Franz Peter Schubert

This version of the 5th Symphony was authorized by the composer. It represents a reduction of a real orchestral sound – a romantic expression of will, one which exploits the possibilities of the instrument to the full, and beyond maybe, too.

The male choral ensemble Camerata Musica Limburg was founded in 1999. The ensemble has devoted itself to presenting to the public outstanding performances of unknown male choir repertoire.

Compared to Elisabeth Grümmer’s rank as a singer, her recordings are shamefully few in number, giving these radio recordings a special documentary significance. “Whoever has heard Elisabeth Grümmer singing cannot forget the way this lovely voice, at once ethereal and yet full sounding, effortlessly flows along,” wrote Lafranco Rasponi.

Radulovic’s recording of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto received excellent reviews: “Radulovic (taped live) soars aloft in these glorious pieces with a seamless purity guaranteed to set the heart fluttering and pulse racing.” Classic FM Magazine. This new CD is selling 200 copies per day in France and is receiving fantastic reviews in the French Music press.

The selection of songs and arias on this double SACD set reflect on the fundamental question of life and death and cover a period of almost two centuries, the composers featured ranging from Bach through to Tchaikovsky. They are performed by one of the great lyric tenors of our age Christophe Prégardien, accompanied by the pianist Michael Gees. The common theme in the music of this recording is the most fundamental of all, existence itself, life and death. The composers represented are Bach, Mahler, Schubert, Schumann, Mozart, Brahms, Loewe, Wolf, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky. The songs and arias performed here range over almost two centuries with eleven compositions and many musical forms, the simple song with piano accompaniment, the narrative, expansive ballad, the great opera aria and more.

Christoph Prégardien is widely regarded as among the foremost lyric tenors of our time and frequently collaborates with conductors such as Ricardo Chailly, John Elliot Gardiner, Nicolaus Harnoncourt, and Phillipe Herreweghe. He is represented on disc with more than a hundred and twenty titles, including most of his current repertoire. His recordings of German Romantic Lied repertory, particularly his recent releases on Challenge Classics of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin, (CC72292), and Schwanengesang, (CC72302), have been highly acclaimed by the public and press and have received many major international awards.

"I salute my listeners and offer them a warm and grateful farewell." Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel has for many years been among the world's greatest pianists; in concert, recital and on many best-selling recordings. Here, in his last CD release, recorded in the year of his retirement (2008), he gives his final public performances in solo recital and in concert - revealing a master musician in total command of his art

This 2CD digipak souvenir set captures these two memorable occasions, and is presented at the price of 2 for 1.5.

Recorded live in Hanover, Brendel's farewell recital featured composers with whom he is most closely associated throughout his career - with a set of variations by Haydn, and sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

It is fitting that Alfred Brendel's final public performance should be in Vienna's beautiful Musikverein, with the Wiener Philharmoniker - an orchestra with whom he has enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration. The concert was conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, marking the end of an exceptional partnership between pianist and conductor.

The concert featured Alfred Brendel as soloist in Mozart's concerto in E flat major K271, known as the 'Jeunehomme', after the young woman pianist for whom it was composed in 1777.

The booklet includes Brendel's own notes on the recital repertoire, and tributes from Sir Charles Mackerras and Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellberg of the Vienna Philharmonic - as well as a farewell statement from Alfred Brendel himself.

"Exquisite thrills as a titan bids farewell" Daily Telegraph, London

"The end of my concert career in December 2008, after sixty years on stage, was planned well in advance. I enjoyed looking forward to challenges of a different kind, and calmly anticipated my final performances." Alfred Brendel

"After so many years with Alfred at the top of his profession it is hard to imagine musical life without his unique presence." Sir Charles Mackerras

Extensive booklet with notes on each work by Ate?s Orga.

A must-have for lovers of chamber music.

‘Oistrakh plays with the authority we know so well, Knushevitsky, who has a part of predominant importance and sometimes of great difficulty, mostly plays beautifully, and Oborin is excellent. The ensemble of the soloists is superbly good.’ Gramophone reviewing the Beethoven Triple Concerto conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent in 1959

For a quarter of a century from its foundation in 1940, the Oistrakh Trio was the premiere ensemble of its kind in the Soviet Union. All three members were close friends, having trained and studied together during the Stalin years.

They blossomed in the comparatively more relaxed Khrushchev period, championing the great Austro-German and Slavonic repertoire for piano trio.

Never afraid to speak out against injustices in the USSR, they championed composers who were suffering under the oppressive regime – hence the movement from Shebalin’s Trio included on this set. The recordings date from 1947 to 1958, and capture this extraordinary group of musicians at the top of their game.

A chorister from the age of eight until his voice broke seven years later, Franz Schubert was well placed to compose sacred music, including several splendid settings of the Mass.

His second, completed in 1815, and fourth, written during the following year, follow Mozart’s examples but with strikingly Schubertian touches such as his dramatic use of key relationships and contrasting vocal textures to express the prayerful, meditative and glorious nature of the liturgical text.

For the so-called German Mass, Schubert wrote unassuming yet heartfelt settings of congregational hymns for performance during the service.

“These seem to be excellent performances. Moreover the recording is first-rate, one of the best I’ve heard from CPO.” International Record Review on a previous volume

A much sought-after and rare recital of the great Sviatoslav Richter featuring unusual repertoire - Szymanowski and Bartok.

Richter gave the premiere of the Prokofiev Sonata No.7 'Stalingrad' in 1943. It is a tour de force and shows off Richter's incomparable technique and power. Richter also gave premieres of Prokofiev's Sonata No.6 and No.9 and remained a close friend of the composer during his lifetime.

Richter was perhaps the first great pianist to promote the Schubert sonatas and recorded all of them including the incomplete ones (with the curious omission of the A major D959). He was also credited with raising their profile to that accorded to Beethoven and Mozart.

Recorded at a packed Royal Festival Hall In 1970 when Richter was at the height of his powers and fame.

BBC Legends has the largest catalogue of Richter broadcasts which have all sold exceptionally well.