With this unique programme Hanzhi Wang takes us into the ‘fairy-tale world of the accordion’ in works by Danish composers that explore both the darkness and luminosity of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous stories. Poignant reflection and tragic depiction infuse Martin Lohse’s ‘Menuetto’ and ‘The Little Match Girl’ (dedicated to Hanzhi Wang), while his post-minimalist ‘Passing’ series forms adventurous mobiles of dancing light.

There is No More Firmament is a remarkable collection of recent compositions from 2013–2016 that showcase the range, variety and continued creativity of Zorn as he enters his sixties. Connected together with a thread of intensity, magic and madness, the music tells a twisted and complex story of a magical descent into madness. The compositions include two works for brass ensembles, a woodwind quintet, jazz piano trio, string trio and two solo pieces for clarinet and trumpet, with the outrageous trumpet solo Merlin appearing in two realizations—one by jazz master Peter Evans and another by the European classical virtuoso Marco Blaauw.

Classics Today 10/10. The Danish composer Anders Koppel (b. 1947) has one foot firmly planted in the European classical music tradition, and the other in world music, rock and jazz. On this album the two worlds meet when the Sjælland String Quartet are joined by Koppel’s son, the jazz icon Benjamin Koppel to perform the quintet for mezzo-saxophone and strings, which can be heard for the first time on this CD.

On a wide selection of recordings solo, with orchestra, and in chamber music Sharon Bezaly has demonstrated not only ‘utter commitment to the works’ but also ‘the most technically assured, breathtakingly brilliant flute-playing around’ (Fanfare). On Pipe Dreams, she appears with the eminent Australian Chamber Orchestra and their leader Richard Tognetti in a programme which takes its name from the Australian composer Carl Vine’s work for flute and orchestra.

Finland-based Tempera Quartet is best known for its incisive interpretations of the complete string quartet oeuvre of Jean Sibelius. Tackling some 20 works, or 70-odd movements, that make up the Finnish master's output, is no small feat, and the Tempera Quartet received high praise from critics for its three-CD set on BIS, which contains this mostly neglected music.

Intricate shapeshifting structures containing elements of minimalism, jazz, and North Indian raga. Way Out Yonder is the second live release from The Rileys, the duo comprised of iconic American composer and minimalist pioneer Terry Riley and his guitarist/composer son Gyan Riley. The album contains spontaneous improvisations and compositions by both Terry and Gyan, captured during three performances in Canada, Japan and the US, and features the elder Riley on piano, voice, melodica and electronics. The album artwork was created by Barbara Falconer, who also painted the cover of Riley’s landmark 1978 release, Sri Camel.

Terry and Gyan Riley have been performing together since the late 90's and have appeared in concert throughout the USA and Europe. This completely live release features some of their favorite moments from four different performances given over seven years. "Nothing I have done can match the intuitive synchronicity we have shared many times on the stage. Gyan supplies a brilliant counterpoint to the strands and moods of these pieces, always surprising me with a virtuosity that serves and energizes his musical invention. I could not have dreamed up a better marriage of mind and spirit than this collaboration." -Terry Riley

Freedom, fraternity and humanity – this is what Beethoven’s 9th Symphony stands for. It opens the 10th Grafenegg Festival, performed by the Tonkunstler Orchestra, joined by 24 alumni of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and ‘a soloist quartet which no one could possibly imagine to be more prestigious’ (Die Presse). ‘Vogt’s tenor and the Wiener Singverein were especially moving’ (Wiener Zeitung) and ‘the vocal performance by excellent bass René Pape, the fabulous soprano Camilla Nylund and the brilliant mezzosoprano Elena Zhidkova… in Beethoven’s Ninth was just sensational. Bravo!’ (Kurier) Composer in Residence Christian Jost’s new work also centres around Beethoven, featuring the song An die Hoffnung (‘To Hope’), and ‘convincingly used an impressive orchestra’ (Der Standard), with ‘tenor Klaus Florian Vogt as a well-cast soloist’ (Salzburger Nachrichten).

