Roberto Prosseda closes the Mozart sonatas series with not equal tuning. Is there really any need for yet another recording of Mozart's sonatas? Is it still possible to say something new when playing these compositions while maintaining respect for the score and for the composer's indications? If Mozart were alive today, would he prefer to perform his sonatas on a fortepiano of the time or on a modern piano? 

These are questions to which it is not possible to give an unequivocal answer, but on which I have reflected a great deal, also profiting from the availability of the sources and of many recent philological studies. In the letter to his father cited earlier, written on 17 October 1777, Mozart declared his enthusiasm for a new Stein piano that he had tried out, which was provided with a rudimentary system for working the dampers (corresponding to the right pedal on modern instruments). 

In the annals of American music, there is no other figure quite like Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): conductor, composer, pianist, teacher, and media star. "Lenny," as his friends called him, was, from the 1940s onward, a durable part of the American fabric, the last classical artist ever to become a household name in the United States. Though widely celebrated-especially for his popular theater works, of which?West Side Story?is the enduring masterpiece, and for his presence on television as the nation's most renowned musical educator-his fame was not achieved without a great deal of controversy.

Michele Tozzetti accomplishes the task brilliantly. He finds the heartfelt tenderness in?Ilana, the Dreamer, brings out the Jewish elements in?Idele, the?Chassidele and animates the dance rhythms of?Yosi, the Jokester?(likely meant as a tribute to cartoonist Yossi Stern). The spirit of Aaron Copland hovers over all of this music; in the?Anniversary?dedicated to him,?For Aaron Copland?(in?Seven Anniversaries, 1943), Tozzetti captures the sound and spirit of the man Bernstein called "my first friend in New York, my master, my idol, my sage, my shrink, my guide, my counselor, my elder brother, [and] my beloved friend." The pianist reveals a delicate sense of sonority along with exquisite dynamic control in?For Paul Bowles, and musters the perfect aggressive edginess to bring to life?For Sergei Koussevitzky.?He injects youthful vigor into Bernstein's Sonata (1937), a probing work rich in counterpoint, written when the composer was still a student.

For their first recorded collaboration, pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, under the direction of Kent Nagano, are offering the album Chopin: Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.

"This project is a real childhood dream come true. I feel extremely privileged to have immortalized this ideal collaboration with Maestro Nagano and to now be part of the rich discography of the OSM" says Charles Richard-Hamelin of this album recorded in concert at the Maison symphonique de Montréal in October 2018.

The Comet Is Comingreleases their Impulse! Debut - Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery
US tour starts March 12. Includes; Los Angeles, SXSW, New York, Philadelphia, DC, Big Ears, Bonnaroo

The Comet Is Coming, "an improvisational, intergalactic mash-up" (The Guardian), will release their Impulse! debut, Trust In the Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery, on March 15. Their first-ever US tour begins in Los Angeles on March 12 and takes them through SXSW, NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Big Ears Festival and finally lands them in Bonnaroo on June 13. The first track from the album, "Summon The Fire," is available today.

The Comet Is Coming, who in 2016 were shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize, is comprised of King Shabaka (Shabaka Hutchings) on saxophone, Danalogue (Dan Leavers) on keys/synth, and Betamax (Max Hallett) on drums. On this album, Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery, the trio envisage a 21st century take on spiritual jazz that is part Alice Coltrane, part Bladerunner.

Honoring musical icon Joni Mitchell's legacy and 75th birthday, Decca Records will release The Music Center Presents Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration on March 8, 2019. On Joni's 75th birthday last November, a star-studded roster of musicians gathered together to pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter. The evening was recorded and is now subsequently being released. It features performances by Brandi Carlile; Glen Hansard; Emmylou Harris; Norah Jones; Chaka Khan; Diana Krall; Kris Kristofferson; Los Lobos with La Marisoul, Cesar Castro & Xochi Flores; Graham Nash; James Taylor; Seal; Rufus Wainwright; and more. The full track list is below. 

Recorded at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, a stage on which Mitchell twice performed in 1972 and 1974, the album includes performances and interpretations of classic Mitchell  songs, including Brandi Carlile & Kris Kristofferson performing "A Case of You," Seal's version of "Both Sides Now", Diana Krall singing "Amelia", Rufus Wainwright's "Blue", Norah Jones' version of "Court And Spark", and many more. 

