Laura van der Heijden & Jâms Coleman – Path to the Moon (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Laura van der Heijden & Jâms Coleman – Path to the Moon (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:18:28 minutes | 1,15 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

The performers write: ‘Selecting the repertoire for our album Path to the Moon, we wanted to explore a number of possibilities for binding together a programme. To place different works alongside one another is a wonderful way of bringing out new and unusual qualities in each piece. William T. Horton’s fantastic image The Path to the Moon immediately inspired a flurry of ideas, including works on the subjects of both night and the moon, as well as pieces which invoke the exploratory nature of humankind’s voyage to the moon. Britten wrote his Sonata for Cello and Piano only two years after the first object made by humans had touched the surface of the moon, in 1959. Humans throughout history and from all cultures have been drawn to and taken inspiration from the moon and we have tried to reflect this in our eclectic choice of song repertoire: from Tōru Takemitsu to Nina Simone and from Lili Boulanger to Florence Price. As we hope you will hear on this album, Walker’s Cello Sonata rings with echoes of the sound-worlds of blues and jazz and is infused with a beautiful lyricism. We really believe that Walker’s Cello Sonata deserves to become a staple of the chamber music repertoire and are absolutely thrilled to offer you a recording of it in the context of our own exploration of a path to the moon.’

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Francesca Dego, Timothy Ridout, Laura van der Heijden, Federico Colli – Mozart: The Piano Quartets (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Francesca Dego, Timothy Ridout, Laura van der Heijden, Federico Colli – Mozart: The Piano Quartets (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:08:18 minutes | 1,11 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Following a highly successful series of concerts in the summer of 2022, Francesca Dego, Timothy Ridout, Laura van der Heijden, and Federico Colli headed into the studio to record Mozart’s Piano Quartets. Whilst he may not have been the first composer to add a viola to the popular piano trio, Mozart was certainly the first to do so with such outstanding success. In his piano quartets, the strings become an equal partner to the piano, rather than mere accompaniment – much as in his piano concertos. This link is reinforced by his choice of form – unlike his string quartets, the piano quartets have three movements rather than four: a full-bodied movement in sonata form, a lighter central slow movement in a related key, and a rondo finale. Both works were composed during the three-year period, from February 1784 to December 1786, in which Mozart wrote twelve piano concertos. The first quartet is written in the key of G minor – rarely used by Mozart – and the overall mood is quite dark, almost disturbing. The second quartet, in E flat major, is by contrast much sunnier in atmosphere. Consequently, the two works together make for a very satisfying programme.

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Laura van der Heijden, Jâms Coleman – Pohádka – Tales from Prague to Budapest (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Laura van der Heijden, Jâms Coleman - Pohádka - Tales from Prague to Budapest (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Laura van der Heijden, Jâms Coleman – Pohádka – Tales from Prague to Budapest (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:16:06 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Chandos

The Chandos debut of Laura van der Heijden explores the rich musical heritage of Bohemia. She was born in England to Dutch-Swiss parents, and her career highlights already include winning the BBC Young Musician competition (aged just fifteen), the Edison Klassiek Award 2018 (for her debut album) and BBC Music Magazine’s Newcomer Award in 2019. Laura writes: “Jâms and I first met in 2017, when I was mesmerised by the sensitivity of his musicianship and the colours he managed to create on the piano.
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Kerenza Peacock, Huw Watkins, Laura van der Heijden – Rodrigo Ruiz: Behold the Stars (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Kerenza Peacock, Huw Watkins, Laura van der Heijden – Rodrigo Ruiz: Behold the Stars (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 58:23 minutes | 1,02 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Signum Records

Signum’s first disc with Rodrigo Ruiz highlights the Mexican composer’s musical and literary passions, in performances by world-class soloists Kerenza Peacock, Huw Watkins and Laura van der Heijden.

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Brodsky Quartet with Laura van der Heijden, Julian Jacobsen – Golden Oldies – More Favourite Encores (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Brodsky Quartet with Laura van der Heijden, Julian Jacobsen – Golden Oldies – More Favourite Encores (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:11:07 minutes | 2,40 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Since its formation in 1972 the Brodsky Quartet has performed more than 3000 concerts on the major concert stages of the world and has released more than seventy recordings. A natural curiosity and insatiable desire to explore have propelled the group in many artistic directions and continue to ensure it not only a place at the very forefront of the international chamber music scene but also a rich and varied musical existence.

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Brodsky Quartet, Laura van der Heijden – Schubert: String Quintet, Quartettsatz (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Brodsky Quartet, Laura van der Heijden - Schubert: String Quintet, Quartettsatz (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Brodsky Quartet, Laura van der Heijden – Schubert: String Quintet, Quartettsatz (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:06:51 minutes | 1,12 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, the Brodsky Quartet has performed more than 3000 concerts on the major concert stages of the world and has released more than seventy recordings. A natural curiosity and insatiable desire to explore have propelled the group in many artistic directions and continue to ensure it not only a place at the very forefront of the international chamber music scene but also a rich and varied musical existence. As they comment in their booklet note:
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