The Strad Calendar 2025: Canada Council for the Arts
Launched in 1985, the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025. This year’s calendar showcases twelve of the finest instruments it regularly loans to Canadian players, including four by Antonio Stradivari and beautiful works by Montagnana, Tecchler, Pressenda, Vuillaume and two of the Gagliano family.
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton Collection
American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.
Cremona map 1580 poster
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Celebrating Slava
This 4 CD set features 27 works that are dedicated to Rostropovich or that he composed, initiated or premiered. The pieces are played by his friends and companions: Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Natalia Gutman, Lynn Harrell, Miklós Perényi and many others.
Works included are by Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, Claude Debussy, Henri Dutilleux, Hans-Werner Henze, Romualds Kalsons, Witold Lutoslawski, Nikolai Miaskovsky, Astor Piazzolla, Sergei Prokofiev, Yuri Schaporin, Alfred Schnittke and Sir William Walton and two world premieres of works by Rodion Shchedrin and Giya Kancheli.
Janácek String Quartets
Alfred Dubois and Marcel Maas
Alfred Dubois was one of the stars of the Franco-Belgian school of violinists. A pupil of Ysaÿe and best known today as Arthur Grumiaux’s teacher, he was also a soloist in his own right, as his fine records testify. These 1930s sonatas, recorded with his regular accompanist Marcel Maas, show his inimitable artistry and sonorous tone. A must for anyone interested in historic violin playing.
Over 68 minutes.
Brahms Violin Sonatas
Vladimir Ashkenazy wrote: 'Simon Fischer is a thoroughly accomplished violinist, a wonderful musician'. This CD introduces Simon Fischer's playing to people who have known him purely as one of the leading violin teachers in the world.
Simon Fischer plays:
Scherzo from 'F.A.E' Sonata (Sonatensatz)
Sonata No. 1 in G, op. 78
Sonata No. 2 in A, op. 100
Sonata No. 3 in D minor, op. 108
Rubbra Violin Concerto: Krysia Osostowicz
Krysia Osostowicz is on mesmerising form and wonderfully supported by Takuo Yuasa and the Ulster Orchestra. The recording’s alluring, autumnal glow fits the music like a glove. The disc opens with the violin Improvisation in which Osostowicz is the passionate pilgrim. This is followed by the Violin Concerto, which has the same dark concentration as the Improvisation.
