Ludwig van Beethoven

Dedicated to his friend and pupil Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven’s expansive Archduke Trio is his greatest work in the genre, though increasing deafness meant it also signalled his final appearances as a performer. The cheerful Piano Trio in E flat major is an earlier work, though only discovered amongst the composer’s papers after his death, and the Kakadu Variations is another good humoured work based on a popular song of the day. With the American Record Guide “impressed with every recording”, Volumes 1 (8557723), 2 (8557724), 3 (8570255) and 4 (8570943) are also available.

The Xyrion Trio’s cycle of Beethoven’s Piano Trios and other chamber works has already established a firm following and wide critical acclaim, with volume 3 (8570255) described as “every bit as exceptional as the first volume (8557723)” by American Record Guide, and volume 4 (8570943) as “an unqualified success” (Fanfare). This volume forms a climax for the whole series, including as it does Beethoven’s masterpiece of the genre, the Archduke Trio.

The complete string trios of Beethoven on two discs.

Performed by the award-winning Lendvai ensemble.

Their second disc, hot on the heels of their successful debut release Destination Paris.

Great value – double disc for the price of a single.

Excellent, detailed notes on all the works.

Dinner Classics presents works by the world’s most famous composers.

Calm music to help you while away a lazy day and be a little self-indulgent! Put your feet up, read your favourite book, open a box of chocolates and relax in the company of some of the world’s greatest composers.

Ian Storey is currently one of the most in-demand dramatic tenors in the Wagnerian repertoire.

21 years ago Ian Storey sang his first solo role, in Britten’s Rape of Lucretia under the baton of Howard Burrell. Ian’s first solo CD completes the circle, released on the newly formed Artist Recording Label (ARC) and once more under the baton of Howard Burrell.

It was Daniel Barenboim who chose Ian to make his debut as Tristan at the opening of the season La Scala in December 2007, a role he has now sung not only at La Scala but also at both the Berlin Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Barcelona, Bilbao, Oslo and Genova.

Barenboim has high praise for Storey:

‘It’s a wonderful thing for him, a wonderful thing for La Scala, a wonderful thing for the music world, because Tristans don’t grow on trees.’

CD10+CDROM

This 10-CD set is a reissue of an award-winning recording of the complete Beethoven String Quartets made by the distinguished Gewandhaus-Quartett in 2008. It includes a bonus CD-Rom which features interviews with former members and historic recordings of some of its previous work, as well as a new booklet with extensive text about the music and the quartet. In 2008 the Gewandhaus-Quartett celebrated its 200th anniversary and is the world’s oldest ensemble of its type.

The Leipzig Gewandhaus-Quartett has a remarkable position in the history of western music as the oldest string quartet in the world. Shortly after its foundation in 1808 by the former leader of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Heinrich August Matthäi the ensemble, whose chamber music concerts immediately attracted a lively response from the public, established itself as a permanent part of the Leipzig concert scene. During its history the ensemble has played with such important composers and musicians as Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Edvard Grieg and Arthur Nikisch. This tradition is still kept alive today, and the Gewandhaus-Quartett works regularly with internationally renowned artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Menahem Pressler, and Sabine Meyer.

Svjatoslav Richter created a stir in New York in the fall of 1960 by justifying Romain Rolland's judgement of the Appassionata, i.e. "a flood of fire in a bed of granite". A true self portrait of the artist according to the critics, amazed by his violent and tragical vision in contrast with that of the 18th Sonata, pastoral and sober. He adored this old fashioned suite, without any slow movement; he amazes in the famous Tempest -more an intimate reflexion than a Shakespearian wrathful fury.

Fürtwangler conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in this performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.