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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | World Premiere Recording
Anna Maria Panzarella (Artaserse), Céline Ricci (Arbace), Marina Comparato (Mandane), Sunhae Im (Semira), Augustin Prunell-Friend (Artabano) & Mariví Blasco (Megabise) La Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara, Juan Bautista Otero Palau de la Músic Catalana, Barcelona June 2008. The RCOC is an independent operatic ensemble performing on period instruments, created by the conductor and musicologist Juan Bautista Otero and the stage producer Isidro Olmo. It focuses its activity on the rediscovery of the musical heritage related to Spain and the old Bolurbon kingdoms in Italy during the 18th century, specially concerning the music for the stage of the Neapolitan operatic masters as David Pérez, Domingo Terradellas, Domenico Scarlatti, Mariana Martínez or Martín y Soler as commissioned by the great castrato Farinelli. This is clearly a project close to Juan Bautista Otero's heart, and one that he has been associated with since 1998. No amount of hyperbole, from me or anyone else, will prepare you for just such a fine example of neglected repertoire.The singing is superb and the quality digipack presentation reflects the attention to detail that artist own-labels have brought to the classical market. “The main pair of lovers, Arbace (Céline Ricci) and Mandane (Marina Comparato), are both good, and Ricci, in particular is wonderfully flashy in her stupendous bravura aria 'Quando freme'. This an enterprising recording of a fascinating opera, designed for an audience that wanted to talk between arias, and who were above all interested in singers.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2009 **** “La Real Compañía Opera de Cámara plays with energy and refinement… All of the singers are fully immersed in the dramatic action, and most of them dispatch astonishing arias to good effect. Nowadays our appreciation of serious operas performed in Italy during the first half of the 18th century is embarrassingly narrow, but this magnificent recording goes some way towards showing how the imbalance can be redressed.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “This is the first complete recording of an opera by Terradellas and it is truly tantalizing…there’s more than enough here to keep eighteenth-century opera enthusiasts very happy indeed.” International Record Review | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Jonas Kaufmann sings Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven & Wagner
Jonas Kaufmann is now established as the most successful and versatile tenor of his generation, attracting rave reviews for his live performances and recordings. Following the international success of Romantic Arias, Jonas Kaufmann returns with this album of outstanding arias from German opera; music of his homeland which he grew up hearing. The great opera conductor Claudio Abbado directs the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Arnold Schoenberg Chor in his first ever vocal recital recording for Decca, and his first Decca recording for almost 40 years. The album cover shows Jonas Kaufmann as 'Wanderer' - inspired by the much-loved painting by German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. Jonas Kaufmann's recording of Schubert's great German song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin with pianist Helmut Deutsch, will be released in 2010. This album will be packaged as a 'sister product' to this album of German arias. “This disc, which has the luxury of Claudio Abbado's magisterial, refined conducting, shows that Kaufmann is at least as fine a Mozart singer as a Wagner one… His outburst from Act II of Parsifal… is a thrilling foretaste of things to come… In Florestan's great aria from Fidelio we have a perfectly controlled expression of agony and exaltation. Everything here makes you crave to listen to this major artist in complete recordings, preferably, given his acting, on DVD.