Separately, both Freddy Kempf and the team of Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrew Litton have recorded music by Prokofiev for BIS, resulting in highly acclaimed releases. Freddy Kempf’s 2003 Prokofiev solo recital was described as ‘a superb disc’ in Gramophone, whose critic went on to write: ‘Kempf is joyfully exuberant, flashing through every savage challenge with the assurance and instinct of a born virtuoso.’ Four years later, in a highly original approach, the Bergen orchestra and Litton recorded the twenty movements from the composer’s three Romeo and Juliet suites, performed in the order the music appears in the ballet score. Kempf, Litton and the Bergen PO now join forces in an all-Prokofiev programme that includes the most popular of his five piano concertos, namely the Third, a spontaneous work, vigorous and melodic in turns and full of striking material presented in a typical Prokofiev manner. This is coupled with the Second Piano Concerto, which Prokofiev himself premièred in 1913, shocking the audience with its modernistic sounds and jagged rhythms. Between the two concertos Freddy Kempf performs the Second Piano Sonata, a key work in Prokofiev’s development and full of striking and individual ideas.

When the young flautist Arvid Kleven arrived in Oslo in the late 1910s, the music scene was still dominated by the spirit – or ghost – of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). In spite of a certain interest among younger composers for the music of Debussy and other French 'Impressionists', it was generally thought that Norwegian music ought to have a specifically Norwegian character and that it should ‘gloriously defend the name of Norway’. Self-taught as a composer, Kleven at the age of 23 produced Lotusland, his first orchestral work, and was praised as a master of orchestration – but his Impressionistic leanings were noted and commented upon. Written shortly thereafter, Skogens søvn incorporates certain avant-garde tendencies and shows Kleven starting on a path towards expressionism. Kleven died just before his 30th birthday in 1929, and during some 80 years neither the Symphonic Fantasy nor the Sinfonia Libera was performed. Bringing these striking early examples of Norwegian expressive modernism to light again are Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, who through highly regarded recordings of the orchestral works of Harald Sæverud, Geirr Tveitt and Fartein Valen have done much for Norwegian 20th-century music.

This third disc on BIS of the orchestral music of Alexander Lokshin opens with Les fleurs du mal, his first acknowledged composition. The piece was also his graduation work after five years of study under the great Nikolai Myaskovsky at the Moscow Conservatory. By choosing to set three poems by Charles Baudelaire, condemned as ‘decadent’ and ‘bourgeois’ during the Stalin era, Lokshin fell foul of the political regime at the very outset of his career. Hungarian Fantasy was composed 13 years later, and is one of Lokshin’s few instrumental works of a virtuosic and soloistic nature. Purely instrumental is also the symphonic suite In the Jungle from 1960, compiled from music written for a film based on The Jungle Book by Kipling. Conductor Michel Swierczewski has been the mastermind behind the entire Lokshin project on BIS, and the soprano Vanda Tabery has also appeared on the two previous, critically acclaimed discs: ‘outstandingly vibrant performances’ (BBC Music Magazine).

During the mid-19th century, the Danish composer Niels. W. Gade was one of Europe’s best known composers, conducting his own works all over the continent. Starting out as a protégé of Mendelssohn’s, he later became his successor as music director of the famous Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and made the acquaintance of Robert and Clara Schumann, and of Liszt and Wagner. Initially known as a composer of symphonies, Gade mastered the German musical idiom to perfection, while adding a Nordic accent to it, particularly noticeable in his best works. His eight symphonies were composed between 1841 and 1871, and although Gade remained active as a composer until his death in 1890, he wrote no more symphonies. When questioned, he is said to have stated that ‘there is but one Ninth Symphony!’ Among Gade’s works in other genres is the violin concerto (also included here), composed for the famous virtuoso Joseph Joachim. But it was the choral cantata genre which became his specialty. The recordings included in this box set were warmly received upon their original releases between 1986 and 1994, the reviewer in American Record Guide calling Neeme Järvi’s symphony cycle ‘a set which is not likely to be surpassed in the foreseeable future’.

