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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | A Musical Journey: SpainA Musical Visit to Andalusia, Sitges, Seville and Granada
Music by Ravel and Albéniz
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| |  | Falla: Noches en los jardines de Espana
Joaquín Achúcarro (piano) The internationally renowned pianist Joaquín Achúcarro has been described as ‘the consummate artist’ and ‘the leading pianist from Spain’; he has won plaudits and prizes around the world. In 2000 he was named ‘Artist for Peace’ by UNESCO in recognition of his extraordinary artistic achievements. This DVD presents an evocative recital of Spanish-inspired music, given by Achúcarro in Madrid, and a triumphant performance of Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle, recorded in Berlin. Including a note by Joaquín Achúcarro written for this release. “I have only heard this sound from Rubinstein” Zubin Mehta “There is something special with Achucarro. Very few musicians can extract this kind of sound from the piano” Sir Simon Rattle Picture format: NTSC - 16:9 Sounds formats: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 Region code: 0 Booklet notes: English, German, French Running time: 27 mins (Berlin) + 75 mins (Madrid) FSK: 0 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Daniel Barenboim: The Jubilee Concert from Buenos AiresRecorded at the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, August 2000
Documentary: “Multiple Identities” This documentary tracks the pianist-conductor from summer 1999 through Berlin, Chicago, Tel Aviv and Weimar up to this stage anniversary in Buenos Aires, in summer 2000, and ends up with his controversial performance of "Prelude and Liebestod" from Wagner’s "Tristan and Isolde" in Jerusalem in summer 2001. It is a film about music, about music making and a celebration of a remarkable personality. Featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Pierre Boulez, Cecilia Bartoli, Waltraud Meier, Edward Said, Staatskapelle Berlin, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and many more Live recording from the Gewandhaus Leipzig, November 2008 and numerous Encores including works by Scarlatti, Ginastera, Schubert, Chopin and Schumann
Five decades after his first appearance on stage the legendary Barenboim plays a special anniversary concert in the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires. A touching encounter between the pianist and the enthusiastic audience of his home country Argentina. Main Program includes favourite piano works by Beethoven, Mozart and Albeniz. Presenting not less than 13 encores by Chopin, Schumann, Villa-Lobos, Scarlatti, to name just a few. “A transatlantic superstar, one half of the classical music world's most golden ever couple, and long-time leader of two of the world's foremost orchestras, Daniel Barenboim nevertheless maintains a work schedule that takes him all over the world. Both a pianist and conductor, he says simply, ‘I like to work and I like variety." BBC Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9 Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.0, DTS 5.0 Region code: 0 Booklet notes: English, German, French Subtitles: English, German, French Running time: 140 mins (Concert) / 90 mins (Documentary) “These two absorbing DVDs pay tribute to Daniel Barenboim's extraordinary talents both as a musician and a communicator...[The programme] reveals Barenboim at the height of his powers, bringing fresh insights to familiar works. There's certainly no chocolate-box gentility to his Mozart Sonata...The Beethoven Appassionata is no less impressive...the Albeniz offers him opportunities to revel in the brilliance of the writing” BBC Music Magazine, March 2011 *****  BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - March 2011 |
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| |  | Lang Lang: Live In ViennaDVD version includes special photo gallery of pictures from the performance.
