VIDEO PODCAST: John Dante Prevedini leads a discussion about The Creative Spark, including contributions from Ryan Ash, Sean Neukom, Adrian Rumson, Stephen Francis Vasta, David Arditti, Halida Dinova and Andrew Arceci.
SPONSORED: So Much, for So Many. R Murray Schafer's 'My Life on Earth and Elsewhere', read by A P Virag.
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German record label Classic Produktion Osnabrück (cpo), the house label of music retailer jpc (Jazz-Pop-Classic), was founded in 1986 by Georg Ortmann and others. With an emphasis on Romantic, late Romantic and twentieth century symphonic repertoire, its mission is to fill niches in the recorded classical repertory.
Further information: cpo.de
Spotlight. Some Real Gems - Geoff Pearce will return often to this recording of orchestral music by Grażyna Bacewicz. '... full of invention and surprises ...'
CD Spotlight. Haydn's 'Turkish' Soundworld - Gerald Fenech explores the composer's seventh opera, 'L'Incontro Improvviso'. '... excellent throughout ...'
CD Spotlight. Challenges Aplenty - Music by Francesco Veracini, strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... Federico Guglielmo rises to the occasion with an awareness that is enthusiastically sensitive ...'
CD Spotlight. Legacy and Influence - Gerald Fenech listens to cantatas by Telemann. '... performances of the utmost beauty ...'
CD Spotlight. Simply Irresistible - Gerald Fenech listens to two albums of British music. '... an inspiration for other composers ...'
CD Spotlight. Breathtaking Dexterity - Gerald Fenech listens to Schneider flute concertos. 'Gaby Pas-Van Riet despatches these irresistibly beautiful pieces with infectious warmth and grace ...'
CD Spotlight. Sorrowful Magnificence - Gerald Fenech is impressed by Johann David Heinichen's Passion Oratorios. '... engrossing performances that are as gripping as they are reverential.'
CD Spotlight. Captivatingly Melodic - Gerald Fenech admires Tatjana Ruhland's playing of August Eberhard Müller flute concertos. 'Tatjana Ruhland ... is, in every sense of the word, a 'sorceress' of the instrument ...'
CD Spotlight. Important Women Composers - British music by Ethel Smyth, Susan Spain-Dunk, Constance Warren and Ruth Gipps, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... performances of the highest calibre, combining irrepressible beauty and fragility with technical mastery that brings out all the suavity of these sophisticated creations.'
CD Spotlight. The Selflessness of Schütz - John Dante Prevedini listens to music by Heinrich Schütz and some of his contemporaries. '... a deeply satisfying listening experience ...'
CD Spotlight. A Young Saxon's Occasional Opera - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to 'Enea in Caonia' by Hasse. 'Stefano Montanari conducts ... skilfully, mostly in support of the voices.'
CD Spotlight. Natural Sincerity - Max Bruch's complete works for violin and orchestra, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. 'Antje Weithass is an exceptionally gifted soloist, and her interpretations are phenomenally exciting, vibrant and consistently breathtaking.'
CD Spotlight. New Facets of Vital Importance - Little-known music by George Enescu, highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Passionate and exciting performances complement an invaluable addition to the Enescu discography.'
CD Spotlight. Uniquely Gifted - Schubert's symphonies, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'A deluge of unending beauty that goes straight to the heart, gloriously performed and recorded.'
CD Spotlight. An Exciting Discovery - Gerald Fenech listens to clarinet concertos by German composer Franz Anton Dimler. '... performances are nothing short of phenomenal on every level.'
CD Spotlight. A Universal Happy Ending - Gerald Fenech reviews a new recording of Franz Ignaz Beck's opera 'L'isle déserte'. 'Michael Schneider and his La Stagione Frankfurt players give a pleasant and sprightly performance, but attention to detail is always of paramount importance.'
CD Spotlight. Contrapuntal Mastery - Gerald Fenech listens to an overture and symphonies by Andreas Romberg. 'Kevin Griffiths and his Dutch players etch out some bright and eminently satisfying performances, and their advocacy for this music brims with enthusiasm.'
