Oswald

The Arcana recordings by the Italian ensemble La Reverdie approach, in their esoteric beauty, the medieval recordings by the American quartet Anonymous 4. There are, however, great differences. The La Reverdie recordings are not only based on minute scientific research but also on philosophical concepts, these usually being explained in the form of heady intellectual essays printed in the accompanying booklets in four languages. The music itself is eclectic, being carefully selected from manuscripts held in European university libraries.

Award-winning Baroque violinist Rachel Podger takes the resurgence of the Arts in England post-1660 as the compelling inspiration for her new album, The Muses Restor’d. Adopting its title as its theme, Rachel and her vivacious Brecon Baroque take the listener on a journey of captivating violin-led chamber music from Jacobean to Early Georgian England. Ranging from the gentle intimacy of consort idioms to the full-blown instrumental virtuosity of the evolving Baroque period, this album uncovers little known glories of English instrumental music and its influences.

Shostakovich - Symphony Nº12 - SWR Symphony Orchestra - Michael Gielen (Arte Nova)
EAC 099pb4 Rip | APE+CUE, LOGs | 62:17 min | 251 MB 300 dpi PDF Complete Scans
Genre: Classical - 20th Century| Label: Arte Nova

A distinguished Mahlerian of the cerebral kind, Michael Gielen has not previously tackled Shostakovich symphonies on disc, so his choice of the agitprop Twelfth is something of a puzzle. This is, as you might expect, a sober, straightforward account that makes no attempt to disguise the music’s obvious shortcomings by ‘imposing’ fervour in the Mravinsky manner. The result is chilly, formal and blank, despite some eloquent woodwind playing. Reviewed on Gramophone 11/99

Not much is known about Sebastiano Moratelli’s life, and his entire oeuvre, which is supposed to have included a number of operas and serenades, until recently was thought to have been lost. The rediscovery of the score of La “faretra smarrita” in the library of the Counts of Toerring-Jettenbach therefore amounts to a sensation. It finally allows us to form an impression of Moratelli’s compositional capabilities in their mature stage and of the “expressive power and naturalness” of his music so greatly esteemed by his contemporaries.

Moratelli, who came from Italy to Vienna before 1660, served as imperial chamber music director and music teacher to the Archduchess Anna Maria Josepha. On her marriage to Johann Wilhelm, Moratelli went along to Düsseldorf in 1679 and remained a member of the court there until his death.

VA - Volksmusikstars Singen Blasmusikhits (2008)
Folklore/Brass/Walz/Polka | MP3@224kbps | 00:42:33 | 54 MB

The best German folklore singers and the best brass musicians perform polkas, marches and songs known in Austria and Germany since time immemorial. Recommended to anyone who enjoys top-notch brass orchestra sound and strong folk voices.