NEWS FROM THE NAXOS MUSIC GROUP
November/December 2020
Label of the Month: Naxos
Naxos was founded in 1987 and has developed into a virtual encyclopaedia of classical music with a catalogue of unparalleled depth and breadth. Innovative strategies for recording exciting new repertoire with exceptional talent have enabled the Naxos label to develop one of the largest and fastest-growing catalogues of unduplicated repertoire. Around 11,000 titles are currently available at affordable prices, recorded in state-of-the-art sound, both in hard format and on digital platforms. Naxos works with artists of the highest calibre and its recordings have been recognised with numerous international honours, including GRAMMY, ICMA, Opus Klassik and Gramophone Editor’s Choice Awards. Through relentless search for new repertoire, and through affordable prices, Naxos has enabled newcomers and life-long classical music lovers alike to discover both music they love and music they didn’t know existed.
![WEINBERGER, J.: Frühlingsstürme [Operetta] (Komische Oper, 2020) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110677-78.jpg "WEINBERGER, J.: Frühlingsstürme [Operetta] (Komische Oper, 2020) (NTSC)")
![CESTI, A.: Dori (La) [Opera] (Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, 2019) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110676.jpg "CESTI, A.: Dori (La) [Opera] (Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, 2019) (NTSC)")
![MEYERBEER, G.: Romilda e Costanza [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.660495-97.jpg "MEYERBEER, G.: Romilda e Costanza [Opera]")
![ROSSINI, G.: Matilde di Shabran (original version) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.660492-94.jpg "ROSSINI, G.: Matilde di Shabran (original version) [Opera]")
Artist of the Month – Peter Breiner
Peter Breiner is one of the world’s most recorded musicians, with over 200 albums and countless streams and downloads to his credit. Known as a conductor, composer, pianist and arranger, he has conducted (often doubling as a pianist) numerous orchestras that include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bournemouth, Jerusalem, New Zealand, Moscow and Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestras, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic and the Orchestre National de France. His compositions and arrangements have been performed in concerts and broadcast worldwide, and some of the most prestigious ballet companies have used his music in many performances.
Some of his most acclaimed recordings include Beatles Go Baroque (8.555010 – over a quarter of a million albums sold worldwide) and Elvis Goes Baroque (8.990054) which, together with Christmas Goes Baroque I and II (8.550301 and 8.550670) represent his commercially most successful Baroque arrangements.
The tranquil and serene pieces for Caressing Your Soul meld melodic substance with musical expression to provide solace, relief and peace of mind in an oasis of calming music.
‘The recording for this album started rather adventurously, amid floods in Wales, where the recording studio is located, and with the recording crew having to be rescued in boats – as if foreshadowing the ominous times ahead. Little did we know when we decided to proceed with this project how necessary and important this kind of music would suddenly become after the pandemic of 2020 hit the planet. People in general, not only music lovers, try to find some solace, relief and peace of mind in an oasis of calming music, and I have tried my best to provide it. I hope that these works will provide moments of peace for all who listen to them.’ – Peter Breiner
Drawing on traditions established by Brahms and Dvořák and showcasing leading folk music soloists, Peter Breiner’s Slovak Dances are an exuberant and kaleidoscopic monument rooted in Slovak musical folklore. It comprises 16 symphonic fantasias on songs that evoke varying emotions with an autobiographical element that follows Breiner’s life from his origins in Humenné and Košice to New York.
A collection of sheet music editions of works by Peter Breiner is now available on Naxos Publishing. You may buy printed sheet music and PDF downloads at publishing.naxos.com.
A record number of nominations
Recordings from Naxos and its affiliated labels were among the recently announced nominations for the 2021 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). The Naxos Music Group received a record total of 50 nominations across 12 categories. Naxos led the field for all labels in receiving 28 nominations, the most ever for an individual label in the history of the awards. The judges, drawn from more than 20 specialist publications and broadcasters across sixteen countries, made a total of 365 nominations.
Nominations for other labels in the Naxos Music Group went to BelAir Classiques [1] Capriccio [3], Oehms Classics [5], Ondine [5], Opus Arte [2], Orfeo [2] and SWR Music [4].
Nominations for all labels in the respective categories are listed below, together with links to further details about each album.
