Geoffrey Tozer (piano)
BBC Philharmonic, Sir Edward Downes

Composers

Respighi, Ottorino (1879-1936)

Works

Respighi: Concerto in modo misolidio
Respighi: Piano Concerto in A minor

Christopher Hinterhuber (piano)
Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Grodd

Composers

Ries, Ferdinand (1784-1838)

Works

Ries, Ferdinand: Introduction and Polonaise, Op. 174
Ries, Ferdinand: Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 55
Ries, Ferdinand: Swedish National Airs with Variations, Op. 52

The fourteen works for piano and orchestra of Ferdinand Ries stand alongside those of Hummel as among the most important of their kind from the early decades of the 19th century.

Intensely lyrical and yet displaying at times a rugged Beethovenian grandeur, Ries's concertos are works of impressive musical stature.

The three works featured on this recording are all associated with Ries's English period: the Abschieds-Concert von England, composed to mark his retirement from the London stage; the brilliant Grand Variations on 'Rule Britannia', composed at Hastings in 1817, and the enchanting Introduction et Variations Brillantes, Op. 170 which takes as its theme Soldier, soldier, will you marry me?

Christopher Hinterhuber (piano)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Uwe Grodd

Composers

Ries, Ferdinand (1784-1838)

Works

Ries, Ferdinand: Grand Variations on 'Rule Britannia', Op. 116
Ries, Ferdinand: Introduction et Variations Brillantes, Op. 170
Ries, Ferdinand: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 132 'Abschieds-Concert von England'

As early as the 17th century in the days of Fleet Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, one of the initiators of the Netherlands Marine Corps, music has played an important role in the navy. Transforming from ships' bands and ensembles into a land-based full-sized orchestra ashore, the Marine Band turned into the all-round musical ambassador of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

From military marching formation, intimate accompanying ensemble, extended big band and classic symphonic wind band to a stunning cover band; no music style is absent from the enormous repertoire.

The Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy developed an appreciation for Russia and the music of her great composers. As part of the celebrations of 300 years Peter the Great and the jubilee of the city, concert tours to St. Petersburg were made in 1997 and 2003. In 2009 the branch of the Hermitage in Amsterdam was opened with a concert and attended by Queen Beatrix and President Medvedev.

In 2013 the Marine Band and the Drums & Fifes of the Netherlands Marine Corps participated in the famous International Military Music Festival 'Spasskaya Tower” on the Red Square in Moscow.

In 2017 the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy appointed maestro Arjan Tien as its principal conductor and music director. Musicians and critics alike appreciate his interpretations for their warmth, energy and sensitivity, and he is widely considered to be one of the most versatile conductors of his generation.

Russian Music for Military Band

Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy & Soloists of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Arjan Tien

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice September 2018

Composers

Bortnyansky, Dmitri Stepanovich (1751-1825)
Glière, Reinhold (1875-1956)
Khachaturian, Aram Ilich (1903-78)
Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeievitch (1891-1953)
Rimsky Korsakov, Nikolay Andreyevich (1844-1908)
Shostakovich, Dmitri (1906-75)
Stravinsky, Igor Feodorovich (1882-1971)

Works

Bortnyansky: Kol slaven
Glière: Solemn Overture for the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution
Khachaturian: March 'To the Heroes of the Patriotic War'
Prokofiev: Four Marches for Military Band, Op. 69: No. 1 Athletic Festival March
Prokofiev: March in B flat major Op. 99 'Military March'
Rimsky Korsakov: Concerto for Trombone & Military Band in B flat major
Rimsky Korsakov: Concertstück for clarinet and military band
Rimsky Korsakov: Variations for oboe and military band
Shostakovich: March of the Soviet Militia, Op. 139
Stravinsky: Circus Polka
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Frédéric Laroque (violin)
Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille, Myung Whun Chung

Composers

Rimsky Korsakov, Nikolay Andreyevich (1844-1908)
Stravinsky, Igor Feodorovich (1882-1971)

Works

Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite

Roberto Alagna is THE most well known French tenor worldwide, with 30 years of career on stage, and 60 opera roles in his repertoire.

My Life Is An Opera: 15 arias and duos reflect the significant moments in Alagna's life and career.

This new album, recorded last September in London, includes real opera hits like Che faro senza Euridice (ORPHEE ET EURIDYCE, Gluck) [12], Donna non vidi mai… (MANON LESCAUT, Giacomo Puccini) [2], Vesti la Giubba (I PAGLIACCI, Ruggero Leoncavallo) and La Danza (Gioacchino Rossini) [6].

Opera has never been more present in his life, with 4 new roles in which he will make his debut in 2015-2016.

