The New York Times 11 August 2024

This five-track album showcases his collaboration with long-time friend and pianist Joey Calderazzo, along with the highly acclaimed trumpeter and composer Ingrid Jensen.

Early in 1935, the American violinist Louis Krasner suggested to Berg that he write a violin concerto, but Berg, involved with the orchestration of his opera Lulu, was not then interested in a new project. However, the death from poliomelytis of his young friend Manon Gropius, daughter of Mahler’s widow, that spring so saddened him that he decided to compose a concerto as a memorial to her. Te score was finished on August 11, 1935 – record time for the slow-working, meticulous Berg. Dedicated ‘to the memory of an angel’ the Violin Concerto was to be his last completed work, for on December 24 he died of septicemia of the age of fifty. Krasner gave the world premiere on April 19, 1936, in Barcelona, under Hermann Scherchen.

Following on the success of her acclaimed release, Donna Voce, award winning pianist Anna Shelest continues her exploration of works by women composer in Donna Voce Volume 2 – Women of Legend. Featured are Fanny Mendelssohn’s monumental feat of imagination and virtuosity Das Jahr (The Year), Mélanie “Mel” Bonis’ suite of musical portraits Femmes de Légende (Women of Legend), and contemporary Ukrainian composer Olena Ilnytska’s evocative Nocturne 1. Hailed by The New York Times as a pianist of a fiery sensibility and warm touch, Anna Shelest is an international award-winning pianist who has thrilled audiences throughout the world.

UMR is proud to announce PETE TOWNSHEND LIVE > IN CONCERT 1985-2001 an expanded 14-CD box set and digital set featuring seven long-out-of-print live albums by Pete Townshend.