Johannes Brahms

Yefim Bronfman is, without doubt, one of the greatest pianists alive today. He has also been a regular – and very welcome – guest with the IPO for over three decades. The deep friendship between Bronfman, Maestro Mehta and the IPO makes itself felt in these wonderful performances captured in concert - the Saint-Saëns from 1991 and the Brahms from 2009.

Bronfman sculpts the Brahms concerto with great bravura and full of nuance, coupled with a depth of expression and seemingly effortless virtuosity. In the Saint-Saëns, and especially in the 2nd movement, he brings out all the gentleness and elegance associated with essentially French works. In both concerti, Maestro Mehta provides the soloist with the ideal orchestral support.

The international award-winning octet Voces8 has established itself as one of the foremost young British a cappella groups. Performing repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour. Founded in 2003 by ex-choristers of Westminster Abbey, Voces8 first achieved success in 2005, winning first prize at the International Choral Grand Prix in Gorizia, Italy. Subsequently the group has performed widely in the UK, Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

Piano music for 4 hands could be considered as the highest expression of friendship. Under the golden fingers of such major artists such as Boris Berezovsky and Brigitte Engerer, the ever-popular Hungarian Dances, are tenderly outlined with poetry, and their alternate moods of seriousness and happiness.

The Hungarian Dances also reflect the deep expression of reverie as well as the rhythmic energy of Hungarian folklore. Boris Berezovsky and Brigitte Engerer give us some of Brahms best-loved piano pieces in all their beauty.

1986 Recording

Dynamic is proud to present 4 CDs of works from Frescobaldi to Brahms performed by Giorgio Questa on a portable organ he built himself. The ‘portable’ organ is small in size, made entirely of wood and completely mechanical. Its structure is that of a common Italian organ of the sixteenth century. Igor Markevitch said of Questa: “Certainly the organ is a masterpiece, but you are a masterpiece too!”. Nadia Boulanger was also a friend and personally requested he perform Frescobaldi: “Frescobaldi’s works fascinate me… It would be a real joy if once again you could bring back to life these works that are all too often left in silence.”

This CD presents a remarkable recording of the three sonatas for piano and violin by Johannes Brahms. They belong to the culmination points of the genre and match the quality of his three string quartets in every respect.

Julius Drake is renowned as one of the best accompanists working today and has chosen the ATMA label to record his first solo CD. He has conceived this recording as a personal journal and performs selections from Brahms’ Intermezzi, Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte and Schubert’s Moments musicaux, among others.

Beautifully packaged in a box, this single CD contains a series of dated letters exchanged between them with the music they composed at the time to accompany the experience.

Trio Kandinsky are accomplished musicians who have been playing together since 1999.