Jan & Ndean

Jan Garbarek is, of course, one of ECM’s longest standing composers and saxophonists, yet he is first and foremost a spectacular improviser who often manages to reach farther than (I imagine) even his own expectations in touching new melodic concepts. Paired with the Spheres-like church organ of Kjell Johnsen, he plumbs the depths of spiritual and physical awareness in a way that few of his albums have since. Here more than anywhere else, he shapes reverberation into its own spiritualism, exploring every curve of his surrounding architecture, every carved piece of wood and masonry.

Recorded at the Palais in the Großer Garten Dresden, Concerti di Venezia was released on October 24 on SONY Classical. The CD focuses on Venetian cello concertos and includes the Vivaldi double concerto with violinist Giuliano Carmignola and a world premiere recording of Vandini’s cello concerto in D major.

A good day starts off with a good morning. Here is the music, which helps you get up on the right side of the bed: Beautiful, harmonious music inspired by nature. Imagine waking up every morning in a house by the ocean. The soothing sound of the waves and their eternal pulse in the background are reminiscent of things eternal in your existence. The night's gossamer of dreams retreats with a couple of deep breaths, and time has come to tackle the day's new challenges.

Beautiful music inspired by the magical moments in life when you are in harmony and life unfolds before your eyes in it's uttermost beauty.

Beautiful music inspired by nature and the peace we all can expirience by taking a walk and listen to the birds singing, the calming sounds of ocean waves. Nature means a lot to Jan Skovgaard Petersen. Whenever important decisions have to be taken, he usually taks a walk by the ocean to create a break where thoughts can calm down. The music on this album expesses his gratitude and inner joy to have this sanctuary.

The profile of Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen continues to rise through her regular appearance on Europe’s major opera, concert and recital stages, and she is consistently praised for her compelling blend of radiant stage personality and purity of vocal tone. This is her first opera arias recital and is focused on Handel and Mozart. Previously on disc, Eriksmoen features on Schumann’s Szenen aus Goethes Faust with Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under Daniel Harding, Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, both with Akademie für alte Musik Berlin under René Jacobs and Glyndebourne Festival conducted by Robin Ticciati, and in a ​“poised, elegant and persuasive” (Guardian) debut recital disc featuring songs by Grieg, Grøndahl, Wolf and Strauss with Alphonse Cemin (Alpha).