Bbc Fine Art Collection

Ever since Beethoven wrote his last piano sonata and called it opus 111, the number 111 has enjoyed certain kudos in musical circles – of which we are proud to take advantage, as Deutsche Grammophon celebrates its 111th anniversary in 2009 and 2010. This unique limited-edition, specially priced collection of 111 CDs contains landmark recordings from DG's past to present. As a Bonus comes "111 Classic tracks" a compilation in 6 CDs, bringing the number of discs in these boxes to a combined number of 117.

Ever since Beethoven wrote his last piano sonata and called it opus 111, the number 111 has enjoyed certain kudos in musical circles – of which we are proud to take advantage, as Deutsche Grammophon celebrates its 111th anniversary in 2009. This unique limited-edition, specially priced collection of 55 CDs contains landmark recordings from DG's past to present.

Ever since Beethoven wrote his last piano sonata and called it opus 111, the number 111 has enjoyed certain kudos in musical circles – of which we are proud to take advantage, as Deutsche Grammophon celebrates its 111th anniversary in 2009. This unique limited-edition, specially priced collection of 55 CDs contains landmark recordings from DG's past to present.

As well as being one of the most famous organists and teachers of his time, Sweelinck was the last and most important composer of the musically rich golden era of the Netherlanders. His output comprises seventy works for keyboard, which represent some of the most richly imaginative music of the period, yet none was published during his lifetime. Robert Woolley has a large discography on Chandos, both as a soloist and as a member of The Purcell Quartet, the ensemble he co-founded in 1983. An internationally regarded authority on the music of this period, he broadcasts regularly for the BBC and has performed and recorded on many historic instruments. On this recording, he plays two instruments: a modern copy by Malcolm Rose of the Lodewijk Theewes claviorgan of 1579, a harpsichord-organ combination which has belonged to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London since 1890; and a rarely heard virginal, or muselar, by the firm Adlam Burnett, based on an instrument of Ioannes Ruckers from 1611 in the Finchcocks collection.

This concert is almost genius. I do highly recommend it. Cat Stevens was - and still is - a musician so advanced that he only needed, in order to mannifest himself, the voice and the guitar. This is one of the few concerts that was taped - and it is a stepping stone in the understanding of a phenomenon

Three examples of Leonard Bernstein’s vocal art can be heard in this recording. His Symphony No. 3 ‘Kaddish’ shuns traditional symphonic ideas in favor of an eclectic theatrical and oratorio-like form with a prominent rôle for speaker. For this recording Marin Alsop has returned to the work’s original narrative text, heard before the 1977 revision. The Lark – heard in a concert version with added narration – derives from Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of L’Alouette on the life of Joan of Arc, and it was this music that Bernstein reworked into his Missa Brevis many years later. Marin Alsop is a Bernstein protégé, and has written fondly and extensively about studying with him. He mentored her when he was conductor of the New York Philharmonic and few conductors today understand his music better. This disc presents Bernstein the vocal composer performed inlargely original editions by one of his best contemporary interpreters. The speaker in Kaddish is the great actress Claire Bloom.