For over thirty-five years, Ondine has remained true to its founding principle: the uncompromising devotion to excellence in recorded music. The label’s mission is to support new creative efforts in the field of contemporary music, and to showcase renditions by top-rank artists which bring a new dimension to established works of the classical repertoire.
Building on the extraordinary abundance of musical talent in Finland, Ondine has since its beginnings maintained a strong commitment to championing the best in Finnish contemporary music and world-class Finnish artists, including star sopranos Karita Mattila and Soile Isokoski, pianists Olli Mustonen and Paavali Jumppanen, clarinetist Kari Kriikku, guitarist Timo Korhonen and violinist Pekka Kuusisto, to name only a few. In parallel, the label developed its international profile by recording with star artists such as Christian Tetzlaff, Leila Josefowicz, Lars Vogt†, Truls Mørk, Ksenija Sidorova, Dmitri Hvorostovsky†, and Gerald Finley. Prestigious ensembles include the Latvian Radio Choir, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Meta4 Quartet, among others.
Ondine has developed strong partnerships with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic and Tapiola Sinfonietta, in addition to the Orchestre de Paris, DSO Berlin, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ondine recordings feature conductors such as Hannu Lintu, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leif Segerstam, Sakari Oramo, John Storgårds, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Mikko Franck, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nicholas Collon, Christoph Eschenbach, Paavo Järvi, Jaime Martín, Oliver Knussen, Robin Ticciati, Robert Treviño, and Paavo Berglund.
2023 has proved to be a noteworthy year for the Ondine label with several significant prize-winning albums and nominations.
Ondine made recording history by reaching Billboard #1 chart position in ‘Traditional Classical Albums’ for two consecutive weeks with its Schubert piano trio album by Christian Tetzlaff, Tanja Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt. It was the first time for a Finnish record label to reach Billboard #1 chart position in any music genre.
– Gramophone
– Gramophone
– Fanfare
This year marks the 90th birthday of Krzysztof Penderecki (1933–2020), one of the most prominent 21st-century Polish composers. Sacred themes and texts permeate Penderecki’s creative work, notably in many of his large-scale compositions. This album, performed by the award-winning Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava, encompasses a significant portion of Penderecki’s impressive sacred a cappella choral works spanning five decades, mainly using Latin texts. These deeply religious choral pieces have become modern classics in the choral repertoire. The choir’s recent album, featuring choral works by John Cage, earned the prestigious Gramophone Award 2023 for the best choral album of the year.
Composing has always formed an integral part of the artistic life of pianist-conductor Olli Mustonen (b. 1967) and he first emerged as a symphonist in the early 2010s. This album by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra under Olli Mustonen contains two of his recent symphonies, dramatic works that are firmly rooted in the continuing tradition of the great classical composers. Seeking inspiration from multiple sources, the theme of Mustonen’s Second Symphony, ‘Johannes Angelos’ (2013), is the ancient city of Constantinople and its mysticism. Mustonen’s Third Symphony, ‘Taivaanvalot’ (Heavenly Lights) (2020), is based on a section in the Finnish national epic Kalevala and inspired by the cosmic and shamanistic elements in Finnish mythology. In this recording, the vocal soloist is internationally acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge.
Christian Tetzlaff is considered one of the world’s leading international violinists who maintains an extensive performing schedule. Musical America named him Instrumentalist of the Year in 2005. His recording of the Bartók Violin Concertos (ODE 1317-2) received both Gramophone and ICMA Awards, and was a finalist for the BBC Music Award in 2019. His recording of the Violin Concertos by Mendelssohn and Schumann, released on Ondine in 2011 (ODE 1195-2), and Bach Sonatas and Partitas released in 2017 (ODE 1299-2D) received the ‘Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik’. Christian Tetzlaff was also named Artist of the Year in the 2015 ICMA Awards, and he received the ECHO Instrumentalist of the Year award in 2017 for his album of Brahms’ Violin Sonatas (ODE 1284-2). His recordings for Ondine of the Brahms Trios (ODE 1271-2D) and Violin Concertos by Dvořák and Suk (ODE 1279-5), released in 2015 and 2016, earned GRAMMY nominations. In 2023, Christian Tetzlaff’s recording of Schubert’s piano trios (ODE 1394-2D) with Lars Vogt and Tanja Tetzlaff won the Opus Klassik award.
