January highlights from EMI and Virgin Classics

Spotlight release

Seraph: Trumpet Concertos Alison Balsom A labour of love, this new recording of contemporary repertoire marks an important artistic stepping stone in Alison Balsom’s career. The programme features the world premiere recording of Seraph, James MacMillan’s trumpet concerto written for Alison, as well as Toru Takemitsu’s Michi [Paths] for solo trumpet, Bernd Aloys Zimmermann’s Trumpet Concerto in C, and the ever-popular Trumpet Concerto by Alexander Arutiunian. The Scottish Ensemble joins Alison in the concertos.

Also new this month

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3 Vasily Petrenko The partnership of the charismatic young Russian conductor and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is taking critics and audiences by storm. Their all-Rachmaninov programme features the Third Symphony, Caprice bohémien and Vocalise.

Los Pájaros Perdidos Christina Pluhar Exotic stringed instruments join prizewinning L’Arpeggiata in a programme of Spanish and Latin American music from the 17th century to the present day. Philippe Jaroussky sings the title song, a lyrical tango by Astor Piazzolla.

National Gallery Collection Produced in partnership with London’s National Gallery, 10 luxuriously packaged budget-price releases in a new series matching classical masterworks from the EMI Classics catalogue with great works of art from The National Gallery’s permanent collection.

20th Century Classics The latest releases in this 2CD series featuring popular and rare 20th Century works from the EMI and Virgin Classics catalogues are devoted to Penderecki, Dukas, Enescu, Glazunov, Tippett, Weill, Zemlinsky, Hartmann, Hindemith and Nielsen.

Essential Series Five new titles join this popular series of 2CD budget priced sets performed by the world’s leading artists. This month’s “Essential” composers are Leonard Bernstein, Johannes Brahms, Erik Satie, Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss II.

“[Alison Balsom’s] mixture of glamour, charisma and unaffected, genuine-spirited musicianship has won the public’s heart and in the process begun to transform the image of the trumpet itself.” The Independent

British Composers Three releases by John Tavener are added to the critically acclaimed series. Featured works include the Requiem, The Protecting Veil, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, The Lamb, The Lament of the Mother of God and Song for Athene.

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