New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-up - 29th September 2017
This week's pick of new releases includes chamber music from the Takács Quartet, trios from Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello) and Emanuel Ax (piano), an album of Lieder and duets from Carloyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies - plus a new recording of Peter and the Wolf with Alexander Armstrong.
Dvořák: String Quartet in A flat, Op. 105 & String Quintet in E flat, Op. 97 "American"
Takács Quartet, Lawrence Power (viola)
A new release from the Takács Quartet is guaranteed to be a highlight of the musical year, and this one exceeds all expectations. The ‘American’ quintet dates from Dvořák’s sojourn in the New World, the quartet from his return to old-world Prague; both are marvellous works, sounding here every bit the masterpieces they undoubtedly are.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
After the success of Angela Hewitt’s first album of Scarlatti sonatas, it is a joy to announce the appearance of a second. As Angela herself writes of this new selection, many fresh to her repertoire, this is ‘appealing, unique, dazzling’ music - performed here with the greatest of panache.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1-3 (Complete)
Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Emanuel Ax (piano)
World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his long-time collaborator, pianist Emanuel Ax, are joined by violinist Leonidas Kavakos in their first recording together of all three of the piano trios by Johannes Brahms. All three performers have been acclaimed for their interpretations of Brahms.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Lost Is My Quiet: Duets and Solo Songs
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Joseph Middleton (piano)
Carolyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies, in the company of pianist Joseph Middleton, explore Lieder for one and two voices by Mendelssohn and Schumann, combining them with songs and duets by Roger Quilter and Henry Purcell.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Alexander Armstrong (narrator), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko
Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong narrates Prokofiev's 'symphonic fairy tale for children', Peter and the Wolf, alongside Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals, and Alan Rawsthorne's settings of T.S. Eliot poems. For all three he is joined by the Royal Liverpool Philharmornic Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Originally released in 2015, this set from the Berliner Philharmoniker and Nikolaus Harnoncourt received high praise and is now being released in a budget version. It presents Schubert's eight symphonies on five CDs/SACDs which can be played on any CD/SACD player. The edition includes a top-quality slipcase and a comprehensive booklet.
Available Format: 5 SACDs
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (DVD)
Lauren Cuthbertson (Sugar-Plum Fairy), Federico Bonelli (Prince), Francesca Hayward (Clara), Alexander Campbell (Nutcracker), Gary Avis (Drosselmeyer), The Royal Ballet, Boris Gruzin
This performance of the quintessential Christmas ballet celebrated Peter Wright’s 90th birthday and is a production that has been in The Royal Ballet’s repertory for more than thirty years. With sumptuous period designs and spellbinding stage effects, The Nutcracker continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
Available Format: DVD Video
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Blu-ray)
Lauren Cuthbertson (Sugar-Plum Fairy), Federico Bonelli (Prince), Francesca Hayward (Clara), Alexander Campbell (Nutcracker), Gary Avis (Drosselmeyer), The Royal Ballet, Boris Gruzin
This performance of the quintessential Christmas ballet celebrated Peter Wright’s 90th birthday and is a production that has been in The Royal Ballet’s repertory for more than thirty years. With sumptuous period designs and spellbinding stage effects, The Nutcracker continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
Available Format: Blu-ray
James Longstaffe - Head of Retail
