Painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, pioneer of flight, anatomist, scientist - yet according to Vasari, Leonardo’s first job outside Florence was as a musician. “Music cannot be regarded other than as the sister of painting', said Leonardo, so for the 500th anniversary of his death in 2019, I Fagiolini and Martin Kemp offer reflections of his images in vocal music: aural Fantasia dei Vinci - art through the prism of music.

There are several fine compositions on this disc, which is mostly Christmas focused, but like all of Tavener’s music, can be enjoyed anytime. The sound on this recording is simply splendid, and it captures the ambiance of Winchester Cathedral. The performances are spot on, with the chorus spread seamlessly between speakers. When the organ appears, it is deep and resonant. All in all, a lovely disc and one that is highly recommended.

Alba's album Brahms IV Segerstam concludes the series of symphonies by Johannes Brahms and Leif Segerstam. The last album of the four-part series includes Brahms' fourth symphony and the symphony number 295 composed by Segerstam in memory of conductor Ulf Söderblom. In his symphony "ulFSöDErBlom in Memoriam …" Segerstam plays with the name of the conductor, which includes the notes F, S, D, E and B. Brahms' fourth symphony was his last, and according to Segerstam, "the beginning of the symphony can be used to explain how music is born."

"This third [album] in the ALBA-TROSS-series of Brahms-Segerstam juxtapositions is an excellent tidbit of the contents of this unique project with [longbearded rascals] as musical musketeers…. the material has exploded into multiversic infinities…" as Leif Segerstam clearly says about this fabulous third release in the four album series with all four Brahms symphonies and four symphonies from Leif Segerstam’s over 320 symphonies. In this third album is presented Brahms’ third symphony and Leif Segerstam’s symphony no 294, “Songs of a UNICORN heralding…” with Horn obligato played by Tanja Nisonen. Leif Segerstam (b. 1944), conductor, composer, violinist, and pianist, is one of the most versatile musical talents in the Nordic countries.

This new release is the second in a four-release set from Alba which will feature all four of Johannes Brahms’ symphonies and four symphonies chosen from Leif Segerstam’s more than 300 symphonies. For this release, Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Segerstam’s Symphony No. 289 have been chosen. Brahms wrote his Symphony No. 2 in D major during a visit to Portschach am Worthersee in the summer of 1877.

This is first cd of four cd series with all four Brahms symphonies and four symphonies from Leif Segerstams´s almost 300 symphonies. Segerstam is one of the most versatile musical talents in the Nordic countries and one of the best conductors in the world. Segerstam has been chief conductor of Turku Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012. In that time Turku Philharmonic orchestra has raised to be one of the top orchestras in Finland.

It is seldom these graceful, delightful pieces have such consummate musicianship lavished upon them. Few pianists today besides Stephen Hough could devise such a recital featuring his own compositions beside works by Liszt, Sibelius, Elgar, Mompou and many more. Such stuff is what dreams are made of.

Marianne Muller - fierce player of viola da gamba, recently applauded for her outstanding interpretation of Folies d’Espagne of Marin Marais on Zig-Zag Territoires - brings us solo and consort pieces of Tobias Hume - captain and eccentric English composer of XVIIe century. Committed to her instrument, Marianne Muller commissions to contemporary composers new pieces for viola di gamba… Eric Fischer created a piece dedicated to Tobias Hume.