On 7 June, the winners of the Thirteenth Van Clibrun International Piano Competition wre announced by Van Cliburn during the Awards Ceremony. The Top prizes went to Nobuyuki Tsuji (20), of Japan and Haochen Zhang (19), of China. This CD feaures the award-winning performance of Haochen Zhang, who has 'demonstrated a musical maturity almost unimaginable in one so young'.

Tartini lived a long life for his time yet his name has been etched on the history of music for just one single piece, the so-called Devil’s Trill sonata (recorded by Elizabeth Wallfisch on Hyperion CDA66430). This enterprising new recording, now re-issued, revealed the richness of the vast body of his music that has remained perhaps overshadowed by his reputation as a ‘one-piece composer’. This is violin music that even its protagonists are happy to have described as real 'fiddle' music, music that understands and indeed stretches the instrument from an inside-out knowledge of the instrument. These concertos are fabulous vehicles both of violin virtuosity and of baroque sensibility at its most energetic and fetching. Elizabeth Wallfisch has earned a world-wide reputation for her panache and perfection in this repertoire and as can be seen from her discography on Hyperion, these concertos add to an impressive survey of the music that lies at the heart of the golden era of this golden instrument.

With the Romantic charm of the violin and the tender sounds of the guitar, a world of melody unfolds. When played together, their sounds complement each other: the lyrical song of the violin accompanied by the gentle strumming of the guitar produce a perfect serenade, their tender duet formed out of the quiet. This program of pieces is perfect for a daydream or the twilight accompaniment of a romantic dinner. The emphasis is on melody- beautiful, finely arched musical lines that reach beyond the pressures of everyday life and transport you to a quiet realm of song. Included are sublime arrangements of Massenet's Meditation and Satie's ever-popular Gymnopedies.

Dvorak composed his Symphonic Poems shortly after the American triumph of his “New World Symphony” and after completing his beautiful final string quartets (Opp. 105 and 106). The first three poems were first performed in 1896 in London, while The Wild Dove was premiered in March 1898 in Brno by Leos Janacek. The recordings on this CD are interpreted by the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, a paramount musician and connoisseur and champion of Czech music. The poems round off his legacy in Dvořák’s symphonic oeuvre, from which he has recorded for Supraphon, for example, Symphonies Nos. 6, 8 and 9, Slavonic Dances and Symphonic Variations. Sir Charles’s performance of Dvořák’s works interweaves the splendid Talich tradition and profound knowledge of the composer’s work. The live recording of The Noon Witch and The Water Goblin reflects the warmly poignant atmosphere of the conductor’s parting with the Prague audience. The triumphant recording of Martinů’s Three Fragments from the opera Juliette (Gramophone Award 2009) was made at the same valedictory concert. The studio recording of The Wild Dove is the final culmination of the long-term collaboration between Sir Charles and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

This programme, recorded in May 2009, spans the Baroque and Classical periods and features suites and sonatas by three of the supreme composers who celebrated significant anniversaries in 2009: Purcell, Haydn and Handel. In Trevor Pinnock’s words: 'Initially the idea of marrying these three composers seemed crazy. But then I realised the connections. How much Handel was influenced by Purcell, incorporating Purcellian progressions in his music. And how much Haydn had been influenced by Handel. I saw the link from Purcell’s choral music to Handel’s oratorios, which in turn inspired Haydn to produce The Creation and The Seasons. But what tipped the balance for me was that story of Haydn, when in London, accompanying a song on the pianoforte by Purcell, and saying proudly that he did it all by himself. I found it fascinating that he’d actually touched music by Purcell in 1790 - and that he’d found it very difficult. As a musician, I could feel for him'.

Directed by Academy Award-winner Allan Miller, this film offers viewers an intimate look into the demanding life of Valery Gergiev, widely acclaimed as one of the leading conductors of our time. This rich musical film offers rare insight into the talent, training and concentration required of a great conductor and reveals how Gergiev combines an impossible international conducting schedule with his job as director of the legendary Mariinsky Theatre in Petersburg. The film includes scenes wtih London Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, Gergiev's boyhood home in the Caucasus mountains, Moscow, cities along the Volga river and performances by Anna Netrebko, Renee Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Yefim Bronfman, as well as stunning ballet rehearsal footage. A penetrating and captivating portrait of Gergiev the man and artist.

