New Releases

Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Wagner in 2013, David Zinman conducts the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich performing Scenes and Orchestral Pieces from “The Flying Dutchman” and “The Ring of the Nibelung”.

David Zinman is one of the world’s finest, most respected conductors, whose passion for music, dedication to furthering careers of young musicians and as an orchestral builder makes ‘music a better world’.

This CD features famous international Wagner baritone Egils Silins who can be heard as “Dutchman” and as “Wotan”.

Zinman has extended his contract with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich until 2014, where, since 1995 as conductor and music director, he has raised the standard of the orchestra to an international level.

Zinman’s previous recordings on Sony have been received with superb critical acclaim.

In January 2006, David Zinman, received the prestigious Theodore Thomas Award, presented by the Conductors Guild in New York’s Roosevelt Hotel. The award is presented biannually to a conductor, in recognition of outstanding achievement and extraordinary service to one’s colleagues in advancing the art and science of conducting, reflecting honour on the profession.

Much anticipated new release from the Gramophone Record of the Year winning Vox Luminis!

We know now that Purcell’s three Funeral Sentences were not written for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1695. Following the tradition of the English court, it was pieces by Thomas Morley, originally written for the funeral of Elizabeth I, that were sung there. Purcell’s only contribution to the ceremony was the composition of two pieces for slide trumpets (March and Canzona), and the anthem in the archaic style Thou knowest, Lord. During the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, a band of oboes played two marches written by John Paisible and Thomas Tollet.

This recording assembles the music composed for the funeral of Queen Mary and that used at the funeral of Elizabeth I in 1603. The programme is completed by Purcell’s sublime a cappella anthems and a moving anthem by Weelkes on the death of Thomas Morley.

After the success of the recording of Schütz’s Musicalische Exequien (RIC311), voted Record of the Year by Gramophone magazine, this disc will be one of the major events of spring 2013.

With her new album, Dusk & Dawn, classical saxophonist Amy Dickson introduces a new side to the instrument and takes the listener on an unexpected sojourn through beautiful, lush, romantic music. It is late-night classical listening at its very best.

Dusk & Dawn draws on classical repertoire and more: the shimmering strings and sensual saxophone arrangements evoke the stylish cinema of the 1960s and early 70s; Broadway composer Jerome Kern and ‘The Godfather’ soundtrack composer Nino Rota sit alongside Debussy, Fauré & Chopin. Remarkably, ‘In the Neighbourhood’ by gravel-voiced Tom Waits also features. Without Waits’s evocative lyrics describing a grubby locale, the focus is on Amy’s saxophone – lyrical & expressive – transforming the song into a natural classic.

Born in Sydney & now living in London, 31-year-old Amy – a former student of the Royal College of Music - picked up her first saxophone when she was six. Amy was soon winning competitions and performing; she made her live radio debut aged eight and her concerto debut at 16. She has firmly established the sax’s classical credentials, making the instrument sing with softness, power and lyrical range. A soloist with the world’s finest orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Amy has performed at the Vienna Konzerthaus and Sydney Opera House as well as performing chamber music in venues throughout the world including Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall. A passionate champion of contemporary music, Amy has commissioned and premiered works by composers including Huw Watkins, Peter Sculthorpe and Ross Edwards.

She also arranges repertoire for the saxophone, perhaps most notably the Philip Glass Violin Concerto which she recorded together with works by Michael Nyman and John Tavener with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Mikel Toms for Sony Music. Her previous album for Sony Music was Smile, which included works by Elgar, Pärt and Rachmaninov. Amy Dickson is an ambassador of the Prince’s Trust and the Australian Children’s Music Foundation. She is a Selmer Paris Performing Artist.

Eugene Fodor was a pupil of Heifetz pupil who became a 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition prizewinner.

Erich Leinsdorf conducts the Tchaikovsky; Peter Maag conducts the Mendelssohn.

Leonard Bernstein talks, plays the piano, leads his New York Philharmonic and even sings to present his view of 'Humor in Music'.

With his incomparable charm and erudition, André Previn plays 'Piano Pieces for Children', a collection of pieces by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky and Goddard Lieberson, played by one of the most versatile musicians of our day.

Tremendously virtuosic performances from Stravinsky’s most famous ballet scores – The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring – from conductor Ormandy and his "Fabulous Philadelphians".

Byron Janis began his extraordinary career as Horowitz’s star pupil.