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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Variations on a Hungarian Song / Klavierstücke / Waltzes Jonathan Plowright (piano) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 31/Dec/2015 ] "The results are often unexpected, yet always apt and never less than convincing…I have a feeling this is going to be the benchmark Brahms survey for some time to come" (Gramophone Award Nomination 2016 - instrumental) |
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CHARLES IVES / BERNHARD GANDER
Ives: Piano Sonata No. 1 Joonas Ahonen (piano) [ BIS SACD / SACD - released 2/Jul/2021 ] Of the two large piano sonatas composed by Charles Ives, No. 2 ('the Concord Sonata') is by far the best known, overshadowing its sibling. The First Piano Sonata is comparably ambitious, however, and with a playing time of more than 40 minutes,... |
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GRANADOS
Goyescas, Escenas, Poeticas, etc. Joop Celis (piano) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Dec/2015 ] Enrique Granados is today best remembered for his Goyescas suite for solo piano, inspired by the art and times of Francisco de Goya. Performing these wonderfully sensuous works is the Dutch pianist Joop Celis. |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Mirrored in Time Jörgen van Rijen (trombone), Alma Quartet [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] Despite its long history, the trombone has a very limited chamber music repertoire. Jörgen van Rijen, principal trombonist of the Concertgebouworkest, has wished to rectify this deficiency by initiating a fruitful collaboration between his own... |
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MACMILLAN / VERBEY / BERIO
MacMillan, Verbey & Berio: Trombone Concertos Jörgen van Rijen (trombone), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [ BIS SACD / CD - released 4/Oct/2019 ] Principal trombonist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jörgen van Rijen is also much in demand as a soloist with a special commitment to promoting his instrument. Various composers have written new pieces for him, including James MacMillan and... |
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ASTOR PIAZZOLA
A Piazzolla Trilogy Karen Gomyo (violin), Stephanie Jones (guitar), Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire [ BIS SACD / SACD - released 6/Aug/2021 ] Karen Gomyo's violin takes centre stage in this homage to Astor Piazzolla. |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Kindertotenlieder / Ruckert-Lieder / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Katarina Karneus (mezzo) / Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra / Susanna Malkki [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/May/2011 ] "The recorded sound is wonderful, and Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki coaxes a sound of golden warmth from her Swedish orchestra. Swedish mezzo-soprano Katarina Karnéus makes a sound as rich and glossy as a thoroughbred's coat." (The Daily Telegraph) |
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ALAIN / DUTILLEUX / RAVEL / MESSIAEN
Solitaires: French works for solo piano Kathryn Stott (piano) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Aug/2015 ] "[her] fingers are well up to the virtuosic demands of the Prelude and Toccata, as they are to those of the works by Dutilleux and Messiaen." (BBC Music) |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Klingzeug Barockensemble: Memento mori Klingzeug Barockensemble [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2021 ] " this is a thoughtful, evocative and confident debut." Gramophone |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Overtures Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 19/Jan/2024 ] "The Kölner Akademie is in period instrument guise, and the sound is of ten suitably thrilling and zippy" BBC Music |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Serenades - 'Haffner' Kölner Akademie / Michael Alexander Willens, with Alexander Janiczek (violin solo) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "Rhythms are nicely pointed, the phrasing elegant but never precious, and the ensemble sonority never turns crude in pursuit of "authenticity."...The engineering, as so often with BIS, is ideal." ClassicsToday |
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KALEVI AHO / CARL NIELSEN
Aho/Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos Martin Frost (clarinet) / Lahti Symphony Orchestra / Osmo Vanska [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] "Martin Fröst and Osmo Vänskä again prove a most persuasive partnership in this latest collaboration. There is something utterly idiomatic about Fröst's approach to the Nielsen, while he announces the Aho as a major concerto for the new century. At... |
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FRANCIS POULENC / SERGEI PROKOFIEV / BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Poulenc / Prokofiev / Britten - Three Sinfoniettas Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dima Slobodeniouk [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] The term sinfonietta is generally used to describe a work that is smaller in scale or lighter in approach than a standard symphony. It only came into common usage during the first half of the 20th century, which is when the three works included on... |
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SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Suites from The Gambler & The Stone Flower Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dima Slobodeniouk [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Apr/2020 ] "This is a disc to covet, something not just for Prokofiev mavens but for others interested in worthwhile 20th century music as well. Highest recommendations!" MusicWeb Recommended May 2020 |
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SIBELIUS
Symphonies Nos. 1-7 (complete) Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Okko Kamu [ BIS SACD / 3 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2015 ] "If you are new to these works and want really modern sound and consistently authentic, unidiosyncratic interpretations, this issue is a very good place to start." (MusicWeb Sept 2015) |
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SIBELIUS
Lemminkäinen Suite / The Wood-Nymph Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 19/May/2014 ] "All in all, this is a terrific disc. Kudos to BIS for taking the time, trouble, and expense to revisit this repertoire in order to get it right." (9/10 ClassicsToday July 2014) |
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KALEVI AHO
Minea / Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra / Symphony No.15 Lahti Symphony Orchestra / Osmo Vänskä, Jaakko Kuusisto, Eero Munter (double bass), Dima Slobodeniouk [ BIS SACD / CD - released 16/Nov/2013 ] 'My apotheosis of the dance' is how Kalevi Aho describes his Symphony No.15. With two dance movements and rhythm a central element, the score calls for numerous percussion instruments, including non-Western ones |
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ROLF MARTINSSON
Martinsson: Into Eternity Lisa Larsson (soprano), Malmö Symphony Orchestra / Paul Mägi [ BIS SACD / CD - released 5/Jul/2019 ] The music on Presentiment, a 2018 release with four orchestral works by Rolf Martinsson, was described by one critic as 'bold and uncompromisingly personal, eschewing avant-garde modernism and engaging us with solidly expert conventional techniques... |
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ROLF MARTINSSON
Martinsson: Presentiment (Orchestral Works) Lisa Larsson (soprano), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Manze (conductor), Sakari Oramo (conductor) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/May/2018 ] One of Sweden's leading composers, Rolf Martinsson had an international breakthrough with the trumpet concerto Bridge, composed for Håkan Hardenberger who has also recorded it (BIS-1208). Martinsson has since gone on to compose soloistic works for... |
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W. A. MOZART
Music for the Oboe Alexeï Ogrintchouk (oboe & direction) / Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2013 ] Alexei Ogrintchouk performs three pillars of the oboe repertoire with the support of the renowned Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the company of three highly respected young string players in the quartet. |