Lang Lang’s first recording for Sony, the start of a new exclusive long-term partnership - recorded live at Vienna’s prestigious Musikverein earlier in 2010. Lang Lang: Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, 28- year-old Lang Lang began playing the piano at the age of 3, gave his first public recital aged 5, and won first prize at the Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition at the age of 13. Since then he has become a global phenomenon, playing sold out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world. Testimony to his success, Lang Lang recently appeared in the 2009 Time 100 – Time Magazine's annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2008, over 5 billion people viewed Lang Lang’s performance in Beijing’s opening ceremony for the Olympic Games, and he has inspired over 40 million Chinese children to take up the piano – a phenomenon coined by The Today Show as "the Lang Lang effect." More recently, Lang Lang was chosen as an official worldwide ambassador to the 2010 Shanghai Expo. He has performed at prestigious events including at The White House and The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. Continuing his presence on the world stage, Lang Lang was featured at the 2008 Grammy Awards and the 2009 Classical Brit Awards, pairing up with jazz great, Herbie Hancock, for an astounding performance that was broadcast live to 45 million viewers worldwide. Lang Lang has made it his mission to share classical music around the world, with an emphasis on training children and young musicians through education, outreach programs, master classes and financial support. He launched the Lang Lang International Music Foundation in New York with the support of UNICEF. In May 2009, Lang Lang and his three chosen young scholars from the foundation performed together on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In addition to his numerous commitments, Lang Lang holds the title of the first Ambassador of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. His role in this groundbreaking project created by YouTube and Google reflects his devotion to building new audiences and bringing classical music to young people worldwide. A brand in himself, Lang Lang has become the face of numerous global campaigns. Steinway has created five versions of the “Lang Lang Steinway” designed for early music education - the first time in Steinway’s 150-year history that an artist’s name has been used to produce pianos. He is a global brand ambassador for the entire Sony Corporation, including its Electronics arm, with whom he anticipates achieving innovative and creative possibilities for the future. Lang Lang also holds brand partnerships with Audi Automobiles and Aegon's worldwide financial services, amongst others.Lang Lang’s performance clothes are provided by Versace. In February 2010, Lang Lang joined Sony Music Entertainment as an exclusive recording artist. “The first movement of his Appassionata is gracefully conceived, and he brings a properly Beethovenian authority to the variations of the slow movement, before seguing gracefully into whirlwind finale...But the chief appeal of this CD lies in the fact that it's pulsatingly live...Lang Lang dares, and wins” BBC Music Magazine, September 2010 **** “It's hard to imagine a programme to better display the pianist's prodigious range.” The Independent, 20th August 2010 **** “...let me say at once that the youthful excess and rampant exhibitionism of much of Lang Lang's earliest work is today transformed into playing which for the greater part is as stylish and perceptive as it is brilliant...Clearly everyone is having a ball and, make no mistake, doubting Thomases should take time off to listen to a major talent.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2010 “He is intense and focused in the "Appassionata", sharp and lively in Beethoven's early C major sonata. His Albéniz is thrillingly colourful, his Prokofiev vivid and pungent...the technical command is peerless and the emotional warmth envelops us. He is surely the Horowitz of our generation.” The Observer, 12th September 2010 “Immaculate pianism: Lang Lang inhabits each composer's world as though born into it. The delight of this DVD lies in his glorious assurance, expressed in face and body as well as fingers.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2011 ***** | | | This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. |
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| |  | Classical Destinations IIGreat Cities and their Music
Albéniz: | Tango (No. 2 from Espana, Op. 165) arr. Kreisler Richard Tognetti (violin) | Bartók: | Romanian Folk Dances for orchestra, Sz. 68, BB 76 | Britten: | Simple Symphony: Playful Pizzicato | Debussy: | String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10: Scherzo ACO principals | Elgar: | Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 - Allegro piacevole Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 - Larghetto Salut d'amour, Op. 12 Helena Rathbone (violin) | Handel: | Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 10 in D minor, HWV328: Finale Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV348: Air Suite from F major: Hornpipe from Water Music | Holst: | St Paul's Suite, Op. 29 No. 2: Ostinato St Paul's Suite, Op. 29 No. 2: Dargason | Prokofiev: | Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. 56 Richard Tognetti, Satu Vänskä (violins) | Rachmaninov: | Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 Richard Tognetti (violin) | Ravel: | Deux mélodies hébraïques: Kaddisch | Respighi: | Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3, P. 172: II. Arie di Corte | Rossini: | La scala di seta Overture | Saint-Saëns: | Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 Richard Tognetti (violin) | Strauss, R: | Morgen, Op. 27 No. 4 Sara Macliver (soprano) | Szymanowski: | String Quartet No. 2, Op. 56: Vivace, Scherzando ACO principals |
The acclaimed actor and writer Simon Callow returns for a second tour as host and narrator of Classical Destinations. This unique TV series combines travel to some of the most amazing cities in Europe with their history, great stories and classical music in a unique and spectacular format. Together with their Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) joins Simon as he discovers the great composers by exploring beautiful cities and regions of Europe that inspired them to write the music that has endured for years. 'I believe we’ve put together a remarkable selection of music that represents the best of the composers featured. The ACO performs in every episode of the series with over 100 minutes of new recordings.' Richard Tognetti Running time: 5hrs 25mins Special Features: 36mins 16:9 Widescreen All regions DVD9: Dual layer | | | This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. |
