Vierne – The Complete Organ Symphonies

Louis Vierne inhabits a unique place in the development of the Organ Symphony. Following in the footsteps of his teacher, Charles-Marie Widor, Vierne brought the organ symphony to its pinnacle with his six symphonies, written between 1895 and 1930. Symphonic in style, structure, and form, rather than forces, these solo organ works are exquisite composition examples of the last great late French Romantic organ composer. As the thirty-one movements of these symphonies offer a staggering variety of character, from majestic to whimsical, and from deep despair to unbridled joy; the venues offer an equally broad variety of organs and acoustics. Concert Organist Eric Plutz performs the Complete Organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne superbly and spectacularly on six separate organs around the United States from New York to Texas. This album is the culmination of “The Vierne Project,” a series of performances of the complete Vierne organ symphonies in celebration of the composer’s 150th birthday in 2020. The University Organist at Princeton University, Eric Plutz is one of only a handful of organists to embark on such a venture. As an organ concert soloist, he has performed on distinguished and historic instruments across the United States and abroad including in Germany, Austria, and France.

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The Genius of Ysaÿe

“THE GENIUS OF YSAŸE” presents several masterpieces by the legendary Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931), including three world premiere recordings – the first recording of his recently discovered Introduction for Solo Viola, as well as the world premiere recordings of Ysaÿe’s final versions of his Two String Trios for violin, viola and cello (Op. 33 and Op. 34). Ysaÿe’s marvelous Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 28 is also among the gems on this album, in addition to his most wellknown masterpiece – the “Ballade” (Sonata No. 3) from his Six Sonatas for Solo Violin Op. 27. The performers of this splendid album – violinist Elmira Darvarova, violist Ronald Carbone and cellist Samuel Magill – have been involved for years with Ysaÿe’s String Trio No. 1, Op. 33, also known as “Le Chimay” (a work, hailed in the press as one of the greatest chamber music compositions of the 20th Century), and they presented its New York premiere in 2008. After thoroughly studying and researching manuscripts and various editions of Ysaÿe’s Trios, the artists came across the recently published editions of Ysaÿe’s final versions of his Two String Trios for violin, viola and cello, Op 33 and Op. 34 – as revised and finalized by the composer. These magnificent works reflect the undiminished power of the immortal legacy of Eugène Ysaÿe as a genius musician whose extraordinary achievements as a superstar performer, teacher, ensemble leader, orchestra conductor and composer spread beyond his time. This album brings superb interpretations of stunningly beautiful compositions, as a glorious tribute to one of the most brightly shining stars that ever graced the world of virtuoso artists – the incomparable Eugène Ysaÿe.

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We For Love – (Justice 4 Every Child–An initiative of Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation)

JUSTICE FOR EVERY CHILD–AN INITIATIVE OF KAILASH SATYARTHI CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

“We for Love” is a project curated, produced and presented by young sarod virtuosos, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, to raise awareness for Justice For Every Child campaign launched by Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF). This campaign provides legal and mental health support to child victims of rape and sexual abuse. Through this campaign, KSCF aims to intervene in nearly 5000 strategic cases across 100 districts in India.

In their “We For Love” project, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash have been joined by some of the most reputed names from the music world and entertainment industry including Karan Johar, Karsh Kale, Malini Awasthi, Mahesh Kale, Shubha Mudgal and the iconic Sarod Grand Master Amjad Ali Khan. The cover art has been created by the prolific Paresh Maiti. The proceeds of this project go directly to KSCF.

Children are our future. Their protection is an issue which should concern all of us. There are many such subjects which require immediate attention. However, we need to place children above everything else as their development is critical to their future. Donate to the campaign to ensure that child victims of rape and sexual abuse receive the much-needed support in their quest for justice. Together we can and we must ensure justice for every child.

