New Releases - January 2012

Rachmaninov

Vasily Petrenko conducts the RLPO in Rachmaninov’s third and most expressive symphony coupled with the Caprice Bohémien and an orchestral arrangement of Vocalise. This will be the first of a run of exciting releases focusing on the Russian music of Petrenko’s heritage. ‘Petrenko instinctively conveys the essential quality of soul that the interpretation of Rachmaninov requires.’ ***** - The Telegraph

Release date: 9th January
EMI 679 0192 £12.99 / £11.69

Scholl goes back to Bach

Andreas Scholl follows up his much-praised Purcell disc O Solitude with a disc of Bach solo cantatas. The programme begins with two complete cantatas: Ich habe genug, BWV 82 and Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169, followed by two single-movement cantatas. The latter includes Schlage doch, gewünschte Stunde by GM Hoffmann, previously attributed to Bach.

Release date: 9th January
Decca 478 2733 £15.99 / £14.39

Fauré

Following their triumphant Casals Encores disc, Alban Gerhardt and Cecile Licad are reunited for Fauré’s music for cello and piano. The two cello sonatas are among the masterpieces of the cello repertoire, looking back to the 19th century but also with an edginess that may well reflect the time in which they were written — during and immediately after the First World War. Remarkably, Fauré was in his seventies by the time he wrote them. There’s some debate as to how fast the last movement of the First Sonata should go, so Alban Gerhardt has recorded two alternative versions, to be programmed to the listener’s taste.

Release date: 3rd January
Hyperion CDA67872 £15.99 / £14.39

Roussel from the RSNO and Denève

For the fifth and final volume of their acclaimed survey of Roussel’s orchestral works, Stéphane Denève and the RSNO turn to one of the composer’s most-performed pieces, The Spider’s Banquet which depicts the beauty and violence of insect life in a garden. The four previous volumes (available separately or as a reduced-price set) have garnered excellent reviews across the board.

Release date: 3rd January
Naxos 8572243 £6.99 / £6.29

Albrecht Mayer: Songs of the Reeds

Albrecht Mayer – the celebrated principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - delves into German Romantic music for his latest Decca release. He is joined by chamber musicians in a programme that includes Schumann’s Romances Op. 74 for oboe, viola and horn, Herzogenberg’s Horn Trio, Op. 61 and Steinmetz’s Liebesruf eines Faun for cor anglais and piano.

Release date: 23rd January
Decca 478 3564 £15.99 / £14.39

L’Arpeggiata: Los Pajaros Perdidos

In a characteristically thrilling fusion of musical styles, L’Arpeggiata (the prizewinning ensemble led by harpist Christina Pluhar) presents a programme of Spanish and Latin American music ranging from the 17th century to the present day. Guest vocalists include French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, who sings the lyrical title tango Lost Birds by Ástor Piazzolla.

Release date: 23rd January
Virgin 070 9502 (standard version) £15.99 / £14.39
Virgin 678 5162 (plus bonus DVD) £15.99 / £14.39

James Ehnes strikes again

This is the second volume in a series devoted to the works for strings by Béla Bartók, with James Ehnes the featured soloist. Last year Ehnes recorded the violin and viola concertos (CHAN10690), which was made Disc of the Month in Gramophone magazine. On this new recording, he turns to the violin sonatas and rhapsodies, complemented by the earliest surviving work by Bartók for violin and piano, an Andante. He is accompanied by pianist Andrew Armstrong.

Release date: 3rd January
Chandos CHAN10705 £15.99 / £14.39

New Year’s Day Concert

The 2012 programme was once again a blend of well-known classics and New Year’s Concert premieres (six this year), and saw Mariss Jansons returning to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic following his much-praised debut in 2006. ‘It is something quite special: a wonderful opportunity to listen to this music and get to know it. This atmosphere, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Golden Hall of the Musikverein – all that adds up to a long and wonderful tradition resulting in fantastic, very specific music.’ Mariss Jansons

Release date: 16th January
Sony 88697 927102 (2CD) £17.99 / £16.39
Release date: 30th January
Sony 88697 927139 (DVD) £14.99 / £13.49