Comment:The Four Symphonies on this disc are inspired by an event, work of literature or, as in Symphony No. 9, Celestial Symphony", that of a score for a film on the life of Christ made in 1906 by Alice Guy. Great playing by the London Philharmonic.
Reviews:"The cinematic nature of these symphonies receives lavish treatment by Angus and the London Philharmonic, who illuminate every detail of these skilfully crafted scores. Harbach's music could hardly be better served." Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone, April 2017. "If you enjoy contemporary works with tunes, and do not require to be drawn into complex musical arguments, then you should investigate Barbara Harbach's well-crafted music." David Barker, Musicweb International, May 2017.
Comment:Tommy Caggiani is a teacher of non-western percussion instruments. His Therion Project is based on the Greek word, Therion, which means half-human, half-animal. Aided by guitar, electric bass, piano, sax and flute, Magic Seeds produce haunting sounds!
Comment:Composed by the 23 year old Dvorak, this still little known work originated in the wake of a love affair with an actress. Over 50 minutes Dvorak pours out a stream of melodies that sometimes go on extended routes. Played here on period instruments.
Comment:Gabriela Eibenova, Lenka Cafourkova, soprano, Filippo Mineccia, alto, Tobias Hunger, Marian Krejcik, bass, Jiri Miroslav Prochazka, bass are the soloists. Five of the Psalmi are World Premiere recordings. Adam Viktora directs his Zelanka experts!
Comment:Three very distinctive American Sonatas for Violin and Piano. The Ives dates from 1914, the Corigliano from 1962, so an early work and the Bolcom from 1979. They inhabit a lot of moods, which Ching-Yi Lin and Zachary Lopes are alive to.
Comment:Vera Vaidman's recording is the first of Noam Sivan's transcription of Liszt's Piano Sonata. Published in 2006, Sivan says: "The devil is not only in the details, but is laughing wickedly behind every note." Be amazed as Vera Vaidman gets behind them.
Comment:Another in the stunning series of Deutsche Grammophon Quadraphic recordings now released for the first time in their Surround Sound format as SACDs. Berlioz is made for an immersive experience, which Seiji Ozawa truly delivers on this 1973 recording.
Comment:Debussy admired Rameau who is recalled in Book I of the Images. Jeffrey La Deur, takes this further by bookending his performances of the Images and Book II of the Preludes by two pieces by Rameau.
Comment:A selection of Baroque Cello Concertos by lesser known masters, all working in Vienna. The cello is still part of the orchesrta, not yet alone out front, and Michal Stahel is part of this sound. He and Solamente naturali play on period instruments.
Comment:For her third Pavlik album, Ana Carolina Diz has made a selection of Tango melodies in which she is accompanied by Camerata Tango - Dusan Sujan, piano, Vladimir Harvan, violin and Branislav Bielik, cello -lending these seductive songs an authentic feel.
