SOMM Recordings is proud to announce a recital disc from cellist Adrian Bradbury and pianist Andrew West titled The Pre-Raphaelite Cello – at once ground-breaking and celebratory, and rich with first recordings. The curiosity piqued by the album’s unusual name will be amply rewarded with the fascinating story of the artistic threads this programme weaves together and their relevance to important commemorations being observed this year.

Four orchestral works by Jewish musicians from the years 1927 to 1929: From just three years as an excerpt on the great time line of cultural history, this CD publishes the first digital recordings of impressive and sometimes highly individual music. The thoughtful work of the conservatory director Bernhard Sekles, the fascinating musical cosmos of the Hebrew-influenced music of the great pianist Juliusz Wolfsohn, the brilliant colourfulness of the symphonic poem by Bohemian opera composer Jaromir Weinberger, and charming miniatures from the silent film practice by Werner Richard Heymann.

Danny Elfman, known the world over for his scores to over 115 movies, including numerous collaborations with directors Tim Burton, Gus van Sant and Sam Raimi, not to mention the classic theme for The Simpsons, adds two major orchestral works to his recorded catalogue. The dynamic American conductor JoAnn Falletta directs the forces of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in this new studio recording.

Jüri Reinvere, born in Tallinn in 1971, is an Estonian composer with a passion for theology and psychology; he has also written poetry. His collaboration with Paavo Järvi began in Pärnu, the birthplace of the Estonian Festival Orchestra, in 2016. This programme begins with And tired from happiness, they started to dance , in which feverish rhythms are followed by moments of ecstasy. Debussy’s music here comes to mind, as does the glistening brass in Bruckner’s symphonies. This is followed by a playful double concerto for flute — Reinvere had studied the flute, and it was thanks to this that he was able to join a military band instead of fighting in the Soviet army. On the ship of fools is inspired by the key phrase of a 16th-century novel: Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur (The world seeks to be deceived, therefore let it be deceived). “People deceive each other on Facebook and Instagram”, comments Reinvere, whose music is both heady and troubling.

The pianists Mari Kodama, Momo Kodama, Karin Kei Nagano and conductor Kent Nagano present Double and Triple Piano Concertos by Mozart and Poulenc, together with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande on a new CD recording (Pentatone). Similar to Mozart’s own practice of making music with his family, the Nagano-Kodama family recorded Mozart’s piano concerto No. 7 for 3 pianos and No.10 for 2 pianos as well as Poulenc’s concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra.

Parisian cellist sensation Camille Thomas is back with her first crossover album “Aznavouriana” dedicated to the legendary Charles Aznavour to mark his 100th anniversary (May 22nd). A declaration of love to the work of Aznavour, the great poet who has forever marked the French Pop, accompanied by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Sergey Smbatyan. A prolific artist, Charles Aznavour built up an unrivalled repertoire (51 albums in French, 42 in foreign languages) and sang on stages all over the world. Part of the profits from the album will be donated to the refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh through the Aznavour Foundation.

Prizewinning performer Ben Bloor makes his debut recording on the iconic instrument with which he is so well acquainted: the Walker organ of the London Oratory, designed by Ralph Downes in 1954. The carefully constructed programme is one close to his heart: music centred around Gregorian chant, and takes in a liturgical year of plainsong-based works from 20th- and 21st-century France, Germany and England. The instrument’s fantastic breadth of colour finds its home in well-trodden favourites by Duruflé and Demessieux, but also in gems recorded here for the first time, including a new commission based on the Advent hymn, Conditor alme siderum, by Matthew Martin.

The Adoration is the latest release by the Warsaw Philharmonic, performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Choir conducted by Bartosz Michałowski. This album is devoted entirely to the music of Paweł Łukaszewski – one of the most outstanding contemporary Polish composers – and comprises selected works of sacred music for a cappella choir written between 2006 and 2018.

Constellations, the 5th opus in the Solo series of the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France, invites you to discover the viola repertoire from the 19th century to the present day. Conveyed with sensitivity and panache by violist Guillaume Leroy, joined by Victor Metral and Aurélien Pascal, this album brings together six previously unreleased works by some of today’s leading composers, set against pieces from the Romantic and modern repertoire. From Schumann to Connesson, not forgetting Lutoslawski, Pépin, Vieuxtemps and Tanguy, let yourself be guided through this galaxy of poetic and powerful works.

John Storgards's acclaimed series of Shostakovich symphonies continues with this recording of Symphony No. 13. The BBC Philharmonic is joined by the bass-baritone Albert Dohmen and the Estonian National Male Choir. The symphony, subtitled 'Babiy Yar', caused a great deal of tension and controversy in the lead-up to its premiere, in December 1962 - not because of the music, but the poetry.

This fascinating recital features three works composed during a short period of tremendous upheaval in the world of music. Szymanowski's Mythes: Trois Poemes, op. 30 was composed in 1915, Dohnanyi's Sonata, op. 21 in 1912, and Bartok's Sonata No. 1 in 1920-21. Violinist Elizabeth Chang writes that "the crosscurrents of multiculturalism and the pursuit of a national identity separate from the prevailing Germanic legacy, are topics with searing relevance to the early 21st century. Probing the connections among the densely intertwined web of musicians of this time yields insight into an inflection point in musical history that unleashed the wildly divergent paths that music composition took as the twentieth century unfolded." This recording presents beautifully detailed performances of three important pieces, performed by two leading virtuosi.

Discover Johanna Domotor's newly interpreted sound combination, in which flute and string orchestra merge musically. The flutist Johanna Domotor not only shines in dizzying passages, she also juggles virtuously between original works and arrangements, between arranged baroque music and early modern music. The album captures the diversity of 20th century music and presents three world premiere recordings of famous composers such as Shostakovich, Arnold and Stravinsky. The collaboration with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra enhances the auditory experience, as Johanna Domotor and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra also make their long-standing musical friendship audible outside the concert hall with this album.

Ravel was very happy with his second Violin Sonata, written between 1923 and 1927, whose second movement adopts the Afro-American blues. This wonderful sonata is characterised throughout by the contrast between the consistently fairly dry piano part and the smooth, melodic violin.

REFERENCE RECORDINGS® is very pleased to release this beautiful musical program of three works from the early to mid­-20th century, which we hope will provide some joy, especially to those who love Jewish music, history, and folklore.

For the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the saxophone takes center stage this year. This has been made possible by Asya Fateyeva, who over the past decade has brought the instrument from its jazz and pop niche into the classical world, even making it respectable there. She showcases the impressive versatility of her instrument as a portrait artist at the SHMF in 17 concerts in July and August. Her new album "To the Muse" will also be released on May 17, 2024, on Berlin Classics.