Alba

Romanian electronic musician & sound designer. Album nominated to Schallwelle Electronic Music Award 2015. "Earth to Space" is a call. It is one of the many messages of the Earth to Space. From early times man looked up to the Sky and asked himself if he is alone in this entire Universe. Since then until now the man is trying to reach to the deepest places of the Space.

This Da Vinci Classics album focuses on the soundtrack of an ancient Italian film, the subject of which is taken from a poem by Fausto M. Martini (1915). The film was made by Nino Oxilia and covered with sounds by Pietro Mascagni. The film revisits the myths of Faust and Dorian Gray, seen from a female perspective. Mascagni, whose fame was based mainly on his operas, sensed the potential of cinema which he considered as the future of opera, or the artistic expression that would replace singing theater as the public's preferred means of entertainment. But, once again, for Mascagni it wasn't about entertainment; he sought artistic perfection and pursued it. All the minute visual details of the film are echoed in the music, which comments on what was seen on the screen with what was performed by the orchestra. In this album Da Vinci Classics it was decided to record in full, without cuts, the piano reduction of the orchestral score created by Mascagni himself. The attached tracklist refers to the captions of the film, in order to allow the listener to follow, or imagine, the unfolding of the film.

Back by popular demand, The Toscanini Collection is a reissue of RCA's 1992 compendium that encompassed all of the recordings Toscanini made with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and NBC Symphony. A new addition to this amazing collection is his approved recordings with the BBC Symphony from the 1930s that were not included in the 1992 edition.

This Alba release includes Symphony No. 2 & Ekho for soprano and orchestra by Aarre Merikanto, one of the greatest ever Finnish composers, finely performed by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and soprano Anu Komsi. Symphony No. 2 is a World Premiere Recording! Ekho is a setting of a poem by the Finnish poet V.A. Koskenniemi for soprano and large orchestra. On this new release the work is performed by the internationally praised Finnish soprano Anu Komsi with her dynamic coloratura voice.

On this second record we will hear Palmgren’s magnificent Piano Concertos no. 4-5. The brilliant pianist on the record is Janne Mertanen who has made many recordings for Alba Records. Two other pieces conductor Jan Söderblom has chosen for this record are Pastorale in three scenes and Exotic March. The first recording of Palmgren’s music – The River (ABCD385) received brilliant reviews. The River included Piano Concerto no.1-3 performed by Henri Sigfridsson. The recording was one of the best sellers for Alba Records in 2016.