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2009 ***** “…Fidelio, is the centrepiece of this disc: it receives a powerful performance from both tenor (his opening "Gott" is heart-piercing) and conductor. Kaufmann ends where he began, with Wagner. …his beautiful phrasing and controlled singing in the "Winterstürme" shows why he has become the most sought-after tenor of his generation, and is a highlight of this exciting new release.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “No other compilation that has crossed my path comes within striking distance of this collection...The baritone-like richness to his singing in the Wagner extracts is especially compelling. That Kaufmann has Claudio Abbado and the superlative Mahler Chamber Orchestra to accompany him only makes the project even more special.” The Guardian, 27th November 2009 ***** “Aside from the smooth, warm masculinity...he has enormous versatility, helped by a voice that, whilst tenor, has the deep tone and resonance of a baritone...These qualities also make Kaufmann the perfect Wagnerian tenor, his voice soaring above Wagner’s lush orchestral textures, and dramatically upping the ante for the many heart-on-sleeve climaxes.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 24th September 2009 “Kaufmann is slowly but surely demonstrating that he may be the next hot tip. A calling card to be treasured.” Classic FM Magazine, November 2009 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vivaldi: The French Connection 1
Vivaldi: | Concerto for strings No. 5, RV 114 Bassoon Concerto, RV 488 in F major Violin Concerto, Op. 4 No. 7 in C major, RV 185 Concerto for flute, strings & continuo in G major, RV 438 late version Concerto in G minor RV157 Concerto fragment for bassoon, strings & continuo in C, RV468 Flute Concerto RV432 Concerto in F Major, RV 100 Concerto for strings No. 3, RV 119 Violin Concerto, RV 211 in D major |
After the extremely successful and acclaimed series ‘The Rise of the North Italian Violin Concerto’ Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima return to AVIE to explore another side of Vivaldi’s compositions : The French Connection. “The voracity with which the French devoured Italian music during the late baroque period is well documented. Vivaldi was involved in both the dissemination of the French style in Italy and that of the Italian style in France. His works achieved fashionable status there in the late 1720s thanks to his concertos Le Quattro Stagioni which became a feature at the popular Concert Spirituel (between 1728 and 1763).” Adrian Chandler “Chandler is an impeccably stylish soloist in two violin concertos. Throughout, he also directs La Serenissima in eloquently precise but excitingly spontaneous performances of unfailingly imaginative music” Sunday Times, 5th July 2009 *** “In the flamboyant double-dots of the C-minor concerto, the melancholy groundbass of the G-minor concerto and the delicious closing Chaconne of the C-major, the playing is consistently zestful. Chandler, flautist Katy Bircher and bassoonist Peter Whelan play a further series of exacting concertos with the effortless musicality of birds.” The Independent on Sunday, 25th July 2009 “…the three solo instruments come and go in various combinations, always pleasing us and never outstaying their welcome. They are played with skill and taste… The orchestral sound, as always with La Serenissima, achieves bright attractiveness and vivacity without feeling the need to pursue the taut energy of some other groups. And that's just fine.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “The performances… are typically neatly-pointed and vivacious.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2009 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Haydn: The Complete Overtures
Haydn: | Acide e Galatea: Sinfonia in D major, Hob.Ia:5 Lo Speziale: Sinfonia in G major, Hob.Ia:10 Le Pescatrici: Sinfonia in D major, Hob.I:106 L'infedeltà delusa: Sinfonia in C major, Hob.Ia:1 Der Götterrath, Hob.XXIXa:1a: Sinfonia in C major Philemon und Baucis: Overture in D minor, Hob.Ia:8 Il ritorno di Tobia: Overture in C major, Hob.Ia:2 L'incontro improvviso: Sinfonia in D major, Hob.I1:6 Die Feuersbrunst, Hob.XXIXa:4: Sinfonia in C major Il mondo della luna Overture Overture in D major, Hob.Ia:7 La vera Costanza: Sinfonia in B flat major, Hob.Ia:15 L'isola disabitata: Overture in G minor, Hob.Ia:13 La fedeltá premiata: Sinfonia in D major, Hob.Ia:11 Orlando paladino: Sinfonia in B flat major, Hob.Ia:16 Armida: Sinfonia in B flat major, Hob.Ia:14 Overture in D major, Hob.Ia:4 The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross: Introduction in D major L'anima del filosofo, ossia Orfeo ed Euridice: Overture The Creation: Overture 'Representation of Chaos' The Seasons: Overture to 'Autumn' The Seasons: Overture to 'Winter' |
