Benjamin, A: Jamaican Rumba

Classical Music doesn’t get much more exciting than this! With the help of wonderful music (some familiar, some new) this collection encourages children to experience the fantastic array of world music styles and colourful portrayals of foreign lands in Classical Music. Featuring music from Debussy, Johann Strauss II, Copland and many others this selection will have kids thrilled with recreations of the American Wild West, learning the Jamaican Rumba, waltzing in Vienna and exploring the Steppes of Central Asia!

A fully illustrated 44 page booklet presents an adventure-filled journey around the world challenging the reader to listen, see and recreate the wonders of the countries they visit. The text is designed to be read either by an older child of 5 or 6 or with an adult for the younger children. The writer is Sarah Breeden noted for the fun and informative programmes she has written for the BBC Children’s Proms.

Matthew Trusler’s first concerto recording features two pieces premièred by Jascha Heifetz – the violin concertos of Erich Korngold and Miklós Rózsa, together with three short pieces that Heifetz popularised

Trusler performs as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout Europe, Australia, the USA, Japan and South Africa. He plays a 1711 Stradivarius and uses one of Heifetz’s own bows.

Yasuo Shinozaki has a fast developing international reputation and he has conducted many of the major orchestras in the UK, Europe and Asia.

The Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra has a long and fascinating history and counts Mendelssohn, Schumann as past Music Directors. The Orchestra performs around 250 concerts per year throughout Europe, China and Japan.

Trusler was hailed by The Times as “an authentic, though British, virtuoso”

The Daily Telegraph declared that “Trusler assumes the Heifetz (and Perlman) mantle with ease”.

All instruments courtesy of the Fulton Collection

2008 Grammy and Gramophone Award winner James Ehnes pays tribute to the world's most celebrated violin-makers in this unique ONYX project featuring performances on 12 of the greatest instruments ever made. The Fulton Collection is perhaps the most important private collection in the world and contains many examples of the legendary names Stradivari, Guarneri, da Salo and Guadagnini. For example, the priceless La Pucelle has never been heard in a recording, and the Lord Wilton was Yehudi Menuhin’s last instrument.

Ehnes performs 21 selections in a carefully planned recital programme specially chosen to suit each instrument and to work on its own terms. It finishes with a section comparing each instrument in an excerpt of the same piece, a unique opportunity to contrast the sound qualities of these spectacular instruments.

Ehnes says of the instruments: “I didn't want to spare them a full workout. I wanted to select repertoire that would show off their particular tonal characteristics and push them to the limit and me to my limit as well."

The DVD has the complete performances plus spectacular close-ups of the instruments and substantial interview sequences - Strads vs Guarneris, the importance of the bow, Ehnes’ relationship with the Fulton Collection and his preparation for the recording sessions. David Fulton also talks about his passion for collecting these rare instruments and says: “Ehnes is the only one who could have done this and is today’s David Oistrakh.” The highly collectible package includes detailed notes by Ehnes himself.