In the Summer of 2009, the British director Nigel Lowery and the Iranian choreographer Amir Hosseinpour brought to the stage of the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden with colour and humour, the fantastic and imaginative adventures of Racing Roland. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the death of Joseph Haydn, the composer’s most renowned opera during his lifetime, Orlando Paladino was performed, a heroic-comical stage piece based on Ariost’s famous Versepos. Singers including as Marlis Petersen (Angelica), Tom Randle (Orlando), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Alcina), Pietro Spagnoli (Rodomonte), Sunhae Im (Eurilla) and Victor Torres (Pasquale) performed under the musical direction of period-music specialist René Jacobs. The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra completed this high-class production giving the music a beautiful sound and lively swing.

Eugene Ormandy’s unbroken 42-year association with the Philadelphia Orchestra was unique in history. Famous for its rich and powerful 'Philadelphia Sound', the orchestra was described by Rachmaninov as 'the greatest virtuoso orchestra in the world'. Ormandy was a close friend of the composer, and it was to celebrate the conductor’s 80th birthday that they performed Rachmaninov’s magnificent and powerful Second Symphony, a performance whose authenticity would be difficult to beat.

Made up of wind soloists from the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, the Ensemble Vienna-Berlin performs two of the greatest of all chamber works in the beautiful surroundings of Hellbrunn Palace near Salzburg. The pianist is James Levine, whose sensitive pianism should not be eclipsed by his reputation as one of the greatest conductors of our age. The bonus material on this DVD features an entertaining and informative portrait of this altogether magnificent ensemble.

Dido and Aeneas is the only true opera composed by Henry Purcell, a miniature opera of great musical and dramatic richness. It was supposedly created in 1689 at the girls' boarding school that Josias Preiest ran in Chelsea. Virgil's eminently political text, The Aeneid, is based on the exploits of the Trojan hero pursued by the Greeks, destined by the gods to found Rome. Dido, the Phoenician princess who became Queen of Carthage, was but one stage on this glorious journey. The subject of the opera as unfolded in the 17th century is quite different and this is why the scorned woman outshines the man of action. A perfect example of betrayed love, Dido has lent inspiration to a hundred  or so operas by Western composers, raging from Cavalli to Britten. More than any other, this torn character reflects the song from the soul.

The inspirational Vladimir Jurowski conducts Verdi’s last opera, his only true comic opera. An international cast is led by Christopher Purves in the larger-than-life role of the corpulent Falstaff, whose profligacy both outrages and inspires the citizens of Windsor. Richard Jones’s production brings out the humour, bitterness and anger – mixed with tenderness and wisdom – embodied in the Shakespeare plays on which the libretto is based. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true surround sound.

This recording commemorates the 50th anniversary of Joaquín Achúcarro’s debut with the London Symphony Orchestra after winning the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic International Competition in 1959. Recorded at Jerwood Hall, St Luke’s, London, with Britain’s eminent conductor Colin Davis at the helm, Achúcarro delivers a consummate performance that brilliantly expresses his delicate and passionate style. Extra features include a substantial documentary about Achúcarro’s career and performances of solo piano pieces by Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin and Albéniz filmed in the beautiful setting of the Prado museum, Madrid.

In 2002, Nicholas Maw’s opera Sophie’s Choice, based on the novel by William Styron, was given its premiere at the Royal Opera House. The subject had struck Maw when he had first watched the film several years previously, and he immediately felt it would be ‘the most extraordinary basis for an opera’. Commissioned by the Royal Opera House and BBC Radio 3, Maw embarked on an adaptation of Styron’s book, which took six years to complete. Conducted by Simon Rattle, a long-term enthusiast of Nicholas Maw’s music, and with a wonderful cast led by Angelika Kirchschlager, Rod Gilfry, Dale Duesing and Gordon Gietz, the work won international acclaim and was later restaged in Washington, Berlin and Vienna. The Royal Opera Housecelebrates the work of this British composer, who died in 2009, with the release on DVD of the BBC transmission, as broadcast live in December 2002.