Haydn Sinfonietta Wien, Manfred Huss Haydn Sinfonietta Wien’s acclaimed recordings of Haydn’s overtures were originally produced and released by the Koch/Schwann label, and have been remastered by BIS Records for this collection. To commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Joseph Haydn, BIS Records and the Haydn Sinfonietta Wien have entered into a collaboration which will result in several releases during 2009. The repertoire will mainly consist of rare works from Haydn’s œuvre, including music written for the stage, concert arias and orchestral works. “Manfred Huss and his brilliant period band - with gleefully whooping, rasping horns - relish to the full the colour and crackling energy of these overtures, without short-changing the delicate sentiment of their slow sections.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “There is no other set of Haydn overtures at this level of comprehensiveness, nor does there need to be. This one is sensational.” Classics Today | | | (also available to download from $20.75) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Piotr Anderszewski: Unquiet TravellerA film by Bruno Monsaingeon
Bruno Monsaingeon has dedicated a great part of his life to directing movies about the greatest musicians of our times (Gould, Richter, Menuhin, Oïstrakh…), sharing with us his passionate vision of artists. His last movie, which has already been awarded in several festivals, is an especially living portrait of the non-conformist pianist Piotr Anderszewski. Somewhere between documentary and fiction, this « rail-road-movie »’s setting is a winter journey through Poland to Budapest, in a train in which the pianist has taken his grand piano with him... In this movie, Piotr Anderszewski gives us his most inner thoughts about music and about his qualms, through words we get while this special train strides through theland of his childhood, revealing his true nature, generous but tormented. A brilliantly built film by Bruno Monsaingeon, utterly poetic and deeply emotional, which invites us to join the journey… Picture format BD: 1080i Full HD - 16:9 Sounds formats BD: PCM 2.0, PCM 5.1 Region code: All Booklet notes: English, Polish, French Subtitles: Italian, English, German, French, Polish Running time: 83 mins Audience: all “Anderszewski's personal reflections on the music that means the most to him prove to be absolutely fascinating, and one is drawn irresistibly to his restless way of looking at the world. There are some wonderful performances too - Szymanowski with his violinist sister Dorota, excerpts from a rehearsal of the Brahms D minor Piano Concerto with Gustavo Dudamel and the Philharmonia, as well as Bach, Chopin and Mozart, the composer with whom Anderszewski most closely identifies.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2009 **** “Suitably subtitled "Unquiet Traveller", this DVD is a dazzling portrait of a pianist rapidly acquiring cult status. Anderszewski… speaks movingly of his greatest loves, of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Szymanowski and, most of all, Mozart. There are superb examples of Bach (a razor-sharp Gigue from the First Partita), Mozart, Beethoven (the recording sessions for the First Concerto), Chopin, Schumann and Szymanowski, all played and described with a breathless and romantic wish to communicate at a bewildering number of different levels.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “Photogenic and big-souled, Anderszewski proves utterly beguiling...It's touchingly beautiful...and Anderszewski's playing is to die for.” The Guardian, 11th December 2009 **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam, on 30th May, 11th June & 16th June 2008.
