Stephan Merath

Aside from his only opera Fidelio, Beethovens general link with the theater in Vienna came about largely with incidental music or songs to be inserted into the works of other composers- insertion arias. Konig Stephan was written to celebrate the politically significant opening of a new theatre in Pest, its triumphant mood honoring the ruling Austrian Emperor. Standard Bearer of female heroism Leonore Prohaska is commemorated with a Soldiers Chorus and a Romance with harp accompaniment. In Friedrich von Matthissons poem Opferlied (Sacrificial Song), a young man prays to Zeus to bestow upon him beauty and goodness in youth and old age. Two of Beethovens four settings are heard on this wide-ranging programme.

There are still many mysteries surrounding Johann Sebastian Bach’s personality. Yet, as new and exciting biographies appear, telling us more and more about the composer, we keep wondering what kind of a man he was in everyday life. Maybe because the very idea of the existence of such a genius is almost disturbing, and never ceases to amaze.

There are still many mysteries surrounding Johann Sebastian Bach’s personality. Yet, as new and exciting biographies appear, telling us more and more about the composer, we keep wondering what kind of a man he was in everyday life. Maybe because the very idea of the existence of such a genius is almost disturbing, and never ceases to amaze. However, that Bach was frequently called upon by instrument makers, and not only by organ builders, to listen to, gauge, and probably help tune musical instruments is no secret. He is thus closely related to the oboe family’s history since both the oboe da caccia and the oboe d’amore first appeared in Leipzig while Bach was working there. Moreover, he is the only composer to have offered music (the Passions and numerous cantatas) to the former and its warm, tender tone.

Stephan Moccio is a Grammy and Academy Award-nominated composer, producer, pianist, arranger, conductor and recording artist.

Following his acclaimed intimate album Tales of Solace in 2020, which boasts 140 million total streams, and growing, the Canadian songwriter and producer behind consistently prolific streaming numbers, Stephan Moccio, announces brand new album Lionheart, released via Decca Records on 15th October.

Laurence Equilbey's new album features repertoire from her original concert initiative, “Beethoven Wars”, a concept inspired by the parallel themes in manga and opera such as heroism, tragedy, love and loss.

To the Rising Moon is Stephan Micus' 26th solo album for ECM. It features instruments from Colombia, India, Xinjiang (China), Bavaria, Cambodia, Egypt and Borneo, but taking centre stage is the Colombian tiple, slightly smaller than an acoustic guitar. The sunny plucked sound of the tiples alternates with darker bowed strings which bring a more meditative mood. It's only in the final track, "To the Rising Moon", that the two worlds of the plucked tiples and bowed strings finally come together. It's like a hymn to something that is eternally up there in the night sky, something consistent while there is so much turbulence in the world below. Once again, Stephan Micus takes us on a unique musical journey to places unknown that couldn't have been created or played by anyone else.

For the twentieth anniversary of their duo, clarinettist Jean-Marc Foltz and pianist Stéphan Oliva paint, with tenderness and nuance, the portrait of Duke Ellington.

During their 2018 USA tour, Richard Smith and Joscho Stephan came up with the idea to expand their duo by adding a new musical dimension. On Richard’s recommendation, the versatile multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman joined the project, marking the birth of the “Transatlantic Guitar Trio“. Since then, the three musicians have performed on numerous stages across the USA and Europe and released their self-titled debut album in 2019.