Miloslav Kabeláč ranks among the most significant Czech composers of the 20th century. Alongside Antonín Dvořák and Bohuslav Martinů, he is recognised as one of the greatest Czech symphonists, whose work represents a cornerstone of Czech musical heritage. His output encompassed practically all musical genres except opera, but at its core are eight symphonies, each with a unique orchestration. On this recording, the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra enjoys the welcome expertise of Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša, who meticulously articulates the richly orchestrated scores of this still underrated composer.

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As a boy, Francesco Cavalli was a member of San Marco Basilica’s Chapel, which at the time was under the musical direction of Claudio Monteverdi, from whom he probably received tuition. Eventually, Cavalli’s fame as an operatic composer spread across Europe and he succeeded Monteverdi in San Marco to reach the apex of success in Venice. He also wrote sacred music, published in two great printed collections. The first collection, published in 1656, contains his Missa a 8 voci concertata, an imposing and magnificent work of exceptional complexity for eight soloists, two four⁠-⁠voiced choirs and many instrumentalists. In this recording it is performed in the context of an All Saints’ Day liturgy by Ensemble Locatelli, directed by Cavalli scholar, Bruno Gini.

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Nino Rota’s iconic film score for The Godfather is typical of his neo-Classicism – or ‘Classical modernist’ language – a cosmopolitan and functional musical style inspired by his teachers Pizzetti and Casella. This second and final volume of Rota’s solo piano music ranges from Ippolito gioca, an early piece celebrating Pizzetti’s 50th birthday, to his large-scale Variations and Fugue on the name Bach that concludes with a four⁠-⁠part fugue. The psychologically expressive music Rota composed for Federico Fellini’s film Il Casanova is also featured, along with Molière, a work that showcases his music for the ballet Le Molière imaginaire.

During his short career of some twenty years, Bizet composed a substantial quantity of music, including fifteen operas. Several of the latter predate his Twenty Songs, Op. 21, which were written between 1854 and 1872. Anyone new to these songs may wonder how music of such a consistently high quality could be so neglected. Shot through with masterpieces, they must surely be ranked among Bizet’s most representative works. One of the foremost rising stars of the opera world, award-winning Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė makes her Ondine debut with this album. She's accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau, recognised at the highest international level as one of the UK’s leading accompanists.