Reviews: April 2018

Russian Piano Concertos Alexander Glazunov, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, Anton Rubinstein, Moritz Moszkowski, Sergei Bortkiewicz, Nikolai Medtner, Alexander Mosolov, Anton Arensky, Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, Boris Tchaikovsky, Xaver Scharwenka, Sergei Lyapunov, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Aram Ilyich Khachaturian, Ignacy Paderewski, Mili Balakirev, Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky. Various Artists Brilliant Classics 15 CDs 95520 (2018)…

Press Releases: April 2018

Bohuslav Martinů Double Concertos Lawrence Foster, Mari Kodama, Momo Kodama, Sarah Nemtanu, Deborah Nemtanu, Magali Demesse, Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille PENTATONE PTC 5186658 Bohuslav Martinů’s distinctive musical voice, which infuses the great Czech tradition with modern idioms,  is showcased in this captivating survey of his concertante works, performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille conducted…

Press Releases: November 2017

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphonies 6, 7 & 8 Rafael Kubelik, Orchestre de Paris, Wiener Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra PENTATONE PTC 5186250 PENTATONE’s third release from Rafael Kubelik’s acclaimed Beethoven cycle of symphonies in its Remastered Classics series is his commanding reading of the sixth, seventh and eighth symphonies performed by the Orchestre de Paris, the Vienna…

Press Releases: October 2017

Benjamin Britten Paul Hindemith Violin Concertos Arabella Steinbacher, Vladimir Jurowski , Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin PENTATONE PTC 5186625 Breathtaking virtuosity flows seamlessly with expansive lyrical passages and fiendish passagework in this commanding performance by Arabella Steinbacher of the restless and technically demanding violin concertos of Britten and Hindemith in this new release from PENTATONE, with…

Dennis Brain – the Siegfried of the Horn

Dennis Brain, the much-loved horn player who died tragically in a motor accident 60 years ago on the morning of 1 September 1957, was a shining example of a quiet, unassuming but supremely gifted musician in a field populated by colourful characters many of whom lacked his modesty, reserve and gentle wit. In his all…

Press Releases: July 2017

Gustav Mahler Song Cycles Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Rückert-Lieder Kindertotenlieder Alice Coote, mezzo-sporano Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Marc Albrecht PENTATONE PTC 5186576

Press Releases: May 2017

Giacomo Puccini La Fanciulla del West Zubin Mehta, Placido Domingo, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden PENTATONE REMASTERED CLASSICS PTC 5186243 May 2017. Puccini’s late opera La fanciulla del West bristles with drama and intrigue in this newly remastered classic recording with Zubin Mehta conducting…

Press Releases: February 2017

(1) Elgar & Tchaikovsky. Johannes Moser, Andrew Manze, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; (2) On My Journey Now. Spirituals & Hymns. Lester Lynch, Baritone; (3) Brahms – Ballades & Fantasies. Denis Kozhukhin, piano

Press releases: November 2016

(1) Rachmaninov & Prokofiev: Works for Cello and Piano (2) Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo (3) Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben / Macbeth

In Praise of Drinking

1815 was an extraordinarily creative year for Franz Schubert. Aged 18, working as a schoolteacher and receiving composition lessons from Antonio Salieri, in the same year he composed four operas, two symphonies, 150 songs (nine in one day!), liturgical music (including two masses), one string quartet and several piano pieces.