News from the Naxos Music Group
February 2018
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Label of the Month – Ondine
Prowess in the creation, performance and preservation of recorded music.
Ondine was founded by Reijo Kiilunen in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, where the company is still based today. The label’s extensive catalogue includes 600 high quality recordings, many of which have received distinguished awards. From the works of Finland’s native Sibelius to the country’s thriving classical music scene, Ondine continues to release the best productions by Finnish artists, not least those that arise from the label’s fruitful associations with composers such as Einojuhani Rautavaara, Magnus Lindberg and Kaija Saariaho.
As the reputation of the label has flourished, there has also been a shift to an increasingly international line-up of major artists and orchestras appearing on the roster. In addition to impeccable artistic performances Ondine has always paid equal attention to technical quality and high recording standards.
Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015, Ondine continues to demonstrate great prowess in the creation, performance and preservation of recorded music.
FEBRUARY’S FEATURED RELEASE
Ondine’s new album pays tribute to Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928–2016), one of the most performed Finnish composers after Sibelius, whose death left a deep void in the field of Finnish contemporary music.
Performed by cellist Tanja Tetzlaff and pianist Gunilla Süssmann, this release gives the opportunity to discover Rautavaara’s rarely heard works for cello and piano which serve as a fine addition to cello chamber music repertoire.
RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES
Three Women Star Soloists in Michael Daugherty’s New Concertos
March is Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day falling on the 8th of March. To mark these occasions, Naxos is releasing a new album of music by GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Michael Daugherty, featuring three outstanding women soloists: GRAMMY® Award-winning percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, flutist extraordinaire Amy Porter, and Carol Jantsch, the remarkable principal tuba of The Philadelphia Orchestra, with the Albany Symphony and David Alan Miller.
and Michael Daugherty
The release explores the relationships between machines, humanity and nature in three unique concertos. Dreamachine for solo percussion and orchestra is a colorful tribute to the imagination of inventors who dreamed of new machines, both real and surreal. The flute concerto Trail of Tears dramatizes the tragic governmental forced relocation of Native Americans in 1838 and meditates on how the human spirit discovers ways to deal with adversity. Reflections on the Mississippi for tuba and orchestra is a musical voyage down the legendary Mississippi River from Iowa to Louisiana.
Naxos also proudly presents a wide-ranging selection of titles showcasing the extraordinary creativity of female composers. Although they may seem thin on the ground in the historic grand catalogue of musical works, the last century or so has seen their gradual ascendancy to a position of real artistic significance. From the visionary mysticism of the mediaeval abbess Hildegard von Bingen, through the intervening centuries to leading contemporary composers such as Joan Tower and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, women have written some of the most remarkable music.
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Browse through our Female Composer segment catalogue to see all titles from the series. |
RECORDINGS FEATURING FEMALE COMPOSERS
Marin Alsop appointed new chief conductor of the Vienna RSO
Marin Alsop has been announced as the next chief conductor at the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (Vienna RSO), succeeding Cornelius Meister. The contract begins in September 2019, the year the orchestra marks its 50th anniversary. She will conduct the Orchestra in concerts, opera productions, tours, broadcasts and recordings.
Currently the music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the principal conductor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop will be the first female chief conductor of the Vienna RSO. Click here to read the full press release.
This is not the first time Marin has been a trailblazer for women in music. In 2013, she became the first woman to conduct the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms. In several interviews following that momentous occasion, Marin has expressed surprise that there are still firsts for women in the 21st century. Our warmest congratulations to Marin, along with our hope that her vision of a future where women taking leadership roles no longer comes as a surprise becomes a reality very soon.
RECORDINGS FEATURING FEMALE CONDUCTORS
[8 CDs +
1 Bonus DVD Boxed set]
3 GRAMMY® Awards for Naxos
Naxos is delighted to be among the recipients of this year’s GRAMMY® awards. The label was the winner in three categories.
The award for Best Classical Compendium went to a programme of music by Jennifer Higdon: All Things Majestic, Viola Concerto, Oboe Concerto (8.559823).
The Viola Concerto from that recording also received the award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. The soloist is Roberto Díaz and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero; the producer is Tim Handley.
Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon is one of America’s most performed living composers. Her winning album received the following accolade from Fanfare:
“This is just a marvelous disc … Jennifer Higdon has emerged as one of the leading creative musical voices of our time, producing a seemingly endless stream of expertly crafted, emotionally satisfying, and accessible works in virtually all genres. Hidgon has proven herself to be a master orchestral colorist and she has a unique ability to connect with an audience that few modern composers possess.”
The disc is yet another outstanding release in the Naxos American Classics series.
![BERG, A.: Wozzeck [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/SharedFiles/images/cds/others/8.660390-91.gif "BERG, A.: Wozzeck [Opera]")
The award for Best Opera Recording went to Berg’s Wozzeck (8.660390-91), with the Houston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hans Graf and featuring soprano Anne Schwanewilms (Marie) and baritone Roman Trekel (Wozzeck).
“…the singing is gripping: baritone Roman Trekel is one of today’s top Wozzecks, full-on and volatile, his violence cracked with frailty, and Anne Schwanewilms plays Marie with devastating dignity.” (The Guardian)
Peter Rabbit with Verdi’s vigorous chorus
Peter Rabbit, the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated generations of readers, now takes on the starring role of his own irreverent, contemporary comedy with attitude. Naxos is excited to be a part of the new film by Sony Pictures, opening in theatres this month! Listen to the original Anvil Chorus, and then check out the trailer to see how this piece of music is particularly well-suited to help set the mood for a feisty rabbit rascal.
Need to license some music for a project and don’t know where to start? Visit Naxos Licensing to find out how!