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Chamber Music by José Serebrier

 The most frequently-recorded conductor of our time, who has collaborated with some of the world’s greatest soloists and orchestras, and is among the most sought-after guest conductors, constantly touring with major orchestras around the world, and the recipient of music’s most coveted honors, including 8 GRAMMY^® awards, 2 Guggenheim Fellowships, the Deutsche Schallplatten Award for Best Orchestral Recording, and the Audiophile Magazine’s Award for Best Orchestral Recording (to name just a few) JOSÉ SEREBRIER (b.1938) established himself as a significant composer as far back as the 1950s, with over 100 published works. Serebrier composed music and conducted orchestras since early childhood, conceiving his Opus 1 – Sonata for solo violin at the age of 9, and making his conducting debut at age 11. A composition student of Vittorio Giannini at Curtis, Serebrier also studied with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood, and developed his conducting skills under the auspices of Pierre Monteux and Antal Dorati, as well as through his 5-year association with Leopold Stokowski and the American Symphony Orchestra. Serebrier’s Symphony No.1 (written in just 2 weeks at age 17), was world-premiered by Stokowski, who later also conducted two other works by Serebrier. For 2 consecutive years (the 1968-69 and 69-70 seasons), George Szell named José Serebrier Composer-in-Residence of the Cleveland Orchestra, where Serebrier composed important experimental works (such as his avant-garde concerto Nueve, written for double bassist Gary Karr). Starting with his first-ever work, his Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 1, José Serebrier has been a major composer of historical importance, whose oeuvre is complex, multi-layered, sophisticated and endlessly inspiring. This album presents seven chamber works by José Serebrier, five of which as world premiere recordings. Serebrier’s luminous lyricism, resplendent melodic language and fascinating harmonies are already evident even in his Op.1 violin sonata, a veritable masterpiece. In addition to Serebrier’s Violin Sonata and the Fantasy for Solo Flute at dusk, in shadows… this album also presents the world premiere recording of Serebrier’s Sonata for Solo Viola, as well as the world premiere recording of his Suite for Solo Cello in 5 movements. Three other world premiere recordings of works by Serebrier are also included: If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking for Horn, Violin and Narrator (after Emily Dickinson’s poem), M.M.P. for Flute and Cello (a delightful short duet) and Nostalgia (transcribed for Solo Violin by Elmira Darvarova). The exhilarating interpretations of the renowned artists – violinist Elmira Darvarova (former Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera), violist Ronald Carbone (Principal Violist, American Ballet Theatre), cellist Samuel Magill (former Associate Principal Cellist, Metropolitan Opera), flutist Lucian Rinando (Elysian Ensemble) and hornist Howard Wall (New York Philharmonic), as well as the inclusion of five world premiere recordings, make this outstanding disc a desirable acquisition. 

High Res Audio

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Homage to Eugéne Ysaye – Elmira Darvanova violin, Ronald Carbone viola, Winona Zelenka cello

