The first complete recording of the keyboard works of Andrea Gabrieli (1532-1585), one of the most famous and influential composers of the late Renaissance and the most important representative of the Venetian School. A native of Venice, he went to Germany to study with Lassus. Later he became organist of the famous San Marco in Venice, the most important post in Northern Italy at that moment.
Unforeseen and born out of unique circumstances, this is a unique record. This is the first album I have made devoted entirely to French song. I think this is no more than my French listeners deserve. We have made numerous journeys together, from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to South America with Pasión, from Italy to the United States with Little Italy, but I thought it was finally time to play the music of our own native land, too. Thats why I am dedicating this album in its entirety to French song, but with a twist. Between the lines, as it were, in this repertoire, I have sought to highlight all the variety of genres and influences from near and far that are now intrinsic elements of French musical identity and heritage. As many are no doubt aware, I am passionate about different musical cultures from all over the world. As we explore the French repertoire, we shall make many musical discoveries on our travels…
In 2017 Decca published the 10-CD Box "Mendelssohn Complete Piano Works”. The recordings (2005-2014) include 59 World Premieres.
Roberto Gatto is an Italian jazz drummer, born October 6, 1958 in Rome. He has performed with Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Bob Berg, Tommy Flanegan, Joe Zawinul, and Joe Lovano. He has composed film music, is the leader of his own jazz group and a member of the ensemble of Pino Daniele, a prominent Neapolitan singer.
“The best new thing that has happened in European jazz for a long time” (Le Monde), Emile Parisien has formed a top-flight American-European sextet for this album, his seventh as leader or co-leader on ACT. The band will be touring in 2022, the year which also marks the tenth anniversary of Parisien’s first appearance on an ACT album.
Les deux chasseurs et la laitière, a oneact opera by Egidio Romualdo Dun, was premiered in Paris by the company of Théâtre de Comédiens Italiens, in July 1763. This work, staged then many times at the Opéra Comique, was soon published and its popularity among European theatres reached its peak between the 1780s and the beginning of 19th century.
Les deux oeuvres sont des classiques des concerts pour enfants qui connaissent un même succès mondial : le conte musical « Pierre et le loup » de Prokofiev et « Le Carnaval des animaux » de Camille Saint-Saëns, que ce dernier a décrit – probablement avec un clin d’oeil – comme une « Grande fantaisie zoologique ». Est-ce que l’essentiel est ainsi dit ? Pas du tout. Car la question se pose de savoir pourquoi les adultes apprécient autant que les enfants l’histoire du brave Pierre et du méchant loup. Cela a sans doute à voir avec la géniale musique de Prokofiev. Il faut en outre se souvenir que Saint-Saëns a composé son « Carnaval » pour un concert privé à domicile, c›est-à-dire pour le divertissement d’adultes. Et ces derniers ne pouvaient apparemment pas se retenir de rire, si bien que le compositeur a soudain pris peur et a strictement interdit la publication de son oeuvre charmante, craignant que ses oeuvres sérieuses ne soient dès lors plus prises au sérieux. D’une certaine façon, on lui a donné raison : en termes de popularité auprès des jeunes et moins jeunes, aucune autre oeuvre de Saint-Saëns ne peut rivaliser avec le « Carnaval des animaux ».