8.572243  Roussel: Le festin de l’araignée, Padmâvatî – Suites

This is the final volume of our project to record the symphonies and most important orchestral works of Roussel. The first four volumes received unanimous critical acclaim. The first disc in the series won a Diapason d’Or de l’annee in 2007 from Diapason magazine, the equivalent, in France, of the Gramophone Record of the Year award. Our recording offers the complete version of The Spider’s Banquet – many other recordings only include the ‘symphonic fragments’ version and the coupling with the less well known Padmâvatî is particularly attractive. An hour’s worth of great music in outstanding performances and great sound.

Also Available:
ROUSSEL Bacchus et Ariane, Symphony No 3  8.570245
ROUSSEL Symphony No 2, Pour une fête de printemps  8.570529
ROUSSEL Symphony No 1, Rêsurrection  8.570323
ROUSSEL Symphony No 4, Rapsodie flamende  8.572135

8.572694  Brahms: Choral Music

This is the first volume of our project to record the complete choral/orchestral works of Brahms with Antoni Wit and his Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra. Classics Today said in its review of the Janácek Glagolitic Mass, ‘Truth be told, there are few organizations better equipped to deliver satisfying performances of large choral works than Antoni Wit and his Warsaw forces.’ This is also true of this new recording and I am sure it will rank among the best versions of this repertoire. All of this is serious music and the works are among the best of the composer’s compositions.

Companion Title:
JANÁCEK Glagolitic Mass, Sinfonietta  8.572639

8.572681  Castellanos: Santa Cruz de Pacairigua

The El Sistema social and music education project in Venezuela has met with huge interest around the world but very little is known about Venezuelan composers. Here is the first of three discs featuring the Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, the country’s top professional orchestra. Our recording offers the only all-Castellanos program on disc. All of the music is highly approachable and entertaining and the orchestra is familiar with the composer’s style and offers idiomatic performances. Genuine South American atmosphere! Enjoy!

8.572550  Pleyel: Symphonies in B flat & G and Flute Concerto in C

This recording is part of one of my pet projects, i.e. to make music lovers familiar with the less-known contemporaries of Mozart and Haydn, the giants of the Classical era. For this purpose, I even started the Artaria music publishing company which specializes in the orchestral and chamber music works of late 18th century composers such as J. M. Kraus, Vanhal, Pichl, Saint-Georges and others. Pleyel distinguished himself as a composer, publisher and piano manufacturer during his long life. This recording features two sparkling symphonies and the composer’s only authentic flute concerto.

Patrick Gallois and his Sinfonia Finlandia Jyväskylä distinguish themselves in this terrific programme – Patrick is also the flute soloist. Not to be missed!

8.572449  Neidhart: A Minnesinger and his ‘Vale of Tears’

Neidhart was one of the most popular poet-musicians of the Middle Ages. His songs deal with rustic, erotic and violent topics. The instrumental music has a rustic character. The so-called ‘Frankfurt Fragment’ has never been recorded in full and is here performed by one of the most outstanding ensembles in the field. This is a major contribution to our catalogue of medieval music and highly enjoyable listening.