Joubert / Auty / Bednall - St Mark Passion / Missa Wellensis - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

A recital of Verdian opera scenes and overtures adapted for the organ. Paolo Bottini plays the 'Serassi' organ (1861) of the chruch of St. Alessandro della Croce in Pignolo, Bergamo. Mr. Bottini hailing from Cremona, divides his professional career between playing at liturgical services. Solo concerts and providing artistic direction of organ festivals.

Emile Naoumoff, born in Sofia in 1962, was a child prodigy as pianist and composer in his native Bulgaria but was soon taken under the wing of Nadia Boulanger in Paris - 'the gift of my old age', she said. Naoumoff himself has tended to record the music of other composers, and so this recital of his piano music has been recorded by Gregory Martin, who has worked with him in various capacities. It presents music from across Naoumoff's career - from that gifted childhood to a piece inspired by the sight of Notre Dame Cathedral in flames in 2019 - absorbing influences from Slavic folk-dance to Gabriel Fauré, whose 'grand-student' he is.

On Future Horizons, Francois Leleux, one of the most distinguished oboists of our time, presents a collection of works for oboe by renowned living composers Nicolas Bacri, Michael Jarrell, and Thierry Escaich, expanding the instrument's repertoire to new artistic possibilities. The album's title, Future Horizons, explores new musical frontiers, reflecting Leleux's commitment to pushing the boundaries of classical music through contemporary works. In Bacri's Notturno, Leleux takes on the role of both soloist and conductor, leading the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. In Jarrell's Aquateinte and Escaich' Double Concerto for Oboe, Violin & Orchestra, in which we can also hear Lisa Batiashvili, recognised for her incredible virtuosity, the orchestra joins him under the baton of Andres Orozco-Estrada. Each work on this album is a world premiere recording, with all the pieces written especially for these artists. Andres Orozco-Estrada, together with Frankfurt Radio Symphony, has a wide discography on PENTATONE, while Francois Leleux and Lisa Batiashvili make their tag debut.