Domingo Recital

FIRE & ICE, Sarah Chang's eleventh recital album, is a throwback of sorts: an old-fashioned star turn packed with virtuosic showpieces that would test the mettle of any violinist. But the precociously talented Chang is not just any violinist and she certainly proves it here. As usual, she rises to the occasion and offers a dazzling, bravura performance of a crowd-pleasing program, guaranteed to make even the most jaded listeners sit up and take notice.

Regarded as one of the great voices of the Metropolitan Opera, Richard Tucker made his debut there as Alfredo Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, in January, 1945, and became a specialist in the Italian and French lyric roles. He appeared with the Metropolitan Opera in 734 performances. The only other tenors to have had longer professional careers were Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Sony Classical celebrates 100 years of this legendary American tenor with the release of two limited- edition original album releases.

Itzhak Perlman: The Complete Warner Recordings embraces every aspect of Perlman's art. It contains concertos (the ‘essential' concertos, of course, but also more rarely-heard works, including Perlman's own commissions from living composers); other pieces for violin and orchestra; chamber music; recital and crossover repertoire (including jazz, ragtime and klezmer), and even a disc that focuses on Perlman as narrator and (briefly) opera singer. The recordings document his collaborations with the world's greatest orchestras and an array of superlative fellow-soloists and conductors, including Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim, Plácido Domingo, Carlo Maria Giulini, Bernard Haitink, Lynn Harrell, Yo Yo Ma, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn and Pinchas Zukerman.

Itzhak Perlman, born in 1945, is the supreme violinist of his time. Warner Classics salutes him in his 70th birthday year with Itzhak Perlman: The Complete Warner Recordings, 59 albums on 77 CDs. Presenting his art in all its warmth, generosity and brilliance, this comprehensive edition unites the recordings Perlman made for both EMI and Teldec over a total period of more than 30 years. Available as a magnificent deluxe box set, or as 59 separate releases, Itzhak Perlman: The Complete Warner Recordings embraces every aspect of Perlman s art.

Rave reviews have garnished Jonas Kaufmann’s career the last few years. Listening to his first recital disc, due for release on 14 January 2008, the day of his first Alfredo at Covent Garden, it is easy to see why. With film-star looks to match he seems predestined for great things. He has the classy Prague Philharmonic backing him, conducted by one of the more sought after Italian opera conductors of the younger generation.