Sir John Barbirolli (né Giovanni Battista Barbirolli; 2 December 1899 – 29 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered above all as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 1943 and conducted for the rest of his life.

A pupil of the famous Nicolas Lebegue, Nicolas de Grigny quickly dazzled his peers with the daring complexity of his writing. His compositions, veritable Baroque gems, captivated even Johann Sebastian Bach, who meticulously copied his entire organ book. The singular work of the former organist of Reims Cathedral is restored in all it's splendour by Michel Bouvard and Francois Espinasse on the keyboards of the Great Organ of the Chapelle Royale.

Nuvole is a jazz trio that seeks to revitalize the genre by fusing historical inspirations with contemporary musical concepts to create a fresh sound with a certain timeless character. This duality is also evident in their artwork, which creates charmingly childlike pieces that manage to be both sophisticated and adult at the same time.

Nannette Streicher opened her piano workshop together with her husband and brother in Vienna at the end of the 18th century. They built well over a thousand instruments, of which only around 40 fortepianos have survived to this day. The piano parts on this album were recorded on Nannette Streicher's fortepiano with the serial number 1060. Ludwig van Beethoven himself was good friends with the couple and played their instruments. The three selected sonatas on this album span a period of 14 years, from 1798 (Op. 12/1 and 3) to 1812, the year of the composition of Op. 96 - two years before the piano used here was completed.

Armonico Consort present their next instalment of works by Franceso Scarlatti, this time his only surviving oratorio 'Il Daniele nel Lago de'Leoni' or Daniel in the Lions' Den. Scarlatti's Daniele conforms in all general aspects to the typical Sicilian oratorio of the late-seventeenth century, which was itself closely modelled on Roman practice: four or five singers inhabit character roles, without a separate narrator, together with a chorus often consisting of the soloists singing in ensemble.

From two players to twelve: few ensembles could respond with equal authority to the very varied demands made by this wonderful collection of Debussy’s chamber music. But then, few ensembles can stand comparison with the Nash, whose members continue to set the standards across a dauntingly wide repertoire. A realization of the Prélude à l’après-midi … for chamber ensemble adds to this album’s more familiar attractions of the string quartet and three sonatas.

Una poesia muta: Art in early Cinquecento Venice is the result of a collaboration between SWR radio, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart and The Marian Consort. Specially curated by the Stuttgart museum, Germany’s first ever exhibition devoted to Vittore Carpaccio and his contemporaries has inspired The Marian Consort to devise an album to accompany this artistic journey. Being one of the most prominent painters of the Early Renaissance in Venice, Carpaccio is likely to have been acquainted with the music and the composers recorded here, since all have strong links to the city at that time. If some of them are well-known today – Josquin, Jean Mouton, Adrian Willaert – others deserve wider recognition. The Marian Consort and its director Rory McCleery have assembled a typically fascinating programme, matched with superb singing.

Throughout its Golden Age, England cultivated the masque, an elite entertainment featuring dialogue, song, and dance. As part of these spectacles, courtiers—and at times even the queen herself—often graced the dance floor. But it was hired professionals who provided the musical heart of these productions. Lutenists in particular were especially adept at creating music for any occasion. The dances, variations on popular songs, and fantasias they composed are full of versatility and virtuosity.

Clara Schumann was one of the most famous of all 19th-century piano virtuosos, admired by contemporaries such as Liszt and Thalberg. Her piano works never succumb to stereotype and the Romances anticipate the sonority of Brahms' late music for piano. Her Variations, Op. 20 entwines Robert Schumann's themes with her own in music of touching intimacy. The Preludes and Fugues reflect Clara's love of Bach. This first volume of her complete music for solo piano is performed by the distinguished French pianist, Jean-Pierre Armengaud, who has written about Robert and Clara Schumann as well as having organised a symposium devoted to them.

One of the leading keyboard players of her generation, Sophie Yates is renowned as a performer, educator, and broadcaster.

Welcome to the new riot. Lambrini Girls—Brighton-based Phoebe Lunny (vocals, guitar) and Lilly Macieira-Boşgelmez (bass) at the core, with a hired-hand drummer as needed—take apart fascist cops, misogynistic assholes, gentrification, celebrity privilege and other classic punk tropes for the modern era.

Gian’s ninth album, Glimmer, is a deeply personal collection of original songs, performed solo on piano and voice. These pieces explore themes of transformation and evolving self-narrative, offering a cathartic reckoning with issues such as stubborn expectations, self-criticism, friendship, family, and—above all—compassion. Known for a diverse back catalogue that spans jazz quartets, acoustic folk trios, electronica, and a cappella, Glimmer marks Gian’s most intimate and authentic musical expression to date.

Lionel Bart's musical masterpiece, freely adapted from Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver! tells the story of the orphaned Oliver Twist, who escapes the harsh Victorian workhouse and takes refuge in London's murky underworld with the wily gang leader Fagin and his team of resourceful pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger. He finds a friend in the kind- hearted Nancy and when he's wrongly arrested for stealing, Oliver meets an unexpected saviour; but is happiness truly within his grasp?

Nolan Taylor's intimate tales of heartache, family, good times, and small-town struggle helped catapult the country singer/songwriter to the national stage in the early 2020s. The Ohio native's sparse, autobiographical single "68" elicited millions of streams and caught the attention of Atlantic Records, which issued the arresting "Wicked Ways" in 2023. Taylor started 2024 with the engaging "Cincinnati Heart," a heartfelt look at the ups and downs of long-distance relationships.

A Question of Balance is the sixth album by The Moody Blues, released in 1970. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. Released in 1970, the album reached #1 in the United Kingdom and #3 in the United States. In March 2006 the album was remastered into SACD format and repackaged with six extra tracks.