Maria João Pires / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / André Previn CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1

 

PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1

 

Angela Gheorghiu ROMANIAN SONGS

 

ROMANIAN SONGS

 

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Christopher Gunning CHRISTOPHER GUNNING Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 - Night Voyage

 

SYMPHONIES NOS. 6 & 7 - NIGHT VOYAGE

 

Janusz Wawrowski / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Grzegorz Nowak PHOENIX

 

PHOENIX

Elizabeth Sombart / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Pierre Vallet BEETHOVEN Concerto 5 & Triple Concerto

 

CONCERTO 5 & TRIPLE CONCERTO

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Owain Arwel Hughes SIBELIUS Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

 

SYMPHONIES Nos. 1 & 3

 

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Abraham Cupeiro PANGEA

PANGEA

CHRISTOPHER TIN To Shiver the Sky

TO SHIVER THE SKY

Clélia Iruzun / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Jac van Steen HENRIQUE OSWALD Piano Concerto SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 5

PIANO CONCERTOS

Elizabeth Sombart / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Pierre Vallet THE ART OF CHOPIN

THE PIANO CONCERTOS

Elizabeth Sombart / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Pierre Vallet BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos 3 & 4

PIANO CONCERTOS 3 & 4

Elizabeth Sombart / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Pierre Vallet BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos 1 & 2

PIANO CONCERTOS 1 & 2

Virgil Boutellis-Taft / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra INCANTATION

                                                                  INCANTATION

Katherine Lacy plays MOZART

Mozart's Clarinet Concerto remains one of the most popular classical pieces ever written. It achieves an exalted level of musical perfection – conveying the most profound emotions in a stream of seamless musical poetics. Mozart's Clarinet Quintet sparkles with beauty - the liquid grace of the opening movement, the Larghetto's timeless poise, the playful mannerisms of the Minuet and the exquisite theme and variations finale. The essential humanity of Mozart's creative spirit is everywhere apparent in this recording - his music remains a guiding beacon of sanity in an increasingly uncertain world. This repertoire is the perfect showcase for the virtuoso talents of Katherine Lacy, the acclaimed principal clarinettist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which accompanies her in the Concerto, directed by RPO Leader Duncan Riddell. The Chamber Soloists of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform alongside Katherine Lacy in the Clarinet Quintet.

Nadine Sierra THERE'S A PLACE FOR US

Nadine Sierra, 2018 winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Beverly Sills Artist Award, has made her first album for Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Gold, having signed an exclusive contract with the labels last year. Recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Robert Spano, There’s a Place for Us is scheduled for international release on 24 August 2018, in time to mark the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth the following day. The album presents the soprano’s stunning vocal abilities in an eclectic choice of American classical music – as well as works by Bernstein, the repertoire ranges from Stephen Foster and Douglas Moore to Stravinsky and Villa-Lobos, and on again to Ricky Ian Gordon, Osvaldo Golijov and Christopher Theofanidis, with texts in Spanish and Portuguese as well as English. After singing the role of Norina (Don Pasquale) at the Paris Opéra in June and July, Nadine Sierra will perform music from the album at this summer’s major US festivals, including an appearance at Tanglewood’s star-studded Bernstein Centennial Celebration.

America’s founding colonists were sustained by the belief that they were building “a city on the hill”, a place that would serve as a model to all mankind. Countless migrants have journeyed there since to share the American dream. Nadine Sierra’s story stands for the stories of millions whose families have made a fresh start in the United States. The critically acclaimed lyric soprano and Fort Lauderdale native, who celebrated her 30th birthday in May, understands the essential contribution made by migrants to the nation’s growth. Her mother is Portuguese, while her father’s family hails from Puerto Rico and Italy. There’s a Place for Us, Sierra’s Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Gold debut album, pays tribute to the diverse backgrounds and creative energy of America’s classical composers. It also presents a timely reminder of unity and equality, of integration and optimism, at a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric is increasing, and fault-lines are widening between divided communities in the US and beyond.

