Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux: Le Cygne (The Swan)

In a century mostly inspired by German romantic orchestral pieces, Saint-Saëns considered wind instruments as on the same level as violin and piano. He is the origin of the French Wind tradition and in the evening of his life, aged 85, came back to composing sonatas turning to wind instruments with enthusiasm.

Eric Aubier has chosen works linked to the impressionist representation of the world. He includes arrangements of well known works by Mussorgsky, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel, Chabrier Ibert and Saint-Saens. The CD is beautifully presented with its own mini impressionist gallery.

Saint-Saëns wrote a considerable amount of chamber pieces during his life, and his works for cello are seen as some of the most supreme for the cello repertoire.

Christian Poltéra and Kathryn Stott, best known for her performances of French repertoire perform Saint-Saëns melodic cello Sonatas, coupled with the legendary ‘Swan’ from The Carnival of the Animals. Romances Op.36 and Op.51 and Prière, Op.158 complete this programme.

Saint-Saens remains one of the most important composers for the cello, and his contributions are considerable.

Poltéra and Stott collaborate regularly in chamber music performances across the world and have recently recorded Faure Cello Sonatas for Chandos: ‘[Christian Poltéra]… is a fine choice of cellist for the two Sonatas. He phrases sensitively and makes the most of the composer’s dynamic markings… Kathryn Stott’s an ideal partner, managing her pedalling levels to produce a variety of textures.’ BBC Music Magazine

A fine collection of some of the most wonderful short romantic pieces composed for piano – perfect for dinner parties!

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1956 and 1958, remastered at Abbey Road Studios in 2009 from the original EMI/HMV tapes.

Featuring many tracks never heard before on CD.

Most tracks are issued here in stereo for the first time.

Includes unpublished versions of Chopin Ballade No. 3 & Gershwin Preludes.

All tracks are issued here on CD for the first time in stereo.

Includes, for the first time on CD, Litolff's 'Scherzo' with BBC SO / Sargent.

A significant historical classical piano release to compliment the limited Cherkassky discography.

Substantial two hours worth of music.

"A performance of the greatest virtuosity and elegance" Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 Gramophone, Nov 1957 (original mono version issue)

"[Beethoven, Poulenc, Chasins]…Cherkassky invests every one with enormous panache and wit. These are great performances that have more character in a single bar than the average modernday Wunderkind could find in a whole work…" Classical Source - mono version re-issue

Virtually all the pieces in this recital were written by pianist-composers rather than composer-pianists, the majority prominent at the turn of the century. And they are somehow part and parcel of a 19th-century tradition, a love of encores, of the teasing and delectable. They could also be considered an overspill from several great pianist’s careers, lavishly extending both style and technique.

"The most perfect piano playing conceivable" The Guardian

"A virtuoso who begins where others leave off" Washington Post

Following on from his successful debut recording on Claves, Liszt / two piano concertos, Joseph Moog is back with a recital programme centered around the art of transcription. Metamorphose(n) includes transcriptions from Liszt, Friedman, Busoni, Moszkowski as well as the ‘master of the art’ Leopold Godowsky.

These works are both sweepingly romantic and an acid test for any player’s technical finesse. Apart from the popular First Concerto and the ubiquitous “Swan”, Saint-Saëns composed a Second Cello Concerto in addition to several other shorter works for Cello and orchestra, most of which are seldom heard in performance. Stunning performances from the young start cellist, Johannes Moser.