Brahms: Waltz, Op. 39 No. 15 in A flat major

The years 1919-24 saw Fritz Kreisler re-establish himself after the First World War. Initial hostility to him in America was eventually overcome, and the resumption of his recording schedule saw a steady stream of inimitable offerings from the most beloved violinist of the time. There are rarities in this sequence of acoustic sides, not least his recording of black American Clarence Cameron White’s spiritual setting and an elusive 1921 recording of Charles Dawes’s Melody in A. Additionally, Kreisler never rerecorded his beautiful performance of his own Aucassin and Nicolette.

Ward Marston, producer and audio restoration producer

Lipatti’s recorded legacy is small. Regis presents a selection of his recordings for EMI which best display this iconic pianist’s artistic diversity. Included are sonatas by Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin and his compatriot Enescu and extracts from Brahms’ Waltzes Op.39 with Nadia Boulanger.

'To his wife he [Lipatti] said, "You see, it is not enough to be a great composer. To write music like that you must be a chosen instrument of God." By the same light we may say that it is not enough to be a great pianist: to play as Lipatti played you must be a chosen instrument of God. God lent the world His chosen instrument who we called Dinu Lipatti for too brief a space.’ Walter Legge

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).

IMPROMPTU features Dublin-born pianist, Finghin Collins. With 19 tracks, Finghin explores the classics of the piano repertoire ranging from Handel's Harmonious Blacksmith, Mozart's Rondo alla Turca, Daquin's Le Coucou to Chopin's Minute Waltz and the virtuosic Flight of the Bumblebee.

Finghin Collins was anxious to include some less familiar works on IMPROMPTU and so the CD begins with miniature painting of a feathery snowfall, The Snow is Dancing from Debussy's Children's Corner Suite. Look out also for Janacek's evocative The Madonna of Frydek and the cheering lilt of nineteenth century Irish composer John Field's Rondo in E flat.

Since winning first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Vevey, Switzerland in 1999, Finghin Collins has enjoyed a busy career that embraces Ireland, Europe and the United States. He has performed with leading orchestras and conductors around the world and enjoys huge popularity in Ireland.

This collection features some of the greatest composers ever to record, along with disciples playing pieces by their masters.

The disciples fall largely into two main ‘schools’: the Chopin/Schumann axis and the Liszt/Leschetizky group, offering piquant contrast in the piano styles that survived in the playing of Artur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz, respectively.

The recordings were selected for performance quality as well as historical and sonic considerations.

Audio conservation: Ward Marston

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

Arthur Rubinstein, Dame Myra Hess and Vladimir de Pachmann are among the great pianists featured on these piano roll recordings. Made between 1905 and 1925 these are truly historical documents, captured in the extraordinary sound of the piano roll to give us fresh and modern sounding performances.

A welcome break after a hard day's work! The lark, the ash and the English country garden are celebrated in gentle piano music and English folk song. The plaintive oboe and the haunting sounds of the lute and flute add to the atmosphere of calm and contemplation.