The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble's performance and education ethos.

Voces8 releases Enchanted Isle, a new album of music reminiscent of rolling hills, green valleys, rugged mountainsides, and sleepy villages. Enchanted Isle features reimagined pieces originally written for film or television (such as Lord of the Ringsand Game of Thrones), new arrangements of Scottish and Irish melodies, and compositions set to texts by great English poets.

Acclaimed 23-year-old Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki joins forces with the conductorless Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to release Mendelssohn on Deutsche Grammophon on February 1. The album explores a pair of early Romantic masterpieces: Mendelssohn's Piano Concertos in G minor and D minor, complemented with a selection of Mendelssohn's most brilliant pieces for solo piano: the Variations sérieuses, the Rondo capriccioso and the "Venetian Boat Song" from the Songs without Words.

Felix Mendelssohn was a year younger than Lisiecki is now when he wrote his First Piano Concerto in G minor; the work was dedicated to the seventeen-year-old pianist Delphine von Schauroth. Cast in three movements, it is a lively, spirited work, at times requiring lightning-quick playing. Lisiecki finds it remarkable that the concerto begins as if "in the middle of a piece," and particularly appreciates the buoyancy of this early work – he thinks of it as like "a nature trip" and notes that its "lightness of touch ... reminds [him] very much of playing Mozart." 

On March 1, 2019, American pianist Lara Downes releases her new album, Holes in the Sky, on Portrait, an imprint of the Sony Music Masterworks label.

Holes in the Sky is a genre-fluid collection of music written and performed by today's leading female artists, celebrating the contributions of phenomenal women to the past, present, and future of American music.

The music of Holes in the Sky tells the story of what women and girls can contribute to the world when they are given a chance - their dreams can make holes in the sky. Lara collaborates with an extraordinary multi-generational group of female guest artists on this album, including the iconic singer / songwriter Judy Collins, boundary-breaking violinist Rachel Barton Pine, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, fast-rising cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing, and the urban youth vocal ensemble Musicality.

The album is presented in direct support of PLAN International Because I Am A Girl, bolstering the rights and empowerment of girls and young women around the globe; Women's Empowerment in Sacramento, ending homelessness one woman - and one family - at a time; the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, a permanent and supportive housing and healthcare provider for women; Girls on the Run in Spokane, teaching life skills through fun, engaging lessons that celebrate the joy of movement; and the Lower East Side Girls Club, breaking the cycle of poverty by training the next generation of ethical, entrepreneurial, and environmental leaders.

Albany Records just released composer Gernot Wolfgang's chamber music CD VIENNA AND THE WEST. The album is a follow-up to his CD PASSING THROUGH, which received rave reviews and went on to be nominated for a 2016 GRAMMY Award in the category Best Classical Compendium.

VIENNA AND THE WEST was recorded from May 15-18, 2018 in Los Angeles by some of the city's finest classical musicians, among them members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, first-call studio musicians and several GRAMMY nominees (including one winner). GRAMMY nominated Rich Breen was the engineer for these sessions. 

A look back at the classic Beatles album Sgt Pepper is delivered by artists ranging from Antonio Sanchez and Mary Halvorson to Sullivan Fortner, with impressive results. No one tries to repeat a mood, but simply to take the  songs and puree them through a 21st Century post bop mindset.  The closest thing to a similar mood is with bassist Felix Pastorius bringing in some raga-ish keyboards and synthesizers for a mystical "Within You Without You," but besides that, things get pretty original. Fortner's solo stride of "When I'm Sixty Four" is rich and colorful, while Sanchez's frantic drum work heats up "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and reprise. Guitarist Mary Halvorson gets some pretty tones and effects on "With A Little Help From My Friends" and bassist Miles Mosley gets rollicking on a funky "Lovely Rita." Keyon Harrold's soft horn teams with Shedrick Mitchell's piano for a pastoral "She's Leaving Home" with some thick textures closing things out by The Juju Exchange's creative delivery of "A Day In The Life." Not imitative, but celebrative, and it works well. SEE THE Jazz Weekly PAGE

