Stephen Hough joins the celebrations for Chopin s 200th birthday with a disc containing much of the composer s most extraordinary music, written in the last years of his life where the expressive possibilities of his art were constantly unfolding and he imbued his favored forms with previously unknown levels of complexity and emotional depth. This disc includes the intoxicatingly ornamented Berceuse Op 57 and the sublime Barcarolle in F sharp major as well as the Polonaise-Fantasy in A flat major and the towering Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor. Also included are two late Nocturnes that demonstrate how Chopin s art had evolved since he first composed in that genre in his youth. The program is completed by a selection of Mazurkas, each a tiny jewel, containing no less mastery than their larger counterparts, and providing moving sonic evidence of the contemplative profundity of Chopin s late style. Stephen Hough s extraordinarily sensitive playing is informed by his limitless technique and engaging musical imagination.

EMI Classics presents the world premiere release of three of Thomas Adès' new works recorded live, partly conducted by the composer himself, and, in the case of Tevot, by Sir Simon Rattle with the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Young American composer Timothy Andres (b. 1985) has received a good deal of positive buzz in the last few years, and his works have been championed by various significant individuals, including New Yorker critic Alex Ross and composer-conductor John Adams. This CD contains a 10-movement work for two pianos composed in 2005–07, as Andres’ senior thesis for Yale University. My first exposure to Andres’ music was a live premiere in 2006 of a rather dull concert band piece. However, hearing other works of his in the years that followed quickly showed me that Andres was a composer of great imagination and character. (That band piece had clearly been a misguided “one-off.” It is a good lesson to be reminded of in general, not to necessarily draw too many conclusions from the very first piece one might encounter.) I was thus very pleased when our editor sent me this release, which is Andres’ CD debut.

The Emerson String Quartet, winner of 9 Grammys® is releasing an album of works never recorded during the course of their 30-year career. The release of Old World-New World has been a long cherished dream and features the Emerson's favorite Dvorak middle and late string quartets. A bonanza of romantic melody, not a note on this 3-CD release has ever before been recorded by the Emersons. Also includes Dvorak's youthful and infrequently performed song cycle on the subject of love, Cypresses, which provides a compelling thematic trove for several of these enamoring quartets.

Cellist Zuill Bailey releases his Bach Suites for Solo Cello on February 2, 2010. All six suites were recorded in one week at the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York City in December, 2008, following years of preparation by Mr. Bailey. "I was unaware of the depths of the music as a young person, but came to realize that there are so many ways of interpreting Bach that it channels where a cellist is at that precise moment. It has become such a personal journey for me."

For the first time in over three decades, the Frank Sinatra/Antonio Carlos Jobim recordings are now together in The Complete Reprise Recordings, the most comprehensive compilation of the Sinatra/Jobim sessions yet. The re-mastered classics of the two late musical legends include "Dindi," "How Insensitive," "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars," and of course, "The Girl from Ipanema," a Jobim masterpiece covered by numerous colleagues such as pianist Vince Guaraldi. In addition to those, there are three new bonus tracks on this reprise that allow for a new compositional spark that perfectly compliment the jazz standards that Jobim arranges in his distinct Brazilian bossa nova style. The Complete Reprise Recordings are a must-have for any collector, and a new lifestyle for dedicated Sinatra/Jobim fans…

A journey through musical history. Enjoy the works of 40 famous composers compiled on 40 CDs. Contains works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Chopin, Debussy, Dvorak, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Vivaldi, Wagner and many more.