This new album conducted by Nicholas Collon continues Ondine’s award-winning series of orchestral works by Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) in collaboration with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The series has received several accolades, including a GRAMMY nomination, a BBC Music Magazine Awards nomination, and numerous ‘recording of the month’ awards and ‘best recording of the year’ nominations. This album includes the composer’s early hit, his folkloric masterpiece Concerto for Orchestra, which is one of his most frequently performed compositions. The album also features Partita for Violin and Orchestra, with Christian Tetzlaff as soloist, a virtuosic five-movement work that, in its orchestral version, is akin to a Violin Concerto. The rarity on the album is Lutosławski’s Novelette from 1979 which, although fragmentary, already hints at the ideas of his Third Symphony.
This album, a collaboration between violinist Christian Tetzlaff, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin conducted by Paavo Järvi, is dedicated to the memory of their longtime artistic partner, pianist Lars Vogt (1970–2022). At the heart of this album is Brahms, one of Lars Vogt’s favourite composers, and his late orchestral masterpiece, the Double Concerto. Brahms himself had admired one of Viotti’s violin concertos so much that he included material from the violin concerto into his work. With Christian Tetzlaff’s recording of the Violin Concerto, this album finally brings these two works together. Also included is Dvořák’s beautiful Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, a work by another composer who was very close to Lars Vogt’s heart.
For Christian Tetzlaff’s full discography, visit naxos.com.
Recordings from Naxos and its affiliated labels were among the recently announced nominations for the 2024 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). The Naxos Music Group received a total of 37 nominations across 13 of the sixteen categories. Naxos received 23 nominations, with others going to Capriccio [5], Dynamic [1], Ondine [5] and SWR Classic [3].
The judges, drawn from more than 20 specialist publications and broadcasters across sixteen countries, made a total of 375 audio and video nominations from 115 labels.
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 11 December 2023, and the ICMA winners will be published on 18 January 2022. The Award Ceremony and Gala concert will take place at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia on 12 April 2024, with the Orquesta de Valencia conducted by its artistic and musical director Alexander Liebreich.
– Gramophone
– MusicWeb International
– Fanfare
![SIBELIUS, J.: Tempest (The) [Incidental Music]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.574419.jpg "SIBELIUS, J.: Tempest (The) [Incidental Music]")
– MusicWeb International
– Gramophone
– American Record Guide
– American Record Guide
– Fanfare
– Fanfare
– Pizzicato
– ClassicsToday.com
– The Times (UK)
– Audiophile Audition
– Lark Reviews
– 5 against 4
– Diapason
– American Record Guide
– Pizzicato
– Gramophone
![ROTA, N.: Cappello di paglia di Firenze (Il) [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/C5466.jpg "ROTA, N.: Cappello di paglia di Firenze (Il) [Opera]")
– Limelight
![CAVALIERI, E. de': Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo [Opera] (Theater an der Wien, 2021) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110750.jpg "CAVALIERI, E. de': Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo [Opera] (Theater an der Wien, 2021) (NTSC)")
– Diapason
![RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, N.A.: Christmas Eve [Opera] (Frankfurt Opera, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110738.jpg "RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, N.A.: Christmas Eve [Opera] (Frankfurt Opera, 2022) (NTSC)")
– Opera
![SCHREKER, F.: Schatzgräber (Der) [Opera] (Deutsche Oper Berlin, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110761.jpg "SCHREKER, F.: Schatzgräber (Der) [Opera] (Deutsche Oper Berlin, 2022) (NTSC)")
– The Flip Side
![HUMPERDINCK, E.: Königskinder [Opera] (DNO, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110759.jpg "HUMPERDINCK, E.: Königskinder [Opera] (DNO, 2022) (NTSC)")
– American Record Guide
![OFFENBACH, J.: Vie parisienne (La) [Operetta] (Palazzetto Bru Zane, 2021) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110753-54.jpg "OFFENBACH, J.: Vie parisienne (La) [Operetta] (Palazzetto Bru Zane, 2021) (NTSC)")
– Crescendo
![PUCCINI, G.: Tosca [Opera] (DNO, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110752.jpg "PUCCINI, G.: Tosca [Opera] (DNO, 2022) (NTSC)")
– Gramophone
![OFFENBACH, J.: Périchole (La) (1874 version) [Operetta] (Opéra Comique, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/2.110756.jpg "OFFENBACH, J.: Périchole (La) (1874 version) [Operetta] (Opéra Comique, 2022) (NTSC)")
– ConcertoNet.com
![LULLY, J.-B.: Acis et Galatée [Opera] (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, 2022) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/DYN-37971.jpg "LULLY, J.-B.: Acis et Galatée [Opera] (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, 2022) (NTSC)")
– Gramophone
![ŻELEŃSKI, W.: Janek [Opera]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.660521-22.jpg "ŻELEŃSKI, W.: Janek [Opera]")
– MusicWeb International
– 5 against 4
– Pizzicato
– AllMusic.com
– Pizzicato
– MusicWeb International
– MusicWeb International
Congratulations to the nominees and everyone involved!
