Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

A superb value set featuring Rozhdestvensky conducting Symphonies Nos. 4–6, Simonov conducting Symphony No.2, and Fedoseyev conducting Nos.1 & 3. Gibson conducts the famous 1812 Overture, and Temirkanov delivers a passionate Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 1–6 and ‘Manfred’ Symphony (after Byron) encapsulate the composer’s struggle with his own creative genius.

Both No.1 and No.2 were revised following their initial performances, due to the composer’s dissatisfaction with their original states. Despite this, the Symphony No.1 (‘Winter Daydreams’) is a delightful work, the most optimistic of the six, while the Symphony No.2 (‘Little Russian’) is unique for its nationalistic edge, although it relies upon Ukrainian folk tunes, not Russian. The composer was, however, satisfied with the two symphonies that followed, although the Symphony No.3 ‘Polish’ remains the least well known of the cycle, displaying his indebtedness to Western European models, notably Schumann whose Symphony No.3 was also in five movements. Symphony No.4 is generally recognised as Tchaikovsky’s first symphonic masterpiece. Written during a time of great stress, its composition offered him an escape from his near breakdown, and he considered it one of his best creations. Tchaikovsky was less pleased with the outcome of his 5th Symphony.

He wrote ‘I have written myself out… no ideas, no inclination… That symphony is repellent… it will never please the public’.

Despite this, it is the most performed of his symphonies and widely considered to be one of the greatest symphonies of all time. He commenced his Symphony No.6, which was to be his final composition, in 1893; it is a sombre work, of which he wrote ‘Without exaggeration, I have put my whole soul into this work’. Within 9 days he was dead – officially from cholera (an unlikely cause of death in the middle and upper classes), which caused rumour to spread that he had, in fact, taken his own life. The 6th subsequently gained the title ‘Pathétique’. This comprehensive set contains performances by some of the great Tchaikovsky interpreters and, in addition to the symphonies, contains the overtures, Capriccio italien and the enduringly popular Marche slave.

DVD and Blu-Ray will include a live version of the New Year’s Concert as well as bonus footage: A special tour through Vienna, guided by members of the Vienna Philharmonic plus 3 ballet bonus tracks.

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the release of the recording of one of the world’s most famous classical music events: the 2012 New Year’s Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic. Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons returns to direct the 2012 celebrations after his acclaimed debut in 2006. The live recording encompasses releases on CD, DVD and Blu-ray.

The annual New Year's Day Concert in the stunning Vienna Musikverein has been an exalted tradition for more than seven decades, and the resulting recordings with works from the Strauss dynasty and their contemporaries are among the classical market's most important releases. The concert will be broadcast on TV and radio to over 70 countries around the world with an estimate of more than 40 million viewers.

The programme traditionally revolves around waltzes and polkas by the Strauss family (Johann father and son as well as Josef and Eduard Strauss) whose music has enjoyed a recent resurgence due to the success of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. In 2012 the programme is once again a skilful blend of well-known classics and six New Year’s Concert premieres. As always the concert is bound to end with two traditional encores – the famous waltz The Blue Danube and the Radetzky March.

“It is something quite special: a wonderful opportunity to listen to this music and get to know it. This atmosphere, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Golden Hall of the Musikverein – all that adds up to a long and wonderful tradition resulting in fantastic, very specific music.” Mariss Jansons

10CD boxed set collects all of Berezovsky’s recordings for both Teldec and Warner Classics.

Boris Berezovsky has established a great reputation, both as the most powerful of virtuoso pianists and as a musician gifted with a unique insight and a great sensitivity. He is regularly invited by the most prominent orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Rome), Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France and Philharmonia Orchestra (London). He will make his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in January 2012 With Teldec, Boris Berezovksy has recorded works of Chopin, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Balakirev, Medtner, Ravel and the complete Liszt Transcendental Studies. His recording of the Rachmaninov sonatas was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and his Ravel disc was recommended by Le Monde de la Musique, Diapason, BBC Music Magazine and Independent on Sunday. Boris Berezovsky also won the BBC Music Magazine Awards in 2006.

In October 2004, still with Warner Classics International, the Berezovsky Trio recorded the Shostakovich Trio n°2 and Rachmaninov Trio Elégiaque n°2, which were awarded the Choc de la Musique in France, the Gramophone Award in the UK and the Echo Classic 2005 in Germany. His Solo live recording of the Chopin/Godowsky Etudes, released in January 2006, received the Diapason d'Or and the RTL d'Or.