Anna Netrebko O MIO BABBINO CARO

In honor of Anna Netrebko’s Summer Night Concert at Schönbrunn Palace, Deutsche Grammophon has released a 4-track Digital EP of highlighted repertoire that was performed for thousands of attendees on May 31. The collection includes a new rendition of her longtime signature, “O mio Babbino caro,” an aria she recorded back in 2004 for her second solo album “Sempre Libera.” This time, she is accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Jader Bignamini.

The new EP comes on the heels of her recent performance at the Sommernachtkonzert where she performed the aria, as well as three other arias.

Amy Dickson GLASS

Amy Dickson has a long-held affinity with the music of Philip Glass, and made her first recording of the composer’s music back in 2008, with a fiendishly difficult arrangement of his Violin Concerto. For this album she adds an equally challenging arrangement of the Violin Sonata, as well as two shorter pieces from Glass’s score for The Hours, arranged by her husband Jamie. Glass sanctioned the arrangements himself – a rare occurrence, and one that illustrates his high opinion of Dickson’s playing.

To play these pieces Dickson has developed a revolutionary tactic of circular breathing. This enables her to deliver the long, repeated phrases that Glass writes without taking a pause.

What’s the music like?

Busy! There is plenty of energy throughout Glass’s writing, especially in the first movement of the arranged Violin Sonata, as well as the faster passages of the Concerto. In the Sonata Dickson and pianist Catherine Milledge dovetail their phrases with really impressive clarity, and largely take away the more mechanical aspects of the music. The agile finger work and incredible breath control from the saxophonist enables her to meet Glass’s challenge of long, arcing phrases.

This music can be heard in two ways – the ear can focus in on the busy movement of the inside parts, or can just as easily pan out to the slower moving harmonies, the phrases operating in bigger blocks.

The most affecting music is actually heard in the shorter pieces arranged from The Hours, and the more restrained passages of the Sonata, whose central movement has a relatively forlorn mood.

Does it all work?

Yes, particularly in the concerto where the extra colours of the orchestra add a greater range of colours and shades to Glass’s music. At times the textures of saxophone and piano can render some of the faster music in the Sonata a little dry, but Dickson’s warm and mellow sound ensures these are short lived.

Dickson plays with passion and feeling, which brings the more calculated music to life. Pianist Catherine Milledge deserves immense credit for her dexterity with some crowded piano parts!

Is it recommended?

Yes, in the main. The music of the Sonata can get a bit too busy for some tastes, but essentially it makes a nice contrast to the already well loved concerto. (Ben Hogwood)

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Pinchas Zukerman / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending - Tallis Fantasia ELGAR Introduction & Allegro - In Moonlight

Double Grammy Award winner Pinchas Zukerman stars as violin and viola soloist and conductor in a landmark new Decca recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 'Elgar & Vaughan Williams' offers his mature thoughts on Ralph Vaughan Williams' evocative masterwork The Lark Ascending, which Zukerman first recorded over forty years ago.

It also includes revelatory performances of Elgar's Introduction and Allegro and Serenade for String Orchestra, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, such evergreen Elgar miniatures as Salut d'amour and Chanson de matin, and the world premiere recording of In Moonlight, an arrangement for solo viola, strings and harp of Elgar's celebrated Canto popolare. Maestro Zukerman here draws on the strength of his partnership as Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as the orchestra celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Pinchas Zukerman recorded his new album at Cadogan Hall, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's central London home. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by Sir Thomas Beecham, a great champion of English music, and gave its first performance in September 1946. The orchestra launched its 70th anniversary year on tour to the United States in company with Pinchas Zukerman, now in his seventh season as Principal Guest Conductor. He is set to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London's Royal Festival Hall on 1 March and perform at Buckingham Palace two days later for the orchestra's 70th Anniversary Gala Concert.