Sony Classical News

Two distinguished American pianists-Ursula Oppens and Robert Levin-will team up to perform selections of piano works by the celebrated British-American composer Bernard Rands on Thursday evening, December 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY.

Earlier this year Little Mix entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 4 with their debut album DNA, making history as the first ever British girl group to debut in the top 5 with their first album.

Sony Music is proud to announce the release of renowned composer John Williams' original motion picture soundtrack of The Book Thief, a moving film by Brian Percival based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Markus Zusak.

Virtuoso jazz violinist Regina Carter has signed with Sony Masterworks. The label will launch her new album Southern Comfort in March 2014 coinciding with tour dates in the U.S. and Europe.

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the international digital release of the original score from the Motion Picture Carrie on October 21. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Screen Gems will release Carrie nationwide on Friday, October 18.

The world's best-selling pianist, Lang Lang, joins one of the most renowned orchestras for two of the 20th century's landmark piano concertos. Lang Lang teams up with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle in Berlin's Philharmonie for a studio recording of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto and Bartok's Second Piano Concerto. The recording comes out today, October 22, 2013.

Sony Classical releases an awe-inspiring rendition of three cycles of lieder from Gustav Mahler sung by world-renowned German baritone Christian Gerhaher, accompanied by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, under the direction of Kent Nagano. These songs were recorded during the January 12 and 14, 2013 concerts, at the Maison Symphonique De Montréal. This is the second collaboration between Christian Gerhaher and the OSM, the first being the Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth).

The world's best-selling pianist, Lang Lang, joins one of the most renowned orchestras for two of the 20th century's landmark piano concertos. Lang Lang teams up with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle in Berlin's Philharmonie for a studio recording of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto and Bartok's Second Piano Concerto. The recording comes out on October 22, 2013.

Renowned clarinetist Charles Neidich will appear as soloist with the String Orchestra of Brooklyn under the baton of Tito Mun?oz Saturday evening, November 9th at 8:00 p.m. at St. Ann's Church, 157 Montague St., Brooklyn, NY. The program will begin with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 and continue, with Mr. Neidich as clarinet soloist in the incomparable Mozart Clarinet Concert in A Major, K. 622.

The venerable nine-time Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet performs at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on January 10 as part of its popular yearly visit to Orange County. Center chamber music fans will experience a new chapter as the enduring ensemble welcomes cellist Paul Watkins, who took the place of David Finckel in May 2013. The musicians of the Emerson String Quartet are Eugene Drucker, violin; Philip Setzer, violin; Lawrence Dutton, viola and Paul Watkins, cello. The evening's program will include Beethoven's rousing "Razumovsky" Quartets, Op. 59, No. 1-3.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), conducted by Music Director Grant Gershon, continues its year-long 50th anniversary season celebration with back-to-back performances of Orff's Carmina Burana, one of the most popular choral works of the 20th century, featuring Chorale member Timothy Gonzales, tenor, and noted guest artists Stacey Tappan, a "mellifluous" soprano (Wall St. Journal), Jose Adan Perez, a "glorious baritone" (Bach Track), and the ever-polished Los Angeles Children's Chorus on Saturday, November 2, 2013, 2 pm, and Sunday, November 3, 2013, 7 pm, at Disney Hall. Verdi's lush Te Deum, for double chorus and orchestra with roots in polyphony and Gregorian chant, opens the program.

Musical mastermind SALAAM REMI has cultivated the sounds of countless Grammy-award winning artists. Now he takes on the role of the artist himself, on new album SALAAM REMI ONE: IN THE CHAMBER. Available now digitally (Flying Buddha / Sony Masterworks), the album features guest vocalists Akon, Ne-Yo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jordin Sparks, Estelle, Stephen Marley, Lemar and CJ Hilton, in addition to orchestral songs composed by Remi encompassing a wide range of styles and musical forms.

Musical mastermind SALAAM REMI has cultivated the sounds of countless Grammy-award winning artists. Now he takes on the role of the artist himself, on new album SALAAM REMI ONE: IN THE CHAMBER. Available now digitally (Flying Buddha / Sony Masterworks), the album features guest vocalists Akon, Ne-Yo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jordin Sparks, Estelle, Stephen Marley, Lemar and CJ Hilton, in addition to orchestral songs composed by Remi encompassing a wide range of styles and musical forms.

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein will perform as part of Spark: Painting and Provocation, a Met Museum Presents conversation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium (1000 Fifth Avenue) on Tuesday, November 12 at 6pm. This ticketed talk explores the work of the artist Balthus, and in addition to Dinnerstein will feature Sabine Rewald, Jaques and Natasha Gelman Curator of Modern Art, MMA; Deborah Tolman, psychologist and author; and Dar Williams, singer/songwriter. It will be hosted by Julie Burstein, author and Peabody Award-winning creator of public radio's Studio 360. The program is in conjunction with the exhibition Balthus: Cats and Girls—Paintings and Provocations, on view fromSeptember 25, 2013 through January 12, 2014.

Violinist Joshua Bell returns to Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. with pianist Sam Haywood for a recital in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. On the program is Tartini's Violin Sonata in G Minor, Op. 1, No. 10, 'Devil's Trill Sonata;' Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96; and Stravinsky's Divertimento, plus additional works to be announced from the stage.

Sony Classical presents Vladimir Horowitz Live at Carnegie Hall, a deluxe box set featuring the complete RCA and Columbia recitals of Vladimir Horowitz recorded live at Carnegie Hall between 1951 and 1978. Available today, September 30, the limited edition box set includes 41 CDs plus a DVD and features 8 previously unreleased complete concerts. The DVD marks the first ever release of the famous TV concert 'Horowitz on Television,' which has not been seen since its last airing on CBS in 1968.

With the success of The Piano Guys' first two major label releases, The Piano Guys and The Piano Guys 2, Portrait/Sony Masterworks will release the Utah-based classical-pop group's new holiday album, A Family Christmason October 22. Just in time for the holiday season, A Family Christmas will also be available as a deluxe set that includes a bonus DVD of their hit holiday music videos, plus a classic Yule Log video featuring all of the songs on the album.

Sony Classical celebrates the 85th birthday of Gary Graffman – American pianist, music administrator and piano teacher – with the first ever release of Mr. Graffman's complete recordings in a limited original jacket collection available today, September 24, 2013.

The trailblazing Los Angeles Master Chorale launches its milestone 50th Season tonight, September 22, 2013, 7 pm, at Walt Disney Concert Hall, with a spectacular retrospective concert conducted by the Kiki & David Gindler Music Director Grant Gershon celebrating the rich history and inspiring artistry of the extraordinary musical organization.

This weekend, September 20, 21 and 22, the Houston Symphony will welcome back former music director Lawrence Foster and superstar of the violin Joshua Bell for a concert featuring Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, a musical masterpiece complete with heartbreaking melodies and fiery virtuosity. The Houston Symphony will also perform Mussorgsky's Dance of the Persian Maidens fromKhovantchina, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love and Elgar's Enigma Variations, which paints musical portraits of 14 of Elgar's dearest friends.