Alba

Rachel Kolly, with her 1732 Stradivarius, brings an exceptional sound dimension to the sonatas, in perfect harmony with Christian Chamorel’s piano. The duo, known for their refined interpretation and artistic complicity, marks an important milestone in their musical journey with this emblematic recording.

Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana returns to Orchid Classics with a recital of Spanish music for violin and piano. Described as ‘an amazing talent’ by Gustavo Dudamel, Fullana has a natural affinity with this repertoire, which includes dazzling virtuoso pieces by the great violinist-composer Pablo de Sarasate, as well as the evocative ‘Sonata Española’ by Joaquín Turina. The recital also features works by several composers from the Catalan region: Enrique Granados, Eduardo Toldrà and Joan Manén, all of whom subtly combine characteristic Catalan folk styles with harmonic influences from France.

It was the first studio album released in 1973 by veteran Catalan Grup Alba, a native of La Bisbal d'Empordà (Girona), one of the pioneers of the genre in 1967. Involved in this historical recording the voices of the 'cantaires', the guitar F. Orteu, bass of A. Moraleda and accordion Ll. Borrell. The album features a selection of 20 songs (in Catalan language), 17 of them 'habaneras', 2 mazurkas and one 'sardana'. For lovers of this musical style.

Ascanio in Alba, KV 111, is an Italian pastoral opera in two acts written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1771...

One of the few professional bands to come from Sardinia, Gruppo 2001 were formed around 1971, with a commercial single in the same year for the small King label. After a successful appearance at the Disco per l'Estate TV festival with Messaggio, the band released their only album in 1972, that, starting from their typical melodic pop style, had more ambitious and prog-inspired arrangements.

Nine artists, Persian and French, singers and instrumentalists, are combining their own musical tradition to reinterpret traditional Kurdish, Persian and European repertoire. Medieval pieces, Gregorian plain song and Spanish cantigas from a repertoire situated between 9th and 15th centuries are dialoguing and are mixed with Persian and Kurdish folk and traditional melodies. The results are an astounding mix of world and ancient music.