Camilla Tilling (Angel), Rod Gilfry (Saint François), Hubert Delamboye (Leper), Henk Neven (Frère Léon), Tom Randle (Frère Massée), Donald Kaasch (Frère Élie), Armand Arapian (Frère Bernard), Jan Willem Baljet (Frère Sylvestre), André Morsch (Frère Rufin) The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, Ingo Metzmacher (conductor) & Pierre Audi (stage director) Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naïve imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage. ‘The orchestra, drilled to absolute perfection, played as if their lives depended on it, while the choral singing was superb in its intensity. The cast tellingly emphasised the physicality as well as the spirituality of Messiaen's vision. Heartthrob baritone Rod Gilfry played Francis as a charismatic visionary beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. The Angel, who teases, consoles and ultimately guides him was sensually sung by Mozart diva Heidi Grant-Murphy. A stupendous evening, and one of the great operatic achievements of recent years.’ The Guardian Bonus material: Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery. Interviews: The Children The Message A Chamber Piece…Really PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: TBC
SOUND: 5.0 DTS SURROUND / PCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NL
“This Netherlands Opera production from Pierre Audi… is a triumph of wonderfully inventive, yet sympathetic direction. The imagery follows Messiaen's knack for sophisticated simplicity. His ingenious idea of having children as an audience for the Saint's ornithology lesson in The Sermon to the Birds is charming, while his imaginative treatment of the Angel is also a delight. ...Rod Gilfrey radiates empathy in his portrayal of the exceptionally demanding title role. Ingo Metzmacher's conducting is simply stunning, with marvellous pacing to keep the music flowing across the vast timescale, yet ensuring space and stillness when needed.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2009 ***** “Set in the smaller but still adequate confines of Amsterdam's Musiektheater, Audi's production thoroughly vindicates what may have been a practical decision to accommodate the vast orchestra at the back of the stage, with most of the action on an apron projecting into the stalls... Ingo Metzmacher is typically faithful to Messiaen's markings... and inspires his cohorts to greater feats of stamina and virtuosity than any conductor before him in the opera. Rodney Gilfry holds the stage as the Saint... Camilla Tilling's... sustains her lines with no obvious strain, swathed in the same robes as the Brothers, who all rise to the challenge of filling out their rather starkly defined characters. The chorus... is well drilled and deployed with great intelligence.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Sacred Hearts and Secret Music
with additional motets and chants for the Feast of St Agnes
The repertoire featured on this disc features material that might have been performed by a convent choir in the 1570’s, in the Ferrara area. Both Palestrina and de Rore were celebrated in their lifetimes as two of the greatest composers in Italy, and both were strongly connected to the d’Este family, the rulers of Ferrara in 16th century. Most of the chants here presented are no longer regularly performed – but nevertheless are some of the most beautiful and haunting melodies to be found in the chant repertoire. The booklet contains full tests, extensive notes and a foreword by Sarah Dunant, author of the novel “Sacred Hearts”, just published by Virago/Random House. The novel is set entirely within a Benedictine convent in 16th Century Ferrara. Musica Secreta were formed nearly twenty years ago to explore the music sung by courtly women and courtesans of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Over time, they expanded this to include music that might have been performed by Renaissance nuns – and indeed in monasteries also. They are at the forefront of performance practice research in this repertoire. Their last release, “Motetti a Cinque Voce” by Alessandro Grandi (DDA25062) received high praise. Formed in 2003, Celestial Sirens is a select, non-professional female choir committed to the performance of choral works in the style of Renaissance and early modern convents. “The Mass sounds both natural and beautiful; indeed the whole piece is an aural feast. The last item is Rore's Regina caeli laetare, Frances Kelly's harp weaving round the soprano line. Magical.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Renée Fleming - Verismo
Catalani: | Ne mai dunque avro pace…Ohime! from La Wally | Cilea: | O mia cuna fiorita: Gloria | Giordano, U: | Tutto tramonta from Fedora with Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Emma Latis Nel so amore from Siberia | Leoncavallo: | Musette svaria sulla bocca viva (from La Bohème) Mimi Pinson la biondinetta (from La Bohème) with Paolo Cautoruccio, Marco Calabrese, Saito Kaoru, Annalisa Dessi, Carlos Gomez, Gilles Armani and Choir Angioletto, il tuo nome? from Zaza with Emma Latis | Mascagni: | Un dì ero piccina (from Iris) Ah, il suo nome… Flammen perdonami (from Lodoletta) | Puccini: | Senza mamma, o bimbo (from Suor Angelica) Ore dolci e divine (from La Rondine) with Saito Kaoru, Lucia Mencaroni, Barbara Vignudelli Si, mi chiamano Mimi (from La Bohème) Donde lieta usci (from La Bohème) with Arturo Chacón-Cruz Sola, perduta, abbandonata (from Manon Lescaut) Tu che di gel sei cinta (from Turandot) with Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Marco Calabrese, Barbara Vignudelli and Choir Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso (from La Rondine) with Jonas Kaufmann, Barbara Vignudelli, Paolo Cauteruccio and Choir | Zandonai: | Ier della Fabbrica from Conchita |
