The Full Works Concert - Monday 22 July 2013: New Releases

Join Jane Jones for some of the best new classical releases to have come our way in the last few weeks.

The Summer Night Concert from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is an annual open-air event that takes place in the park of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. This year, it was held on 30th May and, as always, the entire city was invited - for free. For the first time, Lorin Maazel, pictured, one of the world’s most sought-after conductors, was at the helm of the concert. The programme marked the bi-centenary of the births of Wagner and Verdi with highlights from their operas. Tonight our concert opens with Wagner's Prelude to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg from the new album release of the event.

Nordic Spring, which was John Suchet's Album of the Week, commencing 1 July, is a brand new recording featuring a fine collection of string music from Scandinavia. It's performed by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, one of the world's foremost chamber ensembles. Tonight Jane plays Grieg's popular Holberg Suite.

The 2006 Piano Winner of BBC Young Musician, Cordelia Williams' debut recording of Schubert Impromptus has won high critical praise and promises to place the young pianist among the rising stars of classical music. Tonight she plays 4 Impromptus D899.

Last month, the Chamber Ensemble of London released an album of English music for strings. Tonight Jane plays Elgar's Elegy for Strings. It's a short, contemplative piece which Elgar likely wrote in 1909 in memory of his friend and editor August Jaeger - the man who was Nimrod of the Enigma Variations.

To celebrate the 80th birthday of Claudio Abbado, a brand new Schumann recording with the ensemble he founded, Orchestre Mozart, was Classic FM Drive's Featured Album, commencing 24 June. This collection is dedicated to the music of Robert Schumann, and marks a departure from their ongoing exploration of the music of Mozart. Abbado and the orchestra first performed Schumann's second symphony at Lucerne's Easter Festival, leading one critic to extol their reading as of “the purest beauty”, while another found it “liberating”. On this recording, the symphony and the overtures are all vigorously performed with characteristic emotion and expression.

Richard Wagner: The Mastersingers of Nuremberg – Prelude
Lorin Maazel conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra 

Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

Franz Schubert: 4 Impromptus D899
Piano: Cordelia Williams

Edward Elgar: Elegy for Strings
Chamber Ensemble of London

Robert Schumann: Symphony No.2 in C major
Claudio Abbado conducts Orchestra Mozart