NEWS FROM THE NAXOS MUSIC GROUP

Nicolas Horvath began his music studies at Monaco’s Académie de Musique et de Théâtre Prince Rainier III and soon began to make an impression on a number of artists who would become his mentors. Aged 16 he caught the attention of the American conductor Lawrence Foster before coming to the notice of several distinguished international pianists, including Liszt specialist Leslie Howard. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize at both the Scriabin and the Luigi Nono International Competitions. He has become noted for hosting concerts of unusual length, sometimes lasting over twelve hours, such as the overnight performance of the complete piano music of Erik Satie at the Paris Philharmonie before a cumulative audience of 14,000 people. In 2019 he performed alongside Philip Glass at the same venue in a programme devoted to the American composer’s piano music. Horvath’s extensive and varied discography on Grand Piano includes ongoing cycles of the complete piano music by Erik Satie and Philip Glass; rare works by Claude Debussy; Jaan Rääts’ piano sonatas; a new work by the American experimental composer Alvin Lucier; and a newly recorded world premiere recording of piano works by the French, 18-19th Century composer Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy. Nicolas is a Steinway Artist.

The winners of the 2021 BBC Music Magazine Awards have been announced. Best DVD went to the Opus Arte label and Keith Warner’s staging of Wagner’s Die Walküre from the Royal Opera House, with Antonio Pappano at the helm and a cast featuring Stuart Skelton, emily Magee, Nina Stemma, John Lundgren and Sarah Connolly.

‘Pappano has always had a special relationship with the Ring’s second part…and the Royal Opera House Orchestra rewards him with some of its most sumptuous playing. The cast in this 2018 staging would have been the envy of every world class opera company… But it’s Nina Stemme, as it should be, who defines this production. Generously voiced, she is essentially a lyric Brünnhilde, most moving when she tells Sieglinde that she is bearing Siegmund’s son.’ – BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★

Marin Alsop, one of the Naxos’ major recording artists, has been named Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today, the popular American classical music radio programme. More than eighty artists were nominated for the award. The magazine quoted one listener’s support for the winner: ‘Marin has energized the entire community with her outreach to the citizens of Baltimore city and beyond.’

Marin has more than 50 albums in the Naxos catalogue and is recognised across the world for her innovative programming and for her deep commitment to education and the development of audiences of all ages. She is currently music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (since 2007), music director of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (since 2012) and chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (since 2019). She famously made history in 2013 as the first female conductor of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms.

Naxos Sheet Music Publishing offers high quality sheet music editions from a fine collection of works, composers and arrangers, such as Debussy, Lehár, Brahms, Breiner, Janáček, Mussorgsky, Bériot, Kreutzer, Rode, Spohr and Vieuxtemps. From 19th-century violin concertos to contemporary Scandinavian piano music, the website presents music scores that may be downloaded as a PDF file to be printed later, purchased as a printed copy, or even rented. Naxos Publishing's catalogue is continuously expanding as more compositions and arrangements are added, and is yet another example of Naxos' dedication to every aspect of music.

J.S. Bach Cello Suites for solo piano
Play Bach's famous cello suites in beautiful new arrangements for piano by Eleonor Bindman.

Beautiful Guitar Duos
Classical Guitar magazine says they are ‘full of joyful, intoxicating rhythms, catchy melodies and riffs, and enough moments of delicate beauty to allow for introspection and reflection’.

Explore the collection of sheet music editions for two guitars by Kemal Belevi.

Caressing Your Soul – Calm Romantic Piano Music
Peter Breiner introduces a collection of tranquil and serene pieces to provide solace, relief and peace of mind in an oasis of calming music.