When selecting the works for their recording at ARS PRODUKTION, Tiffany Butt and Maria Cecilia Munoz looked at different eras to understand the impact that oppression and lack of freedom had on the creative process. They were not so much interested in what people were unable to do due to restrictive situations and adverse circumstances, but above all in what they achieved despite these circumstances. During their research, they came across impressive artistic personalities who have left behind music of great value.

This recording combines all the major works of bassoon repertoire written between 1770 and 1830 with Mozart's magnificent concerto as the undisputed masterpiece. He was able to bring the full range of bassoon's possibilities into play, making use of its entire tonal range in the opening movement. Matthias Rácz, probably one of the best bassoon players of our generation, presents this work as well as the two concertos of Hummel and Weber with the greatest of ease.

The Italian-German mezzo-soprano Sofia Pavone is distinguished by her unmistakable timbre, a wide vocal range and an expressive, musically well-thought-out design.

It is with pride that I present a special edition dedicated to the famous pianist, composer and conductor Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff, whose profound musical genius has left an indelible mark on the world of classical music. His music seamlessly blends elements of Russian Romanticism with influences from Western European traditions, creating a distinctive, expressive style and the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions. He has always been a shining example of unwavering dedication to music for me and has always encouraged me to persevere and strive for artistic excellence despite personal and professional challenges. With this album, I pay tribute to Sergei Rachmaninoff on the occasion of his 150th birthday and the 80th anniversary of his death, and present some of his remarkable and timeless works. Another important person in my life, on whose 80th anniversary I am producing this album, is Maestro Vakhtang Jordania. We recorded Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto with the Russian Federal Orchestra in Moscow in 2000, when I was 18 years old, after winning the "Jordania Special Prize" at the International Competition in Italy. That was my very first CD recording and one of the most remarkable moments in my life, motivating me in many ways.

Christus der Meister ist das zweite von drei Christus-Oratorien aus der Feder Friedrich Schneiders.
Nachdem kurz vor dem Weihnachtsfest 2019 mit Christus das Kind der Auftakt der Trilogie bereits durch die Kantorei Barmen-Gemarke nach über hundert Jahren wieder aufgeführt worden ist, folgt nun das Werk, das zwar innerhalb der Trilogie an zweiter Stelle steht, aber chronologisch zuerst entstanden ist.

The tenor Sebastian Kohlhepp and his piano accompanist Andreas Frese present piano songs by Schumann, Liszt and Sj?gren on their CD for ARS PRODUKTION, to which one can attach rhapsodic, folkloric or historicising subjects. As the title suggests, they are about legends and heroes and lead the listener into a dream world that is as sonorous as it is fascinating.

In music, "ostinato" (Latin obstinatus: "obstinate") is a repeated sequence of notes. A constantly repeated bass motif is perfect for improvisation - which in turn inspired many Baroque composers to write numerous masterpieces. Gunar Letzbor has put together a splendid programme from this fund of pieces, including the well-known Ciaconnas by Bertali and Schmelzer and two ostinato-dominated sonatas by the violin virtuoso Biber, but also works by lesser-known composers such as Georg Arnold, Heinrich Döbel and Johann Josef Vilsmayr.

One can hardly imagine a more heart-warming sound than the soft voice of a cello accompanied by the sweet tones of a Spanish guitar.In fact, these two instruments combine in such an amorous way that Nicole Pena Comas and Damien Lancelle decided they required a whole album to express the different facets of love: passionate, tender or playful, the burning desire of new lovers and the selfless care for friends and family. Masterpieces by great composers such as Tchaikovsky, Liszt or Schumann as well as gems by forgotten names such as August Nolck or Amy Beach, all express love and closeness and were selected and arranged for cello and guitar for that very reason.

This project tells of European-American musical exchange at the beginning of the 20th century, the golden era of the transatlantic liners. Through concert tours and emigrations, the chosen composers toured and emigrated across the Atlantic, experiencing foreign impressions and recalling traditional themes. They were inspired by folk music, poetry to blues. I present these facets in original and arranged works for harp."In the Atlantic crossings and the mutual influences of European and American composers, I felt my own family history with changing migration across the ocean" (Anne-Sophie Bertrand)

Fairytales" (Swedish "sagolikt") is a concert program by Nordic Light Duo inspired by the wonderful fairy tale world of the popular children's book author Elsa Beskow. Devotedly and lovingly designed, Beskow's fairy tales and illustrations run like a thread through the musical delightful experiences in it. The program is divided into five sections, each representing a fairy tale: Flower Festival in Täppan, The Story of the Curious Perch, Putte's Adventure in the Blueberry Forest, The Journey to the Land of Long ago, and The Sun Egg.

As early as the 1820s, the Dessau court Kapellmeister Friedrich Schneider conceived the plan to compose a coherent series of four full-length oratorios dealing with the life of Jesus. Although Schneider did not realize his original plan of a tetralogy, three complete oratorios were nevertheless composed, forming a coherent trilogy (Christ the Child, Christ the Master, Christ the Redeemer). With the edition published in 2021 and this first recording of Christus das Kind, a foundation has been laid for the revival of this forgotten trilogy, more than 190 years after it's premiere.

Florian Klaus Rumpf takes us on a musical walk through his adopted country. In doing so, he acoustically stages his favorite places with works for mandolin, baroque mandolin, mandola and liuto cantabile from the most diverse cultural circles. Each of the pieces is associated with a Hamburg landmark, whose mood, statement or history is reflected in the music.

»[Der Fagott] gleicht einem in dem Gebüsch verborgenen Veilchen, welches seine Wohlgerüche über die Wiese ergiesst, indess es in dem sie umgebenden Blumenkranz verborgen bleibt, wenn er nämlich bloss ausfüllt und nicht Solo spielt.« Castil-Blaze, De l'Opéra en France, 1820

Of the six works recorded here by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach and G.F. Telemann (father, son and godfather), only two of them were specifically composed for the oboe, namely the g-minor sonata by C.P.E. Bach and the a-minor sonata by Telemann. However, as Emma Black proves on this new release, each of these works translates beautifully to the oboe. Australian born Emma Black is the principal oboist with the Balthasar Neumann Ensemble (Thomas Hengelbrock) and principal and soloist with the Wiener Akademie (Vienna) and Le Concert de la Loge (Paris). With all of these orchestras she has performed in all the major European festivals and can be heard in numerous album and radio recordings.

The members of the Hegel Quartet grew up in different parts of the "New World": Australia, United States of America and Canada. In search of the roots of the musical traditions in which they grew up, each of them made their own way to Europe during their studies. It was pure coincidence that they met in mid-life, having already absorbed so much of the legendary musicians who make the European concert scene so rich.