Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily - Mussorgsky: Pictures at and Exhibition; - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

An album of dramatic and passionate Preludes and Intermezzos from some of the most popular Italian operas, from Domingo Hindoyan and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Translations of works by early French and Russian realists, Stendahl, Pushkin and Balzac among them, crossed international borders to inspire new homegrown styles of literary realism. The trend took hold in Italy in the 1870s where it was promoted by the authors Luigi Capuana and Giovanni Verga under the banner of verismo, the Italian word for realism, and drew inspiration from the naturalism of Émile Zola and his disciples. Verga's short story Cavalleria rusticana ('Rustic chivalry') and the play that arose from it set the foundations for a new wave of Italian operas, with Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana serving as the genre's enduring model.

Vasily Petrenko's previous Stravinsky recordings have been universally praised by the critics for the fine interpretations of these great scores, the superb playing of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and for the outstanding recorded sound. The same technical team was on hand for the final album in the series - the 1911 version of Petrushka, which is coupled with the delightful Rossini/Respighi La Boutique fantasque.

The Masters Collection compiles the iconic recordings of some of the most renowned artists of Hungaroton. The album features records which define an œuvre, a specific era and which will be an unforgettable experience for all listeners. The Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1963 by string players in their final year at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. They took the name of the great composer, to pay homage to the genius who became inseparable with the establishment of Hungarian music and whose spirit irradiates the musical life of the entire world. Since then they plays a very significant role in Hungary's musical life, and have attained a world-wide reputation. The FLCO consists of 17 strings and according to the programmes a harpsichord soloist completes the Ensemble, as well as wind and other instrumentalists. Their first music director was Frigyes Sándor. Since his death in 1979, this post has been held by János Rolla, one of Hungary's leading violinists, who has been concert-master of the orchestra since it's inception. The repertoire of the FLCO spans almost the entire history of music from Monteverdi, J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, W.A. Mozart to the Romantics and to the 20th Century composers.