Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Here is a CD to explore the possibilities of this fascinating combination of composers. There is delightful interplay between oboe and horn throughout Mozart’s Trio, plus there are two other longer works - a major romantic trio from Herzogenberg, and an utterly beguiling one from Damase.

Originally released on Calico Classics (CCCR101), it has been out of print for some time and is now reissued on the Diversions imprint – at mid price.

Jill Crossland is from West Yorkshire and studied at Chethams School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Ryszard Bakst and in Vienna with Paul Badura-Skoda and Sally Sargeant and now pursues an active concert and recording career.

Jill has played regularly on the South Bank and at the Wigmore Hall in London; her appearances have also included Bridgewater Hall, St George’s Bristol, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Vienna Musikverein, Vienna Konzerthaus, Sage Gateshead and the National Concert Hall, Dublin. She has been a member of the Arts Council England Musicians in Residence scheme.

Jill’s recordings include works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Mozart and Beethoven for the Divine Art and Diversions labels, as well as the Bach Goldberg Variations and the complete Bach Well-tempered Clavier for Signum. Her recordings have received high critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic. Among many critical plaudits, her Bach has been described “among the most satisfying recent releases of [his] keyboard music” (Rob Cowan BBC Radio 3) and “rank[ing] with the finest previous versions, altogether a remarkable achievement” (Penguin Guide to CDs) and her Beethoven as “magnetic” and “delightful” by American Record Guide.

Jill has appeared on radio and TV, including live and recorded broadcasts on BBC Radios 3 and 4 and has featured in the Classic FM Hall of Fame.

For this recording, husband and wife duo Michael and Regine Kofler have chosen works which are dear to their hearts and they have regularly featured in their recitals. Many are existing arrangements, but they have arranged a few works themselves. They include compositions by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Ibert, Berthomieu, Fauré, Tournier, Rossini and Saint-Saëns.

The Mozart trio featured here is one of the most important works in chamber music. Mozart called the work a “Divertimento di sei pezzi” (in six movements) and it is a unique work with a unique musical quality and effect too.

This is the talented young flautist Daniela Koch’s first CD and has been recorded as part of the Bank Austria Artist of the Year scheme. In 2008, Daniela was invited to take part in the Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic and to collaborate in performances at the Salzburg Festival. Here she performs works by Mozart, Schubert, Ichiyanagi, Chaminade and Dutilleux.

Two of opera’s biggest stars, on the crest of solo album triumphs, team up for this long-awaited duet album of Verdi Scenes.

It is high drama and great Verdi, with Dmitri Hvorostovsky, widely recognized as “the Verdi baritone of our time” (Los Angeles Times), and Sondra Radvanovsky, the fastest-rising “true Verdi soprano” (Opera News) in international opera today. The electricity is palpable in the emotional duet scenes from Il Trovatore, Un Ballo in Maschera, and Simon Boccanegra. Dmitri sings a favorite among his signature arias, “O Carlo, ascolta,” from Don Carlo; and Sondra gives us a memorable glimpse of her Tosca in “Vissi d’arte.” We are treated to delightful Mozart and tender Dvorak. Dmitri’s favorite conductor, Constantine Orbelian, leads the Philharmonia of Russia in masterful fashion.