Johannes Ludwig

After titanic contributions to the cello sonata repertoire by Ludwig van Beethoven, few notable additions were made for several decades. Not until 1862 did the cello sonata re-emerge in the hands of Johannes Brahms. His peculiar First Sonata contains only three movements (the Adagio having been omitted for fear of the sonata being too lengthy) and a finale that all but defies formal analysis. Almost a quarter century passed before Brahms again returned to the cello sonata, this time in the key of F major. The second sonata is considerably more challenging for cellists and Brahms' treatment of the instrument is not the exclusively lyrical, sonorous melodies that one might expect. Rather, Brahms incorporates lots of rhythmic, motivic playing and pizzicato passages and rapid bariolage. A "third" cello sonata, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is Paul Klengel's (whose cello-playing father was much admired by Brahms) transcription of the G major Violin Sonata.

After their acclaimed recording of Weber’s Freischütz, the Dresdner Philharmonie and conductor Marek Janowski present yet another German opera classic with Beethoven’s Fidelio. They work together with a stellar cast, including Lise Davidsen (Fidelio/Leonore), Christian Elsner (Florestan), Georg Zeppenfeld (Rocco), Christina Landshamer (Marzelline), and more. This should have been a live concert recording, but recent shutdowns frustrated those plans. Luckily, it turned out possible to record Beethoven’s masterpiece in two studio sessions, with two different, established choirs: the Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden, as well as the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir.

Das Hörbuch für den Lenz und die Osterzeit. Hier dreht sich alles um das Erwachen der Natur nach langem Winter, und natürlich um Hasen, Hühner und Eier: eine frühlingshaft-österliche Sammlung von Gedichten und Geschichten berühmter Autoren wie Christian Morgenstern, Ludwig Thoma, Theodor Storm und vielen anderen. …

Johannes Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem / German Requiem
Barbara Bonney / Andreas Schmidt / Vienna Philharmonic / Carlo Maria Giulini
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 308 MB | Full Artwork: 93 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Deutsche Grammophon "Masters" # 445 546-2 GMA | Country/Year: Germany 199_, 1988
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Sacred, Vocal

Masters, as the name suggests, is a series that concentrates on presenting recordings of the stars of DG's digital catalogue. As Diapason noted: "one does indeed find here the greatest names of the DG catalogue: Abbado, Bernstein, Giulini, Karajan, Argerich, Kremer, Pollini, Ludwig …," not to mention Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mischa Maisky, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Trevor Pinnock, Reinhard Goebel and John Eliot Gardiner…

Hans Vonk (1942-2004): Johannes Brahms- The Final Sessions
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra / Male Chorus of the Netherlands Radio Choir
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 2,12 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 687 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 045 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2005
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

"…While it may appear that this disc is a memorial worth only one playing, it is instead a set of beautiful readings of three essential Brahms works, fully in the Central European tradition. Moreover, it is not marmorial, but a real 'feel-good' and life-enhancing disc. What better memorial could a conductor have?" ~sa-cd.net

Hans Vonk (1942-2004): Johannes Brahms- The Final Sessions
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra / Male Chorus of the Netherlands Radio Choir
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 173 MB | Full Artwork: 112 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 045 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2005
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

"…While it may appear that this disc is a memorial worth only one playing, it is instead a set of beautiful readings of three essential Brahms works, fully in the Central European tradition. Moreover, it is not marmorial, but a real 'feel-good' and life-enhancing disc. What better memorial could a conductor have?" ~sa-cd.net