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| |  | Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2
Joaquín Achúcarro (piano) Robin Lough (director) This recording commemorates the 50th anniversary of Joaquín Achúcarro’s debut with the London Symphony Orchestra after winning the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic International Competition in 1959. Recorded at Jerwood Hall, St Luke’s, London, with Britain’s eminent conductor Colin Davis at the helm, Achúcarro delivers a consummate performance that brilliantly expresses his delicate and passionate style. Extra features include a substantial documentary about Achúcarro’s career and performances of solo piano pieces by Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin and Albéniz filmed in the beautiful setting of the Prado museum, Madrid. “Achúcarro’s approach is unorthodox in today’s stick-to-theletter-of-the-score, mechanically perfect musical world. His rubati seem excessive to some; to others, like a throwback to a Golden Age. For all of his reverence for the great composers whose music he plays, he maintains a healthy sense of their humanity as well. “Our duty is first of all to understand what composer does and wants, and then to try to deliver it the best we can, but also to serve the music,” he says. “And maybe sometimes the composer is wrong.” He adds, “People say you must follow the text. But if you follow the text, perhaps the music is not totally served.” … And he views what he does as a performer as an act of creation in its own right.” The Washington Post Extra features: Joaquín Achúcarro: 50 years on Documentary including interviews with Plácido Domingo, Simon Rattle and Zubin Mehta. Running time 131 mins Region code All regions Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic Sound format 2.0 PCM & 5.1 DTS Menu language EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES/IT “all three sections of both versions benefit from the masterly hand of director Robin Lough who, unlike many of his peers, knows how to let the music speak for itself without the need for frantic cuts and cross-fades...The short recital filmed in the Prado captures Achúcarro at his intimate best” Gramophone Magazine, June 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Roland Pöntinen - Listening to Yourself (Volume 3)
Recorded live at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen, 02 July 2007 “[On Pöntinen’s Busoni recording] The subtle, brilliantly judged playing makes Pöntinen a persuasive champion...The recordings are excellent; those looking for an uneasy rather than comfortable experience need look no further.” Gramophone Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | (opera in three acts)
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 184 MINS
SOUND: DOLBY SURROUND / LPCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES
“Decca's release of its outstanding recording of Albéniz's Merlin marked a turning-point in our appreciation of this Spanish composer, best known for his colourful nationalistic piano music.
José de Eusebio, conductor and force behind that project, followed it with a full staging of the opera in Madrid; this DVD is the result.
The staging certainly adds to one's involvement.
When you can see the young Arthur drawing Excalibur from the stone, the Wagnerian echoes become clearer, even if Albéniz is much more diatonic. John Dew's direction sets out the story clearly, and the stylised sets and costumes are medieval enough to create the right atmosphere, but with a touch of science fiction.
Though the cast isn't as starry as that on disc (with Plácido Domingo as King Arthur), there's obvious benefit in having English speakers in three of the principal parts, David Wilson-Johnson commanding and noble as Merlin, with the American tenor, Stuart Skelton as Arthur, powerful rather than subtle, and Carol Vaness, also American, as Nivian. The big snag is the singer who might have been counted the star, Eva Marton as the evil Morgan le Fay. The unsteadiness of her voice, so extreme that one can hardly tell what pitch she's aiming at, may convey the wickedness of the character. She acts convincingly, but is painful on the ear. Ángel Odena characterises her son Mordred well but also has bouts of unsteadiness; Victor Garcia Sierra, as King Lot of Orkney, is another wobbler.
Happily, the chorus work is first-rate, and Eusebio draws warmly committed playing from the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. With so rare an opera it's a pity that the booklet contains no synopsis, though there's compensation in having English subtitles available, even if that underlines the banality and incomprehensibility of the doggerel verses of Francis Burdett Money-Coutts's libretto. Outweighing any flaws, though, what shines out is the richness and variety of Albéniz's musical inspiration.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Seville and Granada
Spanish composers are represented here by Granados and Albéniz, whose successful careers extended into the 20th century. Music by other composers reflects various connections with Spain. Seville is the setting for Mozart's operas The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, and for Rossini's Figaro opera, The Barber of Seville. Bizet's Carmen is centred on Seville, while Verdi's tragic opera The Force of Destiny, set in Spain and based on a Spanish play, ranges over a wider area. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | The Glory of Spain
This program is a visual and musical hymn of praise to what Andrés Segovia describes as "the pride, strength, and reverence of the Spanish soul." That soul is exhibited through the remarkable music of Spanish composers: Issac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, and Federico Moreno Torroba; and a gifted group of painters: El Greco, Goya, and Velásquez. Filmed at Madrid's El Prado featuring performances by Andrés Segovia, Victoria de los Angeles and Alicia de Larrocha. Recorded in 1967 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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