“HOMAGE to EUGÈNE YSAŸE” is a double-CD album presenting works by the legendary Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931), as well as by 3 other composers whose works and legacy have been influenced by Eugène Ysaÿe: the Uruguayan-born, New York-based composer and conductor José Serebrier (born 1938), the German-born, Canadian-based composer Michael Oesterle (born 1964), and the Irish-born, Paris-based violist and composer Garth Knox (born 1956). While Eugène Ysaÿe’s works on this album include his most well-known masterpiece – the “Ballade” (Sonata No. 3) from his Six Sonatas for Solo Violin Op. 27, as well as two other gems – his Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 28, and his forgotten, but recently re-discovered 1927 String Trio No. 1, Op. 33 (a.k.a. “Le Chimay”), the other three composers are each represented with a world premiere recording (the Sonata for Solo Viola by José Serebrier, “Ardennes” for Solo Cello by Michael Oesterle and “Homage to Ysaÿe” for Solo Viola by Garth Knox), in addition to José Serebrier’s very first composition, dating from his teenage years – his Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 1. This magnificent collection of works for strings from the 20th and 21st centuries is a reflection on the undiminished power of the immortal legacy of Eugène Ysaÿe as a genius musician whose extraordinary achievements as a performer and composer spread beyond his time, to enrich and inform other works that not only pay homage to him, but are masterful and unforgettable on their own, carrying over the undiminished fascination with Ysaÿe’s oeuvre, and further inspiring, on their own terms, present day interpreters and audiences. As passionate advocates for Eugène Ysaÿe, and for the three world premiere recordings (the Sonata for Solo Viola by José Serebrier, “Ardennes” for Solo Cello by Michael Oesterle and “Homage to Ysaÿe” for Solo Viola by Garth Knox), as well as José Serebrier’s Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 1, the performers of this splendid album – violinist Elmira Darvarova, violist Ronald Carbone and cellist Winona Zelenka – appear as an ensemble (in Ysaÿe’s String Trio No. 1, Op. 33, a.k.a. “Le Chimay”), as well as soloists in the rest of the works. The performers’ own connections to Eugène Ysaÿe stem from historical circumstances: Elmira Darvarova and Winona Zelenka both personally knew Ysaÿe’s prominent student Josef Gingold (1909-1995), with whom Elmira Darvarova studied, and both Elmira Darvarova and Ronald Carbone participated in the New York premiere of Ysaÿe’s String Trio No. 1, Op. 33 (a.k.a. “Le Chimay”). This album brings superb interpretations of stunningly beautiful compositions, as a glorious tribute to one of the most brightly shining stars that ever graced the world of virtuoso artists – the one and only Eugène Ysaÿe. 

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Masterpieces For Sarod And Violin – Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod and Elmira Darvarova, Violin

This double-CD album presents Amjad Ali Khan’s compositions for Sarod and Violin as a collection comprising the works previously premiered in three separate albums. The recordings included in this collection represent the culmination of a collaboration that came about through a serendipitous meeting of the artists in 2014 – Amjad Ali Khan, the Titan of the sarod, straddling two centuries, universally venerated as one of the greatest living Indian musicians in any genre; his sons, disciples and widely acclaimed sarod virtuosi in their own right, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash; and the distinguished American violinist Elmira Darvarova, herself a historical figure as the first ever (and so far only) woman-concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York. The first fruit of these artists’ unique joining of forces was their album, SOUL STRINGS, a bridge across which their respective traditions, coming from Indian Classical and Western Art Music genres, were generously shared, each with its expressive and technical integrity intact, rather than squeezed into that oft-used and abused notion of “fusion.” What that first album suggested subtly, about this daring, supercharged, yet profoundly respectful and even affectionate meeting of musical minds, was later brilliantly confirmed by their second CD album AMALGAM, which included the inimitable sound of the universally beloved and venerated elder statesman of Indian Classical Music today – Amjad Ali Khan. Drawing on the North and South Indian classical music idioms, AMALGAM not only featured new works but also explored new aesthetic and rhetorical terrain both in terms of the intimate level of phrase and note, as well as at the larger architectonic and structural aspects of the music. The artists offered their third CD album PEACE WORSHIPERS as a final volume of their trilogy, again with new compositions for Sarod and Violin by Amjad Ali Khan. The album PEACE WORSHIPERS climbed atop world music charts and won Gold Medal at the 2017 Global Music Awards. This recognition affirmed the enthusiastic critical acclaim and widely spread adulation with which audiences across India and the United States have been receiving not only these artists’ live concert performances of Amjad Ali Khan’s compositions for Sarod and Violin, but also their recorded legacy. All three albums were released worldwide – by Affetto/Naxos and, also, by the Times Music label (owned by The Times of India publication, which has the largest circulation of any English-language newspaper in the world). The Times Music label released the albums SOUL STRINGS, AMALGAM and PEACE WORSHIPERS for distribution throughout the countries of the Indian subcontinent and South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Afghanistan), a region comprising almost 2 billion people, about one quarter of the world’s population – the most populous and densely populated area in the world.

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