Nuts And Volt 2019

I have always viewed Dr. Weigl as one of the best composers of the old generation; one of those continuing the illustrious Viennese tradition' – Arnold Schönberg. This statement indicated that Weigl remained faithful to the late-Romantic aesthetic and use of tonality, shunning the more progressive contemporary trends being explored at the turn of the 20th century, as might be found in the music of Zemlinsky, Reznicek or Franz Schmidt. Weigl's style is well reflected in this programme that pairs the first of his six symphonies (written in 1908) with Pictures and Tales, a suite for small orchestra written in 1922.

Sir Karl Jenkins continues his 75th birthday year celebrations with a brand-new album, Miserere: Songs of Mercy and Redemption, released on 11th October. The new work, released on Decca Records, is dedicated to all who have suffered or perished during the conflicts in the Middle East over the last 70 years. Jenkins was motivated by the desperate situation for the millions of people displaced and impacted by the cruel effects of war and hoped the healing and uniting powers of music could be used to bring together people from different religions.

German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser and Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson present a moving portrait of the Mendelssohn family with this recording of pieces by the siblings Felix and Fanny. Once composed for the popular Sunday Sessions at the Berlin Mendelssohn family house, these works fit into the typically nineteenth-century tradition of domestic music-making, albeit at the highest thinkable level. Beatson plays an 1837 Érard fortepiano, identical to the instrument that belonged to the Mendelssohn household when these pieces were composed. Besides Felix Mendelssohn’s two sonatas for cello and piano, his Variations concertantes, op. 17, Lied ohne Worte, op. 109 and Albumblatt in B Minor are featured. Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn’s Fantasia in G Minor and Capriccio in A-flat Major show what could have become of this talented female composer if societal conventions had not restricted her musical activities to the private salon.

After a first album as part of the harmonia nova collection, which resulted in a well-deserved Victoire de la Musique Classique (category New Instrumental Soloist), Bruno Philippe continues his path on the harmonia mundi label. This programme devoted to Rachmaninoff and the unfairly neglected Myaskovsky is a genuine technical and artistic challenge, which the young cellist has taken up in total harmony with his long term musical partner Jérôme Ducros. Be swept away by the swirling passions of these works, among the most romantic in Russian musical literature.

Two CD collection focusing on the many special and sought-after versions of tracks from everyone's favorite Anglo-Trinidadian pop superstar, Billy Ocean. Born in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago in 1950 and raised in Romford, London, Billy went on to record ten original albums, accruing several US No. 1 singles, a Grammy, an Ivor Novello Award and a MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award along the way. This set features 23 special and sought-after alternative versions of some of Billy's best-known tracks, such as 'When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)', 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car', 'Love Really Hurts Without You', 'Loverboy' and 'European Queen (No More Love On The Run)', with a number of these versions making their first ever appearance on CD here. All tracks contained within have been lovingly remastered, with audio being sourced from the original master tapes where possible. The package includes a beautiful 16-page booklet featuring extensive sleeve notes by music journalist and pop expert Justin Kantor.