Simon Murphy / New Dutch Academy JET SET!

Featuring works by Abel, Reichardt, Zelter, Storace, Mozart and Paisiello, this album follows the musical “jet set” of the 18th century as they “do” the splendid cosmopolitan cultural epicentres of the time, including London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and St Petersburg. Exploring the intertwining stories of these leading lights as they criss-cross the European Continent, the album watches the sparks fly as they inspire each other in this period abuzz with creative fervour, international cultural exchange and mind-blowing talent. With several world-première recordings of new discoveries (Abel, Reichardt, Storace) alongside some well-loved classics, this journey features music which abounds in enlightened positivity, radiance, inventiveness, energy and inspiration.

This outstanding programme is presented by conductor/violist Simon Murphy and his New Dutch Academy, with soprano Gudrun Sidonie Otto providing the vocal contributions. JET SET! is the seventh PENTATONE release of Murphy and his ensemble, after having presented albums performing the works of Corelli, Stamitz, Richter, Schmitt, Zappa, Bach, Handel, Telemann, Vivaldi and Van Wassenaer.

Olga Peretyatko / Sinfonieorchester Basel / Ivor Bolton MOZART +

The Russian soprano has selected some of Mozart's most beautiful opera and concert arias, as well as discoveries of largely unknown pieces from operas by Tommaso Traetta, Giovanni Paisiello and Vicente Martín y Soler, reflecting the exchange of musical ideas between Mozart and his contemporaries and getting these three composers out of Mozart's shadow. Ms. Peretyatko chose arias from the well-known operas Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and La Clemenza di Tito by Mozart and combined these with arias from rather forgotten operas such as Antigona by Traetta, Il barbiere di Siviglia by Paisiello as well as Il burbero di buon cuore by Soler. The connection between Mozart and Soler becomes obvious, as the recording also includes two insertion arias (K582 and K583) by Mozart, which he had written for the revival of "Il burbero di buon cuore". Mozart+ is Peretyatko's second collaboration with the Sinfonieorchester Basel and Ivor Bolton as the conductor, after the highly acclaimed recording The Secret Fauré (2018).