Over the course of a decade, Bang on a Can founding composer Michael Gordon has collaborated with the world-renowned Kronos Quartet on a series of provocative works that have sought to stretch, bend and otherwise reshape the boundaries of modern classical music. Clouded Yellow assembles these works for the first time, perfectly encapsulating the breadth and complexity of this long-standing creative partnership. Clouded Yellow features four pieces written for Kronos by Gordon: the title track (composed in 2010), Exalted (2010), The Sad Park (2006) and Potassium (2000). The title of the first refers to the clouded yellow butterfly, which is known in England for its mass migrations; the word 'clouded' is also meant to describe the blurred harmonies and melodies of the piece. 'Potassium' is for amplified string quartet and electronics, with a fuzz box used throughout to lend a mysterious distortion to the sound. 'The Sad Park' is accompanied by recordings of children ages 3 to 4 and their responses to the tragic events of 9/11. 'Exalted', which also features the Young People's Chorus of New York City conducted by Francisco J. Núñez, sets the opening of the Jewish Kaddish in Aramaic, connecting the choral voices of mourning to those of the children in 'The Sad Park'.

The Amsterdam-based Schoenberg Ensemble ranks alongside the London Sinfonietta, the Ensemble Modern from Frankfurt and Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris as one of Europe's most distinguished new-music groups. What began in 1974 when seven student instrumentalists got together with their teacher, Reinbert de Leeuw, to perform Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire has steadily diversified. At first, the group concentrated on the music of the Second Viennese School, but gradually its scope expanded: now the Schoenberg Ensemble has a core lineup of 14 musicians and a repertoire that stretches from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.

Brian Ferneyhough – born in Coventry in 1943 and recipient of the prestigious Siemens Prize in 2007 – counts among the great musical challengers of our time. As an unyielding proponent of a steady refinement of musical perception, he doesn't shy away from mind-boggling structural aggregations and extreme technical and artistic demands on his musicians. In doing so he enjoys the support of a handpicked group of virtuosos, who regularly perform his compositions all over the world.

Combining aspects from classical, pop, jazz, and electronica in his works, Bates has created new possibilities of sound for the modern orchestra. The atmospheric Liquid Interface moves effortlessly through many spaces, evoking both the grand post-minimalism of composers like John Adams and the jazzy big-band feel of the musicals and noir films of the '40s and '50s. In the rambunctious “Chicago, 2012” movement of Alternative Energy, Bates’ electronics add stunning texture and color to the orchestra, pushing the range of sound far beyond what one would normally expect to hear in the concert hall.

The late works of Elliott Carter (1908 2012) are so numerous as to constitute an output on their own. Just where the composer’s ‘late period’ begins is itself a matter of conjecture, yet no one hearing the pieces on this disc is likely to doubt their technical finesse or expressive refinement: qualities that go a long way towards the defining of ‘lateness’ in artistic terms.

Born in Kaganawa Prefecture, Naoko Terai began practicing the violin at the age of four. In 1986, she made her professional debut as a jazz player and gradually her talent and sense of music drew attention of the other jazz musicians. In 1995, a pianist, Kenny Barron invited her to join the recording of his album, “Things Unseen”, which was release in November 1997 on Polydor Records. She tool part on an increasingly broad range of musical activities, performed in many live houses and joined the recordings of a number of albums as a guest player.

Alison Balsom is the world’s preeminent female classical trumpeter. She is an unique and independent artist who have broken through to the mainstream whilst retaining her integrity and core musical values. Exceptional talent, a glamorous stage presence and a witty and engaging personality make Alison one of the most exciting and bankable artists in the core classical world today. Alison’s new recording of modern and contemporary repertoire marks an important artistic stepping stone in her career. This labour of love features the world premiere recording of Seraph, James MacMillan’s trumpet concerto written for Alison, works by Takemitsu and Zimmermann and includes her long-awaited recording of the ever popular Arutunian Trumpet Concerto.