If Alberto Ginastera had not been born three years after the scandalous premiere of the Sacre du Printemps, he could easily be considered one of the earliest adepts of the "pagan" Stravinsky: The wild rhythms of prehistoric dances, volcanic eruptions of the most complex layers of sound and technical tortures of all kinds permeate his work, which nevertheless manages without formal arbitrariness. The first string quartet from 1948, for example, moves along classical lines, with many a bow losing its horsehair - not unlike the piano quintet premiered in Venice in 1963, which explores the limits of the possible in seven extremely succinct, in the composer's words, "neo-expressionist" sections. In this context, Maurice Ravel's unique string quartet functions as an "impressionistic" antipode and filigree pole of calm.

Christianity in all its forms excels through its high degree of adaptability. We encounter one of the more fascinating examples of adaptation in Latin American Catholicism that developed in the colonies of "New Spain". Not least did the veneration of Mary find especially receptive genius loci here, whose musical disposition soon wedded to an artistic concept that was the non plus ultra for the rulers of the Old World. For some composers, the transatlantic regions thus had such appeal that they abandoned their traditional sphere of activity. One of them was the Italian Ignacio de Jerusalem, who worked at the cathedral in Mexico City; he was joined by the Mexican "home-grown talent" Manuel de Sumaya as well as two Spanish musicians who were only known and beloved in the land of the Aztecs only for their printed works - this yields a truly exquisite mix for Christmas.

Concerto Copenhagen's musicians present six new "Brandenburg Concertos" - based on Bach's organ trio sonatas\u200B. J.S. Bach's six organ trio sonatas represent some of his most imaginative and attractive music - by transforming the format through an orchestration inspired by the original Brandenburg Concertos, Concerto Copenhagen is offering a unique new orchestral repertoire. Oboist Antoine Torunczyk has created these six new Brandenburg Concertos with special focus on varying instrumental mixes and sizes - including flute, recorder, oboe d'amore, oboe da caccia, viola d'amore, natural horn, violoncello da spalla, bassoon.

Little Wanderer', from William Blake's dream world, seemed the perfect title for an album in which we are surrounded by myriad landscapes in songs by Benjamin Britten, Imogen Holst and Daniel Kidane. Since meeting on our first day at the Royal College of Music, we have long enjoyed programming Britten's masterful folk song reimaginings, and we adore the texts and music in his powerful Hardy cycle, Winter Words. It has been a joy to discover songs by Imogen Holst, Britten's close friend and assistant, and we are proud to be able to make the first recording of Dan's Songs of Illumination, commissioned for us by Leeds Lieder in 2018.

Eugene Istomin (1925–2003), one of America’s most respected pianists, was highly esteemed by audiences and colleagues alike for his mindful virtuosity and unusually wide-ranging repertoire. 2015 marks Istomin’s 90th birthday year, a milestone that Sony Classical celebrates with the first-ever release of his complete Columbia Masterworks concerto and solo recordings in a limited original-jacket collection including 10 previously unreleased studio recordings. Many of these performances appear in their first authorized CD editions, including the 19-year-old pianist’s recorded debut in Bach’s D minor Concerto led by Adolf Busch; his youthful concerto collaborations with Pablo Casals; Chopin’s complete Nocturnes; Brahms’s Handel Variations; Schubert’s D major D 850 Sonata, plus the long-out-of-print Rachmaninoff 2nd, Tchaikovsky 1st, Brahms 2nd, and Beethoven 4th and 5th (“Emperor”) Concertos with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Newly remastered from the original analogue tapes, the discs are presented in facsimile sleeves and labels corresponding to the original LP releases. An enclosed booklet offers full discographical information, an essay by Jed Distler, and a photographic retrospective.

“Santtu conducts Strauss: Ein Heldenleben” is the sixth album release from Philharmonia Records. This limited-edition album marks the Philharmonia’s 80th anniversary and showcases the special relationship between the Orchestra and the composer, who conducted the Philharmonia himself in 1947. Conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali, this performance was recorded at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in 2023 – the sold out finale to their 2023/24 concert season."

