Casals: El Cant dels Ocells (Song of the birds)

In describing ¡España!, Mischa Maisky has stated, “I’ve included Spanish music in my programmes for many years and have been waiting for a chance to record these pieces.” This is his first album with his daughter, the gifted pianist Lily Maisky. Mischa Maisky, “the genius of the cello” (Melómano, Madrid), says that “Emotionally speaking, I feel very close to this music. Wherever I play Granados, Falla and Albéniz onstage, the response is always hugely enthusiastic.”

From Newton Classics comes an innovative new compilation: fourteen ‘songs’, all transcribed for double bass, hailing from countries all over the world.

Compiled by the performer Sciascia, the release effectively sweeps across mainland Asia detailing works taken from the Far East, Europe and the Middle East. From Max Bruch’s highly sentimental Kol Nidrei, originally written for cello and orchestra and based on two Jewish themes, to Spain’s intoxicating Cancion de Amor, the CD documents a wealth of traditional melodies. Also featured are more recent contributions – such as the Japanese Aijyou (meaning ‘friendship’), which Yoshihiro Utsumi wrote especially for the bassist.

Providing a fascinating insight into the variety of culture found across the globe, Sciascia blends the familiar with the lesser known to present a compilation that brims with colour.

The talented bassist’s choice of cantabile repertoire reflects his long-standing wish to play the double bass as if it were a human voice, and he has achieved just that: this is an admirable follow-up to Sciascia’s last Bottesini recording for Newton, revealing once again how an instrument not generally associated with solo repertoire is capable of holding its own – and to great effect.

Stefano Sciascia was born in 1960 and took up the bass at the age of sixteen. He is now a busy and much-recorded bass soloist, who has formed numerous ensembles and published many collections of arrangements and original works.

A wonderful collection of solo cello works from the award winning Russian cellist Boris Andrianov, featuring the sublime Pablo Casals composition Song of the Birds. Boris Andrianov was awarded a Gramophone Editor’s Choice for his previous Quartz release – Shostakovich and Rachmaninov Cello Sonatas (QTZ2053)

Les Violoncelles Français first appeared in concert together in 2006: eight leading figures of the French school of cellists, they perform here as a consort in homage to violists of an earlier period. They play an entirely new set of transcriptions taken from mainstream repertoire in this, their first recording, arranged by Roland Pidoux.

Penelope and Alexander present a selection of the most attractive and interesting cello and piano works in the current repertoire, from the more well-known soulful Elegies to the more moving works such as David Wilde’s commemoration of a bombing in Sarajevo, and Dickinson’s Threnody.

Following on from their successful first CD for Cello Classics, “Jaguar Songs”, named Editor’s Choice by Strings magazine, Cello Classics are delighted to announce the release of CC1025 – Song of the Birds – Spanish & Latin Cello.

Featuring music by de Falla, Sarasate, Piazzolla, Granados, Cassadó, Ginastera and Casals, cellist Nancy Green and pianist Tannis Gibson give stunning virtuoso performances overflowing with Latin fervour.

The Calvert-Turner Cello and Harp Duo gave their first concert in 2003 and have performed all over the UK to great critical acclaim. This disc is unique due to its combination of beautiful works for cello with piano or orchestral accompaniment, interpreted by Eleanor Turner at the harp, and original Cello and Harp duets. The release also features a premiere recording of an original Cello and Harp Sonata by the legendary Ravi Shankar.

Renowned for his splendid Bach interpretations, Lluís Claret here offers an exceptional overview of some of the most outstanding cello works of several generations of Catalan composers. Recorded in the Abbey of Fontfroide, selected by many historicist groupings because of its excellent acoustics, on this compact disc Claret renders heartfelt homage to those who were his musical references and to the composers most admired and influential throughout his career, whose works have for many years made up his concert programmes to the delight of critics and public. Especially emotive are his readings of the Suite en re menor (1973) by the man who was for years his beloved maestro, Enric Casals, brother of the great Pablo Casals and, in particular, the Cant dels Ocells, the popular melody which Casals himself converted into the musical seal of Catalonia.