August 2016 Catalogue Prices valid until Wednesday 28�� September 2016 unless stated otherwise 0115 982 7500 [email protected] 1 Welcome! Dear Customer, The ‘Shakespeare 400’ celebrations have been in full swing for a few months now, with performances and special events happening around the UK and beyond. Here at Europadisc, we have seen an uplift of interest in the DVD/Blu- ray versions of his plays recorded at the RSC and The Globe Theatre (issued by Opus Arte), and there have been a noticeable number of Shakespeare-themed recitals on CD featuring items such musical settings of the sonnets. Although our focus is primarily on classical music, we have agreed to feature a new CD set issued by Decca this month containing the complete plays, sonnets and poems of Shakespeare recorded by The Marlowe Dramatic Society back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, originally released on Argo Records. It is a beautifully presented boxset containing 100 CDs alongside a 200pp booklet crammed with fascinating notes and historical information. Much more information can be found on p.4 - highly recommended! Other boxsets featured this month include the Complete Remastered Stereo Collection of recordings from Jascha Heifetz on Sony (RCA), the Complete Decca Recordings of pianist Julius Katchen and some bargain re-issues of wonderful recordings from EMI, Virgin, Warner and Erato in Warner Classics’ Budget Boxset range. Of course, we mustn’t forget the many interesting new recordings being released: highlights include the next discs in both the Classical Piano Concerto (FX Mozart/Clementi) and the Romantic Violin Concerto (Stojowski/Wieniawski) series on Hyperion (p.5); four brand new titles from Dutton Epoch (see opposite); the already well-reviewed final instalment in Osmo Vänskä’s latest Sibelius cycle on BIS (Disc of the Month - see below); and a brilliant performance of works by Telemann from Florilegium (p.8). Florilegium are currently celebrating their 25�� anniversary and you will also find a list of their back catalogue recordings at discounted prices on the same page. New special offers include reductions on ‘2fers’, the C20 series and a small selection of award-winning titles from Decca and DG; the complete catalogues of Simax, Testament and APR; a nostalgic collection of recordings from Retrospective (again, not strictly classical!); plus DVDs and Blu-rays from Accentus Music. Hopefully something for everyone! Best regards from, The Europadisc Team DISC OF THE MONTH Sibelius - Symphonies 3, 6 & 7 £11.95 Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä or pay just BIS BIS 2006 (Hybrid SACD, playable on standard CD equipment) £8.95 The first disc in the Sibelius cycle from Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra if your order value made the reviewer in Gramophone speculate about a ‘benchmark cycle for the 21st exceeds £50* century’ whilst the second instalment received a Grammy for ‘Best Orchestral * to qualify for the special price, Performance’. The long-awaited final disc in the cycle combines the Finnish your order value must exceed a master’s Third Symphony, completed in 1907, with his two final works in the genre, total of £50 excluding this recording and before any composed more or less in tandem between 1922 and 1924. The Symphony No.3 in applicable carriage charges. C major is Sibelius’s most classical symphony, a radical change in direction after the Offer available while stocks last. opulence of its predecessor. It has been claimed that the mastery of form in its first movement is comparable only to the greatest Viennese masters – and at the same time the conductor Koussevitzky, one of the composer’s strongest champions, spoke of it as ‘music far in advance of its time’. Fifteen years later, and after the heroic Fifth Symphony, Sibelius again presented a symphony which surprised those admirers who expected more of the same. Sibelius gave Symphony No.6 a refined modal flavouring, avoiding both virtuoso orchestral writing and massive climaxes, and likened it to an offering of ‘pure spring water’. This he followed up immediately with what would become his symphonic swansong – the stern and majestic Seventh Symphony. A one-movement work, it was at first billed as ‘Fantasia sinfonica’ but it is indeed a true symphony, its single movement portraying elements of all four movements of symphonic practice. 