During the 1990s, Collegium Musicum 90 and Simon Standage released several volumes of Albinoni concertos, which proved popular with critics and public alike. The concertos were released as discs of single oboe concertos, double oboe concertos, and string concertos. In this re-issue on the Chaconne label, the concertos are presented in opus number order, showing the contrasting colours and tonalities of the concertos as they originally appeared.Dating back to the second decade of the eighteenth century, Albinoni’s twenty-four Concerti a cinque, Opp. 7 and 9 – eight for a single oboe, eight for two oboes, and eight for strings alone – were the earliest such works by an Italian composer to be published. Here the oboe functions, in its relationship with the strings, almost like a singer. The fact that the composer entitled these works ‘Concerti con oboe’ (with oboe), not ‘per oboe’ (for oboe), signifies that the strings (and in particular the first violin) play a role nearly as important as the wind instrument. An interesting contrast between the opus numbers can be found within the double oboe concerto form, with those belonging to Op. 7 boasting an almost Vivaldian vigour and much variety in texture, while the later works are consistently larger in scale, and more regular in form. Among string concertos, Op. 9 No. 7 is the most elaborate concerto for solo violin by Albinoni, and Op. 9 No. 10 the last example of its type in the composer’s oeuvre.Founded by Simon Standage and the late Richard Hickox, Collegium Musicum 90 has a well-established reputation for its performances of baroque and classical music using period instruments, its repertoire ranging from chamber pieces to large-scale works for choir and orchestra. Under its exclusive contract with Chandos Records, Collegium Musicum 90 has made more than sixty critically acclaimed CDs. The ensemble is joined here by the two oboe soloists Catherine Latham and Anthony Robson. Internationally recognised as a leader in the field of performance on historical oboes, Robson is Principal with both Collegium Musicum 90 and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

• Wykonawca Robson Anthony , Latham Catherine , Collegium Musicum 90
• Data premiery 2013-03-01
• Nośnik CD

Długie i wpływowe życie Gabriela Fauré przypadło w okresie romantyzmu oraz wczesnego modernizmu. Kompozytor wzbogacił liczne gatunki muzyczne swym niezwykle subtelnym i rozpoznawalnym językiem, który chwyta słuchacza za serce dyskretnym pięknej i szalenie osobistą ekspresją. Jego dzieła, które znalazły się w tej kolekcji, wykonywane są przez plejadę artystów emblematycznych dla interpretacji francuskiego repertuaru. Tracklista: CD 1-4      Piano Works:          Nocturnes       Préludes       Barcarolles       Thème & Variations       Ballade     5 Impromptus       4 Valses-caprices       8 Pièces brèves       Mazurka       3 Romances sans paroles CD 5-9:         Chamber Music     Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2     Berceuse       Romance       Andante     2 Morceaux de concours       Sicilienne       Elégie       Romance     Papillon       Sérénade     Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2       Fantaisie       Piano Trio     Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2       Piano Quintets Nos. 1 & 2       String Quartet     Dolly       Intermède symphonique       Souvenir de Bayreuth       Allegro symphonique CD 10-12:     Orchestral & Choral Works       Ballade       Elégie       Berceuse       Fantaisie       Les Djinns       Caligula     Prélude de Pénélope     Pelléas et Mélisande       Masques et Bergamasques       Shylock     Requiem Cantique de Jean Racine

• Wykonawca Collard Jean-Philippe , Plasson Michel
• Data premiery 2018-08-24
• Nośnik CD

It was In 1909 that Serge Dighilev first presented the „Ballets Russes” In Monte-Carlo, with performances of The sumptuous Works of Mikhail Fokine, the company’s choreographer. In 1911, the company settled in Monaco, under the patronage of the Princess, and the Principality became its home  and playground, a creative laboratory in which a succession of exceptional works were conceived of and presented. This “Belle époque”, where risks were taken in equal proportion to the juxtaposition of artistic talents, ended with the beginnings of war in 1914.