Naxos is delighted to have received a 2024 GRAMMY Award nomination in the Best Orchestral Performance category for the recording of Alexander Scriabin’s The Poem of Ecstasy and his Symphony No. 2, performed by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by music director JoAnn Falletta.
The album is on Fanfare’s Want List: ‘Alexander Scriabin’s Second Symphony can be something of a vertiginous heave on heavy seas, but with JoAnn Falletta at the helm, it becomes a swift exciting ride in a motor boat, skipping the waves with effortless delicacy.’
With a discography of over 125 titles, JoAnn Falletta is a leading recording artist for Naxos. Individually she has won two GRAMMY Awards: the 2021 Award for Best Choral Performance as conductor of the world premiere recording of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua (8.559885-86); and the 2019 Award for Best Classical Compendium as conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra in Kenneth Fuchs’ Spiritualist (8.559824). Additionally, her recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan (8.559331) with the Buffalo Philharmonic received two GRAMMYs in 2008, for Best Classical Contemporary Composition & Best Classical Vocal Performance.
The 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards winners will be announced on 4 February 2024. For the full list of nominees, visit www.grammy.com.
This year marks the centenary of the birth of legendary opera star Maria Callas, on 2 December 1923.
Maria Callas possessed a voice of great range and power, with which she was able to generate a formidable dramatic intensity. At her peak her identification with the characters she portrayed on-stage was so complete as to mesmerise entire audiences. Setting herself extremely high standards, she expected the same of those with whom she worked. She left a vast legacy of recordings, her studio performances being supplemented by a huge catalogue of live performance recordings. Her achievement was well summed up by conductor Carlo Maria Giulini who commented: ‘If melodrama is the ideal unity of the trilogy of words, music and action, it is impossible to imagine an artist in whom these three elements were more together than Callas.’
Celebrate Maria Callas’ centenary with timeless performances from Naxos Historical recordings!
(Due to the copyright restrictions, the recordings are not available in the United States)
For more exceptional recordings of Maria Callas, visit naxos.com.
Norwegian composer and pianist Andreas Ihlebæk has garnered numerous accolades worldwide for his compositions. From solo piano pieces to chamber music blending classical, folk, soul and jazz influences, his innovative style has captivated audiences globally. With his fine melodies, tasteful arrangements and serene playing, he creates a sense of calmness that resonates deeply.
He recently introduced his new concept, RO (Norwegian for solace, calm, peace, tranquility), as a concert series held in selected churches across Norway featuring a collection of newly composed works for piano. Featuring artwork by the composer himself, three singles have been recently released.
Visit nxnrecordings.no for his complete discography on NXN Recordings.
Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov star as Cinderella and The Prince in Frederick Ashton’s timeless reworking of Charles Perrault’s famous rags-to-riches story, showcasing the choreographer’s deft musicality and the beauty of Prokofiev’s transcendent score. A creative team steeped in the magic of theatre, film, dance and opera brings new atmosphere to Cinderella’s ethereal world of fairy godmothers and pumpkin carriages, handsome princes and finding true love.
![PROKOFIEV, S.: Cinderella [Ballet] (Royal Ballet, 2023) (NTSC)](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OA1378D.jpg "PROKOFIEV, S.: Cinderella [Ballet] (Royal Ballet, 2023) (NTSC)")
‘Marianela Nuñez makes Cinders warm as sunshine. She makes the most arduous spins look like pure pleasure, and in a heartstoppingly lovely duet, she and Vadim Muntagirov’s immaculate prince swoop through each other’s arms as though time didn’t exist.’
– The Evening Standard ★★★★
| Cinderella | Marianela Nuñez |
| The Prince | Vadim Muntagirov |
| Cinderella’s Step-sisters | Luca Acri, Gary Avis |
| Cinderella’s Father | Bennet Gartside |
| The Fairy Godmother | Fumi Kaneko |
| The Fairy Spring | Anna Rose O’Sullivan |
| The Fairy Summer | Melissa Hamilton |
| The Fairy Autumn | Yuhui Choe |
| The Fairy Winter | Mayara Magri |
| The Jester | Mayara Magri |
| Conductor | Koen Kessels |
| Principal Guest Concert Master | Vasko Vassilev |
| Choreography | Frederick Ashton |
| Music | Sergey Prokofiev |
| Set Designer | Tom Pye |
| Costume Designer | Alexandra Byrne |
| Lighting Designer | David Finn |
| Video Designer | Finn Ross |
| Illusions | Chris Fisher |
More audiovisual productions available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, either for rent or digital purchase! (Selected titles may be unavailable to stream in some locations.)