The finalists will be announced on December 15, and the ICMA winners will be published on 20 January 2021. The Award Ceremony and Gala concert will take place in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, on 18 April 2021, in a ceremony featuring the Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein conducted by Yaron Traub.
– Gramophone
– MusicWeb International
– Fanfare
– Gramophone
![MASSENET, J.: Don César de Bazan (1888 version) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.660464-65.jpg "MASSENET, J.: Don César de Bazan (1888 version) [Opera]")
![WEINBERG, M.: Wir gratulieren! (chamber version) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OC990.jpg "WEINBERG, M.: Wir gratulieren! (chamber version) [Opera]")
![WEBER, C.M. von: Freischütz (Der) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OC988.jpg "WEBER, C.M. von: Freischütz (Der) [Opera]")
![STRAUSS, R.: Frau ohne Schatten (Die) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/C991203.jpg "STRAUSS, R.: Frau ohne Schatten (Die) [Opera]")
– The Strad
– Pizzicato
– BBC Music Magazine
– Pizzicato
![WEBER, C.M. von: Freischütz (Der) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/ODE1341-2.jpg "WEBER, C.M. von: Freischütz (Der) [Opera]")
![STRAUSS, R.: Frau ohne Schatten (Die) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/ODE1357-2.jpg "STRAUSS, R.: Frau ohne Schatten (Die) [Opera]")
– MusicWeb international
![GLANERT, D.: Oceane [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OC985.jpg "GLANERT, D.: Oceane [Opera]")
– The Guardian
– MusicWeb International
– Classical Music Daily
![PROKOFIEV, S.: Romeo and Juliet [Ballet]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/BAC180.jpg "PROKOFIEV, S.: Romeo and Juliet [Ballet]")
![THOMAS, A.: Hamlet [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110640.jpg "THOMAS, A.: Hamlet [Opera]")
– Gramophone
![PURCELL, H.: King Arthur [Opera] (Sung in English with German dialogue)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110658.jpg "PURCELL, H.: King Arthur [Opera] (Sung in English with German dialogue)")
– American Record Guide
![LANDI, S.: Morte d'Orfeo (La) [Opera] (DNO, 2018) (Blu-ray, HD)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/NBD0111V.jpg "LANDI, S.: Morte d'Orfeo (La) [Opera] (DNO, 2018) (Blu-ray, HD)")
– OperaJournal
![ZEMLINSKY, A.: Zwerg (Der) [Opera] (Deutsche Oper Berlin, 2019) (Blu-ray, HD)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/NBD0108V.jpg "THOMAS, A.: Hamlet [Opera]")
– Limelight
![HENZE, H.W.: Prinz von Homburg (Der) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110668.jpg "HENZE, H.W.: Prinz von Homburg (Der) [Opera]")
![ADAM, A.: Postillon de Lonjumeau (Le) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110662.jpg "ADAM, A.: Postillon de Lonjumeau (Le) [Opera]")
![DVOŘÁK, A.: Rusalka [Opera] (Glyndebourne, 2019) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OA1302D.jpg "DVOŘÁK, A.: Rusalka [Opera] (Glyndebourne, 2019) (NTSC)")
– BBC Music Magazine
Marin Alsop gives her expert opinion on famous orchestral moments from movies
Conductor Marin Alsop talked with Wired about orchestral and band scenes from popular movies and television shows to determine how accurate they really are. Does the conductor from the movie Whiplash have an effective style? How historically accurate is Amadeus? Was Richard Dreyfuss convincing as a high school orchestra conductor? Marin Alsop answered all these questions, and more:
For more recordings by Marin Alsop, please visit naxos.com.
The Vasari Singers celebrate 40 years with A heaven full of stars
The Vasari Singers performs a wide range of repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir’s extensive discography includes a large collection of premiere recordings, many of which are of works commissioned by them, as well as two collections of Christmas music. To mark its 40th anniversary, the Vasari Singers has selected a sequence of anthems, mostly with star-based themes, the vast majority of which are by living composers. The rich variety to be heard reflects the choir’s commitment to the genre, whether in the ecstasy of Ēriks Ešenvalds, the serenity of Jonathan Dove, the shimmering harmonies of Eric Whitacre, or the ethereal beauties of Paul Mealor.