The name Johann Stamitz is so inextricably linked with the epochal "Mannheim School" that the title of our current production might seem like a misprint. In fact, however, there is nothing wrong with the Bohemian musician's "Darmstadt Symphonies", as their name merely refers to the place where the material was kept, which Christoph Graupner, the Kapellmeister of the Darmstadt court orchestra, was responsible for producing at the time. Where and exactly when Stamitz wrote this lively, concise and innovative music cannot be determined; however, there is not the slightest doubt that the compositions take us back to the earliest childhood years of a genre that has remained a creative touchstone to this day despite countless changes. To sense the spirit of the first symphonic hours behind these mutations is a refreshing experience: at the beginning of all things there is still the power of simplicity.

Die Musik von Berthold Cvach geht über die Grenzen hinaus - Beyond. Es sind immer Klänge und Töne. Die Wurzeln liegen im Jazz ohne aber die Grenzen zu beachten. Sowohl die Strukturen als auch die Harmonien und die Rhythmen mit dem exakten Timing verlassen das sichere Feld. Die harmonische Basis aber auch der angenehme Swing kommen bald abhanden. Sie tauchen wieder auf, werden unterdrückt, überstimmt und trotzdem sind die Kompositionen immer noch gut hörbar.

Tangerine Records, founded by the late Ray Charles, will reissue his out-of-print classic, Love Country Style, for the first time since its 1970 release, on vinyl on October 24th. The release is part of the label’s Tangerine Master Series, a new slate of reissues highlighting Charles’ best-known music alongside classic records long out of print, and ready for rediscovery. Each album has been restored and remastered under the direct supervision of The Ray Charles Foundation, painting a vivid new portrait of an artist and icon whose impact continues to expand and inspire.

Herbie Hancock will always be one of the most revered and controversial figures in jazz, just as his employer/mentor Miles Davis was when he was alive. Unlike Miles, who pressed ahead relentlessly and never looked back until near the very end, Hancock has cut a zigzagging forward path, shuttling between almost every development in electronic and acoustic jazz and R&B over the last third of the 20th century and into the 21st.

A career-spanning compilation of Steppenwolf and it's founding member, lead singer, songwriter, guitar player and leader of the Wolfpack, John Kay. This 41 song collection contains four previously unreleased tracks from John Kay's vault. These four tracks are real gems, including a cover of Gene McDaniels’ “Compared to What” and an unreleased version of “From Here to There Eventually.” The album cover is a slightly modified original tour poster from 1969 and the liner notes were written by John Kay. This 3 CD set has been carefully curated and A&R’ed by Kay and his longtime manager, Ron Rainey. Don't forget to check out the Steppenwolf at 50 Collection!

Words In The Distance: 1994-1998 collects together three mid-90s classics from progressive heavy rock legends Uriah Heep, when the line-up comprised of founder member Mick Box on guitar, long-time Heep drummer Lee Kerslake, Phil Lanzon on keyboards, fronted by lead vocalist Bernie Shaw and completed by former Spider From Mars, the late Trevor Bolder, on bass. Kicking off with “Sea Of Light”, Heep’s 19th album, the cover art was created by legendary designer Roger Dean, who had previously painted the LP jackets for the classic Uriah Heep albums “Demons And Wizards” (1972) and “The Magician’s Birthday” (1972). This version now features the bonus tracks, ‘Sail The Rivers’ and ‘She Still Calls His Name’ plus a single edit of ‘Dream On’.

Although they only attained the huge success of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys for a brief period in the mid-'60s, time has judged the Byrds to be nearly as influential as those groups in the long run. They were not solely responsible for devising folk-rock, but they were certainly more responsible than any other single act (Dylan included) for melding the innovations and energy of the British Invasion with the best lyrical and musical elements of contemporary folk music. The jangling, 12-string guitar sound of leader Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker was permanently absorbed into the vocabulary of rock.

Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729–1780) was a Black writer, musician, composer, butler, and shopkeeper whose writings and public presence helped ignite the British abolitionist movement. Reportedly born into slavery and orphaned as a toddler, Sancho was denied access to a formal education until he entered the household of the Duke of Montagu, where he gained an education in European literature, music, and other arts. Sancho’s correspondence, published posthumously as Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African (1782), reflects his engagement with the sentimental literary style and covers topics from his everyday experiences and relationships to his fierce opposition to the international slave trade.

Live in Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany, 14-06-1988.