Ndr Radiophilharmonie Hannover - Chiaroscuro - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The poet Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Grieg met in Rome in 1866. At this time, Ibsen was working on the dramatic poem InchPeer GyntInch based on Norwegian fairy tales by Peter Christen Asbjornsen. Ibsen reworked it into a stage play and commissioned Grieg to write the music for it. The premiere took place on 24 February 1876. A few years later, Grieg used this music to create two purely orchestral suites, which are among the best-known works of Romantic music - and finally a very colourful and atmospheric arrangement for four-hand piano. Grieg was inspired to write his Piano Concerto in A minor op.16 as a student when he heard Clara Schumann play her husband Robert's piano concerto in Leipzig in 1858. He became a great admirer of Schumann. Grieg chose the same key as Schumann, A minor, for his own piano concerto, which was written 10 years later in Denmark. The premiere in Copenhagen in 1869 was enthusiastically celebrated. When E. Grieg met Franz Liszt in Rome in 1870, the latter played his piano concerto - a great honour and joy for Grieg - and the piano concerto and the two Peer Gynt suites are among the most beautiful and popular piano works of Romantic music. Margarita Hohenrieder have known the Icelandic composer Hjalmar Helgi Ragnarsson and his music for several years. She became acquainted with his piano pieces through his sister, her long-time friend, the pianist Anna Ragnarsdottir-Hoffmann. She was also the wife of her former teacher and well-known piano virtuoso Ludwig Hoffmann. Hohenrieder herself was looking for several pieces specifically for the left hand at the time she was planning joint performances entitled Inch2 linke Hande Inch (2 left hands) together with the painter Bernd Zimmer. While Bernd Zimmer painted a picture live in front of an audience using only his left hand, Margarita Hohenrieder played pieces for the left hand. It is a creative and uniq

Guillaume Tourniaire - Peery Gynt [COMPACT DISCS] date 04/01/2009

Previously only available from Eliza Carthy's own website, 'Restitute,' her first solo album of traditional music in 14 years gets an official on Topic Records as it celebrates it's 80th anniversary as the oldest independent record tag in the world Eliza Carthy should, by now, need no introduction. A multi-award winning singer, songwriter and musician from a formidable English musical dynasty - her mother, Norma was one of The Watersons, whose tight harmony arrangements of traditional songs became one of the defining sounds of the 1960s folk revival. Her father, Martin Carthy, is a hugely significant singer and guitarist, who influenced the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Describing herself simply as a modern English musician, Eliza Carthy, herself, is one of the most recognisable faces of the English folk revival. Launching head-on into the scene in the early 90s, she quickly became one of it's great innovators. She has spearheaded the re-emergence of English traditional music as a vibrant, exciting genre that could stand proud next to other world musics. Following on from last years highly acclaimed album with her mother, Norma, Anchor, comes what was to ostensibly be a fund-raising exercise for her Wayward Band her first solo album of traditional music in 14 years, Restitute. It is, literally, a homely affair recorded as it was at home Eliza's home in the picturesque Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire by Eliza and Ben Seal (Urban Farm Hand). Restitute features special guests Martin Carthy, Jon Boden (ex-Bellowhead), Dave DeLarre, Ben Somers & Ben Seal himself.