Wdr

Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918–1970) was one of the most distinctive composers in the musical avant-garde after the Second World War. While Karlheinz Stockhausen served as a kind of "generator" in Cologne during the 1950s and 60s, inventing completely new sounds and techniques, Zimmermann was in many ways his opposite, a "transformer" who redefined previously existing material by placing it in new contexts and collage-like structures, anticipating the ideas of the Postmodernists.

Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918–1970) was one of the most distinctive composers in the musical avant-garde after the Second World War. While Karlheinz Stockhausen served as a kind of "generator" in Cologne during the 1950s and 60s, inventing completely new sounds and techniques, Zimmermann was in many ways his opposite, a "transformer" who redefined previously existing material by placing it in new contexts and collage-like structures, anticipating the ideas of the Postmodernists.

The complete edition of Robert Schumann's symphonic works with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne under Heinz Holliger is now available as a 6 album set.

The Romantic Room is an expansive six-volume set exploring the rich and often overlooked chamber music of Louis Spohr, brought vividly to life by the WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players.

Eine einzigartige Sinneserfahrung: Marek Janowski dirigiert Beethoven: Es ist schon etwas Besonderes, selbst im übervollen Beethoven-Sinfonien-Katalog, wenn Marek Janowski und das WDR Sinfonieorchester eine Gesamteinspielung der Sinfonien Beethovens vorlegen: Einer der meist gefeierten Dirigenten unserer Tage und eines der renommiertesten deutschen Rundfunkorchester sind gerade gut genug, für Beethovens unerreichte Sinfonien.

With 'Ariabesques' Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band bring Johann Sebastian Bach's "Goldberg Variations" to new life, it's presented as a double CD in six panel digipack with a 12-page booklet.

With "Ariabesques," Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band have brought Johann Sebastian Bach"s "Goldberg Variations" to life once again. Originally composed for the two-manual harpsichord, Dobbins has managed to create an impressive version for big band by swapping repetitive notes with short rests.

What times those were: To mark the 60th anniversary of Paul Lincke's death, WDR organized a concert performance of the completely unabridged "Frau Luna" in May 2006 at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, followed by two weeks of production at the Cologne Funkhaus.