Hi-Res Highlights,
Hi-Res Highlights - November 2017
This month's highlights include the start of a promising new Prokofiev cycle from Vladimir Jurowski and The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, an all-star collection of Debussy's sonatas, Dmitri Hvorostovsky's first complete recording of Verdi's Rigoletto, and centenary celebrations of Gara Garayev and Leonard Bernstein.
The first instalment of a complete cycle of Prokofiev's symphonic works, in which Jurowski intends to 'open up a whole new sound-world, especially to Western ears'.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Debussy: Sonate & Trio
Emmanuel Pahud, Renaud Capuçon. Bertrand Chamayou, Edgar Moreau, Bertrand Chamayou, Gerard Caussé, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Renaud Capuçon
Recently described by the Sunday Times as 'pure enchantment', this celebration of Debussy's upcoming centenary centres on the sonatas for cello, violin, and flute & harp.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Captured in concert in May and December last year (the latter marked the veteran pianist's 93rd birthday), this set preserves what may be Pressler's final interpretations of Mozart on record.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The three great late sonatas are performed here on a replica of Beethoven's own piano, fitted with a reconstruction of the 'Gehörmaschine' which aided his hearing in his final years.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
JS Bach - Small Gifts
Dorothee Oberlinger (recorder/director), Andreas Scholl (countertenor); Ensemble 1700
Includes complete performances of 'Vergnügte Ruh' and the Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 & 4 as well as excerpts from four other cantatas and an arrangement of a harpsichord concerto for flute.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
The Choir of King's College Cambridge & Britten Sinfonia, Stephen Cleobury
Released in anticipation of next year's Bernstein centenary, this recording offers a rare opportunity to hear one of his best-loved choral works in the composer's own version for choir, organ, percussion and harp.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Gara Garayev: Sonata for Violin and Piano & 24 Preludes
Vadim Repin (violin) & Murad Huseynov (piano)
2018 also marks the hundredth birthday of Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev; the neo-Classicism of the Violin Sonata is here contrasted with the Azeri-influenced Preludes for piano.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
A due alti - Duos for countertenors
Filippo Mineccia (alto), Raffaele Pé (alto); La Venexiana, Claudio Cavina
Pé and Mineccia explore neglected 'duetti da camera' by Handel's Italian rivals, Agostino Steffani, Giovanni Bononcini, Cristoforo Caresana and Benedetto Marcello.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Verdi: Rigoletto
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rigoletto), Nadine Sierra (Gilda), Francesco Demuro (Duca), Andrea Mastroni (Sparafucile), Oksana Volkova (Maddalena); Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian
The great Russian baritone's first complete recording of Rigoletto is complemented by Francesco Demuro's lithe, fresh-voiced Duke and Nadine Sierra's fragile Gilda.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
David Smith - Head of Digital
