Rota: The Godfather theme (Speak softly, love; Parla più piano)

Håkan Hardenberger has earned a reputation of breaking new ground for the trumpet, commissioning works from the world’s foremost composers.

On this disc, he shows a different side to himself in arrangements of his favourite songs and film themes.

Hardenberger is joined by his long-standing collaborators: the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the pianist Roland Pöntinen, who also has orchestrated several of the arrangements.

The Heinrich-Albert-Duo continues its European tour, concentrating on the golden age of the guitar in Italy in the early nineteenth century. This is a splendid display of guitar artistry.

The Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester perform famous pieces from recent films which have been arranged for the ensemble by Matthias Keller. The reduction for chamber orchestra gives these soundtracks directness and intimacy. The CD includes soundtracks from “Lord of the Rings”, “The Godfather”, “Miss Marple”, “Il Postino” and compositions by Morricone.

Andreas Blau was a soloist in the Berlin Philharmonic at the age of only twenty and has always been exploring the limits of his flute playing. He and his equally dextrous piano partner Hendrik Heilman deliver with light hand some two dozen great popular favourites from “Greensleeves” to “The Godfather”, in sophisticated arrangements. The CD includes works by Rota, Rodrigo and Rimsky Korsakov.

Brand new 3-disc set celebrating the 70th birthday of one of the greatest classical guitarists of all time. More than half a century after his recording career began John Williams continues to explore a variety of entirely new musical experiences. Showcasing the very best of this legendary artist’s virtuosic brilliance, this collection encompasses all of his greatest recordings, from Bach to Morricone to Spanish, African and Latin American music. Within this anthology, the music of John Williams can be heard in its full in his diverse roles as soloist, as romantic guitarist, and as a musician performing with friends such as Julian Bream or with leading orchestras and distinguished conductors.