Founder conductor Jeremy Backhouse said: ‘2020 would have been some year for the Vasari Singers, given that it marked our 40th anniversary; much had been planned by way of musical and social celebration. Instead, with only one public appearance in Canterbury Cathedral in February under our belts, COVID-19 struck. The disc that we recorded in October 2019 has therefore assumed ever deeper significance for me and the choir, and has become for us a lone bright light showcasing the very best of British contemporary sacred choral music – thrilling, moving, spiritually uplifting – at a time when choirs across the globe are struggling to make themselves heard.’
– WFMT, The Best Christmas Recordings of 2012
– American Record Guide
40 years of ORFEO music – The Fine Art of Classical
When the ORFEO label was established in Munich 40 years ago, few industry experts would have predicted that the record company would develop into a firmly established player in the classical music market. Back then, the world of music was dominated by the major labels who more or less had an exclusive say in the choice of what music to record and release, and how they would market the recordings they made with renowned musicians. 'Indie labels' (a term which wasn’t even in use back then) were very much a niche affair, usually appearing on the scene for a short time before disappearing into oblivion soon after. One of ORFEO’s main priorities in the early years was vocal music, with opera rarities top of the list and, since the mid-1980s, the re-use of historic tape recordings. Big names featured on the label’s own productions, while ORFEO also developed into a talent factory by discovering and nurturing young artists.
Celebrating ORFEO’s 40th anniversary, the label presents a selection of outstanding recordings with legendary conductors and soloists in the true sense of the word.
The support of young artists has always been one of the label’s central concerns. Over the years, ORFEO has developed a significant pool of talent. Today’s global stars such as Arabella Steinbacher, Diana Damrau, Krassimira Stoyanova, Julia Fischer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Piotr Beczala, Andris Nelsons, Baiba Skride and Pavol Breslik were all discovered and nurtured by the label.
– MusicWeb International on Legendary Conductor (C200011)
Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words filmed by Emmy Award-winning directors
Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words is a drama feature film created by the International Emmy Award-winning Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, starring the dancers of The Royal Ballet in Kenneth MacMillan’s classic ballet and set to Sergei Prokofiev’s original score.
Highlighting the essence of MacMillan’s world-renowned choreography, Nunn and Trevitt’s Romeo and Juliet takes viewers into the action with a striking intimacy. Through detailed portrayals by The Royal Ballet dancers, audiences come to know Shakespeare’s iconic tale as a gripping story through an audacious experience that is by turn epic and intimate. With the story presented in a ground-breaking new light, the film captures the extraordinary performances that have earned The Royal Ballet the reputation of producing the greatest actor-dancers in the world, and their artistry pays tribute to a production that is internationally recognised as the zenith of the dance storytelling. Re-imagined for the camera by Nunn and Trevitt, the film delivers a new realism and appeals to a global audience of theatre, dance and film fans alike. Starring Francesca Hayward and William Bracewell in the title roles.
![HENZE, H.W.: Prinz von Homburg (Der) [Opera] (Staatsoper Stuttgart, 2019) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OA1294D.jpg "HENZE, H.W.: Prinz von Homburg (Der) [Opera] (Staatsoper Stuttgart, 2019) (NTSC)")
‘Possibly the most exciting dance/film event this year…’
– Culture Whisper
‘This is a cinematic film in its own right… you are right in the middle of every scene… The dancing is fantastic…’ – Ballet News
CAST
| Romeo | William Bracewell |
| Juliet | Francesca Hayward |
| Tybalt | Matthew Ball |
| Mercutio | Marcelino Sambé |
| Benvolio | James Hay |
| Lady Capulet | Kristen McNally |
| Lord Capulet | Christopher Saunders |
| Nurse | Romany Pajdak |
| Paris | Thomas Mock |
| Friar Laurence | Bennet Gartside |
First Soloists, Soloists and Artists of The Royal Ballet
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
| Conductor | Koen Kessels |
| Choreography | Sir Kenneth MacMillan |
| Original Designer | Nicholas Georgiadis |
A film by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt
| Director | Michael Nunn |
| Director of Photography | William Trevitt |
Extra Features: The Making of Romeo and Juliet; Rome and Juliet: Q&A with the cast and crew; Cast Gallery
More full-length videos? 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 3,485 full-length videos, accessible anytime, anywhere.
