Wdr

Gemeinsam mit dem WDR Sinfonieorchester hat sich Cristian Măcelaru den ausgedehnten Sinfoniezyklus von Sergei Rachmaninow, einem der letzten romantischen Giganten des 20. Jahrhunderts eingespielt. Dieses Dreifach-Album folgt dessen Weg als Komponist, der von Triumphen und tiefen persönlichen Traumata geprägt ist.

On her second PENTATONE album Sinnbild, soprano Hanna-Elisabeth Müller presents an enchanting collection of orchestral songs by Richard Strauss together with the WDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.

The Cologne Stadtgarten venue was crammed that mid-February eve in 2011. A very special concert was scheduled for the night - the American saxophonist Bill Evans was in town to perform with the WDR Big Band.

“Renderings” – Chuck’s debut album project with the phenomenal WDR Big Band is set for a Feb., 2023 Release. Recorded over two trips to the famed German studio, this project is something of a departure from those with the Surge as it primarily features arrangements – Chuck’s highly original re-imaginings or “Renderings”, if you will. A Sinatra standard, a Chick Corea work, 3 scintillating compositions from the band’s personnel, and even a couple of Chuck’s own pieces are shone in a new light.

My Personal Songbook is the first recording of the grand master's original compositions performed by an extended orchestra to be released. This exceptional recording took place in January 2013, when Carter appeared with The WDR Big Band in Cologne. Three acclaimed concerts with The WDR Big Band in Geneva, Zrich, and Essen followed and strengthened the master bassist's wish to extend the collaboration. Naturally, The WDR Big Band acceded to his wish, because apart from the fact that Carter is one of the leading bassists in the history of jazz, the musical vibes between the WDR Big Band and the famed guest soloist were highly compatible from the start.

The symphonic oeuvre of the Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz has never before been recorded in its entirety ‘from one source’, so that the series beginning here represents a pioneering act.

Germany's esteemed WDR Big Band alongside guest musicians, including the dynamic Moroccan/Senegalese drummer Mokhtar Samba and his son Reda Samba on percussion. During August 2015 the WDR Big Band performed an impressive concert of large ensemble jazz crossed with African timbres and rhythms, at the Cologne Philharmonic. The guests also included Rhani Krija on percussion, Henry Dorina, electric bass, Woz Kaly, vocals and Jean-Philippe Rykiel, keyboard. The pieces were arranged and conducted by Michael Mossmann. The music is presented by Mokhtar Samba: it is about vibrant rhythms and hypnotising melodies. As Samba feels very close to the music of his ancestors, his pieces are naturally heavily influenced by the elementary power of African rhythms.

This second album of Mozart’s complete Masses pairs one work of exceptional dimensions and ambition with a miniature example.