Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata; Schumann; Debussy - Rostropovich, Britten

Franz Schubert (1797-1828):
Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano D 821
Robert Schumann (1810-1856):
Fünf Stücke im Volkston, op.102
Claude Debussy (1862-1918):
Sonata for Cello and Piano

Mstislav Rostropovich - cello
Benjamin Britten - piano

Schumann - Cello Concerto; Bloch - Schelomo - Rostropovich

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Schelomo - Hebrew Rhapsody
Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Cello Concerto in A minor, op.129

Mstislav Rostropvich - cello
Orchestre National de France
Leonard Bernstein - conductor

Brahms - The Cello Sonatas - Rostropovich, Serkin

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata for Piano and Violoncello in E minor, op,38
Sonata for Piano and Violoncello in F major, op.99

Mstislav Rostropovich - cello
Rudolf Serkin - piano

Vivaldi, Tartini, Boccherini - Cello Concertos - Rostropovich

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805):
Concerto for Violoncello and Strings No.2 in D major
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741):
Concerto for Violoncello and Strings in C major RV 398
Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770):
Concerto for Violoncello and Strings in A major
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741):
Concerto for Violoncello and Strings in G major RV 413

Mstislav Rostropovich - cello
Collegium Musicum Zürich
Paul Sacher - conductor

Chopin - Cellosonate op. 65, Polonaise; Shumann: Adagio & Allegro - Rostropvich

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849):
Sonata for Piano and Violoncello in G minor, op.65
Polonaise Brillante for Piano and Violoncello in C major, op.3
Robert Schumann (1810-1856):
Adagio and Allegro for Violoncello and Piano in A flat major, op.70

Mstislav Rostropovich - cello
Martha Argerich - piano

Beethoven - Triple Concerto, Piano Sonata No.17 - Richter, Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Karajan

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Triple Concerto in C major, op.56

Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, op.31 No.2 "Tempest"

Sviatoslav Richter - piano
David Oistrakh - violin
Mstislav Rostropovich - cello

Berliner Philarmoniker
Herbert von Karajan - conductor

Tchaikovsky - String Quartets, Souvenir de Florence - Borodin Quartet

Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893):

CD 1:
String Quartet Movement in B flat major
String Quartet No.1 in D major, op.11
String Quartet No.2 in F major, op.22

CD 2:
String Quartet No.3 in E flat minor, op.30
Souvenir de Florence, sextet for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos in D minor, op.70 *

Borodin Quartet
Genrikh Talalyan - viola *
Mstislav Rostropovich - cello *

Khachaturian - Orchestral works - Khachaturian

Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978):
3 Excerpts from Spartacus
Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra *
Concerto-Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra +
Ode of Joy #

Mstislav Rostropovich - cello *
Nikolai Petrov - piano +
Elena Obraztsova - mezzo-soprano #
USSR Radio and Television Large Chorus #
Gorbunov Choral Capella #
Violin Ensemble from the Gnessin Institut #
Harp Ensemble from the Moscow State Conservatory #
USSR Radio and Television Large Symphony Orchestra
Aram Khachaturian - conductor

Romberg; Ghedini - Concertos for 2 Cellos and Orchestra - Meneses, Thomas-Mifune

Giorgio Federico Ghedini (1892-1965):
Concerto per Orchestra et due Violoncelli Concertanti
Bernhard Romberg (1767-1841):
Concertino for 2 Violoncelli and Orchestra, op.72

Antonio Meneses - cello
Werner Thomas-Mifune - cello
Bamberger Symphoniker
Georg Schmöhe - conductor

Brahms - Double Concerto - Mutter, Meneses, Karajan

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897):
Concerto for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra on A minor, op.102
Tragic Overture, op.81

Anne-Sophie Mutter - violin
António Meneses - cello
Berliner Philarmoniker
Herbert von Karajan - conductor

Mutter – Violin Concertos [EMI]

CD 1:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791):
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.2 in D major, KV 211
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.4 in D major, KV 218

Philarmonia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti - conductor


CD 2:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750):
Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042
Double Concerto for Two Violins in D major, BWV 1043 *
Violin Concerto in A major, BWV 1041

English Chamber Orchestra
Salvatore Accardo - violin * & direction


CD 3:
Edouard Lalo (1823-1892):
Symphonie espagnole, op.21
Pablo Sarasate (1844-1908):
Zigeunerweisen, op.20

Orchestre National de France
Seiji Ozawa - conductor

Anne-Sophie Mutter - violin

Mutter - Great Violin Concertos [DG]

CD 1:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791):
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.3 in G major, KV 216
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.5 in A major, KV 219

CD 2:
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op.61

CD 3:
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (109-1847):
Concerto for Violin and Orchetsra in E minor, op.64
Max Bruch (1838-1920):
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in G minor, op.26

CD 4:
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897):
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op.77

Anne-Sophie Mutter - violin
Berliner Philarmoniker
Herbert von Karajan - conductor

Lalo - Symphonie Espagnole; Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen - Anne Sophie Mutter