KEY FEATURES:
- create custom clips: edit and add them to individual playlists
- content from over 70 labels
- subtitles available in over 5 languages
- 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)
- libretto/text included when available
- compatibility with both PC and Mac
Marking the centenary of Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy
© Tombeau de Claude Debussy, Raoul Dufy/Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/Georges Meguerditchian/Dist. RMN-GP
In December 1920, two years after Claude Debussy’s untimely death, the editors of the renowned Parisian musical magazine La Revue musicale published a special issue dedicated to the composer’s memory. At its heart was a joint memorial composition by prominent composers of the time. Each paid tribute to the late master in their own typical style while also reflecting on Debussy’s aesthetic, creating a kind of musical ‘time capsule’ of Paris in this unique historical period. From Dukas’ final piano work to Stravinsky’s monumental chorale, this is the first complete recording of Le Tombeau – made to mark its centenary – with the related works that proceeded from it.
The digital album will be released on December 4th to mark the centenary of the special December 1920 issue of the Parisian La Revue musicale. The physical album will be available in January 2021.
– MusicWeb International
– ClassicsToday.com
![DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/C367942I.jpg "DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera]")
![DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera] (Zürich Opera, 2016) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/BAC157.jpg "DEBUSSY, C.: Pelléas et Mélisande [Opera] (Zürich Opera, 2016) (NTSC)")
Visit Qobuz to get 50% off the entire Oehms Classics catalogue
Until the 30th of November, audiophile-oriented Qobuz is offering all Oehms Classics digital downloads, in both CD and Hi-Res audio quality, at 50% off! Visit the Qobuz store to discover dozens of haunting interpretations, explosive transcriptions, and exquisite productions. The promotion includes brand new recordings as well.
![DVOŘÁK, J. / HÄUBLEIN, P. / VINUESA, R.: Vespertine [Opera] (after Björk's album, 2018)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OC978.jpg "DVOŘÁK, J. / HÄUBLEIN, P. / VINUESA, R.: Vespertine [Opera] (after Björk's album, 2018)")
In the recording studio: Homage to Rudolf Wagner-Régeny
Rudolf Wagner-Régeny was considered one of the most distinguished artistic personalities in East Germany. Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan were just two of the distinguished conductors to champion his music. Although Wagner-Régeny himself was not regarded as a stylistic pioneer, the way he adopted and blended old and new musical elements gave him a highly individual voice. Genesis (1955/56) is a blend of oratorio and cantata. It was written prior to East Germany’s ambivalent attitude towards the Church, the organisation that represented the strongest opposition to the regime and met with discrimination, mainly during Walter Ulbricht’s tenure as chairman of the Central Committee.
‘Rudolf Wagner-Régeny’s oratorio Genesis (1955/56) describes in six parts the creation unfolded in six days in a lovely and calm music, which can be heard in this recording in a convincing performance.’ – Pizzicato
– MusicWeb International
– Fanfare
Playlists for the season
Looking for new music? Our selection of curated playlists has you covered with music to complement the season, moment, or activity! Get in the holiday spirit with the Christmas edition of our Celebrate Classical playlist series, set the perfect mood for your next special meal or date night in with our Elegant Dinner playlist, relive classic film scores with Classical Music at the Movies, boost your mood and focus with Smart Kids Classical, pair your favourite reads with contemplative tracks in unCLASSIFIED’s Book Club Classical, and discover romantic music from Russia in the latest playlist from Grand Piano. Happy listening!
Don Carlos featured in new Netflix sci-fi thriller series
Verdi’s Don Carlos appears in a new Netflix original series Alice in Borderland, an adaptation of the psychological thriller manga by author Haro Aso. The live-action series is directed by Shinsuke Sato and stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya. With his two friends, a video-game-obsessed young man finds himself in a strange version of Tokyo where they must compete in dangerous games to survive. Alice in Borderland premieres on December 10, only on Netflix.
Need to license some music for a project and don’t know where to start? Visit Naxos Licensing to find out how!
