Herbert von Karajan was the most renowned conductor to emerge from Europe in the post-World War II era – and through fortuitous timing throughout his career, and in spite of controversy that dogged his early years, he was the most recorded conductor of the 20th century, and is likely to remain one of the most visible (and biggest-selling) conductors well into the 21st century. Born in Salzburg and descended from a family of Greek origin with deep roots in Austria – including scholars and physicians in Vienna and Salzburg – he was a music prodigy, playing the piano at three and playing his first recital a year later.

Pierre Monteux A major figure during the golden age of American orchestral music, conductor Pierre Monteux had an exceptionally long career that began in the 19th century, encompassed the premiere of Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps, which he conducted, and extended into the 1960s. He fundamentally shaped several American orchestras in the French style. Monteux had a large recording catalog stretching back well into the 78 rpm era. Many of his recordings appeared in reissues well after his death; a 1955 recording with the Boston Symphony Orchestra featuring works by Berlioz, Brahms, Chausson, Debussy, Franck, and d'Indy appeared in a digital form on the ICA label in 2018.Of nonreligious Jewish background, Monteux was born in Paris on April 4, 1875.

The clarity and freshness of Arion Baroque Orchestra’s interpretations of Baroque and Classical music have been hailed by critics nationally and internationally.

The surname was anglicized Heifetz.His father, Reuven Heifetz, was a local violin teacher and served as the concertmaster of the Vilnius Theatre Orchestra for one season before the theatre closed down. Heifetz and his family left Russia in 1917, traveling by rail to the Russian far east and then by ship to the United States, arriving in San Francisco.
He became a naturalized American citizen in 1924.

He was part of the Grumiaux Trio for many years, an ensemble consisting of Grumiaux, violist Georges Janzer and cellist Eva Czako. They recorded for Philips during the 1960s through to the mid-1970s, until Czako's death in 1978. Their discography includes chamber music by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Dvořák, Martinů and Mozart. In 1967 they recorded a highly-acclaimed interpretation of Mozart's String Trio in E-flat major, K. 563 for Philips that is regarded by critics as one of the greatest chamber music recordings in history.In 1974 the Trio recorded Mozart's string quintets, with the addition of violists Arpad Gerécz and Max Lesueur, for Philips, which were included in the 1991 Complete Mozart Edition.

The 169th volume of the Diapason's definitive series!
Scott Ross's harpsichord works!Diapason, a world-renowned French magazine specializing in classical music, selects historically great performances of masterpieces that shine in music history, and remasters and reprints them in the series "Les Indispensables de Diapason - Diapason's definitive series".The 169th volume of the series features Scott Ross's harpsichord works. Scott Ross is known for his achievements, such as recording the complete set of Domenico Scarlatti's "555 Sonatas" and recording the complete set of harpsichord works by Rameau and F. Couperin. Unfortunately, the recording of the complete set of J.S. Bach was cut short halfway when Ross passed away, but all of the recordings that remain are excellent and still entertain music fans today.This is a first-time recording from a Swiss broadcasting station. (Importer information)

Die traditionsreiche, einzigartige und vielgerühmte Klangkultur des Staatsopernchores wurde durch zahlreiche namhafte Dirigenten (allen voran durch die jahrelange Zusammenarbeit mit den Dirigenten-Direktoren des Hauses wie Johann von Herbeck, Wilhelm Jahn, Gustav Mahler, Felix von Weingartner, Richard Strauss, Franz Schalk, Clemens Krauss, Herbert von Karajan, Karl Böhm, Lorin Maazel beziehungsweise durch Musikdirektoren Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa und dem ehemaligen GMD Franz Welser-Möst), die besondere Akustik der Wiener Staatsoper sowie durch das sich stets erweiternde Repertoire geprägt. Voraussetzung für die Zulassung zum internationalen Vorsingen für die Aufnahme in den Staatsopernchor ist das Niveau einer abgeschlossenen Gesangsausbildung und die Fähigkeit des Blattsingens. Wer sich im mehrere Durchgänge umfassenden Vorsingen gegen die Mitbewerberinnen bzw. Mitbewerber durchsetzen kann, wird in den Chor aufgenommen. Seit 2006 ist Thomas Lang Chordirektor.

