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August highlights from EMI and Virgin Classics S P O T L I G H T Ariadne auf Naxos Deborah Voigt – Natalie Dessay Filmed in 2003 at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, this DVD presents Elijah Moshinsky’s sumptuous production of Ariadne auf Naxos featuring two of today’s reigning sopranos. Deborah Voigt and Natalie Dessay portray the contrasting roles that embody the opera’s themes: princess Ariadne, who believes in loyalty unto death, and flirtatious Zerbinetta, who takes a more pragmatic approach to life and love. James Levine conducts. “With breezy confidence, Ms Dessay dashed off Zerbinetta’s coloratura flights … Ms Voigt brought floods of cool radiant sound, arching lyrical beauty, crisp diction and sheer vocal charisma to her signature role.” The New York Times A L S O N E W T H I S MONTH Arvo Pärt The Estonian composer is 75 this month. This 2CD commemorative set contains many of his best-known works, including Spiegel im Spiegel and Cantus in memoriam Spiegel im Spiegel in memoriam Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten. Along with Gorecki, Pärt is the best-selling living composer of the last 20 years. Ravi Shankar The great Indian sitarist and composer turned 90 in 2010. This 2CD set showcases some of his best work, including performances that introduced Western audiences to Indian classical music. ICONs Six new releases from the ICON series pay homage to some of the greatest recording artists of the recent past. Artists featured in this latest set include Rudolf Kempe, Edwin Fischer, Pierre Fournier and Alicia de Larrocha. Barbara Hendricks Five CDs of essential recordings from the American star soprano feature varied repertoire from Bach and Debussy to Christmas and Disney songs and opera favourites. For nearly 20 years, Hendricks’ solo recordings have been made exclusively for EMI Classics. Riccardo Muti This 7CD boxed set marks the 250th anniversary of Luigi Cherubini’s birth with masses conducted by Riccardo Muti, overtures conducted by Sir Neville Marriner and performances by Barry Tuckwell and Maria Callas. Best of British Three CDs featuring the nation’s favourite classical music, including The Lark Ascending, Jerusalem, Music for the Royal Fireworks, Elgar’s Nimrod and Lark Ascending Jerusalem for the Royal Fireworks Nimrod many more. Featuring British artists such as Sir Adrian Boult and Vernon Handley. Visit us online for new release information, catalogue search, music and video, podcasts, concert listings, artist features and more! www.emiclassics.co.uk www.youtube.com/emiclassics www.facebook.com/emivirginclassics www.twitter.com/emiclassics
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Contents – September 2010 ‘Like giant Atlantic rollers, Angelich’s playing forges ahead with a breathtaking richness and momentum’ Nicholas Angelich’s performance of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No 2, reviewed by Bryce Morrison on page 54 Letters Lost in translation; Harnoncourt’s Haydn; the art of transcription 8 editor’s choice Paul Lewis takes on the Beethoven piano concertos; Julia Fischer’s Paganini 12 S o u n d b i t e S a r t s & i C m u s / l e b r e C h t m a e d e r i e s u z , / a r e n a p a l b a r d a i v e C l : p h o t o g r a p h y For the record Vote for Gramophone’s 2010 Artist of the Year; conductor Kristjan Järvi signs to Sony 14 a conversation with… …conductor José Serebrier 18 one towatch The Sarajevo-born pianist Ivana Gavric´ 19 diary Pianist David Greilsammer relishes taking up the reins of his new orchestra 22 richard eyre How directing Gheorghiu led to love for opera 23 phiLip kennicott Is there such a thing as a horror opera today? 24 saLute to charLes Mackerras Sir Charles Mackerras’s death is a great loss for the music world, says Rob Cowan 26 biography oF an instruMent The legendary flute that famously belonged to Johann Quantz – or did it? 28 www.gramophone.co.uk F e At u R e S the truth about schuMann Cellist and Schumann obsessive Steven Isserlis takes a long look at some myths about this anniversary-year composer 30 Jessye norMan returns In an exclusive interview, the great soprano discusses her first solo recital disc in a decade 36 ceLebrating bLu-ray The discs to watch, the players to watch them on and what’s next for the high-definition format that seems here to stay 41 the graMophone coLLection Rimsky-Korsakov expert Geoffrey Norris evaluates Sheherazade’s extensive discography 46 Sir Charles Mackerras, a tribute 26 e n C o R e MusicaL Journeys Italian string quartet heaven; Walter Weller in Belgium; fantasy adventures in Aldeburgh 99 pick oF the MusicaL Month Bryn Terfel takes his Wotan to the Met; a Golijov festival in Brazil 103 audio and visuaL The pros and pros of surround sound; portable DAB radio; a subtly impressive new amplifier 104 MyMusic New York City Ballet’s Peter Martins on his love of composing 122 Jessye Norman looks back on her career as she records her first solo album in 10 years 36 GramOphOne september 2010

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August highlights from EMI and Virgin Classics

S P O T L I G H T

Ariadne auf Naxos

Deborah Voigt – Natalie Dessay Filmed in 2003 at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, this DVD presents Elijah Moshinsky’s sumptuous production of Ariadne auf Naxos featuring two of today’s reigning sopranos. Deborah Voigt and Natalie Dessay portray the contrasting roles that embody the opera’s themes: princess Ariadne, who believes in loyalty unto death, and flirtatious Zerbinetta, who takes a more pragmatic approach to life and love. James Levine conducts.

“With breezy confidence, Ms Dessay dashed off Zerbinetta’s coloratura flights … Ms Voigt brought floods of cool radiant sound, arching lyrical beauty, crisp diction and sheer vocal charisma to her signature role.” The New York Times

A L S O N E W T H I S MONTH

Arvo Pärt

The Estonian composer is 75 this month. This 2CD commemorative set contains many of his best-known works, including Spiegel im Spiegel and Cantus in memoriam

Spiegel im Spiegel in memoriam

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten. Along with Gorecki, Pärt is the best-selling living composer of the last 20 years.

Ravi Shankar

The great Indian sitarist and composer turned 90 in 2010. This 2CD set showcases some of his best work, including performances that introduced Western audiences to Indian classical music.

ICONs

Six new releases from the ICON series pay homage to some of the greatest recording artists of the recent past. Artists featured in this latest set include Rudolf

Kempe, Edwin Fischer, Pierre Fournier and Alicia de Larrocha.

Barbara Hendricks

Five CDs of essential recordings from the American star soprano feature varied repertoire from Bach and Debussy to Christmas and Disney songs and opera favourites.

For nearly 20 years, Hendricks’ solo recordings have been made exclusively for EMI Classics.

Riccardo Muti

This 7CD boxed set marks the 250th anniversary of Luigi Cherubini’s birth with masses conducted by Riccardo Muti, overtures conducted by

Sir Neville Marriner and performances by Barry Tuckwell and Maria Callas.

Best of British

Three CDs featuring the nation’s favourite classical music, including The Lark Ascending, Jerusalem, Music for the Royal Fireworks, Elgar’s Nimrod and

Lark Ascending Jerusalem for the Royal Fireworks Nimrod many more. Featuring British artists such as Sir Adrian Boult and Vernon Handley.

Visit us online for new release information, catalogue search, music and video, podcasts, concert listings, artist features and more! www.emiclassics.co.uk www.youtube.com/emiclassics www.facebook.com/emivirginclassics www.twitter.com/emiclassics

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