Horvath Sinfonieorchester Basel Drewanz - Piano Concerto 1 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Fascinated by the viola, which he chose at the age of eleven after learning the violin for six years, Amihai loves the sound of his instrument, which is so close to the human voice. He also likes the ambivalence of it's timbre, midway between the violin and the cello, which in a sense reflects his own musical education in Israel, with it's combination of Mediterranean influences and Russian and Germanic traditions. Initially a quartet musician and founding member of the famous Jerusalem Quartet, Amihai Grosz now pursues a solo career while holding the post of principal viola of the Berliner Philharmoniker. For this first solo album, he joins forces with pianist Sunwook Kim, the first Asian to win the Leeds International Piano Competition. Together they present a programme coupling Schubert, with the famous Arpeggione Sonata- named after the quickly obsolescent instrument for which it was written, a cross between the guitar and the cello; Shostakovich, with the Viola Sonata op. 147, completed in 1975, only a few weeks before the Russian composer's death; and Yizkor (In memoriam) by the Hungarian-Israeli composer Odon Partos (1907-77).

German pianist Martin Helmchen continues his journey through Beethoven's piano concertos with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Andrew Manze. In the Third Concerto, published in 1804, Beethoven seems to be moving away from the Mozartian model and inaugurates his 'middle period,' using the minor mode to depict a distress and heartache that are certainly not unconnected with the famous 'Heiligenstadt Testament,' which he wrote in 1802 to record his growing deafness. Martin Helmchem is joined by two partners with whom he performs a great deal of chamber music- violinist Antje Weithaas and cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker- to record the Triple Concerto, also written during the composer's so-called 'heroic' period.

Cesar Camargo Mariano is a celebrated Brazilian jazz pianist, composer and producer, born in Sao Paulo in the 1940's. He has played and worked with the likes of Elis Regina (to whom he was married at one point), Som Tres and Sambalanco Trio and still plays very regularly today. 'Sao Paulo Brasil' saw Mariano and co. Step deep into jazz funk/fusion territory - and nail it. Tight, tough drum grooves, intricate arrangements, layers of synthesisers, percussion and FX transport and tell a story from the first beat. Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Sony Music.