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NEW ON NAXOS
The World’s Leading Classical Music Label
May 2012
8.572708

Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Symphony No. 2 ‘To October’
Symphony No. 15

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko


These two hugely contrasting symphonies come from the opposite ends of Shostakovich’s life and career. The Second Symphony was written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Bolshevik October Revolution. Its advanced idiom of experimental textures and abstract effects can perhaps be best described as organised musical chaos. The Fifteenth was Shostakovich’s last symphony and is filled with remarkable contrasts, from the rollicking quotes from Rossini’s William Tell Overture and eerie references to Wagner’s Götterdämmerung and Tristan und Isolde, to the last and perhaps most imaginative of the composer’s symphonic passacaglias.
   
8.572486

Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Concerto for Orchestra
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra • Marin Alsop

Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, one of his greatest works, was written in the United States after the composer was forced to flee Hungary during World War II. It is not only a brilliant display vehicle for each instrumental section but a work of considerable structural ingenuity that unites classical forms and sonorities with the pungency of folk rhythms and harmonies. Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta explores darker moods through a score of marvellously poised symmetry. This release follows Marin Alsop’s ‘riveting’ (Gramophone) Baltimore Symphony recordings of Dvořák’s symphonies.
   
8.572783

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Der glorreiche Augenblick
Choral Fantasia

Claire Rutter • Wallevik • Hoare • Gadd
McCawley
City of London Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Hilary Davan Wetton

Beethoven’s unusual cantata Der glorreiche Augenblick (The Glorious Moment) is filled with patriotic praise for Vienna and tributes to the kings and princes of Europe after the defeat of Napoleon. It was performed alongside his symphonic Wellington’s Victory at its première in 1814. The Fantasia in C minor for piano, chorus and orchestra opens with a virtuosic, improvisatory Adagio for the piano. The work’s main theme anticipates the famous Ode to Joy setting Beethoven later devised for his Choral Symphony.
   
8.572823

Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
(1895-1968)
Piano Concerto Nos. 1 and 2
Four Dances from ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’

Alessandro Marangoni, piano
Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Mogrelia


Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s two Piano Concertos form a contrasting pair. Concerto No. 1, written in 1927, is a vivid and witty example of his romantic spirit, exquisite melodies and rich yet transparent orchestration. Concerto No. 2, composed a decade later, is a darker, more dramatic and virtuosic work. The deeply-felt and dreamlike slow movement and passionate finale are tinged with bleak moments of somber agitation, suggestive of unfolding tragic events with the imminent introduction of the Fascist Racial Laws that led Castelnuovo-Tedesco to seek exile in the USA in 1939. The Four Dances from ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’, part of the composer’s recurring fascination for the art of Shakespeare, are atmospheric, richly characterised and hugely enjoyable. This is their first performance and recording.
   
8.572872

Henryk GÓRECKI (1933-2010)
Concerto-Cantata • Three Dances
Little Requiem for a Certain Polka
Harpsichord Concerto (piano version)

Anna Górecka, piano
Carol Wincenc, flute

Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra • Antoni Wit

These four works, written between 1973 and 1993, fully reflect Górecki’s expressive variety. The Little Requiem for a Certain Polka, for piano and thirteen instruments, combines a wide range of moods. The Concerto-Cantata, which received its world première from the soloist on this recording, alternates a moving vein of melancholy with a charged, violent energy. The radical, energetic Harpsichord Concerto is heard here in the version for piano, performed by the composer’s daughter. The Three Dances are hugely approachable and full of exciting contrast.
   
8.578217

GREAT CLASSICAL MASTERPIECES
BESTSELLING RECORDINGS 1987-2012


All of these best-selling titles come from the first 10 years of the label and feature our most successful artists. Some are still recording for us, including violinist Takako Nishizaki, the coowner of the Naxos label; Jenő Jandó, who is busy recording Bartók’s piano music; Jeremy Summerly and his Oxford Camerata; and Antoni Wit whose new recordings with the Warsaw Philharmonic are among the finest in our catalogue. Norbert Kraft is still active as producer of the Naxos guitar series and much of our chamber music. Although he no longer records for Naxos, Stephen Gunzenhauser is still active as a conductor. Sadly, Zdeněk Košler to whom we owe many great recordings with the Slovak Philharmonic passed away a few years ago. Others have retired or disappeared altogether from the musical scene. Therefore, in a way, this compilation is a tribute to all the artists who made the success of Naxos possible in the early days of the label. – Klaus Heymann [Founder of Naxos]
   

 
 
8.572892
  8.572801
  8.572548

 
 
8.570927
  8.572827
  8.572349

 
 
8.572163
  8.572062
  8.572484

 
 
8.572600
  8.572760
  8.572812

 
 
8.559706
  8.572835
  8.572682


THE STORY OF NAXOS
THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL THAT CHANGED CLASSICAL RECORDING FOR EVER

  • Published by Piatkus
  • Hardback bound, 464 pages
  • Also available for download as Standard and Enhanced Editions
  • Enhanced Edition features over 30 audio extracts from Naxos recordings

The 450-page illustrated book describes the changing landscape of the classical music recording industry, tracing the rise of the label from its humble beginnings to its current position as the leading provider of classical music recordings. Divided into three main sections, the book profiles Klaus Heymann, then introduces us to the leading artists, composers and conductors in the Naxos catalogue, including Marin Alsop, Leonard Slatkin, Takako Nishizaki, John Corigliano and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. The final section of the book outlines the company history and structure, providing a unique insight into the workings of a record label, and its evolution over time in response to commercial success and advances in technology.

   
Download
online
         
 
The Naxos Seattle Symphony Collection is a newly created series to showcase the Seattle players and conductor Gerard Schwarz in a wide selection of repertoire.

 
 
8.559712
  8.559715
  8.571203

 
8.571205
  8.571206



Naxos Historical is in the privileged position of being able to transform the legendary recordings of the past into remarkable digtial sound, using today’s most advanced audio engineering technology.  
       
 
 
8.112072*
  8.111218*
  9.70164

*Not Available in the United States due to possible copyright restrictions


 
 
2.110302
  2.110303
  2.110304

 
In addition to its own wide-reaching monthly new releases, Naxos also distributes several leading labels in many countries around the world. Check out our monthly Distributed Label Highlights feature for a choice selection of recent releases from some of these distributed labels.

 
 
Dacapo 8.226573
  Newton Classics NC8802125
  TwoPianists TP1039114

 
 
EuroArts 2059118 [DVD]
  ICA Classics ICAD5074 [DVD]
  Opus Arte OABD7101D
[Blu-ray Video] OA1069D [DVD]
 
Also check out the latest edition of the New On Naxos presenter, featuring details of every new release of the month

Click here to download (PDF)
NOW AVAILABLE!
New Release Sampler May 2012
25 New Tracks for
USD 2.99 only

These exciting Naxos New Releases are delivered directly to you through Naxos Direct
Canada | Denmark | Finland | Ireland | Sweden | United Kingdom | USA


See also our Upcoming Releases on naxos.com

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