Monday, October 16, 2017

Label in the Spotlight: Hänssler Classic / Profil


Hänssler Classic is an award-winning German classical and contemporary music label whose artists include violinist Christian Tetzlaff. PROFIL – Edition Gunter Hänssler was founded by Gunter Hänssler, the son of Hänssler Classic's founder. In 2015 the two labels came together under Profil Medien GmbH.

"Only a classical label with a clear image has a real chance of success in today’s classical market!" he says. "Today’s discerning lovers of classical music want originality and independence." To achieve this, he has an innovative, dynamic selection of artists recording high-quality repertoire, thereby ensuring their commitment to the label’s program.

Profil Medien GmbH is also the sponsor of Glissando episode 1.4 with special guest Boris Giltburg.

To hear a sampler of recent Hänssler Classic and Profil releases, access NML as usual, go to the Playlists section, and select the Label in the Spotlight folder under the Themed Playlists tab. You can also access it via the rotating banners. If you are on your institution's premises, you may also be able to access it if you CLICK HERE.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Opening Notes: October 2017 - New Release Playlist

We've sifted through all the new releases for this month, and we're highlighting our favorites. Some of these are obscure works that may be unknown to you, while others are fresh takes on standard repertoire. If you're like us and are constantly craving something new to enjoy, take a spin through these tracks to get a taste of what is now available to you in NML. And if you hear something you love, click on the cover art in the player window to be taken directly to the full album!

To hear the playlist, access NML as usual, go to the Playlists section, and select the Opening Notes folder under the Themed Playlists tab. If you are on your institution's premises, you may also be able to access it if you CLICK HERE.



J.S. Bach
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor: I. Adagio
Christian Tetzlaff
Ondine - ODE1299-2D
Sergey Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2: I. Moderato - Allegro
Boris Giltburg; Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Naxos - 8.573629
Gregory Spears
Fellow Travelers
Cincinnati Symphony; Mark Gibson
Fanfare Cincinnati - FC-011
Du Yun
Angel's Bone, Scene 7: Gestation
Trinity Wall Street Choir; Novus NY
Vision Into Art - VIS-016
Alban Berg
Lulu Suite: III. Lied der Lulu: Comodo
Barbara Hannigan; Ludwig Orchestra
Alpha - ALPHA293
Paul Kerekes
Trio in Two Parts: I. Turning
Timo Andres; New Morse Code
New Focus - FCR189
David Popper
High School of Cello Playing: Etude No. 22 in G Major
Martin Rummel
Paladino Music - PMR0085
Antonín Dvořák
Piano Trio No. 2: III. Scherzo: Presto
Tempest Trio
Naxos - 8.573723
P.I. Tchaikovsky
Variations on a Rococo Theme: Variation 3. Andante sostenuto
Nina Kotova; Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
Delos - DE3531
Félicien David
Christophe Colomb, Part II: Ô mer
Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra; Hervé Niquet
Ediciones Singulares
Gioachino Rossini
Stabat mater: Quis est homo
Vlaanderen Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
Dynamic - CDS7799
Joonas Kokkonen
Requiem: Agnus Dei
Klemetti Institute Chamber Choir; Heikki Liimola
Toccata - TOCC0434
Jake Heggie
It's A Wonderful Life, Act I: I'm Gonna Love You 'til the Day I Die
Houston Grand Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Pentatone - PTC5186631
Robert Aldridge
Sister Carrie, Act I: I have only dreams, Carrie
Milwaukee Symphony; William Boggs
Naxos - 8.669039-40


Gioachino Rossini
Bianca e Falliero, Act II: Tu non sai qual colpo atroce
Virtuosi Brunensis; Antonino Fogliani
Naxos - 8.660407-09
W.A. Mozart
Don Giovanni, Act I: Madamina, il catalogo
Le Cercle de l'Harmonie; Jérémie Rhorer
Alpha - ALPHA379

Biagio Marini
Madrigali e symfonie: Chi quella bella bocca
RossoPorpora Ensemble; I Musicali Affetti
Tactus - TC591304
Giuseppe Tartini
Violin Sonata in G Minor: III. Andante - Allegro
Marco Rogliano; Ensemble Respighi
Tactus - TB692090

J.S. Bach
Cello Suite No. 1: I. Prelude
Richard Narroway
Sono Luminus - SLE-70010
George Onslow
String Quintet No. 10: IV. Allegro agitato
Elan Quintet
Naxos - 8.573689
Valentin Silvestrov
2 Dialogues with Postscript: No. 3 Morning Serenade
Iryna Starodub; Kiev Virtuosi; Dmitry Yablonsky
Naxos - 8.573598
Mieczyslaw Karlowicz
Violin Concerto: III. Finale: Vivace assai
Tasmin Little; BBC Symphony; Edward Gardner
Chandos - CHSA5185


Leopold Koželuch
Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major: III. Rondo: Vivace
Kemp English
Grand Piano - GP734
Charles Ives
Piano Sonata No. 2: III. The Alcotts
Joonas Ahonen
BIS - BIS-2249



Each month, Naxos Music Library presents a new release playlist for our subscribers to enjoy. We know that a database of over 2 million tracks can be a bit daunting, so we'd like to highlight some of the amazing music that has become available to you just this month. Let it kickstart discovery!

