"Gefilte Fish" is a Jewish dish for high days and holidays, for which there are as many recipes as there are cooks. It is also a musical entertainment, a feast for the ears: "Farlibt" (in love) – an album full of heart and soul, and emotion.
The five musicians of Gefilte Fish are crossing cultural borders again: from the old world of the European Schtetl – the small Jewish towns or villages of eastern Europe, and the Spanish Sepharad, to the new world, the new age, to America and Israel.
Sax Allemande: Winner of the "Echo Klassik" A Kagel Schubert Project
Sax Allemande won the German award
"Echo Klassik 2009"
In the category:
"Die Kammermusik-Einspielung des Jahres"
This latest CD is also recommended from FonoForum "Star of the month"
"… The wide variations in mood and styles make for a quite different listening experience and the incredible musicianship of the trio makes this project a solid addition to the saxophone repertoire. …"
A Kagel Schubert Projekt
Works for Saxophon trio
Sax Allemande
Mauricio Kagel
The Oral Treason – Suite for Saxophone trio
Franz Schubert
String trios: B flat major No. 1 D471 and B flat major No. 2b D58
Susanne Bernhard, Soprano
Anke Vondung, Alto
Pavol Breslik, Tenor
Yorck Felix Speer, Bass
Kammerchor und Orchester der KlangVerwaltung Enoch zu Guttenberg
Now available, on CD and as well on Pure Audio Blu-ray Disc, packaged incl. CD!
Recommended from Tutti magazine: 10/10 - Tutti ovation
"… With the Missa Solemnis neither passion nor wild concepts of interpretation can do it any harm. Enoch zu Guttenberg has both of these at his command. … We haven’t heard this piece sound so vivacious and crystal clear for a long time. Roaring ovations."
Ludwig van Beethoven himself called the Missa Solemnis his most complete work – and yes, the composition still ranks among the most popular works in the occidental art genre. …
For many, the evenings featuring Gustav Mahler’s works, which Zubin Mehta conducted back in his time as musical director at the Bavarian State Opera, are an unforgettable memory.
Since then, he has regularly been returning to the conductor’s desk of the Bavarian State Orchestra, whose honorary conductor he was appointed after his resignation.
On one of those occasions, on December 15th and 16th 2008, another symphony by Mahler was performed: the "Symphony No. 5". The live recording of this concert documents the maestro’s moving reunion with "his" State orchestra, as well as a great moment in music.
"There are two reasons, why I specifically recorded these four unfinished, early sonatas. Back then, Schubert still experimented with the sonata form, but they are still absolutely worth playing. There are but a few pianists who attend or attended to these works. One of them was Wilhelm Kempff. Through him, I became acquainted with a few sonatas in the concert hall. He also played the unfinished ones. Simply great!" Gitti Pirner
Enoch zu Guttenberg
brings Haydn's late work to life!
In the extra features,
Enoch zu Guttenberg gives his views on Haydn's work, on men and nature in modern times, and explains his interpretation.
Miriam Meyer, soprano James Taylor, tenor Ralf Lukas, bass
Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
KlangVerwaltung
Enoch zu Guttenberg
"… Enoch zu Guttenberg is the ideal conductor, coaxing his soloists and German forces to high octane performances full of sensitive and deeply committed singing. …"
In the category:
"Die Sinfonische Einspielung des Jahres"
Recommended from International Record Review, IRR
"… Rest assured that the playing is superb … You need to listen to it, not least because Guttenberg and his musicians obviously love this music to its depths. To cap a fascinating release, the recorded sound is excellent… "
"… It was courageous, like ‘stepping into the lions den’ to present, of all pieces, this masterpiece of romantic Austrian tone-architecture. The result, which is available for purchase on CD, shows that Guttenberg and his sound team don’t need to hide behind other recent interpreters of Bruckner’s work (such as "Wand und Celibidache"). … Guttenberg presents a new emotion of Bruckner without taking steps which are too flashy, spectacular or earth shattering. He shows that interpretational renovation and perfection is above all is treasured, detailed work. …"
"… Enoch zu Guttenberg’s interpretation gains a vividness and an enthralling flexibility in which every phrase receives a musical presentation. … a tonal realisation which renders every detail perfectly audible. A through and through romantic Bruckner, beguilingly rich in tonal colour. …"
Waltraud Meier Lieder by Richard Strauss and Franz Schubert
Waltraud Meier, Mezzo-Soprano
Joseph Breinl, Piano
"… Doing only opera, I’d lack the source everything originates from! … " Waltraud Meier
"[…] great potential and presentation possibilities […] Each word of the poetry is felt with emotion and meaning through the music. Schubert’s 'Erlkönig' is in itself an experience, in how Meier interprets the roles of the King of the Elves and also of the little boy trembling with fear."