Roberto Alagna (tenor), with Aleksandra Kurzak
London Orchestra, Yvan Cassar

Composers

Alagna, David (b.1975)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-87)
Goldmark, Karoly (1830-1915)
Gounod, Charles François (1818-93)
Leoncavallo, Ruggiero (1857-1919)
Massenet, Jules Emile Frederic (1842-1912)
Puccini, Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria (1858-1924)
Reyer, Ernest (1823-1909)
Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)

Works

Alagna, D: Il est dix heures… Encore six heures (from Le dernier jour d'un condamné)
Donizetti: Un lampo, un lampo orribile (from Roberto Devereux)
Donizetti: Un tenero cuore (from Roberto Devereux)
Gluck: Che faro' senza Euridice? (from Orfeo ed Euridice)
Goldmark: Magische Töne, berauschender Duft (from Die Königin von Saba)
Goldmark: The Queen of Sheba, Op. 27
Gounod: Faiblesse de la race humaine...Inspirez-moi, race divine (from La Reine de Saba)
Leoncavallo: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba (from I Pagliacci)
Massenet: Hérodiade
Massenet: Ne pouvant reprimer les elans de la foi (from Hérodiade)
Puccini: Addio, fiorito asil (from Madama Butterfly)
Puccini: Ah, Manon mi tradisce (from Manon Lescaut)
Puccini: Donna non vidi mai (from Manon Lescaut)
Reyer: Esprits gardiens (from Sigurd)
Rossini: Soirées musicales: La Danza
Tchaikovsky: Kuda, Kuda 'Lensky's Aria' (from Eugene Onegin)

Three exceptional artists join forces for an operatic treat! Star tenor Rolando Villazón, who was just named artistic director of Salzburg Mozart week, Ildar Abdrazakov, one of the most sought-after young basses in the operatic world (Vanity Fair), who is debuting on Deutsche Grammophon with this album and the in-coming music director of the Metropolitan Opera Yannick Nézet-Séguin - a conductor full of vim and vigor - with Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal.

Following Rolando's and Yannick's latest successful collaboration in DG's Mozart opera cycle (Le Nozze di Figaro), this recording includes a wide range of beautiful French/Italian duets for tenor and bass presented with dedication and passion!

Rolando and Ildar go back to 2009 when they first performed together in a production of 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at the Met. They re-unite to sing a colorful variety of beautiful opera duets from nineteenth century drammi giocosi and opéras comiques, such as the beloved “Au fond du temple saint” from Les pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) or “Ah, quando fia… Se inclinassi a prender moglie” from L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini) as well as the duet “Je suis Escamillo” from Bizet's famous opera Carmen.

Besides the renowned repertoire the artists also recorded two tracks with special arrangements referring to their personal life: the legendary Granada, standing for Rolando's Latin heritage, Ochi Chernye as a tribute to Ildar's home country Russia.

Rolando Villazón (tenor), Ildar Abdrazakov (bass)
Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Composers

Bizet, Georges (1838-75)
Boito, Arrigo (1842-1918)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Gounod, Charles François (1818-93)
Hermann, Florian
Lara, Augustin (1897-1970)
Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

Works

Bizet: Au fond du temple saint (from Les Pêcheurs de Perles)
Bizet: Je suis Escamillo, torero de Grenade! (from Carmen)
Boito: Son lo Spirito che nega (from Mefistofele)
Boito: Strano figlio del caos (from Mefistofele)
Donizetti: Ardir! Ha forse il cielo ... Ecco il magico liquore ... Va, mortale fortunate (from L'Elisir d'amore)
Donizetti: La vostra ostinazione...Prender moglie? (from Don Pasquale)
Donizetti: Sogno soave e casto (from Don Pasquale)
Gounod: Mais ce Dieu, que peut-il pour moi? (from Faust)
Gounod: Me voici! (from Faust)
Hermann, Florian: Ochi chyornye (Dark Eyes)
Lara, Augustin: Granada
Verdi: Propizio ei giunge! (from Simon Boccanegra)
Verdi: Vieni a me, ti benedico (from Simon Boccanegra)

Feliz Navidad

Rolando Villazón (tenor)

Composers

Adam, Adolphe Charles (1803-56)
Berlin, Irving (1888-1989)
Franck, Melchior (1580-1639)
Gruber, Franz Xaver (1787-1863)
Martin, Hugh (1914-2011)
Martinet, Henri (1909-85)
Perales, José Luis (b.1945)

Works

trad.: Leise rieselt der Schnee
trad.: What Child is this? (Greensleeves)
Adam: O Holy Night
Berlin, I: White Christmas
Franck, Melchior: O Tannenbaum
Gruber, F: Stille Nacht
Martin, Hugh: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Martinet: Petit papa Noël

Marc Grauwels (flute/piccolo), with Joris Van den Hauwe (oboe)
Orchèstre symphonique de la Radio et Télévision Belge, André Vandernoot

