The starting point of Shchedrin's composition is the tune from Chopin's Prelude in C minor No.28 Op.20. Recorded in the Kongressaal in Munich, it is performed by Rodion Shchedrin himself, Nicolas Economou, Paul Gulda and the American jazz pianist…

This recording captures a spontaneous piano duo in the Munich Philharmonie, which clearly illustrates the common background of these two pianists in the Vienna of the 1940s and '50s.

This performance was recorded live at the Bad Urach Autumn Festival and presents a concert of scenes from Goethe's masterpiece Faust, set to music by Robert Schumann. The concert took place at the five hundred-year-old gothic Amanduskirche with…

Nights in the Gardens of Spain combines night-time footage of the Alhambra, the Moorish palace and gardens atop the hills of Granada, with a stunning performance of de Falla‘s Masterpiece by Charles Dutoit with the Montréal Symphony Orchestra and…

The legendary Concierto de Aranjuez has never been performed with such sensuality and profundity as by guitarist Pepe Romero and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. Romero’s interpretation is influenced by…

This modern and imaginative "Magic Flute" was recorded at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1993. A plain black and white stage, colourful and extravagant costumes and a special light design make this "Magic Flute" a feast for the eyes. Stage…

An austere but atmospheric stage and tasteful costumes draw the attention of the viewer to the story and the beautiful voices of the singers. Recorded live at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1990. Costumes by Dagmar Niefind, stage direction and…

Gioacchino Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle was written in 1863, "the last", the composer called it, of my "péchés de vieillesse" (sins of old age). For its first performance (1864) Rossini arranged the work with only two pianos and harmonium…

It was on the spur of the moment that András Schiff and a few of his friends decided to establish the Cappella. The pianist’s quirky humour is reflected in the rather ambiguous name of the ensemble, “Andrea Barca”. Schiff is fond of telling the story…

The Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Claudio Abbado performed a Russian night at Lucerne. Tchaikovsky’s symphonic poem The Tempest is based on the famous play by Shakespeare and shares many similarities in musical structure with Tchaikowsky’s better…