• Wykonawca Various Artists
• Data premiery 2011-07-01
• Nośnik CD

Gwiazda Mystic Festival, fińska grupa Nightwish, prezentuje nowy album! Płyta nosi tytuł „Human.: II: Nature” i ukazuje się 10 kwietnia 2020 roku. Będzie to podwójny album, zawierający 9 utworów na pierwszej płycie i jedną długą, podzieloną na osiem podtytułów, kompozycję, która znajdzie się na dysku drugim. Lider zespołu, Tuomas Holopainen, powiedział kiedyś, że za każdym razem, gdy tworzy nową płytę, ma na celu uchwycenie w muzyce czegoś bardzo wyjątkowego. W 2020 roku z pewnością ponownie osiągnie swój cel. Materiał został zarejestrowany w okresie od sierpnia do października 2019 w Röskö, Petrax Studios i w Troykington, a także w Finnvox Studios przez Tero Kinnunena, Mikko Karmilę i Troya Donockleya. Miksem zajął się Mikko Karmila z Finnvox, wraz z Tuomasem Holopainenem i Tero Kinnunenem. Masteringu dokonał Mika Jussila w Finnvox. Kolejne ambitne dzieło w dyskografii Finów z całą pewnością nie zawiedzie fanów, którzy na albumie otrzymają wszystko to, za co kochają Nightwish. Jak zapowiadają muzycy – na „Human. : II: Nature” nie zabraknie również interesujących niespodzianek. Tracklista: CD1 1. Music 2. Noise 3. Shoemaker 4. Harvest 5. Pan 6. How’s The Heart? 7. Procession 8. Tribal 9. Endlessness CD 2 1. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Vista 2. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Blue 3. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Green 4. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Moors 5. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Aurorae 6. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Quiet As The Snow 7. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Anthropocene 8. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Ad Astra CD 3: Bonus instrumental 1. Music (Instrumental) 2. Noise (Instrumental) 3. Shoemaker (Instrumental) 4. Harvest (Instrumental) 5. Pan (Instrumental) 6. How’s The Heart? (Instrumental) 7. Procession (Instrumental) 8. Tribal (Instrumental) 9. Endlessness (Instrumental)  

• Wykonawca Nightwish
• Data premiery 2020-04-10
• Nośnik CD

Established in the 1670s, the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is today one of the finest college choirs in the world, known and loved by millions for its recordings and concert tours. On this album, the Choir and St John’s Sinfonia, conducted by Andrew Nethsingha, perform works by Henry Purcell and Pelham Humfrey. They are joined by four soloists: Iestyn Davies, James Gilchrist, David Stout, and Neal Davies.Humfrey was an English composer of the seventeenth century, known mainly for his verse anthems. Being well travelled, he produced works that in their vocal character show the influence of Italian music, and in the instrumental writing that of French music. That said, from these major foreign influences Humfrey forged a personal style that is uniquely English. Although as a composer he was generally forward-looking, his music also shows sub-elements of the English Golden Age of yesteryear. O Lord my God, for instance, is influenced by John Dowland’s celebrated Lachrimae Pavan of almost eighty years earlier.In contrast, the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis were composed simply to be liturgically appropriate, with a text setting that is naturalistic and direct. Humfrey died at the age of twenty-seven, but even at this young age, he exerted a strong influence on his peers, including Henry Purcell, who as a young boy sang treble in Humfrey’s Chapel Royal Choir.The works by Purcell recorded here range from works written when the composer was in his teenage years (Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei being a masterly example) to the crowning glory of the recording, O sing unto the Lord, which Purcell wrote when he was in his thirties, and compositionally on fire. At this stage of his career no other composer could touch him. Instruments and voices sing from the same hymn sheet, form and content are inseparable, past and present musical styles seamlessly intermingle, technique and virtuosity are indistinguishable from each other – and soloists and choir mesh together in a dazzling and life-affirming way.

• Wykonawca Davies Iestyn , Gilchrist James , Davies Neal
• Data premiery 2012-11-01
• Nośnik CD

Maurice Ravel’s mature works for violin and piano have established a central place in the core recital repertoire and are considered among the most popular of the genre. These diverse works acknowledge the influences of a range of musical styles from jazz to Impressionism and fuse the tonal colours of Debussy with the lyricism of Franck. The posthumously published one-movement Violin Sonata, written by Ravel as a student, is a lyrical precursor to the composer’s stunning Violin Sonata in G major with its unique character and adoption of the ‘blues’ idiom. The spontaneity, tonal colours and exotic soundscapes in Ravel’s violin music call for immense skill in interpretation, and passages in the frenzied Tzigane test the limits of the performers’ virtuosity. Violinist Alina Ibragmiova rises to these challenges with extraordinary verve. Recent winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious ‘Young Artist of the Year’ award, she displays a vast expressive range and interpretative maturity. She is accompanied by pianist Cédric Tiberghien, who gives elegant and flawless performances and relishes Ravel’s iridescent piano parts. The addition of Guillaume Lekeu’s masterwork, the extensive and engaging Violin Sonata, makes this major new release a chamber disc to treasure.