Perfect Christmas Gifts from Naxos
Christmas is one of the most richly celebrated seasons around the world. While its focus rests on just a few days of the year, the wealth of music that has been written to mark its spirit and story is astonishingly plentiful and varied. Here are our picks of the top gift ideas for your loved ones:
![DONIZETTI, G.: Ange de Nisida (L') [Opera] (Fondazione Teatro Donizetti, 2019) (Blu-ray, HD)](images/DYN-57848.jpg "DONIZETTI, G.: Ange de Nisida (L') [Opera] (Fondazione Teatro Donizetti, 2019) (Blu-ray, HD)")
![TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Nutcracker (The) [Ballet] (Royal Ballet, 1968) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OA1248D.jpg "TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Nutcracker (The) [Ballet] (Royal Ballet, 1968) (NTSC)")
Celebrate Beethoven
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth
In celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birth year, we have curated a special Celebrate Beethoven playlist which is refreshed monthly according to various interesting themes based on his life, compositional periods, genre, and more. The tracks are sourced from the Naxos Complete Beethoven Edition, a new 90-disc boxed set also released to mark the anniversary year, hailed by the critics or being the most comprehensive set available.
This month we shine a spotlight on his most ROMANTIC music.
Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the most influential composers in the entire history of Western music. His stylistic innovations built on and expanded established Classical forms, propelling chamber music, solo and orchestral genres into a Romantic era that thrived on the expression of deeper and more personal emotions. From the gorgeous lyricism found in the ‘Pathétique’ and ‘Moonlight’ Sonatas, to the pictorial scenes in the ‘Pastoral’ Symphony, this collection brings together some of Beethoven’s most beautiful and poetic musical movements.
Follow the Celebrate Beethoven playlist on your favourite streaming platform to discover a wide range of works from one of the most influential composers in the history of classical music.
Themed Digital Album
Each month, we also have corresponding digital albums that you may download and enjoy again and again. Please click on the cover image to your left to download this month's release and remember to come back and visit our mini‑site each month for more amazing music!
This CELEBRATE BEETHOVEN catalogue contains an impressive collection of works by this master composer across the Naxos Music Group labels.
Russian born arranger Paul Struck has arranged two of Beethoven’s great mid-period chamber masterpieces for soloist and string ensemble. Expanding the sonorities of the ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata – Beethoven’s most important chamber work for violin – allows the sonata’s concertante quality to emerge in a new light. The Cello Sonata No. 3 equally succeeds in conceiving the piano part for ensemble, while exploring fullness of sound and maintaining transparency of texture.
The first volume (8.551400) with Vinzenz Lachner‘s arrangements of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concertos for piano and string quintet already showed that this would be quite a special complete recording of Beethoven’s piano concertos – and not just because it is the first recording to present this version for the first time ever. For the second volume, Hanna Shybayeva chose the piano trio version of the second symphony in D major Op. 36 to be added in the arrangement by the master himself. After all, this chamber music arrangement from Beethoven's pen fits perfectly with those of the piano concertos of later times.
Boris Giltburg has set out to learn and film all 32 piano sonatas by Beethoven by the end of 2020. The project started as a personal exploration, driven by curiosity and his strong love of the Beethoven sonatas, and the recordings presented in this initial volume display Giltburg’s customary spirit, technical finesse and convey the electric atmosphere of the live recording.
Beethoven started composing Leonore in January 1804. The subject – the release to freedom of an unjustly imprisoned man by his devoted wife – was part of the genre of ‘rescue operas’ which were very popular at the end of the 18th century. The premiere of Leonore, given before an uncomprehending audience at a time of political upheaval, was a failure and Beethoven responded by shortening the work from three acts to two, which was the version performed in 1806. After further revisions it was to emerge in 1814 as Fidelio. This performance is from Opera Lafayette’s Leonore Project which included a performance of Pierre Gaveaux’s Léonore, ou L’Amour conjugal (available on Naxos DVD 2.110591 and Blu-ray NBD0085V) – the opera on which Beethoven modelled his Leonore.
Beethoven’s monumental contribution to Western classical music is celebrated here in this definitive collection marking the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Surveying the totality of his career and achievement, the Complete Edition spans orchestral, concerto, keyboard, chamber, music for the stage, choral and vocal works, encompassing his most familiar and iconic masterpieces, alongside rarities and recently reconstructed fragments and sketches in world premiere recordings.
Visit and bookmark the mini-site for this release, which will be regularly updated.
Review by ClassicsToday.com’s David Hurwitz:
A heaven full of stars
Beyond Words filmed by Emmy Award-winning directors
50% off the entire
Oehms Classics catalogue
