Raymond Bisha introduces a new album featuring Beethoven's final three cello sonatas that are full of unexpected shifts of harmony and mood, virtuoso flourishes and experimental surprises, all of which defy convention. The cellist is Gabriel Schwabe, one of the leading cellists of his generation and a laureate of several national and international competitions; the exceptionally sympathetic pianist is Nicholas Rimmer. The first of their two volumes of Beethoven's complete cello sonatas (8.574529) was released in September: “I was totally engrossed by the duo’s warm, keenly articulated playing.” (Gramophone)

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; Raymond Bisha introduces a new album featuring Beethoven's final three cello sonatas that&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; are full of unexpected shifts of harmony and mood, virtuoso flourishes and experimental surprises, all of which defy convention. The cellist is Gabriel Schwabe, one of the leading cellists of his generation and a laureate of several national and international competitions; the exceptionally sympathetic pianist is Nicholas Rimmer. The first of their two volumes of Beethoven's complete cello sonatas (&lt;strong&gt;8.574529&lt;/strong&gt;) was released in September: “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt;I was totally engrossed by the duo’s warm, keenly articulated playing.” (&lt;em&gt;Gramophone&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Beethoven takes the spotlight in our latest podcast, defying musical conventions in his final three cello sonatas while simultaneously and superhumanly battling against his increasing deafness.

Convention defied. Beethoven defined. The final three cello sonatas.

Vahan Mardirossian grew up in Armenia surrounded by music, an upbringing that has given him a broad musical perspective and a desire to explore all kinds of music.  In this podcast he talks about everything from his musical roots to his new position with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Pardubice with whom he now has an ongoing recording program that guarantees we can look forward to many more recordings.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"&gt; Vahan Mardirossian grew up in Armenia surrounded by music, an upbringing that has given him a broad musical perspective and a desire to explore all kinds of music.&lt;span style= "mso-spacerun: yes;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; In this podcast he talks about everything from his musical roots to his new position with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Pardubice with whom he now has an ongoing recording program that guarantees we can look forward to many more recordings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

An interview with conductor and pianist Vahan Mardirossian

Conductor Vahan Mardirossian, Armenian roots, global reach. 

Renowned both as a distinguished soloist with some 1,800 concerts worldwide to her credit and as a member of the Amadeus Guitar Duo, Dale Kavanagh is one of the most prominent classical guitarists of her generation. Raymond Bisha discusses her latest Naxos album that features a programme of her own compositions, both solos and duos in which she is joined by an octet of acclaimed, award-winning colleagues and friends.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; Renowned both as a distinguished soloist with some&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;" xml:lang="EN-GB"&gt;1,800 concerts&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; worldwide to her credit and as a member of the Amadeus Guitar Duo, Dale Kavanagh&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; is one of the most prominent classical guitarists of her generation. Raymond Bisha discusses her latest Naxos album that features a programme of her own compositions, both solos and duos in which she is joined by an octet of acclaimed, award-winning colleagues and friends.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

You'll find lots of frets and zero regrets in the latest Naxos podcast which features legendary guitarist Dale Kavanagh in conversation with Raymond Bisha.

Dale Kavanagh & Friends

Raymond Bisha's latest podcast introduces the twenty-four strings and forty fingers of the Guitalian Quartet in a programme from a new album featuring music from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and beyond. Effortless guitar technique combines with folksy wit and lyrical introspection in performances that will have your feet tapping and your ears purring.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-line-height-alt: 10.0pt; mso-pagination: lines-together;"&gt; &lt;span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;" xml:lang= "EN-GB"&gt;Raymond Bisha&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt;'s latest podcast introduces the twenty-four strings and forty fingers of the Guitalian Quartet in a programme from a new album featuring music from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and beyond. Effortless guitar technique combines with folksy wit and lyrical introspection in performances that will have your feet tapping and your ears purring.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The latest Naxos podcast features choro, tango, 40 fingers, 24 strings and 20 minutes of your time.

Latin Landscapes

Knighted in 1950, Sir Arthur Bliss was Master of the Queen’s Music in Great Britain from 1953 until his death in 1975. Raymond Bisha introduces a new album comprising both original works for brass band and arrangements of others for the ensemble that represent the breadth of the composer's output, from pieces of royal association (Welcome the Queen) to music for the concert hall (Kenilworth), the ballet stage (Adam Zero and Checkmate) and the cinema (Things to Come). John Wilson conducts the famous Black Dyke Mills Band, a highly distinguished contributor to the rich heritage of British brass bands. Bliss himself readily acknowledged the astonishing virtuosity of such highly disciplined amateur players, noting that “their rules are nearly as rigid as those of football teams!”

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 10.0pt;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; K&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;" xml:lang="EN-GB"&gt;nighted in 1950,&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; Sir Arthur Bliss&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;" xml:lang="EN-GB"&gt;was Master of the Queen’s Music in Great Britain from 1953 until his death&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; in 1975&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;" xml:lang="EN-GB"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style= "font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"&gt; Raymond Bisha introduces a new album comprising both original works for brass band and arrangements of others for the ensemble that represent the breadth of the composer's output, from pieces of royal association (&lt;em&gt;Welcome the Queen&lt;/em&gt;) to music for the concert hall &lt;em&gt;(Kenilworth&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;em&gt;,&lt;/em&gt; the ballet stage (&lt;em&gt;Adam Zero&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Checkmate&lt;/em&gt;) and the cinema (&lt;em&gt;Things to Come&lt;/em&gt;). John Wilson conducts the famous Black Dyke Mills Band, a highly distinguished contributor to the rich heritage of British brass bands. Bliss himself readily acknowledged the astonishing virtuosity of such highly disciplined amateur players, noting that “their rules are nearly as rigid as those of football teams!”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

You'll find a bit of bliss in the latest Naxos podcast. Well, quite a lot actually!

Sheer Bliss

Naxos Classical Spotlight explores the world of classical music.  Along the way host Raymond Bisha shares the stories about the music, and the musicians who make it.

Naxos Classical Spotlight

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