17
NAXOS OF AMERICA | NAXOS OF CANADA | NEW RELEASE GUIDE
CLASSICAL AUDIO
ACD2 2705 | 722056270526
1 CD | SRP
US
$16.99
CA
$18.99
ATMA CLASSIQUE
COMPOSER: György Kurtág
ARTIST: Quatuor Molinari
GYÖRGY KURTÁG
COMPLETE STRING
QUARTETS
ACD2 2710 | 722056271028
1 CD | SRP
US
$16.99
CA
$18.99
ATMA CLASSIQUE
COMPOSER: Johannes Brahms
ARTIST: Olivier Godin ˇ Myriam
Farid (piano)
JOHANNES BRAHMS
CHANTS D'AMOUR
AUD21437 | 4022143214379
3 CD | SRP
US
$29.99
CA
$35.99
AUDITE
COMPOSER: C.P.E. Bach ˇ Samuel
Barber ˇ Johannes Brahms ˇ
Benjamin Britten ˇ Johann
Wolfgang Franck ˇ Ernst Frank
ˇ Joseph Haydn ˇ Carl Loewe ˇ
Gustav Mahler ˇ Francis Poulenc
ˇ Franz Schubert ˇ Robert
Schumann ˇ Richard Wagner
ARTIST: Maureen Forrester
(voice) ˇ Hertha Klust ˇ Michael
Raucheisen ˇ Felix Schröder
(piano)
PORTRAIT: MAUREEN
FORRESTER
ACD5049 | 7044581350492
2 CD | SRP
US
$24.99
CA
$29.99
AURORA
COMPOSER: Olav Anton
Thommessen
ARTIST: Eir Inderhaug ˇ Isa
Katharina Gericke (soprano)
ˇ Anna Elisabeth Einarsson
(mezzo-soprano) ˇ Nils Harald
Sřdal (tenor) ˇ Espen Fegran
(baritone) ˇ Ketil Hugaas (bass) ˇ
Oslo Sinfonietta ˇ Christian Eggen
(conductor)
OLAV ANTON THOMMESSEN
THE HERMAPHRODITE
ˇ In recent years, 90-year-old Hungarian
composer Gyorgy Kurtag has devoted
his efforts almost entirely to the
composition of chamber music. On
this new release, the Molinari Quartet
presents Kurtag's entire string quartet
catalog.
ˇ The series of quartets which
followed was largely dedicated to
composers, performers, and friends
who he admired. "Kurtag's music is
always very personal, immediately
recognizable, and stamped with
characteristic depth and expression."
(Olga Ranzenhofer, Molinari Quartet)
ˇ This new recording presents two
Romantic song cycles from Johannes
Brahms. His Liebeslieder-Walzer Op
52 became a great success after its
premiere in which Brahms and Clara
Schumann performed alongside
the singers. The 18 love songs pay
homage to the city of Vienna.
ˇ The sequel to these songs is also
included, his Neue Liebeslieder-
Walzer Op. 65, which consists of 15
songs and was premiered in 1874.
ˇ The vocal soloists on these cycles
include Kimy McLaren, Michele
Losier, Pascal Charbonneau and
Alexandre Sylvestre. They are joined
on piano four-hands by accomplished
artists Myriam Farid and Olivier
Godin.
ˇ Maureen Forrester was one of the few
alto singers who prospered in the
post-war era.
ˇ Forrester was known as one of the
most important Mahler singers
of her day, largely due to her
encouragement by Bruno Walter.
ˇ For the first time, this release
documents Forrester's exploration
into the genre of Lied. Especially
notable is the inclusion of a recording
of her collaboration with legendary
accompanist Michael Raucheisen.
ˇ Olav Anton Thommessen's chamber
opera The Hermaphrodite is a
journey into self-knowledge, a
man's awakening sexuality, and the
dualistic nature of man in a synthesis
of masculinity and femininity.
ˇ The opera contains seven standalone
chamber pieces which comprise a
scenic whole. Texts from authors like
D. H. Lawrence, Isidore Ducasse, and
others accompany the music.
ˇ The work is performed as a ballet
opera for six solo singers, two actors,
dancers, and chamber orchestra.
Portions of the piece were premiered
at Vadstena-Akademien in Sweden in
1976, and the work in its entirety was
later performed at the Royal Swedish
Opera in Stockholm.