Ivor Bolton conducts symphonies by the Italian-born classical era composer Muzio Clementi, cellist Leonard Elschenbroich provides a perfect introduction to the musical world of Alfred Schnittke, and Ann Hallenberg explore the music performed by the infamous castrato Farinelli in this week's roundup. Also released is a disc of organ transcriptions performed by Olivier Latry on the organ of the newly opened Paris Philharmonie, and a classic performance of Schubert's Winterreise from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Alfred Brendel on DVD.
Clementi: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Ivor Bolton
Muzio Clementi was an Italian-born English composer, pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer. This release features the four symphonies (C Major, G Major, and two in D Major) over two discs conducted by the orchestra's esteemed principal conductor, Ivor Bolton.
Available Formats: FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Schnittke: Musica Nostalgica
Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Petr Limonov (piano)
For those wanting to explore the music of Alfred Schnittke, this CD is the perfect place to start. The disc ends with a highly personal musical memorial to Schnittke by Leonard Elschenbroich as both composer and performer, who has had since his early years a deep interest in both the man and music.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Farinelli - A Portrait
Ann Hallenberg (mezzo-soprano), Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset
The idea for this programme featuring mezzo Ann Hallenberg, recorded in concert in Bergen, was to mix the emblematic arias of Gérard Corbiau's 1994 film, Farinelli, with other works from Farinelli's repertoire and to relate the two periods of his career: the first, virtuosic and flamboyant, and a second, melancholic, introverted and sensitive.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Voyages - Organ transcriptions
Olivier Latry (organ of the Paris Philharmonie)
The first album to be recorded on the spectacular new organ of the Paris Philharmonie, includes transcriptions of showpieces by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Saint-Saëns, and others, demonstrating both the symphonic capacities of the organ and the artistry of Olivier Latry.
Available Formats: Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Schubert: Winterreise Live from the Siemensvilla, Berlin, 1979 (DVD)
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Alfred Brendel (piano)
In this recording made for the Sender Freies Berlin in January 1979, we see two of the leading musicians of their day in the prime of their lives and at the very peak of their art and experience appearing together in the service of Schubert’s Winterreise. Both had performed the work together frequently between 1975 and 1989. This recording of rehearsal and concert offers a glance into the development of a masterly interpretation of a masterwork.
Available Format: DVD Video
