Kraus / Groop / Helsinki Baroque Orch / Hakkinen - Arias & Ovtrs - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

John Burge is a JUNO Award-winning composer and a passionate advocate for Canadian music who has a strong affinity with writing for string instruments. All of the works in this recording were commissioned and premiered by the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra. Opening with the joyous and celebratory Sinfonia Antiqua, the mood shifts to an evocative and impressionistic atmosphere in Forgotten Dreams, while One Sail captures the compelling power of poetic imagery. The Upper Canada Fiddle Suite blends tradition and nostalgia with entirely original inventiveness, and concludes an album that perfectly represents Burge's eloquent and deeply expressive compositional style.

Haydn's Keyboard Trios possess a rich variety of themes and musical inventiveness, with strong demands on the pianist. The C major is dramatic and eventful. Patterns are varied in the E major where Haydn gives the violin major lyrical statements, whilst in the E flat major he uses all his wit and guile to launch the finale's captivating and joyful dance finale. The E flat major Hob. XV 30 is notable for is subtle thematic development and commanding drama. Volume 1 (8.572040) of this series has been greatly admired, not least by Gramophone which stated that the Kungsbacka Piano Trio had nothing to fear from any other account. The Kungsbacka Trio takes it's name from the Swedish town in which it gave it's first performance and where it has established an annual festival. Winner of First Prize in the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, it has since appeared at numerous festivals and venues throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Hynninen - Opera Arias [COMPACT DISCS] date 09/18/2008