October 2017 - Featured Playlist: Dances With Devils

Nobody knows what happens after we die, but there sure are a lot of theories and beliefs. This question has inspired countless religions, philosophies, works of art, and classics of literature--basically everything that helps us interact and cope with the things science cannot currently explain.

The oldest and most colorful stories include some sort of eerie underworld or purgatory where everyone goes, or some place of damnation where the wicked (however that is defined) go. These stories have successfully scared many people into compliance with their cultural expectations, but they have also sparked a flame of imagination in many a composer or writer, filmmaker or Halloween decorator.

This month we take a look at some examples of how the concept of the underworld and its inhabitants have haunted composers over the last couple centuries. And may your Halloween parties be possessed by spooky songs and Dances with Devils.

To hear the playlist, access NML as usual, go to the Playlists section, and select the Playlist of the Month folder under the Themed Playlists tab. If you are on your institution's premises, you may also be able to access it if you CLICK HERE.


1. Link Wray
Fire and Brimstone
Ralph Stanley; James Shelton
Sony Classical - 886443590311

2. Anaïs Mitchell
Hadestown: Why We Build the Wall
Sung by Hades and company
Warner - 190295893484

3. Miguel Del Águila
Conga-Line in Hell
Camerata de las Americas; Duane Cochran; Joel Sachs
Sono Luminus - DOR-93230

4. Joseph Hellmesberger Jr.
Danse Diabolique
Gottingen Symphony Orchestra; Christian Simonis
Marco Polo - 8.225021



5. Sergey Prokofiev
Waltz Suite: III. Mephisto Waltz
São Paulo Symphony; Marin Alsop
Naxos - 8.573518

6. László Dubrovay
Faust, the Damned Suite No. 1: IV. Tukor pas de deux
Budapest Symphony; László Kovács
Hungaroton - HCD31831-32

7. Bohuslav Martinů
Mariken of Nimègue: The devil's dance with Mariken
Prague Symphony and Radio Choir
Supraphon - 11-1802-2

8. Rued Langgaard
Antikrist, Prologue: Morkets Kristus: Antikrist! Stig op!
Danish National Choir and Orchestra; Thomas Dausgaard
Dacapo - 6.220523-24



9. Charles-François Gounod
Faust, Act III: Vous qui faites l'endormie
Nicolai Ghiaurov; Munich Radio Orchestra; Bavarian Radio Chorus
BR-Klassik - 900304

10. Félicien David
Herculanum, Act IV, Scene 2: Allez, dans la nuit profonde, Allez!
Flemish Radio Choir; Brussels Philharmonic
Ediciones Singulares - ES1020

11. Jacques Offenbach
Orpheus in the Underworld: Overture
Slovak State Philharmonic; Alfred Walter
Naxos - 8.553627

12. Edmond Dédé
Méphisto masqué
Hot Springs Music Festival pianist
Naxos - 8.559038



13. Camille Saint-Saëns
Danse Macabre
Malmö Symphony Orchestra; Marc Soustrot
Naxos - 8.573140

14. William Hurlstone
The Magic Mirror Suite: VII. The Witch's Death-Dance
London Philharmonic; Nicolas Braithwaite
Lyrita - SRCD208
15. Franz Liszt
Totentanz
Eldar Nebolsin; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; Vasily Petrenko
Naxos - 8.570517

16. Hector Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique: V. Songe d'une Nuite du Sabbet
London Symphony; Valery Gergiev
LSO - LSO0757

17. Antonio Bazzini
La ronde des lutins
Rachel Barton Pine
Cedille - CDR90000-041

18. Stacy Garrop
String Quartet No. 2, "Demons and Angels": III. Inner Demons
Biava Quartet
Cedille - CDR90000-100

19. Tobias PM Schnied
5 Portraits: No. 4. Demon Dancer
Esther Hoppe
NEOS - NEOS11105

20. György Ligeti
Etudes, Book 2: No. 13. L'escalier du diable
Jeremy Denk
Nonesuch - 075597962185



21. Alexina Louie
Demon Gate: II. Windspirit
Esprit Orchestra; Alex Pauk
Centrediscs - CMCCD7902

22. Payton Macdonald
Devil Dance
Marc Grauwels; Sarah Mouradoglou
Naxos - 8.572521

23. Judith Bingham
Festival of Hell: Gothick
Tom Winpenny
Naxos - 8.572687

24. Oven in the Underworld
Tansy Davies
New London Children's Choir; Alexander Wells; Ronald Corp
Naxos - 8.572113





Each month, Naxos Music Library presents a themed playlist for our subscribers to enjoy. We know that a database of over 2 million tracks can be a bit daunting, so we'd like to highlight some of the amazing music that is available to you. Let it kickstart discovery!