Russian ‘classical' music seems to have a dual consciousness: sometimes grave and interiorised, sometimes luminous and resolutely forward-looking. At root, this sentiment draws equally on the countless traditions of the biggest country in the world and on its relationship with western Europe, and especially France, from the 18th century onwards. If we had to define the very special atmosphere of Russian music in a few words, we might say that it represents the ‘exchange', ‘sharing' and ‘absorption' of an infinity of cultural and musical idioms. The principal interest of the works on this set is the approach they represent to three central aspects of this repertory, three ‘Treasures of Russia', through three of its most famous composers: the influence of Orthodox religious music with the Vespers of Serge Rachmaninoff; the modernity and importance of the musical ‘image' with Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition; and finally the languor and inner heartbreak so characteristic of the Russian soul, as laid bare in one of the peaks of musical emotion – the Sixth Symphony of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the ‘Pathétique'.

Mariusz Kwiecien’s journey to the top of his profession has been remarkably rapid and assured for a young man from Kraków who arrived in New York at the age of 23. The Met’s current Don Giovanni, Polish baritone Mariusz, has won over audiences in many of the world’s greatest opera houses with his powerful interpretations. For his first solo recital he employs his mellifluous and burnished voice to great effect in Polish, Russian and Czech arias which are very close to his heart. A collection of operatic gems, familiar and rare, including the electric final scene from Szymanowski’s ‘King Roger’, which joins Giovanni as his favourite role.

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the release of the recording of one of the world’s most famous classical music events: the 2012 New Year’s Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic. Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons returns to direct the 2012 celebrations after his acclaimed debut in 2006. The live recording encompasses releases on CD, DVD and Blu-ray.

The annual New Year's Day Concert in the stunning Vienna Musikverein has been an exalted tradition for more than seven decades, and the resulting recordings with works from the Strauss dynasty and their contemporaries are among the classical market's most important releases. The concert will be broadcast on TV and radio to over 70 countries around the world with an estimate of more than 40 million viewers.

The programme traditionally revolves around waltzes and polkas by the Strauss family (Johann father and son as well as Josef and Eduard Strauss) whose music has enjoyed a recent resurgence due to the success of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. In 2012 the programme is once again a skilful blend of well-known classics and six New Year’s Concert premieres. As always the concert is bound to end with two traditional encores – the famous waltz The Blue Danube and the Radetzky March.

“It is something quite special: a wonderful opportunity to listen to this music and get to know it. This atmosphere, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Golden Hall of the Musikverein – all that adds up to a long and wonderful tradition resulting in fantastic, very specific music.” Mariss Jansons

Arthur Rubinstein is widely considered to be the greatest pianist of the 20th Century. He received 5 Grammy Awards for his recordings in both the Chamber Music and Solo Instrumental categories between 1960-1978 and received a posthumous lifetime achievement in 1994.

142-CD plus 2-DVD limited edition

The complete studio and live recordings of solo, concerto and chamber music repertoire on RCA Red Seal in their best remastered versions. Includes all EMI recordings (originally released on RCA).

Includes 3 Bonus CDs - Highlights from Rubinstein’s 1961 Carnegie Hall recitals (“50th Anniversary Special Releases”)

and 2 Bonus DVDs - Rubinstein Remembered, a documentary tracing the great pianist’s life, and The Benefit Recital for Israel, (1975)

Three new Chopin and one new Debussy works added to the discography

First-ever release of a whole Chopin Collection

More than 3 ½ hours of previously unreleased music

164-page full-coloured hardcover book in landscape format includes

New liner notes by Rubinstein biographer Harvey Sachs

Essay by John Rubinstein

Photos shot and selected by Eva Rubinstein

Essay on Rubinstein’s 1961 Carnegie Hall recitals

Complete discography in alphabetical and chronological order, featuring 78s, 45s and LPs

Track listings with complete discographical notes

Arthur Rubinstein – The Complete Album Collection is a Guinness World Record breaking product. The world’s biggest CD edition for a solo artist, it features 142 CDs and 2 Bonus DVDs from this legendary artist all housed in a stylish cerise box with a comprehensive 164-page full colour hardback book.