February 27-March 5
This two discs release by the Russian National Orchestra seeks to redefine the works of Russian composers apart from the traditional nationalistic vs. western approach. Mikhail Pletnev leads the ensemble in magnificent performances which beg the listener to judge them purely for their musical content.
March 6-12
You really can't go wrong with these appealing concertos by Telemann, especially the bouncy and delightful Concerto for 2 Horns in F major or the lovely Concerto for Two Oboe d'Amore, Strings & Continuo. The musicians of La Stagione Frankfurt under Michael Schneider are known for fine performances of Baroque music.
March 13-19
Featuring music by de Falla, Sarasate, Piazzolla, Granados, Cassadó, Ginastera and Casals, cellist Nancy Green and pianist Tannis Gibson give stunning virtuoso performances overflowing with Latin fervor.
March 20-26
What makes the program of this CD especially interesting is the fact that none of the works recorded here were originally written for trumpets and organ. They are arrangements for these instruments. The transcriptions were in great demand for 'everyday' needs of music making in the 18th-Century, whether for princely courts, the privacy of the home or for use in the church.
March 27-April 2
Gauvin and Hamelin explore the French mélodie with the composers that brought art song back to prominence in France. Composers like Fauré, Ravel, and Debussy reimagined the romance genre and gave the German lieder tradition a parallel during the 19th and early 20th-Centuries.