NEW RELEASES NEWSLETTER
December 2011

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The Snow Maiden, Sadko, Mlada, Le Coq d’Or (Orchestral Suites)
Seattle Symphony • Gerard Schwarz
Naxos 8.572787

Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral genius shines through in his colourful operatic suites, and that from his final opera Le Coq d’or is richly dramatic and expressive. The complicated folk-based story of the Snow Maiden is simplified into four enchanting movements, and that of Sadko into a single, radiantly descriptive tone-poem. The thrilling legend of Mlada is represented by vivid dances and a final Cortège. Gerard Schwarz’s recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade (8.572693) with the Seattle Symphony was described as ‘absolutely terrific’. (ClassicsToday.com)



Download
Sample a track from this album
II. Danse des oiseaux
(Dance of the Birds)



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Once again our founder and Chairman Klaus Heymann shares his thoughts and opinions on new recordings from Naxos. Klaus Heymann created Naxos Records as a way to pursue his passion for music and share it with others around the world. Despite the demands of running a large company, he still guides repertoire choices and oversees many details of the label personally.

Founder and Chairman Klaus Heymann offers his insights on a selection of December Naxos releases.
8.572787 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The Snow Maiden, Sadko, Mlada,
Le Coq d’Or (Orchestral Suites)

This is the final installment of Russian orchestral music from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and its Conductor Laureate, Gerard Schwarz. Our recordings of Rimsky’s Sheherazade and Borodin’s symphonies received outstanding critical acclaim both for the performances and for the excellent sound. The present recording matches its predecessors in terms of the brilliant performances and the same great sound from the orchestra’s Benaroya Hall. This is an hour’s worth of wonderful music – don’t miss it!


8.572844 Alfred HILL String Quartets, Vol 4

The Hill string quartets and symphonies are one of my pet projects. As a young man, Hill studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and his early quartets are wonderful Romantic chamber music. Some sound as if they had been written by Dvořák. The later quartets offer some hints of Gershwin or impressionist refinement. The Piano Quintet is unique in that it has a vocal final movement, with the piano and the four strings being joined by eight voices. Even though all three works are backward-looking they are highly attractive and should not be missed by any collector of string quartets.

Also Available in the Series
HILL String Quartets, Vol 1 8.570491
HILL String Quartets, Vol 2 8.572097
HILL String Quartets, Vol 3 8.572446

8.559676 William Grant STILL Symphonies Nos 2 & 3, Wood Notes

This is the final volume of our project to record the complete symphonies of this pioneering African-American composer. If you missed earlier volumes, don’t miss this one. Still studied with Chadwick and Varèse. Symphony No 2 is the last of a trilogy of works depicting the African-American experience while Symphony No 3 describes a spiritual ‘day in the life’ of a devout worshiper. Both symphonies offer very attractive, accessible music in excellent performances by an American regional orchestra. The previous two volumes have received a lot of critical praise.

Also Available in the Series
STILL Afro-American Symphony, In Memoriam, Africa 8.559174
STILL Symphonies Nos 4 & 5, Poem for Orchestra 8.559603

Marco Polo 8.225340 Johann STRAUSS I Edition, Vol 20

This is another of my pet projects – after the 52-CD Johann Strauss II and the 26-CD Josef Strauss Editions we are getting close to the completion of our final Strauss family project. This volume offers a selection of dances from the mid 1840s, a real high point for Strauss. They reflect the composer’s limitless capacity to spin wonderful tunes. Enjoy! After Volume 20, there are only four more volumes to go.



Among the extraordinary range of this month’s Naxos new releases are these fifteen outstanding albums. Click on each cover image for more about each album.


Carlo Colombara: The Art of the Bass
Carlo Colombara, bass
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana • György G. Ráth
Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra • Vladimir Ghiaurov
Prague Tchaikovsky Orchestra • Fabrizio Milani
Oscar Martos Hidalgo, director

Naxos DVD 2.110612
Described as “the great Verdian bass” (Le Figaro) and a “Mefistofele who stood out over all the others” (Der Neue Merker), Carlo Colombara brings some of the most famous bass rôles to life in this wide-ranging programme. Emotions range from the pride of Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen, through the terrors of Verdi’s Attila, to the tender recollections of Rachmaninov’s Aleko. Mephistopheles strides powerfully through both Gounod and Boito’s operas, and Rossini’s comic wit contrasts with the darkness of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov.



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Naxos distributes several outstanding CD labels in many countries. Click on the distributed label names below to view their catalogues on naxos.com. Here are some recent and forthcoming releases to whet your appetite (click on the covers for more information about each album):





Naxos distributes several outstanding DVD labels in many countries. Click on the distributed label names below to view their catalogues on naxos.com. Here are some recent and forthcoming releases to whet your appetite (click on the covers for more information about each album):






SEE ALL NEW RELEASES
See what we’re featuring this month in various countries around the world. Click on the country for more information:

Australia
 
France
 
New Zealand
Canada
 
Germany
 
Norway
China
 
Hong Kong
 
Sweden
Denmark
 
Japan
 
UK
Finland
 
Korea
 
USA



December 2011 New Release Sampler
8.572594       BALADA Preludis obstinants: Prelude No 4
8.572580       BOWEN Viola Sonata No 2 in F major, Op 22: III. Finale: Allegro giocoso
8.572815       BRAGA SANTOS Elegia a Viana da Mota
8.572456       CERVANTES Amen
8.572689       CIMAROSA Keyboard Sonata in B flat major
8.572707       CORDERO Concierto Festivo: I. Allegro elegante
8.559703       HANSON Symphony No 4, ‘The Requiem’: IV. Lux aeterna: Largo pastorale
8.572844       HILL String Quartet No 11 in D minor: I. Andantino - Lento - Allegro
8.572656       MEYER String Quartet No 12, Op 103: VIII. Prestissimo
8.559698       MORAVEC Characteristics: II. Serene
8.572832       PHILIPS Ecce vicit Leo
8.572596       PIAZZOLLA arr A LIARMAKOPOULOS Histoire du Tango (History of the Tango):
                      III. Night club 1960

8.572030       RICHTER Sonata No 4 for Flute, Cello and Harpsichord in C major
                      (revised 1764 edition from 1759 collection, No 4): III. Allegro

8.572787       RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The Snow Maiden Suite: II. Danse des oiseaux (Dance of the Birds)
8.559397       SOUSA arr K BRION The Quilting Party March
8.559676       STILL Symphony No 3 ‘The Sunday Symphony’:
                      IV. Day’s End and a New Beginning: Resolutely

8.572744       KELLY Scrooge

Buy all 17 tracks for only USD 2.99 (near 90% savings!)


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