Luca Pisaroni, Christiane Karg, Sonya Yoncheva, Thomas Hampson, Angela Brower, Anne Sofie von Otter, Maurizio Muraro, Rolando Villazón, Jory Vinikour, Vocalensemble Rastatt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, K.492 (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:53:23 minutes | 3,35 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
After “Don Giovanni”, “Così fan tutte” and “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” this is the fourth of DG’s series of seven Mozart operas conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and initiated by Rolando Villazón, in collaboration with U-Live, Festspielhaus Baden Baden and with the generous support of ROLEX.
Recorded with a stellar cast, one of the brightest and most insightful conductors of our day and a specialist handpicked orchestra playing at their best in the stunning venue of Festspielhaus Baden-Baden (July 2015), Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s “completely gripping, high-contrast” Figaro is “a brilliant triumph”, wrote Badische Zeitung of the July 2015 concert performance recorded here, while heaping praise on Luca Pisaroni’s “thrilling” Figaro, Thomas Hampson’s Count “illuminating every word”, Sonya Yoncheva’s Countess “recalling Callas’s vocal colours”, Angela Brower’s “fascinatingly delicate, sensitive” Cherubino and Anne Sofie von Otter’s “wonderfully perceptive, charming Marcellina”, all in a performance “crowned” by Christiane Karg’s “enchanting” Susanna and Rolando Villazón as Basilio, who “had the audience at his feet”.
Read more
Lisa Batiashvili, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Visions Of Prokofiev (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 59:48 minutes | 1,16 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
In addition to Prokofiev’s two violin concertos – whose ample discography is brilliantly enriched by this interpretation of Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili and the excellent conductor Yannick Nézet-Seguin –, the album also features three treats from Prokofiev arranged by Tamás Batiashvili, the father of the aforementioned Lisa and a renowned teacher in his country. These are rewritings for solo violin and orchestra of the Dance Of The Knights from Romeo and Juliet, the Grand Waltz from Cinderella and the nefarious and quirky Grand March from The Love For Three Oranges. Batiashvili – the father – streamlines the message, allowing the solo violin to showcase its full power in moments that were bloated in the original partition, particularly in the rather bulky Dance Of The Knights which, losing some of its imposing weight, gained lyricism in return. As for the two concertos, they benefit greatly from the reasonably sized Chamber Orchestra of Europe, as it perfectly lets Prokofiev’s writing shine through.
Read more
Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra Of Europe – Mozart: Don Giovanni (1998) [Reissue 2004]
PS3 Rip | 3x SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 165:23 minutes | Front/Rear cover | 11,7 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Front/Rear cover | 2,99 GB
Features Stereo and Multichannel Surround Sound | Deutsche Grammophon # 474996-2
Arguably the greatest opera ever written, the Mozart/Da Ponte depiction of the last twenty-four hours of the legendary libertine is performed here in the standard version combining the two versions Mozart prepared. Abbado offers modern instruments with certain nods to period performance practice–many appoggiaturas, comparatively fleet tempos, and some modest ornamentation.
Read more
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & RIAS Kammerchor – Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1-5 (Live) (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 03:20:13 minutes | 3,49 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the European Reformation, started by Martin Luther in 1517. To honor this occasion, Deutsche Grammophon is releasing a new interpretation of the complete Mendelssohn symphonies, crowned by a recording of the Reformation Symphony No. 5.
The symphonies were recorded in February 2016 during a celebrated Mendelssohn festival over the course of two days at the Philharmonie de Paris – all under the baton of young, exciting conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Designate of the Metropolitan Opera New York.
This release is the first complete symphonic cycle to be recorded at the new Philharmonie de Paris, which opened in January 2015!
For this recording, Christopher Hogwood’s editions of the symphonies were chosen because of their particular importance for the Reformation symphony:
Mendelssohn, the often self-critical (and self-revising!) composer, who “in the process of trying to reduce the work to a length suitable for its celebratory function, [he] cut out one entire movement preceding the Finale, a passage that expands on the flute cadenza and prepares the arrival of the chorale theme with more engaging musical drama”. (Christopher Hogwood)
The original version of the work may now be listened to in its entirety!