• Wykonawca Ibragimova Alina , Tiberghien Cedric
• Data premiery 2011-06-01
• Nośnik CD

‘The Messiaen Monster’, ridiculed by critics at its premiere—in the best tradition of works of genius—is now ‘established as one of the most astonishing classics of the twentieth century’, as Nigel Simeone writes in the booklet of this brilliant new release. The joyful generosity of the orchestral writing and kaleidoscopic nature of the musical invention make Turangalîla one of Messiaen’s most characteristic and appealing works, considered by many to be his masterpiece. As well as the distinctive sound of the ondes martenot, the other striking feature is the virtuoso piano part—it is in some ways a concerto, although the sheer scale of the orchestral contribution belies that specific title. Rarely has it been more explosively performed than here, with an acknowledged living master of Messiaen’s piano music, Steven Osborne, at the keyboard.

• Wykonawca Osborne Steven , Millar Cynthia
• Data premiery 2012-06-01
• Nośnik CD

Coming from Moravia, composer and virtuoso Gottfried Finger was active throughout Europe. In the course of his life he worked in London, Munich, Vienna, Berlin among other places, and finally in Mannheim, where he was concertmaster of the upandcoming court orchestra, dying there in 1730. It is known that he had mastered several instruments. In addition to the viola da gamba, he also played trumpet, violin, lute, recorder, bassoon, baryton and eventually the cello. He was certainly one of the greatest viola da gamba players of his time, and wrote some of the most elaborate and technically demanding pieces for that instrument.Finger's viol da gamba music reflects AustrianCzech as well as English and Italian influences. During his lifetime, only his Opus 1 appeared in print, an indication that his work is only being rediscovered gradually. The present CD, with the Czech viola da gamba player Petr Wagner and his Ensemble Tourbillon, is the first complete recording of Finger's works for solo viola da gamba. The composer demands from the soloist all the technical and musical abilities available in his day, and covers a broad range of highly virtuosic to poetically elegant works. So Petr Wagner as in his recording, highly acclaimed by the critics, of the Pièces de Viole by Roland Marais (ACC 24229) – can now prove his complete mastery with Finger's solo viola da gamba works.

• Wykonawca Ensemble Tourbillon
• Data premiery 2012-11-01
• Nośnik CD

Violinist Philippe Graffin’s second recording for Onyx sees him partnered once again by pianist Claire Désert, in Schumann’s highly charged second violin sonata and the delightful 3 Romances by Clara Schumann, composed for Joseph Joachim.The concerto is a rarity – not the D minor violin concerto op. posth, but the composer’s arrangement of his much-loved cello concerto op.129.Unusual and intelligent programming from Philippe Graffin, who is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most insightful and inquisitive violinists of our time.BBC Music MagazineNovember 2010****“Most of [the transcription] works well enough...and there are even one or two gains...Graffin makes a very appealing case for it...Clara Schumann's Three Romances are much more than salon sweetmeats, and Graffin and Claire Désert play them elegantly and with feeling.”