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!
Marking the 40th anniversary of Sir William Walton’s death, this fascinating album presents four world premiere recordings, all composed on and celebrating the island of Ischia, where Walton and his wife established both their home and the famous La Mortella Gardens, still regarded today as one of the most captivating gardens in the world. Walton’s Cello Concerto, composed on Ischia, is heard in a stunning transcription for viola, alongside three colourful scores by Roberto Molinelli, all dedicated to La Mortella.
– The Strad
– MusicWeb International
– MusicWeb International
– American Record Guide
– Fanfare
Saverio Mercadante (1795–1870) wrote some 60 operas, encouraged initially by no less a figure than Rossini to concentrate his talents on the genre. During his student days, however, Mercadante had devoted himself to composing instrumental music. The flute quartets on this album are a product of that period and are heard in their world premiere recordings. Four exceptional musicians – Mario Carbotta (flute), Mario Hossen (violin), Marta Potulska (viola) and Attilia Kiyoko Cernitori (cello) – join forces to deliver performances that are both technically flawless and emotionally captivating. The quartets exemplify the quatuor brilliant style, particularly the Quartet in E minor in which all the instruments play equally decisive roles in capturing both the gravity and excitement of the music.
– Cinemusical
– Ritmo ★★★★
World Choral Day, observed annually on the second Sunday of December, will be celebrated this year on 10 December. Let our captivating recordings elevate your spirits as you celebrate the art of choral singing.
![LOEWE, C.: Jan Hus [Oratorio]](https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/OC1720.jpg "LOEWE, C.: Jan Hus [Oratorio]")
From Elizabethan, Renaissance and Flemish songs to French chansons, American choral works, music for children, singing nuns, and Broadway favorites – our extensive catalogue provides an attractive journey through time, from today’s soothing and stimulating choral music to examples of all-time classics.
Celebrate the holiday season with our delightful collection of sheet music that's designed to enhance your Christmas performances and gatherings. Whether you're a pianist or a string quartet, we have the perfect arrangements to bring the joyous melodies alive.
Our collection includes piano arrangements of Bach’s choral works by Eleonor Bindman, as well as a range of beautiful and practical string quartet arrangements of famous Christmas works by Peter Breiner. The collection includes Joy to the World, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful and many more well-known carols.
Make this Christmas truly memorable with the gift of music. Visit Naxos Sheet Music Publishing store to select the perfect sheet music for your festive repertoire. Enjoy a discount of 15% on all Christmas music PDF downloads with the code Christmas2023 (valid until 31 December 2023).
Sounds Interesting: All the Fun of the Fanfare
17 November 2023
This podcast from the Sounds Interesting series spotlights a selection of fanfares composed for a variety of occasions during the last century.
Podcast: VOX • 3. Stanisław Skrowaczewski and the Minnesota Orchestra
10 November 2023
Stanisław Skrowaczewski spent 19 years as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, from 1960 to 1979, during which time he developed it into one of the finest...
Looking for new music? Our selection of curated playlists has you covered with music to complement the season, moment, or activity! This month from Naxos, experience the passion and drama from beloved opera works in Best of Opera, and go back in time with some of the earliest works within the Western classical music tradition with Naxos in Context: Medieval Era. Then, from Naxos Moods, create the perfect ambience for a special meal or moment with Dinner with Strings, and celebrate the sounds of the season with The Sound of Autumn. Lastly, explore exquisite piano etudes played with finesse and grace in the latest playlist from Grand Piano. Happy listening!
Discover the Naxos Atmosphere playlist, a spatial experience from the Naxos world of classical music featuring Dolby Atmos technology.
Capriccio’s recording of Air de Furie from Gluck’s Orfeo Ed Euridice has been prominently featured in the latest instalment of the fan-favourite Castlevania Netflix series.
Castlevania: Nocturne is an American horror action-adventure animated series, serving as a spin-off from the original Castlevania animated series. Drawing inspiration from the popular video game series of the same name, the show takes place during the tumultuous events of the French Revolution and follows the captivating journey of Richter Belmont and Maria Renard.
Need to license some music for a project and don’t know where to start? Visit Naxos Licensing to find out how!
Music for your video projects – Just a few clicks away
Need some classical music to set the mood for your new project? Head on over to a brand-new platform, NaxosMicroLicensing.com, to find the perfect solution.