Renée Fleming sings opera arias by Puccini and his contemporaries. Celebrating the composers of the Verismo style. Favourite Puccini arias from La Bohème, Turandot, Manon Lescaut, Il Trittico etc. Rarely heard arias by other Verismo composers. World Premiere recording of the original manuscript version of the aria from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann joins Renée Fleming for an irresistible melody from Act II of Puccini’s La Rondine. “At its best… verismo's emotional immediacy is a gift to a performer like Renée Fleming, her voice combining luscious tone and intensity.” BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2009 ***** “…the feeling throughout is generous and true. Characterisation… infuses the voice without being applied like make-up. And the inclusion of some unexpected charmers - the solos from Leoncavallo's Bohème have the lilt of good operetta - is most welcome.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “Fleming’s characterisation of these colourful heroines radiates off the recording; her voice often gasps and quivers in turmoil, with finely judged dynamics and tender little portamenti. The vocal delivery itself, despite all this drama, is technically perfect, simply delivered and clearly defined...With this recording, Fleming has more than justified her diva status.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 24th September 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Martinu, Foerster & Novak - Cello Concertos
Jirí Bárta, who for a number of years has been considered one of the finest cellists both at home and abroad, has certainly not chosen the three concertos on this CD at random. Bohuslav Martinu’s first concerto, in the definitive 1955 version, is among the works Bárta most cherishes and performs most frequently. At the same time, this opus bridges the imaginary space between the other compositions. Its first version originated in 1930, at the time when J. B. Foerster was completing his one and only cello concerto. This work of a composer with a Czech soul and European experience has its world premiere on this recording. From an entirely different world is Jan Novák’s syncopated Capriccio, a piece with distinct jazz elements in which the solo instrument is accompanied by a big band. Novák, sharing with his teacher Martinu the fate of an émigré who would never again see his homeland, completed Capriccio a short time after Martinu, in the twilight of his life, gave his first concerto its definitive form. Capriccio too is released here for the first time on CD and features Jirí Bárta accompanied by the best Czech chamber orchestra under its chief conductor, the rising star Jakub Hruša. “…Jirí Bárta… plays with a warm, unselfconscious expressiveness that connects with all three works, and the Prague Philharmonia is with him every step of the way.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Tabea Zimmermann - Solo
Featuring Max Reger’s Suites for solo viola and JS Bach’s Suites for Cello in G Maj & D Minor, talented viola player Tabea Zimmerman rises to the occasion. “…a magnificent recital… with Zimmermann proving a true fairy godmother to the viola's Cinderalla image.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 “Supported by a wonderfully sonorous recording, her technically irreproachable performances convey a real sense of spontaneity and convincingly encapsulate the distinctive character of each movement, whether lyrical and intense or playful and vibrant.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2009 “No viola jokes please, this is serious...It would be difficult to identify these works blind, for they have a melodious simplicity Reger's too often clogged and dense works rarely attain...Interleaved with the Reger, Zimmermann offers transcriptions of two Bach cello suites, which she plays with peerless poise.” The Guardian, 16th August 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
Herreweghe is a specialist in Renaissance and Baroque Music and has received many awards. He is recording a series of the works of Beethoven with Pentatone and his CDs of Symphonies 1 & 3 and 5 & 8 have previously been released. “Philippe Herreweghe and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic produce some really fine playing here, and they have been quite beautifully recorded.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2009 **** “Beethoven always knew what he wanted in terms of pacing. Herreweghe and his expert band not only obey his tempi, they do so most artistically as well. Excellent indeed.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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Gramophone Awards 2010
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2010
