Christopher Howell HAYDN 5 Piano Sonatas

 

5 PIANO SONATAS

Mathilde Handelsman CLAUDE DEBUSSY Images

IMAGES

 

Dimitri Ashkenazy PREMIERES

PREMIERES

 

Xiao Chen KALEIDOSCOPE

KALEIDOSCOPE

 

Natalia Khoma J.S. BACH Six Suites for Solo Cello

“300 years have passed since Johann Sebastian Bach wrote these incredible Suites for solo cello. Thanks to great cellist Pablo Casals, who discovered the manuscript in the 20th century, we play and listen to this day. The Suites have been analyzed so many times that there is no need for me to do it again. I would, however, like to tell you about my story with Bach. I was very young when I first heard his music. I can still remember that the piece was played by organ and cello. But the biggest impression came to me during my teen years while attending concerts in The Organ Hall of my most beloved and beautiful city of Lviv, Ukraine. I felt like I needed to be there and I was there. Every day for almost three months. From then on, I knew that he will always be my favorite composer. His music is the highest achievement of human civilization. I hear the cosmos with no end. Filled with spiritual love, through his harmonies, the music opens windows to eternity. I was fortunate to become a cellist and so happy that Bach wrote for cello, too. Pablo Casals’ inspired my interpretations, and later - Glenn Gould. As so many cellists, I have been studying the suites for my whole life. My interpretations change and I will forever remain a student of the work.” (Natalia Khoma)

Rest Ensemble ROBIN HOLLOWAY Trios

 “As a young composer I wanted to be a Modern among the Moderns. Now I don’t want to shock anyone - I want to please, to stir, to delight, to move and to invigorate.” (Robin Holloway)

An introspective, brooding work, it's compellingly played by young violist Henrietta Hill. Performances throughout are excellent, with wind soloists Oliver Pashley and Rees Webster outstanding in the two trios. Holloway’s own sleeve notes are informative and unpretentious. (The Arts Desk, July 2018)

Sinziana Mircea UNENDING LOVE

Pianist Sinziana Mircea writes of her new release: “I do not know how to write poems, but I love reading them, as I love the poetry of the music and the music of a whispered love poem. My [album] is a sound poem dedicated to Love. In all its forms. It resonates with the first verses of Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem “Unending Love”… In the most wonderful way, my favorite Bengali poet brings together philosophy and religion, blended with the deep emotions we all experience in our lives.” Young Romanian pianist Sinziana Mircea had her debut at the Romanian Athenaeum, the main venue in her country, at the age of 7, followed by numerous appearances in Europe. She made her American debut at the age of 11 and began touring at the age of 14. She was the first Romanian pianist to be granted a scholarship from the Van Cliburn Foundation and TCU School of Music at PianoTexas Festival & Academy. She is an active chamber musician, soloist, and is a Steinway Artist. (Naxos)

Marc Regnier ZAMBRA!

Since its outset at the turn of the 19th century, the six-string guitar has been an inseparable part of Spain's musical life. Although Italy and France were also prolific centers of performers, composers and builders during the early decades of the century, Spain later became the instrument's iconic country. Guitarists started accompanying flamenco singers, making the guitar an intrinsic part of the art form and positioning it as Spain's national instrument. Many concert guitarists --most notably Julián Arcas-- included it in their performances and compositions. Both flamenco and classical guitars increased their volume, quality of sound, and overall possibilities with the designs by luthier Antonio de Torres, whose construction standards have remained unchanged to this day. A long list of referents would ensue in later generations, including Francisco Tárrega, Miguel Llobet, Emilio Pujol and Andrés Segovia. Moreover, both Spanish and foreign composers evoked the sound of the guitar and the forms associated with it as an immediate reference to the Mediterranean country.