Allegro 24.1

Alexander Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from his opera Prince Igor are among the most-cherished ballet pieces, with lush oriental melodies and colourful orchestration. They are presented here in an acclaimed interpretation by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra under the baton of the late Alexander Vedernikov.

Dong Hyek Lim arrived on the scene at just 18 years old ‘in a blaze of pianistic glory’ (Gramophone) with a debut album championed by his mentor Martha Argerich. The South Korean virtuoso went on to take third prize in the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition. Ten years later, following studies with Emmanuel Ax at the Juilliard School in New York, his artistry has matured and deepened for this long-awaited recital of the 24 Preludes and other works by Chopin – a composer who remains especially close to his heart.

Clarinetist Anthony McGill and violinist Rachel Barton Pine are featured soloists on a new recording of two concertos composed in response to societal injustices by Syrian composer Malek Jandali, performed by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and led by Marin Alsop, a champion of the composer’s work.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s landmark series of Beethoven’s complete sonatas is now available as a box-set and at very special price. Bavouzet has taken this programme to the most prestigious venues around the world and continues to perform it. Gramophone has nominated him several times for its Artist of the Year award, arguing that ‘Bavouzet’s chronological journey through the Beethoven sonatas has not been surpassed in the last 30 years. Yes, it’s that good.’

The violin concerto accompanied Vivaldi throughout his life. And more than any other genre, the circa 220 extant violin concertos reflect the biographical and professional events relating to the "Red Priest". Hence the idea – proposed, we believe, for the first time on disc – of recording 18 concertos, divided into three “seasons” that illustrate the evolution of Vivaldi’s art through the three different stages of his career: the early years, his maturity and the late period.

Elisabeth Leonskaja feels life, people and music intuitively.

Solomon Cutner CBE (9 August 1902 – 2 February 1988) was a British pianist known professionally as Solomon. Recorded 1948-1956. New HD Mastering 2024.

Following his critically acclaimed recording of Ludwig van Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas and Diabelli Variations, made between 1992 and 1996, the pianist and conductor Alfredo Perl is now scaling this summit of classical-romantic piano music for the second time.

Studio Recordings – Mono Recorded 1950-1952 Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Orchestra except Symphony No. 105 in 1965 with Vienna Radio Orchestra Stereo. New HD Mastering 2024 Transferred with 48 and 96 khz (depending by the Quality of the transferred source). Remastered by Mike Höpp.

The great progress of civilisation in the first half of the 19th century undoubtedly had a colossal impact on the mentality of the society of that time. The enormous possibilities opened up by the invention of steam engines allowed people to look into the future of human development with great optimism. It can be assumed that for the people of that era, the present and the future were more important than looking back. But at the same time, the development of archaeology, extensive research into the origin of species and humans, and the emerging interest in the art of ancient times also resulted in a fascination with the works of composers from bygone eras.