The name of the musical ensemble 'Contrasti' alludes to the two main emphases in the group's repertoire: works from the Renaissance and those of contemporary composers. This album draws together Renaissance repertoire and music of the 20th and 21st centuries, finding frissons in the similarities and contrasts between quite distant times.

When looking at the trusting musical encounter between flute and harp, it appears that a large number of scores have been unjustly neglected. This long list of works that have been hidden in the shadows underscores the perfect match between the two instruments and lends further legitimacy to their amicable bond. The ensemble Les Connivences Sonores was born in 2014 from the meeting between two musicians with inexhaustible curiosity, Odile Renault, flute and Elodie Reibaud, harp. From their common passion is born a whole project of discovery and rediscovery of a rich and magnificent original repertoire of chamber music. At it's center is quite naturally the flute and harp duo, of which Odile and Elodie explore the astonishing extent of the repertoire, which goes from the 18th century to the present day, by means of extremely organic playing. The great romantic repertoire allows them to devote themselves to the carnal and virtuoso dimension of their respective instruments. The 20th century, meanwhile, never ceases to amaze them with it's diversity of languages. Contemporary creation brings them the wealth of contact with composers and all aspects of research related to creation.

astille musique presents its seventeenth release »Lucier & Bach: Sitting in a Room« featuring Hanna Herfurtner (soprano, voice), Clara Blessing (oboe), Joosten Ellée (violin), Linda Mantcheva (violoncello) and Elina Albach (harpsichord, organ). The album combines Alvin Lucier’s sound art piece I am sitting in a room with arias by Johann Sebastian Bach (from BWV 61, 1, 58, 199, 57, 36, 248, 68). Recorded in co-production with Deutschlandfunk, the set also includes a 48-page bilingual booklet (EN, DE) with articles by Thilo Braun, an interview with the singer and the producer, and the complete lyrics, as well as several photo leaflets of the composers and the performers.

‘The fantastic thing about art and music is that one can pose questions and conjure up visions at the same time.’ The words are those of the Swedish composer Jesper Nordin, who does exactly that in Emerging from Currents and Waves. A large-scale work for orchestra, clarinet soloist, conductor and live electronics, Emerging… is a collaboration between Nordin, Martin Fröst and Esa-Pekka Salonen. All three are interested in how new technology can – and will – influence art and artistic expression, and in exploring the intersection of mankind, music and technology.