CD Spotlight. The Greatness of Easter - Georg Philipp Telemann's Easter Cantatas, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi. '... a good complement to the "Markus-Passion" CD ...'
CD Spotlight. Sensitively Passionate - Furtwängler's First Symphony, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... minutely detailed and highly expressive ...'
CD Spotlight. Inner Energy and Passion - Gerald Fenech listens to Beethoven orchestral music. '... mouth-watering moments of great dramatic intensity ...'
CD Spotlight. Talented and Intelligent - Music by Viennese composer Marianna Martines, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a treasure of a disc, full of glorious music ...'
CD Spotlight. Truly Revelatory - Music by English composer Cipriani Potter, highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Howard Griffiths and his BBC National Orchestra of Wales players deliver electrifying performances full of rhythmic vitality and lyrical warmth ...'
CD Spotlight. The Perfect Musical Mixture - Gerald Fenech listens to music by Johann Rosenmüller. 'Gregor Meyer and his forces give disciplined yet highly laudable performances, and their commitment to the cause is spirited and vibrant.'
CD Spotlight. History of an Ancient Town - Music by Paul Hindemith, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'This excellent disc has strong performances by orchestra, chorus and vocal soloists.'
CD Spotlight. Continuous Excitement - Keyboard concertos by Franz Joseph Haydn, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Mélodie Zhao's interpretations are full of warmth and colour, and her phrasing, even in the quicker passages, is consistently arresting.'
CD Spotlight. The Sweetness of Life - Music by French baroque composer Michel-Richard de Lalande, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi. 'The instrumental ensemble, playing period instruments or a violin manufactured in 2011 but after period specifications, is excellent.'
CD Spotlight. Fine and Engaging Harpsichord Music - Gerald Fenech listens to works by Gottlieb Muffat and George Frideric Handel. 'Flóra Fábri's technique is solid as a rock, and her judgement of rubato and ornamentation is absolutely unblemished.'
CD Spotlight. Strangely Less Familiar - Telemann Christmas Cantatas, warmly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'There is no doubt that Willens and his team believe wholeheartedly in Telemann's work, and these pieces are perfectly executed by all involved.'
CD Spotlight. Lively and Dynamic - Geoff Pearce listens to symphonies by Czech composer Franz Krommer. 'This interesting and enjoyable disc will delight most listeners rather than astound them.'
CD Spotlight. Soft-painted Colours - Gerald Fenech listens to music by Norwegian composer David Monrad Johansen. 'This is brilliantly performed Nordic music with warmth written all over it.'
CD Spotlight. Immediately Engaging - Raphael Wallfisch plays cello concertos by Mieczysław Weinberg, recommended unreservedly by Geoff Pearce. 'This magnificent disc showcases the work of a composer who is still relatively under-represented in recording catalogues and on the concert platform.'
CD Spotlight. A Good Anthology - The story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, as seen by eight Baroque composers, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi. '... this is a book and two CDs to enjoy and to make an elegant gift.'
CD Spotlight. Hard to Resist - Johann Strauss Junior's 'Eine Nacht in Venedig', arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Marius Burkert and his fine team of soloists and chorus exude a performance that has subtlety and charm, and the vivid freshness of Korngold's arrangement is brought out with a wistful elan ...'
CD Spotlight. A Heady Immediacy - Orchestral music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold impresses Gerald Fenech. 'Rohde and his forces dish out some truly magisterial interpretations full of spirited playing and athletic grace ...'
CD Spotlight. Freshness and Enthusiasm - Early music by Richard Strauss impresses Gerald Fenech. '... full of sunny and exuberant musical tone painting which gives a huge uplift in spirits ...'
CD Spotlight. A Fine Achievement - Symphonies by Carl Friedrich Abel delight Roderic Dunnett. '... Schneider manages to bring out the character of each of these individual pieces without overstating at any point.'