This release underlines a strong ongoing collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe that already culminated in a successful release of the complete Schumann symphonies (March 2014) and the continuing Mozart Opera Cycle. Two instalments of the latter have been nominated for a Grammy: Le Nozze di Figaro and Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Read more
Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Alexander Janiczek – Stravinsky: Apollon Musagète & Pulcinella Suite (2009)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 53:53 minutes | 1,89 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records
The Chamber Orchestra of Europe performs Stravinsky’s Apollon Musagète and Pulcinella Suite, repertoire that demands the fresh and energetic delivery for which the COE is renowned. The COE deliver the ‘wonderful freshness’ Stravinsky himself envisioned in Apollon Musagète with their bright and spirited performance. The Guardian commented: ‘In Stravinsky’s Apollon Musagète each and every player contributed to the distinctive, rich-toned sonority.’
The Pulcinella Suite is a ballet based on some of Pergolesi’s most memorable music. The COE has recorded the more unusual 1949 ‘revised’ version of the 1922 concert suite which is in eight sections and performed without voices. The Independent commented: ‘Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite brimmed over with the energy and insight of first-rate musicians discovering every opportunity such sunny music offered them.’
The COE recorded this album at Église Maronite Notre-Dame Du Liban, Paris, in November 2008. They performed this Stravinsky programme at Cité de la musique, Paris, Konzerthaus, Vienna and Philharmonie, Luxembourg to widespread critical acclaim.
Read more
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe and Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:14:15 minutes | 2,71 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s saga on Mozart for Deutsche Grammophon continues: after The Clemency of Titus in 2018, it’s now time for The Magic Flute to pass under the Quebecois’ baton at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden. His direction breathes life into all the magic that is required for such a fairy-tale, Mozart’s final opera, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe successfully communicates the opera’s majesty and depth, as heard in the radiant “Priest’s March”.
Read more
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Piotr Anderszewski – Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 25 & 27 (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:03:24 minutes | 1,17 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics
This pairing of concertos Nos 25 and 27, recorded with Chamber Orchestra of Europe, is Piotr Anderszewski’s third Warner Classics album of Mozart concertos. “In Mozart I tend to prefer to direct from the keyboard,” he explains, “His concertos are like chamber works…The piano is in dialogue with the orchestra, conversing and interacting all the time. The two works are very different …No 25 is very grand, complex and sophisticated; No 27, Mozart’s final piano concerto, is in a major key, but underneath it I sense an incredible sadness … It always amazes me how deep this music is.”
Read more
Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Miah Persson, Chamber Orchestra of Europe – Mozart: Cosi fan tutte, K588 (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 03:03:18 minutes | 3,42 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
The second of DG’s series of seven Mozart operas conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and initiated by Rolando Villazón. This Così fan tutte enchanted the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus audience when recorded in concert in 2012, with Nézet-Séguin inspiring his stellar cast to feats of vocal derring-do.
Starring a thrilling cast of both young and experienced Mozart opera stars including accomplished soprano Mojca Erdmann as Despina, acclaimed Mozartian soprano Miah Persson and prize-winning young American mezzo Angela Brower as the emotionally manipulated sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Also joining this crème-de-la-crème cast are distinguished Mozart bass-baritone Adam Plachetka as Guglielmo and Italian buffo baritone Alessandro Corbelli as Alfonso.
Youthful exuberance tempered by depth of insight make this a rare Così, a must for even the most seasoned opera lover.
Read more
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe, Yannick Nezet-Seguin – Schumann: The Symphonies (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:04:19 minutes | 2,05 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
This is music that is very close to Robin Ticciati’s heart; he describes Schumann as one of his favourite composers and has often spoken about how important poetry, colour and story are to Schumann’s music. Symphony No. 1 ‘Spring’, blazes and sparkles with joy, Symphony No. 2 finds its way carefully through to the safe haven of its final movement, the much-loved Symphony No. 3 ‘Rhenish’ moves with huge ease and assurance to a resonant and joyful conclusion. Symphony No. 4 is radical in the way each movement attacks the start of the next movement with barely a pause, and in its minute-and-a-half-long, shimmering and horn-call-filled transition to the finale. Under Ticciati and the SCO it is magnificent, the radical, soaring, disturbing and exhilarating symphony Schumann intended.
The SCO’s smaller forces bring a lightness of touch and a clarity to the counterpoint; under Ticciati they achieve a sense of movement that no previous recording has.
Composer: Robert Schumann
Conductor: Robin Ticciati
Orchestra/Ensemble: Scottish Chamber Orchestra