2 PRIORITY NEW RELEASES 4 new titles from Dutton Epoch Works for Viola Brian and Orchestra Symphonies 2 & 14 Dale, Clarke, Walthew Royal Scottish National & Waldo Warner Orchestra, Brabbins Bradley, Halle, Bell £11.95 £11.95 CDLX 7330 (Hybrid SACD) CDLX 7329 (Hybrid SACD) Sullivan Gardner Macbeth (inc), Symphony no.2 The Tempest (inc), Veale Marmion Overture Symphony no.2 BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Andrews Orchestra, Yates £15.95 £11.95 2CDLX 7331 (2 Hybrid SACD) CDLX 7332 (Hybrid SACD) ECM New Series The Danish String Quartet play works by Ades, Norgard and Abrahamsen £11.95 481 2385 The Danish String Quartet, one of the most widely-acclaimed chamber groups of the present moment, makes its ECM debut playing a programme of British and Danish music: Thomas Adès’s Arcadiana (composed 1994), Per Nørgård’s Quartetto Breve (1952), and Hans Abrahamsen’s 10 Preludes (1973). The pieces were all written when the respective composers were each barely into their 20s, and have a freshness and intensity vividly conveyed in the DSQ’s interpretations. “Arcadia has no national boundaries”, writes Paul Griffiths in the liner notes. “We may feel that the precision of nuance, the warm and intelligent closeness of voices and the command of form these Danish musicians bring to Abrahamsen as to Nørgård comes from some common heritage or sympathy, and yet the same fine qualities shine through their performance of the Adès piece.” The album was recorded in May 2015 at Reitstadel Neumarkt and produced by Manfred Eicher. “Among all the dauntingly good young string quartets currently doing the rounds, the Danish String Quartet stand out…because of their nimble charisma, stylish repertoire and the way their light and grainy shading can turn on a dime. … An exacting programme requiring grace, grit and clarity and the Danish players sound terrific – lithe and glassy in the Abrahamsen, richer in the Nørgard, able to capture the picturesque watery shimmer of the Adès.” – Kate Molleson, The Guardian ***** “The Danish are remarkable, as ever – capable of intense blend, extreme dynamic variation (in which they seem glued together), perfect intonation even on harmonics, and constant vitality and flow.” – Andrew Mellor, Gramophone “Here [about the Adès] vaulting imagination is so precisely mapped that poor performances are rare; but for sheer range and penetrating intelligence, this is my favourite. In the Danes’ hands the Elgarian ‘O Albion’ sheds its pale shroud and breaks the heart, while drunken pizzicatos and slithering dissolution in ‘Auf dem wassen zu singen’ have a thrilling abandon…” Helen Wallace, BBC Music Magazine *****/***** August Chamber Choice 3 PRIORITY NEW RELEASES DG and Decca Shakespeare - The Complete Works £169.95 25478 3506 (100CD) This complete and unabridged collection of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, performed by The Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players, plus all of the 154 Sonnets combined with the 4 narrative poems comes together to create an ultimate collection in one boxset. The recordings feature celebrated actors such as Sir John Gielgud, Richard Pasco, Dame Prunella Scales, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Trevor Nunn, Oscar winner Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Patrick Wymarck, Sir Derek Jacobi and more. The recordings were originally released on Argo Records and contain readings by The Marlowe Dramatic Society, recorded in the late 1950s and into the 1960s. As a tribute to the life of William Shakespeare there is no better time to make these well-regarded recordings available on CD and in digital formats for the very first time. 'Argo’s fine series of complete Shakespeare recordings with the Marlowe Society has now firmly established the highest of standards.' – The Guardian 'The job could hardly have been done better.' – The Observer 'Beautifully read, the music of the verse becomes explicit.' – New York Times Includes - All 37 plays spread over 93 discs - 2 discs containing all 154 Sonnets - 5 discs dedicated to the 4 narrative poems - First edition certification 200 page booklet includes - Foreword and historically accurate background notes edited by Professor Gordon McMullan, Kings College - Article on the history of the Argo Shakespeare Recordings by Dr Tony Wakeford - Historical content, photographs and press reviews from the original release. - Full cast list for each play - Timeline — Key events - Index of works for easy navigation around the set - Synopsis of each play Also available from DG and Decca 483 0075 Verdi Aida 2CD available at £19.95 until 26/8 Bocelli;Lewis;Simeoni;Giuseppini;Mehta £22.95 479 6220 111: The Violin 42CD available at £74.95 until 26/8 £84.95 482 5037 Forgotten Ferras Works by Ravel, Beethoven, Schubert, Kreisler, Sarasate, Bach etc £10.50 479 6309 Max Richter Retrospective (limited edition) 4CD £29.95 570 7443 Rieu Viva Olympia - a celebration of the Olympic Games inc new music due 19/8 £5.95 Julius Katchen Emil Gilels The Complete Decca The Seattle Recital Recordings Previously unreleased Mozart, Brahms, Chopin, 1964 recital inc Chopin, Franck, Prokofiev etc Beethoven, Debussy etc £56.95 £11.50 483 0356 (35CD) 479 6288 due 19/8 4 PRIORITY NEW RELEASES Naxos at £7.95 each (except where stated; price only applies