Chopin: Nocturne No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1

The Japanese concert pianist Dai Asai expresses his love to Chopin in this recording of his most beloved and legendary Nocturnes, the Barcarolle, Ballade and Fantasie Impromptu – this is performend on a Steinway Concert Grand D Hamburg and recorded with the most state of the art digital microphone technology without any loss in the signal chain – directly from the microphone membrane to the Harddisc Recorder, mastered in True Peak EBU R128 standard for most natural dynamic and most excellent sound quality. Running Time 74:40 – PCM Stereo

REVOLUTIONARY SOUND QUALITY: This is the one of the first HD Audio productions in line produced without compromise using the Direct A/D (analog to digital) technique which delivers the culmination of sound clarity realized by the use of the state-of-the-art digital microphone system that transfers the direct signal with a dynamic range of up to 130dB by eliminating all sound shaping and dynamic loss creating stages in the signal path such as cables, non optimal preamps, AD converters or limiters. The result is the highest achievable and unmatched signal to noise ratio. True-Peak EBU R128 Mastering guarantees uncompressed fully natural dynamics from total silence to ultimate peak level without any noise or distortion.

Sono Luminus is proud to present this two-disc set from pianist Michael Landrum, 'Nocturnes', bringing together a plethora of composers’ works that enliven the nocturne genre of music.

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Michael Landrum received the Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College and the Master of Fine Arts degree from California Institute of the Arts. After earning his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Temple University, he became Professor of Music and Film Studies at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York.

In 1976, Mr Landrum won first prize in the J S Bach International Competition for Pianists in Washington DC. During his doctoral studies in Philadelphia, Michael Landrum was a student of Harvey Wedeen. He also studied for a number of years with Edna Golandsky in New York City and was a frequent participant in master classes with Dorothy Taubman. In June of 2005, he presented a Nocturne Lecture/Recital at Columbia Artists Management Hall in New York.

The nocturne genre has long been a topic of interest to Mr Landrum. He has had the opportunity to share his insights into this ever-evolving repertoire on many occasions throughout the country.

Ewa Kupiec studied at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, so is closely connected to the music of Chopin and other Polish composers. She regularly performs at the world’s leading festivals and with major orchestras and has worked with many eminent conductors.

This new release follows Nick Parnell’s successful solo classical vibraphone debut album (ABC47562838).

Nick actively embraces the crossover between different musical genres.

This artist has broadcast widely and premiered many compositions.

The final album in Bruce Levingston’s three-part series, Still Sound contains intimate works featuring world premiere recordings of Pulitzer Prize-winner William Bolcom’s “New York Lights” written for Bruce Levingston, and Augusta Gross’ new works inspired by Satie and Pärt.

Reflecting on this album, Levingston writes, “As I first listened to this collection of intimate, gentle music, I kept thinking how much it evokes a feeling of timelessness and stillness. From the minimal sounds of Arvo Pärt and Erik Satie to the reflective pieces of Augusta Gross and William Bolcom, each work, their harmonic and rhythmic movement notwithstanding, suggests a kind of spiritual stasis. Even the Romantic works of Schubert and Chopin, with their moments of surging emotion, possess magical, hypnotic qualities that lull the listener into a state of calm. The consistent impression of tranquility and serenity in these beautiful works led me to call this album Still Sound.”

Bruce Levingston is one of the leading figures on the contemporary music scene. Many of the country’s most important composers have written works for him and his Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center world premiere performances of their works have won notable critical acclaim. The New York Times calls him “[one] of “today’s most adventurous musicians” and describes his performances as “graceful,” “dreamy” and “hauntingly serene”; The New Yorker describes him as “a poetic pianist who has a gift for inventive—and glamorous— programming.” Following a recent performance in the historic Coolidge Auditorium at The Library of Congress, The Washington Post praised his “ wonderfully even touch” and “transparency and timeless reverie, which Levingston projected beautifully.”

Levingston’s first CD for Sono Luminus, Heart Shadow (DSL92137), was comprised of three major piano works inspired by literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It received high critical acclaim and was named “Album of the Week” by New York City’s WQXR.

Zachery Lewis of The Cleveland Pain Dealer called Levingston’s account of Schumann’s “Kreisleriana” “vivid and richly expressive, a notable reading” and Levingston’s world premiere recording of Bielawa and Wuorinen “a gripping, dynamic performance”. The second album in this triptych, Nightbreak (DSL-92144), contains Mr. Levingston’s signature creative programming with elegant and poetic interpretations of nocturnes and waltzes by Liszt, Brahms and Wolfgang Rihm. In addition, he has recorded Liszt’s magnificent, impressionistic “Les jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este”, a tour de force of color and chiaroscuro in sound.

Still only 23, the Belgian harpist is making a name for herself as one of the finest young harpists of today. Anneleen Lenaerts made her debut at the Wigmore Hall and has performed all over Europe to great acclaim. In December 2010 she was appointed Principal Harp of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Chopin was a unique composer. Among the plethora of the 19th century musical geniuses, he is a personality who, 200 years on, has millions of passionate adherents all over the world. This delightful recording demonstrates the compositional wealth of Chopin’s works and has been thoughtfully brought together by the talented young pianist Marek Szlezer.