Composers

Damaré, Eugene (1840-1919)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Moscheles, Ignaz (1794-1870)
Mouquet, Jules (1867-1946)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)

Works

Damaré: Le merle blanc, Op. 161
Donizetti: Concertino in D major
Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16
Fauré: Fantaisie for flute & orchestra (or flute & piano), Op. 79
Fauré: Morceau de concours
Fauré: Sicilienne, Op. 78
Moscheles: Concertante in F major for flute, oboe & orchestra
Mouquet: La Flûte de Pan, Op. 15, for flute & orchestra: II. Pan et les Oiseaux
Mouquet: La Flûte de Pan, Op. 15, for flute & piano
Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera
Saint-Saëns: Tarantelle in A minor for flute, clarinet & piano/orchestra Op. 6

arrangements by Nora Mercz

Janos Balint (flute), Nora Mercz (harp)

Composers

Bizet, Georges (1838-75)
Chopin, Frédéric François (1810-49)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Durand, Marie Auguste (1830-1909)
Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-87)
Massenet, Jules Emile Frederic (1842-1912)
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)
Rimsky Korsakov, Nikolay Andreyevich (1844-1908)
Schuecker, Edmund (1860-1922)
Strauss, Johann (1825-99)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)

Works

Bizet: Carmen
Bizet: Carmen: Entr'acte to Act III (Intermezzo)
Bizet: L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2: III. Minuet
Chopin: Variations on Rossini's 'Non piu mesta' in E major
Debussy: En bateau (from Petite Suite)
Debussy: Petite Suite
Durand, M A: Chaconne in A flat minor
Durand, M A: Première Valse Op. 83
Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from Orfeo ed Euridice)
Massenet: Meditation (from Thaïs)
Massenet: Thaïs
Mozart: Andante in C major, K315 for flute and orchestra
Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera
Rimsky Korsakov: Song of the Hindu Guest (from Sadko)
Schuecker: Mazurka in E flat minor, Op. 12
Strauss, J, II: Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214
Tchaikovsky: Morceaux (6), Op. 51
Tchaikovsky: Valse sentimentale, Op. 51 No. 6

Didier Henry (baritone), Vincent Le Texier (baritone), Christian Papis (narrator)
Nancy Symphony Orchestra, Ile de France Vittoria Regional Choir, Michel Piquemal

Composers

Ropartz, Joseph Guy (1864-1955)

Works

Ropartz: Dimanche
Ropartz: Le Miracle de Saint Nicolas (Legende en deux parties et 16 tableaux)
Ropartz: Les Vepres sonnent
Ropartz: Nocturne
Ropartz: Psaume 136

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

Composers

Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)

Works

Rossini: Guillaume Tell
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Rossini: Il Signor Bruschino
Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri
Rossini: La Cenerentola
Rossini: La gazza ladra
Rossini: Le Siège de Corinthe

Carlo Colombara (bass), Patrizia Pace (soprano), Gloria Scalchi (contralto), Antonino Siragusa (tenor)
Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Hungarian State Opera Chorus, Pier Giorgio Morandi

Composers

Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)

Works

Rossini: Stabat Mater

As Anneleen Lenaerts proves, Nino Rota brought the same gifts to his music for harp as he did to such unforgettable film scores as The Godfather, La dolce vita and Romeo and Juliet. “What could be better than to sweep an audience away and give them a moment of pure joy?” she asks. “For me, that is Nino Rota's most important musical message.

Awards
Opus Klassik Awards 2019 Winner - Classical Without Borders

Anneleen Lenaerts (harp), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Brussels Philharmonic, Adrien Perruchon

Composers

Rota, Nino (1911-79)

Works

Rota, N: Death On The Nile: Nile Journey
Rota, N: Harp Concerto
Rota, N: La Dolce Vita: Suite
Rota, N: Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme
Rota, N: Sarabanda e Toccata for harp
Rota, N: Sonata for Flute and Harp
Rota, N: The Taming Of The Shrew: Overture

Wakako Nakaso (soprano), Sabine Czinczel (alto), Alexander Yudenkov (tenor), Mikhail Shashkov (bass)
Südwestrundfunk Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marcus Creed

Composers

Glinka, Mikhail Ivanovich (1804-57)
Gubaidulina, Sofia (b.1931)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)
Schnittke, Alfred (1934-98)
Taneyev, Sergei Ivanovich (1856-1915)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)

Works

Glinka: Hymn
Gubaidulina: Hommage à Marina Tsvetayeva
Rachmaninov: O Theodokos, immer wachend im Gebet
Rachmaninov: Vespers, Op. 37
Schnittke: Drei geistliche Gesänge
Schnittke: Three Sacred Hymns
Taneyev, S: The Twelve Choruses, Op. 27
Tchaikovsky: The Cherubic Hymn