"… 'If you only knew what it is like to dream…' (Wenn du es wüßtest, / was träumen heißt) thus, as we know, begins Henckell’s famous poem 'Cäcilie', and this new CD by Waltraud Meier, in which she has recorded some of the most beautiful examples of German art song, invites listeners to dream along, spellbound, from the first to the last song … She manages to sweep the listener along in an almost intimate manner, into the bleak world of Goethe’s Elf King, or his 'Gretchen am Spinnrade' (Gretel at the spinning-wheel). The crowning finale of this recording is Strauss’s 'Four Last Songs' in which, thanks to Joseph Breinl’s beautiful accompaniment, the listener, deeply immersed in the twilight of 'Im Abendrot', may eavesdrop on the echoes of the larks."
"… Waltraud Meier presents Schubert’s Lieder with finest nuances between lyrical devotion and dramatic outbursts. But she has also a talent for the airy, playful parts, as she demonstrates with her extremely vivid version of Schubert’s "Forelle". She is accompanied by Joseph Breinl, a young pianist whose interpretation already possesses a wonderful maturity. …"
All FARAO classics recordings are now available worldwide on iTunes in "iTunes Plus quality". The music is encoded in highest-quality with 256 kbps AAC and without digital rights management (DRM).
You will find direct links to the iTunes playlists on our catalogue and product sites.
Tango à trois Amour Fou
Tango à trois are:
Arben Spahiu, violin
Peter Wöpke, violoncello
Peter Ludwig, piano
Compositions by Peter Ludwig
"… With his compositions, Ludwig opens up tango for all kinds of music styles, such as new music and jazz, which is something he has in common with the creator of Tango Nuevo, Astor Piazzolla."
The literature for solo percussion has gone through an unprecedented development since the middle of the 20th century. This new CD is a representative example for how appealing and sophisticated percussion music can be.
"…A spirituality, which is also inherent in Marcin Blazewicz´ 'Sahay Manush'. Eerie, those great chromatically shifted soundscapes conjured up by Marta Klimasara and Jürgen Spitschka with an almost diabolical virtuosity, whipping up the
constant tremolo into ecstasy."
Morgana: Veronica Cangemi
Bradamante: Sonia Prina
Oronte: John Mark Ainsley
Melisso: Christopher Purves
Oberto: Deborah York
Bavarian State Orchestra
Ivor Bolton
"There is no better way to perform Händel! … Veronica Cangemi as Morgana sets the first standard: She sounds warm, airy, tempting – and technically flawless. Just as brilliant: Vesselina Kasarova as Ruggiero and the entire ensemble. However, as excellent as they all may be, Anja Harteros leaves them in the dust. Her performance as Alcina is so captivating that no-one will understand anymore, why Ruggiero is leaving her. She is supported by the excellent quality of the recording …"
"Sometimes, this is the way it goes with the highlights of the Munich State Opera: They are taken off the program much too early, even though the fans cannot see and hear enough of them. But at least, Handel’s Alcina is now available on CD. And once again, one can experience the sensuality, the eroticism, and the delicate noblesse of this production featuring the wonderful duo Anja Harteros (title role) and Vesselina Kasarova (Ruggiero). Under the musical direction of the ever energetic Ivor Bolton, the Bavarian State Orchestra effortlessly stands up to experts for old music …"
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Marjana Lipovsek
Bavarian State Orchestra
Benefit-CD for the 50th anniversary of
Wolfgang Sawallisch performing with the Bavarian State Orchestra.
Wolfgang Sawallisch, who was for many years the general music director of the Bavarian State Opera chose these two works in their original form to play in the concert of Wagner’s music, on May 4th 1991, which could not have taken place in more beautiful surroundings. In the Singer's Hall of Neuschwanstein Castle.
"… Dramatic passages are always formed with a controlled measure of ardour, so that both the voice and the harmonic boldness of the composition become equally balanced vehicles of expression. …"
"… A most venerable recording which could well come to be regarded as a perfect model."
The tango cult continues… Café Banlieue, Tango à trois
Tangos by Peter Ludwig
Tango à trois:
Arben Spahiu, Violin Peter Wöpke, Cello Peter Ludwig, Piano
"… An album which most cheerfully combines wit and wistfulness, melancholy and nonchalance … a wonderfully inspirational session … It sounds fresh, happy, and the wistfulness exceeds the indifference of a bon vivant …"
"… Passion, poured into a musical mold, and then sent on its way around the world … Peter Ludwig’s compositions light up the tango in all languages and in all shapes and forms …"
50th Grammy Award Nominations 2008 Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata
Anja Harteros
Piotr Beczala
Bavarian State Orchestra
Zubin Mehta
Nominated for the category:
Best Opera Recording Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists
Zubin Mehta, Anja Harteros,
Piotr Beczala, Paolo Gavanelli,
Choir Of The Bavarian State Opera, Bavarian State Orchestra,
Andreas Caemmerer,
Felix Gargerle, (FARAO classics)
Further brilliant reviews for "La Traviata":
"… Mehta is totally in tune with Verdi! … Orchestral pacing is absolutely masterly under his expert baton and just about perfect for the voices of Harteros, Gavanelli and Beczala. …"
"… Anja Harteros sings Violetta with an enthralling intensity. But also in other aspects the recording, supremely conducted by Mehta, has a compelling effect to it."
" … An exciting feast for lovers of opera."
"… Anja Harteros … she seems to be a naturally theatrical singer. It's a memorable performance. …"
