Sir Neville Marriner Rivaled only by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Neville Marriner was one of the most important of the early figures who spearheaded the reawakening of modern interest in Baroque and early Classical music. In the 1950s, he founded Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the first British early music ensemble to find a large international audience. Marriner has since become one of the most popular conductors in the world, acclaimed for his interpretations of composers from Bach to Britten. Marriner was first taught the violin as a child, by his father, and attended the Royal College of Music, beginning at age thirteen.

Justus Frantz (born 18 May 1944 in Inowrocław, Poland, then Hohensalza, Germany) is a German pianist, conductor, and television personality. Frantz mostly plays music from the Classical and Romantic periods, particularly by Mozart. He has played many pieces for piano duet or four hands with Christoph Eschenbach.

Gioachino Rossini's opera L'Italiana in Algeri is one of the composer's best-known operas and has lost none of its rousing freshness and energy since its premiere in 1813. At the end of 2022, the young conductor Jakob Lehmann and his Eroica Berlin orchestra presented at the Delphi Theatre (Berlin) Rossini's music according to the latest knowledge of historical performance practice.

Music developed relentlessly in the tense environment of the 19th century. Many composers broke away from firmly established conventions, taking ever greater liberties and forming a counterpart to the industrial and technical revolutions taking place at the same time. Singer Pur traces that arc of tension in this programme, in which the individual composers no doubt differed widely in their attitudes to faith and spirituality. Anton Bruckner, known for his almost childishly blind faith, probably struggled far less with his attitude towards God than composers such as Franz Liszt or Max Reger.

A seminal contribution to the canon of recorder music, this recording assumes a pivotal role, enriching the repertoire and captivating audiences with its distinct allure and technical prowess. Serving as a valuable resource for connoisseurs of recorder music and an inviting introduction for novices, Highways and Byways features a diverse array of compositions. Through its discerning curation and expert execution, this recording not only commemorates the recorder’s storied legacy but also fosters an appreciation for its enduring elegance and adaptability.

Kun-Woo Paik Pianist Paik was one of the first Korean artists to establish a successful career in Western Classical music circles.

All through On The Road , Jack Kerouac name checks musicians and songs that set the musical landscape for what was the ultimate road trip across hip America hot Jazz with a smattering of Blues and Country. From their theme tune Now's The Time by Charlie Parker to beyond the cool Lullaby Of Birdland of George Shearing.

The most beautiful jazz & blues songs by Bennie Moten, Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra, Benny Carter & His Orchestra and many more on one compilation!

The third volume in the series of JOSÉ ANTONIO BOTTIROLI’s complete solo piano music reflects once again his immersion in late Romanticism allied to the resources of impressionism. Although these world premiere recordings focus on Bottiroli’s elegiacal works – laments in tribute to the memory of his loved ones – they also include pieces with the free musical structure of a ‘fantasy’ and those with the more rigorous demarcation of theme and variation. In the Mircrofilms he even offers us imaginary cinematic pieces. Fabio Banegas is not only Bottiroli’s protégé but has also catalogued the composer’s complete works.

At a late stage in its composition Meyerbeer changed the name of his opera L’Africaine to Vasco da Gama and completed it the day before he died in 1864. Changes were then made by the Belgian musicologist and composer François-Joseph Fétis who prepared a performing version from the extensive score material, retaining the title L’Africaine, before the opera’s premiere in April 1865. The plot concerns the famed Portuguese navigator and his series of love entanglements cast as a magnificent grand opéra. This production is based on the critical edition of the full score and reflects Meyerbeer’s original intentions.

Following the success of the first volume of Folk Tales (8.574035), Gerald Peregrine and Antony Ingham go further into their explorations of British and Irish music. These include rarely recorded works and new interpretations of traditional Irish songs that Peregrine presented during his more than 2,000 ‘Covid Care Concerts’ performed at health care settings during the pandemic. This is yet another treasure trove of poetic miniatures to treat the ear and tug at the heartstrings.

The « Artemandoline », ensemble founded by Juan Carlos Muñoz and Mari Fe Pavón, insist upon using original scores in order to restore the mandolin and its incomparable repertoire to its former glory. Passionate musicians they spend their time updating forgotten early music masterpieces written for their instrument.

Mstislav Rostropovich One of the great cellists as well as one of the leading conductors of the 20th century, Mstislav Rostropovich's passionate and virtuosic performance style sometimes seemed to reflect the turbulent events in his life, including his exile from his native Soviet Union. In addition to his ability to project with notable fullness in all registers of his instrument, he had complete command of the styles of all the musical eras and national schools in the standard cello repertoire of the time. A strong supporter of new works, he premiered over 100 pieces as a performer, including Sergey Prokofiev's Cello Sonata in C, Op. 119 in 1950, which was composed for him. In 1959 and 1966, respectively, Dmitry Shostakovich's first and second cello concertos were written for and premiered by the esteemed cellist. In the meantime, he made his conducting debut in Gorky in 1962, and five years later, he made his Bolshoi premiere conducting Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. In 1970, Rostropovich's open letter in support of dissident writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn led to canceled concerts and, eventually, his exile from the Soviet Union. His citizenship was revoked while abroad in 1974.

Berliner Philharmoniker One of the elite orchestras on the world stage, the Berliner Philharmoniker – also widely known as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – was founded in Imperial Germany in 1882. Hans von Bülow took over as conductor in 1887, raising the prestige of the organization, as did subsequent guest conductors, including Johannes Brahms, Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Strauss. In the 20th century, they survived the loss of their venue and their conductor during World War II and went on to thrive under conductor Herbert von Karajan, who led the group from 1956 to 1989. During his tenure, the orchestra won Grammy Awards for both opera and orchestral recordings. Claudio Abbado took over for Karajan from 1989 to 2002, during which time they collected five more Grammys, including one for Best Orchestral Recording for a 1979 performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 with Leonard Bernstein that was issued in 1992. In 2008, under the leadership of Simon Rattle, the Berlin Philharmonic established a Digital Concert Hall, which allowed audiences around the world to stream concerts either live or on demand. Kirill Petrenko became the Philharmoniker's tenth principal conductor in 2019. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's 50 founding members came together in 1882 after leaving a Benjamin Bilse-led group due to low pay and poor travel conditions.

The project centres around the Eddy Vanoosthuyse's clarinet artistry, showcasing a personalized and immersive musical experience.Embark on a harmonious journey through the rich tapestry of Belgian musical collaborations: "I've been fortunate to collaborate with international talents, and equally blessed to witness the dedication of Belgian composers. Already from a very young age, I was intrigued by the performance of Belgian and Flemish music, and it is the reciprocal connection that would form between myself as a clarinettist, and this Belgian clarinet repertoire. Now, I proudly present the culmination of this musical affinity – the 'Belgian Clarinet Heritage.' Immerse yourself in a unique blend of my clarinet artistry and the captivating compositions that make up this treasured heritage."–Eddy Vanoosthuyse