We reveal who’s recording what and where...
Krystian Zimerman has returned to Beethoven’s complete piano concertos 30 years a er his first recorded run at them under Leonard Bernstein. This time Simon Rattle and the LSO joined the pianist for the challenging sessions, which were carried out under strict COVID-19 safety measures in Jerwood Hall at LSO St Luke’s. Deutsche Grammophon releases the full set in April.
The pandemic itself has inspired violist Hiyoli Togawa to commission pieces on a theme of isolation from 11 composers. The result, called Songs of Solitude, features works by the likes of Kalevi Aho and Rhian Samuel and is released on BIS Records this month.
Orchid Classics recently launched a new digital-only imprint called Orchid Creative. It gives artists the opportunity freely to create recordings, video material and playlists for streaming and download only. Pianist George Lepauw kicked things o with a recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations in December and the label has a full slate of releases lined up to follow throughout the year.
Also focusing on digital releases is
Linn Records, which has announced a new partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival. Inspired by the festival’s Summer 2020 streamed concerts, the label has made a number of those performances available digitally – including the world premiere of Klaus Simon’s chamber arrangement of Mahler’s Seventh and highlights from Edinburgh’s popular Chamber Music Series.
Violinist Daniel Rowland and his duo partner Natacha Kudritskaya visited the Music Room at Champs Hill in West Sussex last year to record a selection of French works. Out this month on the Champs Hill label, the recording includes Chausson’s rarely heard Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, among other works.