Édouard Lalo (1823-1892): Symphonie espagnole, op.21
Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908): Zigeunerweisen, op.20

Anne-Sophie Mutter - violin
Orchestre National de France
Seiji Ozawa - conductor

Beethoven - The String Trios - Mutter, Giuranna, Rostropovich

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):
String Trio in E flat major, op.3
Serenade for Violin, Viola and Violoncello in D major, op.8
String Trio in G major, op.9 No.1
String Trio in D major, op.9 No.2
String Trio in C minor, op.9 No.3

Anne-Sophie Mutter - violin
Bruno Giuranna - viola
Mstislav Rostropovich - violoncello

Beethoven - Trios, Quintets, Sextets, Octet, etc.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):

CD1:
String Trio in E flat major, op.3
Serenade (String Trio) in D major, op.8

L'Archibudelli

CD2:
Piano Trio in B flat major "Archduke", op.97
Piano Trio in D major "Ghost", op.70 no.1

Jos van Immeseel - fortepiano
Vera Beths - violin
Anner Bylsma - cello

CD3:
String Trio in G major, op.9 n.1
String Trio in D major, op.9 n.2
String Trio in C minor, op.9 n.3

L'Archibudelli

CD4:
Sextet in E flat major, op.81 b
"Duett mit zwei obligaten Augengläsern" WoO 32
String Quintet in A major (arr. from Violin Sonata op.47 "Kreutzer")

L'Archibudelli
Ab Koster - natural horn
Knut Hasselmann - natural horn

CD5:
Wind Octet in E flat major, op.103
Rondino in E flat major WoO 25
March in B flat major WoO 29
Duo in C major WoO 27/1
Wind Sextet in E flat major, op.71

Mozzafiato
Charles Neidich - director

Beethoven - Piano Trios & Cello Sonatas – Casals

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):
CD 1:
Piano Trio in C minor, op.1 no.3 *
Piano Trio in D major, op.70 no.1 "Ghost"+

Mieczyslaw Horszowski - piano *
Karl Engel - piano +
Sándor Végh - violin
Pablo Casals - cello

CD 2:
Piano Trio in B flat major, op.97 "Archduke" *
Cello Sonata in F major, op.5 no.1 +

Mieczyslaw Horszowski - piano *
Sándor Végh - violin *
Wilhelm Kempff - piano +
Pablo Casals

CD 3:
Cello Sonata in G minor, op.5 no.2
Cello Sonata in D major, op.102 no.2
Cello Sonata in F major, op.17 (Horn Sonata)

Pablo Casals - cello
Mieczyslaw Horszowski - piano

Liszt – Lieder – Fassbaender

Franz Liszt (1811-1886):
Lieder

Brigitte Fassbaender - mezzo-soprano
Jean-Yves Thibaudet - piano

Rossini – Early Sinfonias – Alun Francis

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) - Early Symphonies:
Sinfonia scritta al conventello
Sinfonia "L'occasione fa il ladro"
Sinfonia "La cambiale di matrimonio"
Sinfonia "Il signor Bruschino"
Sinfonia "L'inganno felice"
Sinfonia "La Pietra del Paragone"
Sinfonia (di Odense)
Grand'overtura obbligato a contrabasso
Sinfonia (di Bologna)

Haydn Orchestra Bolzano
Alun Francis - conductor

Romantic Violin Concertos

Romantic violin concertos by Felix Mendelssohn, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, Johannes Brahms & Max Bruch. Emmy Vershey, Vladimir Spivakov, Borika van den Booren & Ilya Grubert plays violin. Recorded in 2002.

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Alice Sara Ott's interpretation of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" captures almost an entire orchestra's worth of musical colour and emotion in this live album . . . each movement, representing different moments on a journey round a gallery, is full of personality -- and Mussorgsky's well-known tunes are second to none . . . [the exuberant Schubert sonata]: a wide range of musical moments . . . the music shows off the best of Schubert's compositional talents, captured by a brilliant young pianist. Alice Sara Ott's effortless characterisation ensures this musical roller coaster of an album is thrilling at every turn. --Classic FM, January 2013

Rising star Alice Sara Ott’s new recording documents her summer 2012 rite of passage debut at the prestigious White Nights Festival.

Alice Sara Ott’s challenging programme centers upon Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Her virtuosic technique and youthful brilliance deliver the majesty, colours and spontaneity that this music requires. The power, passion and beauty which Alice Sara brings to Schubert’s thrilling Sonata No. 17 is insightful and memorable.