• Wykonawca Graffin Philippe
• Data premiery 2011-05-01
• Nośnik CD

The works included on this CD are among the last, highly virtuosic compositions for these ‘old-fashioned’ instruments, and are the icing on the cake for trombonists, cornetto- and dulcian players. In the 18th century, the leading role of these instruments was taken over by more ‘modern’ instruments such as the baroque oboe, the baroque bassoon, not to mention the violin and cello. Schmelzer & Co The meteoric rise to power of the House of Habsburg was mired in the battles, purges, and religious persecution surrounding the Counter-Reformation. In this devout, Jesuit, Counter- Reformist court, music had an important role. This can be seen in the importance and size of the Hofkapelle. Each individual leader of the House of Habsburg contributed to the musical development of the court in some way. For instance Ferdinand II (1578-1637), a very devout leader who was one of the most resolute backers of the anti-Protestant Counter-Reformation, helped secure Vienna’s position as one of the centers of music in Europe after his accession to the Imperial throne. His son, Ferdinand III (1608-57), a great patron of music as well as an amateur composer, was active in employing Italian kapellmeisters such as Antonio Bertali (1605-1669). Leopold I (1640-1705), the second son of Ferdinand III, became head of the Austrian monarchy in 1657, and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor the following year. During his reign, musical life in the Viennese court was expanded. He also composed and was responsible for employing among many others, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c.1620/23-1680) and Johann Joseph Fux. (1660- 1741). Josef I (1678-1711), the eldest son of Leopold, was an amateur harpsichordist, singer, and composer. The recruitment of musicians for the court hofkapelle was often undertaken by important contacts in Italy. During the period 1660-1740, primarily Italians filled the significant posts of hofkapellmeister and vice-hofkapellmeister, for instance Massimiliano Neri, Marco Antonio Ferro and others. The only two natives to hold the post were Schmelzer and Fux. Interestingly, the positions of court and church organist were more than not occupied by natives, for instance by Georg Muffat (1653-1704) in Salzburg. While court composers were naturally occupied with composing music for the Devine Service and courtly events, not all music produced was occasional or of minor significance. In Vienna, there arose a strong tradition of composing in the stile antico. Fux in particular considered it his duty to preserve this older style. ARTIST BACKGROUND Caecilia-Concert is a versatile, international ensemble, specialising in the performance of 17th century music for instruments and voices. The group was formed in 2001 by a group of young instrumentalists who were already working at the forefront of authentic performance practice in Europe. The aim was to rediscover and bring to today’s audiences, music which had been lost, forgotten about, or had simply lain for hundreds of years in the shadows of other great works. Since then, Caecilia-Concert has not only made a name for itself as a virtuosic, flexible, small-scale recital ensemble of the highest international level, but has on occasion, expanded to incorporate other instruments and singers performing rarely heard masterpieces from Italy, Germany, Austria and The Netherlands. Since a successful debut concert in Kampen, Holland, Caecilia-Concert has enjoyed a succession of well-received concerts in many festivals, including the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Festival of Flanders, Ton Koopman’s Itineraire Baroque Festival in France, and the Brunnenthaler Konzertsommer in Austria. The Caecilia-Concert has performed at such prestigious venues as London’s Purcell Room, and Vredenburg concert hall in Utrecht, and has performed live on BBC Radio 3 as ‘featured artist’ on The Early Music Show, Austrian ORF Konzert Sender, and NPS in Holland. Following the success of their debut CD Treasury of a Saint in 2006 (Challenge Classics CC72161), Caecilia-Concert released Buxtehude & Co in 2007 (Challenge Classics CC72179), also to critical acclaim. The present CD is the second in their series of recordings which pay homage to the influence and inspiration of the great masters of the Early Baroque. Kathryn Cok works with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and other important early music ensembles in Europe, and performs as a soloist in many of the world’s most renowned Early Music Festivals and important keyboard museums. Kathryn teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Wouter Verschuren is principal bassoonist of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra conducted by Ton Koopman. He regularly plays with other renowned period orchestras and plays in numerous international chamber music ensembles. Wouter teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and at the Utrecht Conservatory. Adam Woolf studied baroque trombone in London at the Royal Academy of Music, where, 10 years after graduating, he was awarded an honorary Associate-ship for distinguished contribution to the music profession. Adam is principal trombone with Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s orchestras and freelances with chamber music ensembles across Europe. TRACKLIST Neri: Sonata Sesta à 5, Schmelzer: Sonata à 2 , Ferro: Sonata 11 à 4 , Schmelzer: Sonata à 3 , Fux: Sonata à 4, Bertali: Sonata à 3 , Bertali: Sonata à 3 , Buonamente: Ballo del Gran Duca, de Selma y Salaverde: Vestiva i Colli Passeggiato , Bertali: Sonata à 3, Muffat: Passacaglia , Schmelzer: Sonata à 3 , Schmelzer: Sonata La Carolietta SUMMARY A highly interesting CD of wonderful music of an important period in time, where the House of Habsburg contributed to the flourish of music by having many talented composers working as hofkapellmeisters at this Court that supported the development of music. Composer Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and his German and Italian composercolleagues (Schmelzer & Co) leave us a range of beautiful baroque works.

• Wykonawca Various Artists
• Data premiery 2010-01-01
• Nośnik CD