With her richly diverse background and commissions from the BBC Proms and The Royal Opera, one would expect that composer Eleanor Alberga’s Navona Records release would be nothing short of a showstopper. It is just that and more. The three pieces on her STRING QUARTETS 1, 2 & 3 offer a penetrating view into Alberga’s creative genius. The album pulls the absolute best from the gifted Ensemble Arcadiana.

The link between Weber and Wagner, Marschner's Hans Heiling, was staged in the Aalto Music Theatre in February 2018. The production by Andreas Baesler received a mixed reaction, but the music was unanimously lauded by critics, above all the performance of Essen Philharmonic under the baton of Frank Beermann. The German Romantic opera in 3 acts is the composer's most successful opera, and brought the composer a considerable reputation. The story is based on a folk legend, and the opera's libretto was written by Eduard Devrient, who also sang the title role at the premiere at what is now the Berlin State Opera. In this production, Heiko Trinsinger performs the title role.

This CD sketches a portrait of the musical reality of the British Isles during the first half of the 18th century. The eight concerti grossi in this programme have been chosen for the features they possessin common, a primordial position being accorded to the work of Francesco Scarlatti. These are pieces of Italian origin in sonata form; the concerto grosso being the émigré of this programme.

That Vienna is one of the capitals (if not THE capital) of music is undisputed. With this recording, Elena Gaponenko has dedicated an entire album to the city on the Danube and the composers who have worked there. Really interesting is the time frame that these works originate from, they span exactly 25 years, from 1815–1840. In her introduction to this CD Elena Gaponenko writes: “This recording should honour this enchantingly beautiful city as a great guardian of culture, as it has brought so many musical icons together and allowed them to develop creatively.”

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwängler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part of the music scene.

This album marks the culmination of our decade-long journey with Aaron Jay Kernis’ music for string quartet. From the moment we put bow to string for Aaron’s Second Quartet, we realized his special voice and our connection to his music’s ability to capture both the complexity of the world and the simplicity of a moment. This depth fascinated us, inspired our playing and prompted us to dream of commissioning Aaron’s 3rd Quartet.

Bach in a Circle proposes an encounter between the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Sufi whirling dervishes, weaved around a programme where the pieces are in a dialogue, questioning the mysteries of the human soul and reflecting the movements of the Universe. Bach in a Circle also explores the ‘recycled’ aspect of musical arrangements : at the beginning of the 20th century, great pianists such as Busoni, Kempff and Siloti transcribed the works of Bach for the modern piano, illustrating the fact that his music calls to be revisited and rediscovered.

Vivaldi’s Orlando Furioso was chosen to open the 43rd Festival della Valle d’Itria. This baroque opera is a true feast for the senses, with peaks of sheer poetry and a sense of wonder. Director Fabio Ceresa was clearly inspired by the works of Gustav Klimt, both for the setting and the costumes. Conductor and Continuo Diego Fasolis leads the excellent Barocchisti ensemble with an elegant touch, and an unfailing ability to fully convey the music’s nuanced coloratura.