Comment:Essential collection of Bartok's instrumental works. Contrasts was a request by Hungarian violinist Josef Szigeti. Benny Goodman took the clarinet part at its first performance in Carnegie Hall in 1939.

Comment:Knut Nystedt (born 1915) is perhaps Norways most important composer of choral music. Enter his very special sound-world with this 2006 Grammy nominated SACD.

Comment:Violin fireworks in the 2L project to record all the music of Henryk Wieniawski.

Comment:Wolfgang Plagge's improvised variations on fifteen familiar Christmas melodies affords the perfect "chill out" from those seasonal stresses!

Comment:Possibly unique SACD featuring four works for trombone and orchestra by contemporary Norwegian composers, played by the brilliant Per Kristian (PK) Svensen.

Comment:Sigurd Islandsmoen (1881-1964) composed his folk music inspired Requiem in the mid 1930s. It received its first performance in 1943, and for this recording the score has been lovingly restored by conductor Terje Boye Hansen.

Comment:Recorded live at Gamle Logen, Oslo, 5th December 2005. Steffen Horn, who is half Czech, studied in Oslo, and came second in the Smetana Competition. He has performed in Prague, London (Wigmore Hall), Berlin, Poland, China and Norway.

Comment:Recorded in Selbu Church, the SACD version puts the orchestra around you with soloist Marianne Thorsen in the middle. A two disc set with a standard Audio CD and SACD.