One of the world's biggest classical stars, Lang Lang, returns with his brand new solo album ‘Piano Book' – a collection of pieces which first inspired him to play the piano and led him on his path to international stardom. The recording, his first new studio album in three years, marks his return to Universal Music Group and Deutsche Grammophon – the label he first signed to in 2003. Lang Lang says: "I want to take every music lover on a journey through my favourite piano pieces. I hope to inspire as well as motivate every piano student to remain focused during daily practice, and to play and understand these essential pieces for what they really are: true masterpieces!" In conjunction with this release LL has made himself available to speak with classical radio networks and stations. Watch for our tweets throughout the day

Temple-owned radio station plays live classical music. Radio host Debra Lew Harder incorporated live classical music performances on her "Classical Weekdays" on Wednesday program. Harder, who hosts two WRTI shows, used to play only pre-recorded classical music from CDs or records while sitting behind a large switchboard. But she decided to energize the show by adding live performances from both well-known and up-and-coming musicians. "Listeners really get to hear their personality and their personal stories about the music, which I think makes it very interesting, and just the beauty of the music," Harder said. "It always boils down to the greatness and the beauty of the music that they're playing." Harder said she's had more than 100 live musicians on her show since Fall 2017, like the contemporary music group Ahn Trio and guitarist Jason Vieaux. She has even accompanied one of her guests, pianist Eleonor Bindman, on the piano. During the live broadcasts, Harder sits in a large recording studio alongside the featured artist, surrounded by microphones and cameras. A behind-the-scenes crew operates the switchboards. Harder invited Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane to her program last Wednesday. McFarlane played songs from his newest album, "The Celtic Lute," which was released in July 2018. PHOTO: EMMA PADNER / THE TEMPLE NEWS p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL Temple News ARTICLE

The San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS) is pleased to welcome back Montreal-based Ensemble Caprice, celebrating its 30th anniversary this season. Ensemble Caprice will perform a program inspired by love stories from five countries with works by Bach, Purcell, Falconieri, Schmelzer, Vivaldi and more. Concerts of Ensemble Caprice will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, April 12 at First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto; at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Berkeley; and at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in San Francisco. READ THE FULL BroadwayWorld ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}

At age 67, the Californian-born maestro has been a fixture in the musical landscape in Europe for decades. Having occupied important positions in Berlin and Munich, Nagano is now the general music director at the Staatsoper opera house in Hamburg. Always maintaining a bicontinental existence, he went from the Los Angeles Opera to the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, where he will have served as music director from 2006 until 2020. DW caught up with the jet-setting maestro during his final European tour with the musicians from Canada from March 11-25. The star conductor explains to DW why his America no longer exists, why Quebec belongs to Europe and what he's looking forward to now. READ THE Q&A

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) announced today that Steven Mercurio will become its new Music Director as of the upcoming 2019/20 season. Maestro Mercurio, an American conductor and composer known for his exceptional versatility and dynamism, has fostered a vibrant, ten-year affiliation with the orchestra, with extensive collaborations taking place across multiple musical genres and in every capacity: symphonically, operatically, and through extensive recording projects. Maestro Mercurio is currently in Prague, conducting the orchestra in music by Martinu and Shostakovich. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra is self-governed and Maestro Mercurio's appointment is at the behest of the musicians themselves. Jan Hasenöhrl, the orchestra's artistic director said: "After many years of wonderful collaborations, we are very much looking forward to having Maestro Mercurio with us as our Music Director. His musicianship, energy, and versatility make him the ideal conductor for the future of the CNSO." Mercurio succeeds Maestro Libor Pešek, who had held the position since 2007. Maestro Steven Mercurio, who conducted the orchestra on a US tour last month, comments: "It is a great honor to be chosen by these wonderful musicians. They are open, flexible, curious and always interested in creating a magnificent musical product. I'm looking forward to an exciting future together." p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} READ THE FULL BroadwayWorld ARTICLE

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will be holding a day of action and plans to play a concert in the middle of the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge in Laredo next month, in celebration of how culture unites communities across the border, Mr. Ma is currently traveling the world as part of his Bach Project, where he plans to perform all six cello suites by Johann Sebastian Bach in one sitting, in 36 cities. With each concert he is including a "day of action." A representative of the Laredo Philharmonic told Laredo City Council on Monday that Ma would only play in San Antonio if he could hold his day of action in Laredo. READ THE FULL Laredo Morning Times ARTICLE