Kreisler: Praeludium and Allegro (in the style of Pugnani)

Along with his friend Caruso, Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962) was one of the superstars of the early gramophone era. He was “the master musician among the violinists of the day” (New York Times); he died 50 years ago (29 January 1962). As a composer, he is famous for his Viennese-style melodies, such as Liebesfreud and Liebesleid, for his notorious pieces “in the style of” various 18th-century masters (which he passed off as their original works, claiming to have rediscovered them in old manuscripts), and for his arrangements of well-known works by other composers.

We remember one of the world’s greatest violinists with an enticing 2CD set that includes a first time release on CD of a tribute LP from 1961, original Kreisler recordings, and an array of great modern violinists playing his works.

Tasmin Little’s formidable technical ability and gift for interpretation are unmistakable in this collection of showpieces. Displaying her brilliant virtuosity and captivating lyricism, and including her own witty Tchaikovskiana, written in collaboration with John Lenehan, these works highlight Little’s breathtaking skill as a performer.

22 miniatures for violin & piano, including Praeludium and Allegro, Liebesteid, Liebesfreud, Schon Rosmarin, Caprice Viennois, Tambourin Chinois, Rondino on a theme by Beethoven, Ave Maria (Schubert), Arioso (Bach).

Violinist David Garrett’s long-lost fifth album for DG is a true treasure-trove of youthful interpretive genius. 14 documents the extraordinary and prodigious talent of the then 14-year-old Garrett – still the youngest male artist ever to sign to the Yellow Label, and now a global celebrity who fills stadiums with fans of his distinct brand of classical and crossover magic.

This album offers a glimpse of where it all began: the teenage Garrett performing a bouquet of popular yet technically challenging violin hits, including Paganini’s La Campanella, Dvořák’s Humoresque, Schubert’s Ave Maria, Kreisler’s Liebslied and Tartini’s famous Devil’s Trill sonata.

It shows why today’s icon of classical cool was destined to collect 600,000-plus Facebook fans, 5 million-plus YouTube hits, and sell over 750,000 copies of his Rock Symphonies album alone.

Meditation is a collection great works of a contemplative nature from the violin repertoire.

David Garrett’s new classical CD/DVD is the Beethoven Violin Concerto - a LEGACY to Beethoven (and Kreisler). This is an opportunity for fans of the 31-year-old German-born violinist, familiar with his rock-inspired concerts and CDs to discover his first love – classical music.

The DVD part is divided into two sections; first: Live In Baden-Baden, Filmed At Festspielhaus. Live in Baden-Baden shows Garrett performing with The National Philharmonic Of Russia, and being led at the baton by Vladimir Spivakov and Lorenzo Coladonato; a phenomenal performance. Second comes, Playing For My Life – a career defining documentary on the life and work of David Garrett following his meteoric rise to fame and the new recording of his Legacy album.

Legacy is a message from the man himself that he has never really been away. Throughout his rock-violin crossover years, playing pure classical violin has remained central to David Garrett’s life and work.

BONUS DVD – Playing For My Life

Live In Baden-Baden Live Concert

Playing For My Life Documentary

For decades Fritz Kreisler duped his audiences into thinking that many of his works for violin and piano were arrangements of compositions by other composers such as Stamitz, Vivaldi, Couperin, Dittersdorf or Porpora. Only a handful of friends and fellow musicians who knew the nature of this charming and casually relaxed violinist, knew these were actually the works of Kreisler himself. It was only when he was aged sixty he publicly and freely admitted he concealed most of his own works behind the names of 17th and 18th century masters. Kreisler is today regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.

Kreisler wrote a number of pieces for the violin, including the ‘Liebesleid’ and ‘Liebesfreud’ arranged for piano and strings on this recording, that are frequently performed by violinists today as ‘encore’ solos.

The three works presented here are performed by one of the world’s leading ensembles, Budapest Strings.

Reissue of previously released title.

Violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti is recognized for her musical elegance and grace. Her playing has been described as “breathtakingly rich in tone and color” (St. Petersburg Times).

Praised by The American Record Guide as a “brilliant soloist” and The Oregonian for “a performance that glowed with inner warmth...” she has received numerous accolades for her musical artistry and technique. Many of her performances have been streamed online and broadcast on FM radio, including Performance Today. Her extensive solo and chamber music appearances have taken her across the United States and abroad, performing in such venues as New York’s Weill Recital Hall, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, Cleveland’s Severance Hall, Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, Tampa’s Morsani Hall, Gonfalone Oratory in Rome, Italy, and Edinburgh Castle.

Praised for her “big piano presence” (American Record Guide), Elizabeth Pridgen has distiguished herself as a soloist and avid chamber musician. Ms. Pridgen has recently joined the Georgian Chamber Players and is a member of Trio RPM with violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti and cellist Christopher Rex. A graduate of the Juilliard School and Peabody Conservatory of Music, Ms. Pridgen is currently a Distinguished Artist and Piano Chair at the McDuffie Center for Strings and holds the G. Leslie Fabian Chair of Music at the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University.

Robert McDuffie has appeared as soloist with most of the major orchestras of the world. He gave the World Premiere, with the Toronto Symphony, of Violin Concerto No. 2, “The American Four Seasons” - a work written by Philip Glass for Robert McDuffie. McDuffie is a GRAMMY® nominated artist, whose acclaimed recordings include the violin concertos of Mendelssohn, Bruch, Adams, Glass, Barber, Rozsa, Bernstein, William Schuman, and Viennese favorites. Robert McDuffie holds the Genelle and Mansfield Jennings Distinguished University Professor Chair at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon, Georgia. He is also the founder of The Rome Chamber Music Festival.

Recorded by Multi-GRAMMY award winning engineer Leslie Anne Jones, this album is truly a sonic feast for lovers of the violin and chamber music.