|
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Abysses. French Arias for Contralto Aude Extrémo; Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra; György Vashegyi [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 20/Nov/2026 ] The contralto voice range did not emerge in French opera until around 1850, largely thanks to the singer Rosine Stoltz, who made her debut at the Paris Opera in 1837. The low female voice then gained prominence on all the Parisian opera stages, with... |
|
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Mozart: Concerto for 3 Pianos, KV 242, 3 Piano Concertos after J.C. Bach, KV 107 Julia Hamos, Avery Gagliano, Nathalia Milstein, Camerata Schweiz, Howard Griffiths [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 13/Nov/2026 ] This 17th volume in the 'Next Generation Mozart Soloists' series marks the conclusion of this collection which, under the inspired and supportive guidance of Howard Griffiths, has enabled dozens of young soloists to record Mozart's concertos with... |
|
GABRIEL DUPONT / GABRIEL PIERNÉ
Pierné & Dupont : Œuvres pour piano et quatuor à cordes Quintette Syntonia [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 8/Jan/2027 ] In 1911, despite being terminally ill with tuberculosis, the composer Gabriel Dupont completed his Poème for piano and string quartet. Dedicated to his teacher Widor, this vibrant work follows in the tradition of César Franck. Acclaimed by critics at... |
|
TŌRU TAKEMITSU / TOSHIO HOSOKAWA / MAX RICHTER
Shadows: Takemitsu, Hosokawa & Richter Sayaka Shoji, Stephen Kovacevich, Franz Schubert Filharmonia [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 8/Jan/2027 ] Sayaka Shoji presents a highly singular project: 'Bringing Richter together with Takemitsu and Hosokawa is not an obvious choice at first glance,' says the Japanese violinist. 'Japan has a culture of kigo - a word or image in a haiku or tanka that... |
|
CHRISTOPHER SIMPSON
Simpson: The Seasons, The Monthes & other divisions of Time - I Sophie Watillon, Friederike Heumann, Brian Franklin (viols) / Matthias Spaeter (theorba) / Luca Guglielmi (organ) [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 20/Nov/2026 ] Son of a shoemaker, Simpson composed pieces for the viol in all the styles prevalent in English viol music in the 17th century. He was also a revered theoretician. His book 'The Division-Violist' (London 1659) was highly praised. The late Sophie... |
|
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Quartets with Piano Trio Goldberg, David Bismuth [ Alpha Classics / CD - due 20/Nov/2026 ] Beethoven composed four piano quartets when he was just 15 years old, at a time when this instrumental combination was rare, even experimental. Mozart wrote for this ensemble at around the same time, but there is no evidence that Beethoven was... |
|
Alpha Wolf
Half Living Things [ Cooking Vinyl Australia / CD - released 5/Apr/2024 ] In the ever-evolving sonic landscape of Alpha Wolf, their music transforms like a shapeshifting beast, defying expectations and breaking through boundaries with the weight of wrecking-ball dynamics and captivating off-kilter hooks. The Australian... |
|
Alpha Wolf
Half Living Things (LP) [ Cooking Vinyl Australia / LP - released 5/Apr/2024 ] In the ever-evolving sonic landscape of Alpha Wolf, their music transforms like a shapeshifting beast, defying expectations and breaking through boundaries with the weight of wrecking-ball dynamics and captivating off-kilter hooks. The Australian... |
|
Alpha Wolf
A Quiet Place To Die [ Greyscale Records / CD - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "A wolf that hides in sheep's clothing will never be the Alpha." An iron will is only ever hardened within the forge, and Australia's fastest rising metal core act Alpha Wolf have proven they are made of sterner stuff. The five piece bared their... |
|
AFTAB DARVISHI / UNSUK CHIN / JORG WIDMANN / THOMAS ADES
East Meets West Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) / London Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Adès [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 27/Mar/2026 ] "An excellent opening to an enticing series led by Anne-Sophie Mutter of works written for her, starting with Unsuk Chin, Aftab Darvishi, Jörg Widmann and Thomas Adès." Gramophone Editor's Choice |
|
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / ALEXEY SHOR
Prokofiev & Shor: Piano Concertos Behzod Abduraimov, Vasily Petrenko, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 28/Mar/2025 ] "Behzod Abduraimov's expansive phrasing and potent left hand lend the opening Andantino a Brahmsian patina...abetted by the Royal Philharmonic's shapely pizzicato strings and individualistic first-desk solo turns under Vasily Petrenko's leadership." |
|
GABRIEL FAURE / CHARLES GOUNOD
Fauré: Requiem - Gounod: Messe de Clovis Emőke Baráth (soprano), Philippe Estèphe, Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Aug/2024 ] While Faure's Requiem is a monument of French sacred music, Gounod's Messe de Clovis is much less well known. It was composed from 1891 onwards as a tribute to Clovis who, like Joan of Arc, had become an iconic figure after the defeat of France in... |
|
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn 2032, Vol.19: Trauer Giovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 8/May/2026 ] This 19th volume of Haydn's complete symphonies coincides with the 40th anniversary of Il Giardino Armonico, the ensemble created and conducted by Giovanni Antonini, artistic director of the Haydn 2032 series. Il Giardino has made its mark on the... |
|
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn 2032, Vol. 13: Horn Signal (LP) Il Giardino Armonico; Giovanni Antonini [ Alpha Classics / 2 LP - released 4/Jul/2025 ] Haydn's Symphony No. 31 from 1765, known as the 'Horn Signal', lends its name to this 13th volume of the Haydn 2032 series. Not only does the symphony feature four horns in their full majesty, but the entire ensemble of Il Giardino Armonico, directed... |
|
MASSE / MEYERBEER / HALVEY / THOMAS / ADAM / etc
Jodie Devos - Bijoux Perdus Jodie Devos (soprano) / Brussels Philharmonic; Pierre Bleuse [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "Devos is again wonderful. Her warm voice comes flying out of the grooves, and one can sit back and just revel in it. The orchestra is idiomatically led by Pierre Bleuse. Alpha provides a warm and balanced acoustic." Fanfare |
|
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Colorature Jodie Devos (soprano) / Münchner Rundfunkorchester / Laurent Campellone [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 8/Feb/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 TOP THREE - Recital |
|
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, Symphony No. 40 & Don Giovanni Overture Andreas Staier, Le Concert de La Loge, Julien Chauvin [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Sep/2022 ] Julien Chauvin meets up with one of the great harpsichordists and fortepianists of our time, Andreas Staier, who is a leading interpreter of the Mozart concertos. He presents us with his vision of the Piano Concerto no.23 and its famous Adagio, 'one... |
|
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn 2032, Vol. 18: Il maestro di scuola Kammerorchester Basel, Giovanni Antonini [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 16/Jan/2026 ] Joseph Haydn gave lessons in singing, keyboard instruments, theory and composition throughout his life. His pupils included Ignaz Pleyel, Sigismund Neukomm and the Pole Franciszek (Franz) Lessel. In October 1805 |
|
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn 2032, Vol.17: Per il Luigi Kammerorchester Basel; Giovanni Antonini [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 20/Jun/2025 ] Per il Luigi is the 17th volume of the complete Haydn 2032 collection and presents a number of Haydn's earliest symphonies; these had been composed to display the talent of the musicians who had joined the Esterházy court orchestra during the same... |
|
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn 2032, Vol. 15: La Reine Kammerorchester Basel, Giovanni Antonini [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 12/Jul/2024 ] Antonini has the knack of making you hear this music afresh without indulging in any of the tweaks and 'listen to this!' exaggerations that can grow increasingly irritating on repeated hearings…He's a natural in Haydn. - Gramophone |