Tracklista:1. Del lagrimoso lido, chamber cantata for soprano & continuo ("Euridice dall'Inferno") 13:372. Sonata for cello & continuo in C minor (doubtful) 8:073. Work(s): Toccata in A major: 1. [Allegro] 2:554. Work(s): Toccata in A major: 2. Giga 1:545. La concettione della beata vergine, oratorio for soloists, strings & continuo 30:50
Live performance from operatic soprano Hibla Gerzmava, recorded in October 2013 at the Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow International House of Music. Conducted by Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and baritone Arsen Sogomonyan accompany Hibla as she sings works by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Strauss.
Corelli's Concerti grossi attained great fame already during his lifetime and were models for numerous European composers – especially in England, enthusiasm for his works assumed the characteristics of a true "mania". In Rome, contemporary colleagues and critics were particularly struck by their unusually large ensembles. In contemporary sources which go into precise detail concerning the performing musicians, one also finds references to the expansion of the orchestra by two trumpets and one trombone. The otherwise well-known works of Corelli are rarely heard in this expansive, brilliant orchestration. Harmonie Universelle now aims to fill this gap with the present recording.
During 16th and 17th centuries, English music was highly original and unique both in its forms and its characteristic mood. Melancholy was the prevailing mood everywhere on the continent in those days, but it was particularly characteristic of the work of British intellectuals, writers, and composers — from the most obscure to the likes of Shakespeare, Dowland, Locke, Blow and Purcell. The Anthems and Songs on this CD reveal some of the most touching pieces from this era.Under the artistic direction of Matthew White, Les Voix Baroques is an ensemble of vocal soloists that works in conjunction with prominent instrumentalists, ensembles and music directors to present vocal works from, and related to, the Renaissance and Baroque, in formats ranging from traditional concerts to fully staged operatic events. Alexander Weimann is currently artistic director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and one of the most sought after ensemble leaders, soloists, and chamber music partners of his generation.
“This curious conglomeration of concertos is a celebration of contrasts”. Thus begins Kah-Ming Ng's introduction to this collection of works from the 18th century. Although none of the composers featured may be familiar, each work has been picked for it's fine technical skill and illuminating sound, taking inspiration from the 18th century definition of curious as being rare, excellent and fine. Includes works by Paradis, Reichenauer, Berlin, Pepusch, Hertel, Croft and Baldassari.Charivari Agréable have established themselves as one of the UKs leading early music ensembles – in 2010 they collaborated with The King's Singers on an album of Pachelbel's Vespers, currently their best-selling album on Signum, after it featured heavily on BBC Radio 3.“For those who know Pachelbel only through the Canon, this disc will be revelatory ... Each piece is beautifully served by the ensemble.”"The title of the ensemble and their new disc are both pertinent, it’s an agreeable collection full of curiosities … Ng’s notes do a decent job of describing the impact of Vivaldi and his fellow Italians on the music scene in England"Andrew McGregor – BBC Radio 3, CD Review, April 2011 "The highlight is Pietro Domenico Paradies' aptly-titled "A Favourite Concerto", a delightful harpsichord piece that affords the ensemble's director Kah-Ming Ng full rein to display his keyboard prowess."The Independent "This is a disc for adventurous music-lovers who like to extend their horizon and are not satisfied with listening to the same masterpieces over and over again. Charivari Agréable deserve our congratulations with this 20th volume in their impressive discography. May many more follow."MusicWeb International
Dvorák's music for violin and piano comes from many periods in his career. An early Sonata in A minor of 1873 is lost. Of the works which do survive, several, including the Notturno and Four Romantic Pieces, are skilful arrangements of earlier works (the Notturno is a reworking of the central section of the E minor String Quartet, while the Four Pieces were originally written for viola and piano).There are two extensive compositions exclusively for violin and piano: the Sonata in F major, interestingly designated by the composer as being for 'piano and violin', and the popular Sonatina in G major, composed during his stay in America. Both are models of perfection in this most relaxed of chamber-music genres.
Tracklista: 1. I Feel Love 2. Love To Love You Baby 3. I Remember Yesterday 4. On My Honor 5. Faster And Faster To Nowhere 6. MacArthur Park 7. Heaven Knows - Donna Summer, Brooklyn Dreams 8. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand 9. Pandora's Box 10. On The Radio 11. I Love You 12. Bad Girls 13. She Works Hard For The Money 14. Dim All The Lights 15. Unconditional Love - Donna Summer, Musical Youth 16. Hot Stuff 17. Last Dance
Tracklista:1. From the Bottom of Your Heart2. It's So Easy3. I Wish I Gave You More Time Because I Love You4. Closer5. Fall Off6. I Sure Want To7. Things to Keep Up With8. Your Head Your Mind9. Why It Works Out Fine10. The Mornings11. Cut Me Loose12. All That Your Dreams Taught Me13. Seems So Hard14. Weekend
Famed for his piano miniatures and his fantastically elaborate transcriptions, Godowsky wrote only two large-scale original works for the piano. The huge five-movement Sonata (1910/11), one of the most imposing works of its type, is powerfully dramatic and, like most Godowsky, often very contrapuntal. It has a beautiful slow movement, a delightful scherzo, and a monumental 20-minute finale that includes a fugue on the name B-A-C-H. It deserves to be far better known. The Passacaglia was written in 1927 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Schubert's death, and is subtitled '44 variations, cadenza and fugue on the opening theme of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony'. The piece has earned a reputation as being among the most difficult in the repertoire, partly because of Horowitz's flippant comment that it required six hands to play it - it is in fact superbly pianistic. This is the first time that these two works have appeared on the same disc. Anyone who has heard Marc-André Hamelin's Gramphone Award-winning set of Godowsky's complete Studies after Chopin's Etudes will want this equally phenomenal follow-up. The performances are spectacular.
Recorded and released in the ‘anniversary year’ of both Handel and Haydn, Hyperion’s Record of the Month is an effusive celebration of the two composers, performed by an artist whose renditions of 17th- and 18th-century keyboard works on the piano have received the highest possible acclaim. This recital is a welcome gesture from the ‘high priestess of Bach’ (Sunday Times). As you will hear, Hewitt’s trademark clarity of line, singing tone and instinctive musicality are perfectly suited to the urbane elegance of the works recorded here. In a fascinating and personal booklet note, Angela Hewitt takes the listener through her own childhood experiences of the works of Handel and Haydn that led her to select the works for this disc, and includes an interesting discussion of historical performance practice. This is an enchanting release that will delight Angela’s legion of fans.