New Dutch Academy

This world premiere recording documents one of the most exciting discoveries in classical music in recent times. Displaying Schmitt working in both the symphonic and chamber mediums, this disc presents a musical portrait of this multifaceted 18th century German Dutch master composer…

[Mysliveček] “She is a charming, persuasive advocate … The ECO, too, offer fine support and with a range of tone colours, match de la Vega’s recreative imagination. Pentatone has captured these performances in particularly clear sound … De la Vega offers the first recording of a Concerto in D by Mysliveček, one that displays the utmost craftsmanship and appeal … her fine performance renders it memorable”.

The New Dutch Academy Mannheim Project is an immense project involving original material from dozens of libraries throughout the world, the analysis of manuscripts, the preparation of working scores, the consultation of treatises and other sources; thought about aesthetically schools, flows, changes and in relation to instruments, playing techniques and musical realization; and the combination of all this with performance, learning the Mannheim language, and bringing the music to life. Through this album we are very proud to launch our Mannheim Project, and to set the tone for the resulting series of recordings which will present newly discovered works, many of which will appear here for the first time in recorded form.

Following the delectable String Symphonies Volume 1 comes an equally delectable Volume 2, with one sinfonia by Johann Stamitz (1717-1757) and three by Franz Xaver Richter (1709-1789). Where Volume 1 covered works from 1740-1750, this one covers the period 1750-1755. The musicians play on period instruments with unequalled elegance and warmth. Producers should use this absolutely superb recordings as a reference model. Rarely baroque music has sounded with so much detail and perfect sound quality.

Featuring works by Abel, Reichardt, Zelter, Storace, Mozart and Paisiello, this album follows the musical “jet set” of the 18th century as they “do” the splendid cosmopolitan cultural epicentres of the time, including London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and St Petersburg. Exploring the intertwining stories of these leading lights as they criss-cross the European Continent, the album watches the sparks fly as they inspire each other in this period abuzz with creative fervour, international cultural exchange and mind-blowing talent. With several world-première recordings of new discoveries (Abel, Reichardt, Storace) alongside some well-loved classics, this journey features music which abounds in enlightened positivity, radiance, inventiveness, energy and inspiration.

Julia Fischer (violin), Jonathan Crow (violin), Douglas McNabney (viola), Matt Haimovitz (cello), Lenneke Ruiten (soprano), Martin Helmchen (piano), Arabella Steinbacher (violin), Keisuke Wakao (oboe), Malcolm Lowe (violin), Cathy Basrak (viola), Sato Knudsen (cello), Ana de la Vega (flute), Andrew Marriner (clarinet), Gustavo Núñez (bassoon), Ulf-Dieter Schaaff (flute), Philipp Beckert (violin), Andreas Willwohl (viola), Georg Boge (cello), Kevin Short (bass), Gordan Nikolić (violin). Marco Boni, Yakov Kreizberg, Ed Spanjaard, Simon Murphy, Gordan Nikolić, Bastiaan Blomhert, Stephanie Gonley, Neville Marriner, Henk Rubingh, Lawrence Foster

Pentatone Studio Masters devoted to music of Archangelo Corelli was recorded during concerts at the Vredenburg, Utrecht in January 2003, produced by Carl Schuurbiers with Erdo Groot as recording engineer. The recording has superb, full-bodied sound with sonorous string textures (unheard on the previous CD/ SACD). Conductor Simon Murphy points out there is a similarity between jazz and Corelli's music as in the Corelli's' music performers are expected to improvise and add elaborate ornamentation. The result is Corelli with a vibrant sound not to be heard in most other recordings of the composer's music.