Orchestra del Teatro della Scala di Milano Since the 19th century, La Scala Theater Orchestra has played important roles outside its main function of accompanying operas at the city's La Scala Opera House. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the orchestra has been led at one time or another by most of Italy's most prestigious conductors. La Scala Theater Orchestra (Italian: Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala) was recognized for its exceptional quality as it performed at the world premiere of operas by Rossini and Verdi in the 19th century, originally with the first violinist, or, in the very early years, the harpsichordist, as the leader. The orchestra's first conductor was Alberto Mazzucato, who ascended the podium in 1854. His successor Franco Faccio instituted independent concerts in 1872, and the orchestra appeared in Paris during the Exposition Universelle in 1878, one of the first major world's fairs. That triumph led to the establishment of a Società Orchestrale della Scala, which put the group on a firmer institutional footing. Offering two concert seasons annually, the orchestra stimulated the growth of instrumental music in Italy, formerly heavily dominated by opera.

Diapason, a world-famous French magazine specializing in classical music, selects historical performances of masterpieces from the history of music, and reprints them with new mastering in a series called ``Les Indispensables de Diapason''. The definitive edition chosen by Diapazon.”
The 165th volume in the series is a collection of works by French composer Edouard Lalo. Pierre Fournier will play Lalo's ``Cello Concerto,'' which was inspired by Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1. It plays with a tone that evokes the beauty and dignity of the cello, which was called the prince of the cello. ``Namuna'' was originally created as a ballet, and after its first performance, the composer arranged it himself and created a suite version. This is a recording of French conductor Paul Paray leading the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Lalo's masterpiece, the Spanish Symphony, is a gorgeous combination of legendary violinists Leonid Kogan and Kirill Kondrashin, allowing you to fully enjoy the famous performances of Lalo's works from yesteryear. (Import source information)

Leontyne Price had a gift for fusing voice, words and meaning, and was even able to adapt her vocal colours to her conductor. She had the voice of velvet, used it with wisdom and artistry for 50 years, and set vocal and theatrical standards in Verdi.

Diapason, a world-famous French magazine specializing in classical music, selects historical performances of masterpieces from the history of music, and reprints them with new mastering in a series called ``Les Indispensables de Diapason''. The definitive edition selected by Diapazon.”

No figure in 20th century American classical music had as prominent or controversial a career – or did more to sell classical music to the general public as something genuinely exciting, and worth getting into a sweat over – than Leonard Bernstein. For more than 30 years, from his assumption of the post of Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in 1958 until the final concerts that he conducted in obviously failing health near the end of his life in 1990, he was the most prominent and widely recognized American-born conductor in the world, and the dominant personality in American classical music as both a conductor and, to a lesser degree, a composer. A flamboyant public figure, he burst three different times on the musical world – twice in classical with a rush of success on Broadway in between – in a blaze of glory, in the space of 15 years; and over a career lasting from the early '40s until the beginning of the '90s, he never lost an opportunity to advance his reputation as well as the cause of music.

Sir Thomas Beecham was one of the most important orchestra conductors of the 20th century, exerting a huge impact on the entire field of classical music – and the way people listen to it, and the way people have been exposed to it – through his performances, recordings, and the two major orchestras that he founded. Beecham was born in 1879, the son of Sir Joseph Beecham, the maker of a popular and profitable brand of patent medicine. The elder Beecham was also a lover of music and when his son manifested an interest in music, the old man was glad to encourage him in any way that he could.

Igor Markevitch was a leading conductor, known for brilliant performances, especially of twentieth century music. He was also a composer who attracted some interest in his own day. His parents left Kiev when he was two years old. Markevitch was brought up in Vevey, Switzerland. He took piano lessons from his father and then with Paul Loyonnet and also started to compose. The pianist Alfred Cortot saw some of his piano compositions and recommended that the boy study in Paris. In 1925 he enrolled in Cortot's piano class at the École Normale de Musique. He studied harmony, counterpoint, and composition with Nadia Boulanger.

Vladimir Horowitz He is one of those musicians elevated to the rank of myth, like Paganini or Liszt in the 19th century. This is due to the personality of Vladimir Horowitz of course, but also to the media hype and the legends that surround him, as for all exceptional characters. Born in Ukraine in 1903, the child was quickly noticed by his exceptional gifts, encouraged by Scriabin in front of whom he played at the age of 15.