Happy New Year of the Dog
The Lunar New Year is one of the world's most colourful and exuberant events, celebrated by Chinese, Koreans and other Asians all across the globe. It is a time for expressing good wishes and hopes for better things to come.
In this Year of the Dog, celebrate with the “Naxos K9 Quintet” by clicking on their image below to hear the traditional Chinese tune Wishing You Happiness and Prosperity on the Marco Polo label, performed by Takako Nishizaki and the Hong Kong Philharmonic:
Marco Polo was the first label in the Naxos family. It includes almost 1000 recordings of works by both familiar and little known composers, light music, film music and world music – a veritable feast of new listening experience.
There's a generous choice of album compilations, representing a rich tapestry of music in different styles and from a variety of countries. Chinese classics occupy a large portion of the catalogue, featuring traditional fare alongside classical works by both the older and contemporary generations of composers. Click here to discover more Chinese music recordings.
BELCANTO – The Tenors of the 78 Era
The introduction of sound to cinema in the 1930s turned great tenors such as Beniamino Gigli, Richard Tauber and Lauritz Melchior into movie stars. Countless “singer movies” were made, but great vocal performances were also captured in numerous documentaries and privately-made movies. Using a wealth of rare and restored material the award-winning Belcanto documentary presents the great tenors from Enrico Caruso to Jussi Björling, and includes interviews with their contemporaries and descendants.
Director Jan Schmidt-Garre’s multi-award-winning 13-part documentary, presents the development of the art of singing from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1950s. Updated and freshly remastered to 16/9 HD format, Belcanto – The Tenors of the 78 Era presents a fascinating glimpse into the golden age of singing.
Featured Digital Platform: Naxos Video Library
NaxosVideoLibrary.com brings you an extensive streaming video library of classical music performances, opera, ballet, live concerts and documentaries. Watch the world's greatest opera houses, ballet companies, orchestras and artists perform on demand! NaxosVideoLibrary.com offers over 2,800 full-length videos, accessible anytime, anywhere.
Key features include:- Create custom clips: edit and add them to individual playlists
- Subtitles in multiple languages
- Libretto/text included when available
- Search videos by category, role, composer, artist, production personnel, work, venue or festival
- Access pre-defined video chapters and other points of interest including individual arias and scene breaks
- View video as Full Screen, 2/3 Screen or 1/4 Screen
- Videos stream at 700 Kbps (standard quality) and 2 Mbps (high quality)
- Compatible with both PC and Mac
RECENT ADDITIONS
![HUGHES, E.: When the Flame Dies [Opera] (Canterbury Festival, 2012) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/others/MSV99204.gif "HUGHES, E.: When the Flame Dies [Opera] (Canterbury Festival, 2012) (NTSC)")
![RAMEAU, J.-P.: Indes galantes (Les) [Opera] (Bavarian State Opera, 2016) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/others/BAC138.gif "RAMEAU, J.-P.: Indes galantes (Les) [Opera] (Bavarian State Opera, 2016) (NTSC)")
![DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera] (Malmö Opera, 2016) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/others/BAC144.gif "DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera] (Malmö Opera, 2016) (NTSC)")
From the recording studio: The Brandenburg Duets
Unlike the only published piano duet arrangement by Max Reger, which has serious performance limitations, Eleonor Bindman’s new transcription of the Brandenburg Concertos highlights their polyphony, imagining how Bach might have distributed the score if he had created four-part inventions for piano duet. With an equal partnership between the two instrumentalists, using the modern piano’s full potential to convey the unique scoring and character of each work, the concertos are ordered to create an engaging listening sequence.
New York-based pianist Eleonor Bindman, who is partnered with Steinway artist Jenny Lin in this world premiere recording, talks about these new arrangements in the following video:
Music for Love and Peace
February is widely known as the Month of Love. Let’s celebrate our diversity of affections, from romantic love, to a love of humanity, togetherness and feelings of peace around the world. This selection of classical music playlists can provide the perfect soundtrack for your Valentine’s Day activities, and beyond. Whether you are happily in love, or looking for something to soothe a broken heart, music is always a key player. But love is not limited to a single month, so follow these playlists and add them to your library to enjoy throughout the year!
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Artist of the Month – Erkki-Sven Tüür
Erkki-Sven Tüür, who was born in 1959 in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, is one of the most remarkable composers of his generation. He first set about achieving his musical ambitions in the world of rock music. From 1979 to 1984, he headed an artistically adventurous, progressive rock band in Tallinn named In Spe. At the same time, he was studying flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School and composition with both Jaan Rääts at the Tallinn Conservatory and privately with Lepo Sumera. He left In Spe in 1984 to dedicate himself to composing; since 1992 he has been a freelance composer.
Tüür’s first great success outside of Estonia was in Finland (with Insula Deserta, 1989). This led to a continuous and growing chain of commissions from major orchestras and outstanding musicians located all over Europe, North America and Australia. Tüür's favourite medium for composing London Philharmonic Orchestra. His works have been performed by orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, is the symphony orchestra; he has recently received commissions from the National Orchestra of Belgium, Orchestre de Paris, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, NDR Sinfonieorchester, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.
Erkki-Sven Tüür is one of the artistic directors of the International Festival NYYD in Tallinn and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Estonian Academy of Music. Tüür was awarded the Culture Prize of the Republic of Estonia for his Clarinet Concerto Peregrinus ecstaticus and the orchestral work De Profundis in 2014.NEWEST RECORDING
Hailed by Gramophone as “a composer of true significance”, his new album by Tapiola Sinfonietta and conductor Olari Elts includes world première recordings of two concertante works featuring violist Lawrence Power and recorder soloist Genevieve Lacey together with a late masterpiece, Symphony No. 8.
MORE RECORDINGS OF TÜÜR'S MUSIC
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