Her stellar career coincides with the enthusiastic international acclaim her Deutsche Grammophon recordings and performances garner. As the Guardian writes: “... it was good to hear live the qualities that shine through on Ott’s recordings – the crystallin

The Beauty of Baroque

“It's an intriguing and enjoyable programme...The English Concert provides suitable support throughout, from solo theorbo on Dowland's "What if I never speed?" to the trio of harpsichord, theorbo and viola da gamba with her delightful duet with counter-tenor Andreas Scholl” --The Independent, 10th June 2011 ****

“This is a charming recital that shows this popular soprano at her best...she has plenty of vivacity and fresh-toned sweetness. Guardian Angels, from Handel’s “The Triumph of Time and Truth”, is a highlight: a little-known but beautiful aria, sung here with poise and allure.” --The Telegraph, 7th July 2011 ****

 “In Dowland's Come again, sweet love doth now invite and What if I never speed?, she sounds like a sexier Emma Kirkby...The English Concert under its Music Director Harry Bicket provides the stylish orchestral and instrumental backing...You really hear the personality behind the voice - the 'Beauty of the Baroque' is, without question, a real artist.” --International Record Review, July/August 2011

“she keeps things light on this disc, and for the greater part only shows off her many splendid advantages. Indeed, her flirtatious performance of the famous lute-song Come again can rank as one of the most captivating on disc. The duets with Scholl are a delight too. De Niese's sheer joy in singing leaps off the CD and her emotional immediacy is hard to resist.” --Classic FM Magazine, August 2011 ****

French Impressions

Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk

“Denk identifies the use of colour as being key to the Frenchness of these pieces, and Joshua Bell is certainly not short of timbral variety in this exquisitely played recital. It even beats his compelling Franck disc of 20 years ago. The playing is more relaxed and Bell's delicious use of portamento is achingly beautiful. He is sensitively accompanied by Denk, who has a wonderfully deft touch, captured in excellent sound.” --BBC Music Magazine, March 2012 ***** 

“Joshua Bell plays with fire and finesse, with Denk a powerful ally. Franck's dark-light violin sonata, mysterious, ardent and far more than the sum of its parts when played as majestically as here, forms the centrepiece of this seriously beguiling disc. A first essential purchase for 2012.” --The Observer, January 2012

“Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk, a notably well-matched team, give idiomatic performances of these three sonatas...They're especially adept in maintaing the flow of the musical narrative and, with it, the music's emotional flux....Bell is especially impressive in the moto perpetuo finale - not only thrillingly precise but full of colour and variety, too” --Gramophone Magazine, March 2012

“You’d be hard pressed to find a version of Ravel’s Sonata which offers as much fun as this one; you can visualise Joshua Bell winking as he negotiates the second movement’s insouciant smears and pizzicato notes...This is a great performance [of the Franck], especially in the steady Allegretto of the last movement...Sony’s sound is immaculate.” --The Arts Desk, 4th February 2012

Leo: 6 Concerti di Violoncello

18th-century Neapolitan composer Leonardo Leo was best known for his operas and sacred music, but he also contributed some finely crafted, idiomatic, delightfully inventive instrumental works, including these six cello concertos from the late-1730s. The melodic writing shows the engaging style of a savvy opera composer, and likewise the slow movements exude an emotional range on the level of the period's more sophisticated arias. In this re-issue from a 1984 session, we hear cellist Anner Bylsma at the peak of his Baroque-cello interpretive powers, his cello's voice out-front, with big, singing tone, his style extrovert yet fully in the spirit of Leo's congenial solo writing.

And while the writing can be quite challenging for the soloist, these works aren't just show-off pieces spotlighting the cello, with the orchestra serving a secondary role. Indeed, the orchestra generally is a true partner, its function tightly integrated with the soloist's--and Leo further sustains our interest by varying structural and harmonic details from movement to movement and concerto to concerto. And speaking of orchestras: at this time Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra was among a handful of top period-instrument ensembles, and its contribution here is solid and sure, energetic and vibrant, even if the rhythmic precision and clarity of articulation isn't what we expect--and hear--20 years later from world-class groups such as Les Violons du Roy.

Also, the recording ambience, the domain of a Toronto church, is distractingly resonant, the sound characterized by an "artificial", processed quality that gives the instruments a larger-than-life presence. Still, this is very good playing of some very entertaining music that's well worth hearing, especially if you'd like a nice alternative to the late works of Vivaldi.

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Black Swan Fantasy

A charismatic pianist, with a special unique and as well vituous style.

Nikolai Tokarev was born in Moscow in 1983 and is from a musical family. His father is a concert pianist, his mother a cellist. He began musical training in 1988 at the renowned Gnessin Music School in Moscow, graduating in 2001 with distinction. From 2004 to 2006 he studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He then engaged in postgraduate studies in Düsseldorf with Professor Barbara Szczepanska at the Robert Schumann College of Music.

Beethoven & Hummel: Piano Trios

“…these are really impressive and vibrant accounts that bring out all the abrupt contrasts that so shocked the works' Beethoven first audiences… If you prefer these pieces on period instruments, you're unlikely to find them better done… Beside Beethoven, Hummel's G major Trio is small beer, though its scherzo-like- finale is fun, and Staier wittily invokes the piano's built-in percussion effect for the concluding chords.” --BBC Music Magazine, February 2008 *****

BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice - February 2007

“This bold juxtaposition of Beethoven and Hummel resurrects a real-life musical rivalry… Equally bold are the timbres displayed by this vividly imaginative trio of period instrumentalists.” --Gramophone Magazine, March 2008