz musicians” (Boston Globe) even in Baroque repertoire.

Avital Meets Avital is Avi's first cross-genre album release. Following three core classical releases on DG, Avi now explores the sound of world music, incl. several world premiere recordings.

For his very personal project he teamed up with jazz bassist Omer Avital, with whom he shares much more than just a surname:

Both attended the same music academy in Jerusalem, where Omer studied jazz and Avi the classical tradition, and both were born and raised by Moroccan parents in Israel. Having grown up with this inner ambivalence, for a long time the two musicians focused on their Israeli homeland and Western musical culture, Avi Avital in classical music, Omer Avital in jazz.

Avital Meets Avital brings their different musical backgrounds and shared cultural heritage into dialogue, drawing on the diverse influences of Moroccan and North African sounds, classical and folk traditions, Israeli harmonies, and Mediterranean rhythms, to create a musical melting pot where chamber music meets the raw energy of jazz.

All pieces are composed and arranged by Omer and Avi Avital, apart from the album's final track.

Tracks

1. Omer Avital: Zamzama
2. Omer Avital: Lonely Girl
3. Omer Avital: Ana Maghrebi
4. Avital: Avi's Song
5. Omer Avital: Ballad For Eli
6. Avital: Prelude
7. Omer Avital: Maroc
8. Omer Avital: Hijazain
9. Moshe Wilenski: The Source And The Sea (Balada Al Maayan Ve`Yam)

His love for the works of Schubert led Ammiel Bushakevitz to the art song repertoire. He received mentorship in this field from notable singers including the late Dietrich FischerDieskau, Thomas Quasthoff, Elly Ameling, Thomas Hampson, Matthias Goerne, Teresa Berganza and Brigitte Fassbaender.

Born in Jerusalem, Israel and raised in South Africa, Ammiel Bushakevitz developed a special affinity for the music of Franz Schubert from an early age. He is a laureate of the International Franz Schubert Competition Dortmund and is a recipient of the International Schubert Institute Award in Vienna.

Ammiel Bushakevitz performs regularly at notable venues across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Festival appearances include the festivals of Salzburg, Lucerne and Bayreuth, the Festival d'automne à Paris, the Festival Pontino di Latina in Italy, the Jerusalem Schubertiade, the Vancouver Chamber Music Series and the Festival d'Aix-enProvence

Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano)

Composers

Schubert, Franz Peter (1797-1828)

Works

Schubert: 12 Grazer Walzer, D 924 Op. 91
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, D899
Schubert: Impromptu in A flat major, D899 No. 4
Schubert: Impromptu in C minor, D899 No. 1
Schubert: Impromptu in E flat major, D899 No. 2
Schubert: Impromptu in G flat major, D899 No. 3
Schubert: Klavierstücke (3), D946

Enriched by her first collaboration in 2015 with this Cuban Youth Orchestra Simone Dinnerstein returned to Havana this year to record two of Mozart's most well-known and loved piano concertos with them.

One of the first recorded classical music collaborations between US and Cuban musicians since the thawing of political relations between the two countries.

The young Havana-based orchestra overcomes challenges rarely faced by western orchestras including lack of access to quality instruments and materials (the musicians often retune their instruments down to A336 to ensure longevity of their strings).

Catalogue No: 88985382442
Label: Sony
Length: 56 minutes

Simone Dinnerstein (piano)
Havana Lyceum Orchestra, José Antonio Méndez Padrón

Composers

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)

Works

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467 'Elvira Madigan'
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488

Four years after his fascinating and highly praised album with works of the Spanish composer Mompou, Arcadi Volodos went into the Berlin Teldex Studio again to deliver another reference recording, this time with the music of Johannes Brahms. Volodos has played the Brahms solo pieces over the past years in places all over the world and received highest critical acclaim for his interpretation. The Brahms solo works are perfect to show Volodos unique ability to create a special and magic sound, a sound “which lifts us, the listener, into the air and which makes us believe that the world is floating' (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). Recorded in the famous Teldex Studios Berlin in three sessions (2015 - 2017) on a great Steinway Grand Piano specially tuned by Michel Brandjes, one of the best tuners in the world. There is no editing in this recording. Volodos played every piece over and over again to develop his idea of structure and sound and chose the best version of each piece after the end of the recording.

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice April 2017
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2017
BBC Music Magazine November 2017 Instrumental Choice
Diapason d'Or de l'Année 2017 Winner - Piano
Gramophone Magazine June 2017 Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards 2018 Winner - Instrumental

Arcadi Volodos (piano)

Composers

Brahms, Johannes (1833-97)

Works

Brahms: Capriccio in B minor, Op. 76 No. 2
Brahms: Capriccio in F sharp minor, Op. 76 No. 1
Brahms: Intermezzi (3), Op. 117
Brahms: Intermezzo in A flat, Op. 76 No. 3
Brahms: Intermezzo in B flat major, Op. 76 No. 4
Brahms: Klavierstücke (6), Op. 118