CD Spotlight. A Master Orchestrator - Symphonic music by Hendrik Andriessen, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. 'I am really impressed with the music and the performances on this disc ...'
CD Spotlight. Programmatic Intentions - Karl Goldmark's Rustic Wedding Symphony, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. 'Conductor Frank Beermann displays a nice feel for the sonorities: the overture's slow introduction is nicely layered, and clear textures render the lyric passages even more fetching.'
CD Spotlight. Tripping Along - Cantatas by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, heard by Roderic Dunnett. 'The tenor's aria ... with gorgeous Thuringian strings, emerges as a reverential movement.'
CD Spotlight. Masterful Throughout - Felix Weingartner's 'Die Dorfschule', recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... great attention to detail ...'
CD Spotlight. Warmth and Empathy - Music by Max Bruch for violin and orchestra, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... Weithaas is a brilliant exponent ...'
CD Spotlight. Excellently Crafted - Symphonies by Salomon Jadassohn, appreciated by Gerald Fenech. 'An enterprising issue in excellent sound ...'
CD Spotlight. Intriguing Quirks - Symphonies by Hoffmann and Witt, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. 'A winner in every department and an excellent introduction ...'
CD Spotlight. A Bit Different - Handel organ concerti played on the piano, heard by Geoff Pearce. '... the artists are first class, the sound is sumptuous ...'
CD Spotlight. Very Exacting - J S Bach Motets, heard by Robert Anderson. 'The Rheinische Kantorei under Hermann Max survives triumphantly ...'
CD Spotlight. Always Effective - Orchestral music by Louis Théodore Gouvy, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. '... definitely worth your attention.'
CD Spotlight. Brilliantly Portrayed - Friedrich Klose's 'Ilsebill', praised by Gerald Fenech. '... a risky yet rewarding adventure ...'
CD Spotlight. Sacrificing the 'unmodern' - Music by Julius Röntgen and Per Nørgård, heard by George Balcombe. 'How could any audience resist ... ?'
Record Box. Almost Supersonic - Vivaldi recorder concertos, enjoyed by Robert Anderson
Record Box. Orchestral Skill - Music by Julius Röntgen, recommended by Gerald Fenech
CD Spotlight. An Unexpected Pleasure - Wind Concertos by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, enjoyed by Ron Bierman. 'Strongly recommended ...'
Record Box. For All Tastes - Christmas music from Germany, appreciated by Patric Standford
CD Spotlight. Always stimulating - Symphonic music by Villa-Lobos, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... skill and commitment ...'
CD Spotlight. Slave labour - The political statements of Hans Werner Henze, investigated by Robert Anderson. '... sensuous richness ...'
CD Spotlight. A monumental work - Hans Rott's Symphony in E, with Patric Standford. '... outstanding recording.'
CD Spotlight. Orchestral colour - The symphonies of Kurt Atterberg encountered by Robert Anderson. '... a towering Pelion with which to storm the heavens ...'
CD Spotlight - Schubert arranged by Andreas Tarkmann, reviewed by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight - Profiles of the mountains. 'The Stuttgart team plays with the necessary conviction and power ...' Symphonies by Villa-Lobos, considered by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight - Bright vigour. '... strong clean performances ...' Kurt Atterberg's Symphonies Nos 7 and 8, with Patric Standford
Record box - Ample gifts. From the world of Brahms, with Basil Ramsey
Record box - Imaginative variety. Trevor Hold's reaction to Kilpinen's songs
Site seeing - The cabbage patch - more readers' suggestions, with Keith Bramich
Site seeing - Silver discs - record labels online, with Keith Bramich
Record box - Wagnerian colours. Draeseke's Symphonia tragica, with Roderic Dunnett
Record Box - Wonderful achievement. 'Exciting to stumble across a composer and playing so vital and refreshing.' Roderic Dunnett listens to the 3rd Symphony of Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Record Box - Dussek in good light - Stylistic pleasures, with Basil Ramsey
Record Box - Vivaldi in season - Fruitful music, with Basil Ramsey