Divine Art Records

Composer: Franz Schubert

  • Palimpsest

    Palimpsest

    Australian pianist Rob Hao makes a striking debut with an album that explores how music from different times and styles can interact and inspire new ideas. At the heart of the recording is the premiere of Palimpsest 571, Hao’s original work completing Franz Schubert’s unfinished Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor, D. 571. Rather than trying to imitate Schubert’s style exactly, Hao embraces the gap between past and present, creating a continuation that respects the mood and mystery of the original fragment while adding a fresh, modern voice.

    The album also features a set of piano etudes by British composer Alison Kay, whose minimalist and atmospheric pieces invite listeners to experience sound and silence in new ways. Alongside these contemporary works are carefully chosen pieces by Chopin, Schubert, Schubert-Liszt, and Michael Finnissy’s challenging English country-tunes.

    Chopin’s final nocturnes showcase his gift for blending long, flowing melodies with delicate harmonies, revealing the emotional depth he reached late in life. Schubert’s impromptu and Liszt’s piano transcription of Der Müller und der Bach bring vocal storytelling to the piano, highlighting the instrument’s expressive power.

    Finnissy’s English country-tunes is a powerful and intense piece that explores English folk traditions with virtuosic energy, moving between moments of lyricism and dramatic intensity. This mix of works demonstrates how composers and performers continue to build on musical traditions, layering new ideas over old, and keeping classical music vibrant and alive.

    This album offers a rich listening experience that invites reflection on how music evolves —shaped by both history and the creative present.

  • Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“The Trout”)

    Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“The Trout”)

    This digital release is a companion to “John Boyden: A Celebration” and presents a new recording of Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (“Die Forelle/The Trout”), performed by Jonathan Higgins and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra. John Boyden, a luminary in the British music industry, is honored with this tribute, marking his exceptional contributions to classical music.

    John Boyden’s illustrious career began with the founding of Classics for Pleasure, achieving the remarkable feat of selling four million classical recordings in four years. As the first Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, he navigated a tumultuous period with visionary leadership. Boyden’s innovative spirit also led to the creation of several independent classical record companies and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra, dedicated to reviving early 20th-century performance styles.

    Boyden championed a return to the classic Double Cube or Shoebox concert hall design and criticized the modern orchestra’s growing volume. His belief in the human pulse over the metronome’s tyranny reflected his commitment to authentic musical expression.

    Born on 14 September 1936 in Woolwich, London, Boyden’s journey in music was predestined. His entrepreneurial ventures, including Philharmonic Records and John Boyden Recordings, showcased his dedication to bringing classical music closer to enthusiasts. Collaborating with Paul Hamlyn, he launched Classics for Pleasure, resonating with global audiences.

    Boyden’s tenure as the inaugural Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra was marked by significant artistic developments. Despite facing challenges, his influence was profound. His subsequent roles as a writer for Private Eye and the launch of Enigma Classics demonstrated his versatility and commitment to the industry.

    Disillusioned by contemporary orchestral recording practices, Boyden revived the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra in 1992, preserving the traditions of the original orchestra and championing a more organic approach to music-making.

    John Boyden’s legacy transcends his numerous achievements; it lives on in the hearts of those inspired by his unwavering pursuit of artistic integrity. This exquisite recording of Schubert’s masterpiece celebrates his enduring impact.

  • Dina Parakhina: 200 Years Diabelli Variations

    Dina Parakhina: 200 Years Diabelli Variations

    Celebrating 200 Years of the Diabelli Project

    To commemorate the bicentennial of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, the Divine Art label proudly presents “ 200 Years: Diabelli Variations”. Originally introduced by Anton Diabelli with words of admiration for its innovation and artistic brilliance, the Diabelli Variations have since transcended time, becoming a cornerstone of the piano repertoire, rivalling even the esteemed works of J.S. Bach.

    The story behind the Diabelli Variations adds to their mystique. Legend has it that Beethoven initially dismissed Diabelli’s theme as a mere “cobbler’s patch.” Yet, he later transformed this simple waltz into a complex, kaleidoscopic masterpiece, showcasing a wide range of characters, styles, and textures. From playful parodies to profound meditations, Beethoven’s variations span over 60 minutes of inventive musical exploration.
    Renowned pianist Dina Parakhina, who first performed the Diabelli Variations during her final recital at the Moscow Conservatory, brings her deep understanding and lifelong study of this monumental work to her latest recording. Parakhina’s interpretation captures the intricate structural unity and the emotional depth of Beethoven’s composition, reflecting her illustrious career and devotion to classical music.

    About Dina Parakhina
    Dina Parakhina, a distinguished Russian pianist and educator, has been a Piano Professor at the Royal College of Music since 2009 and a College Fellow since 2019. She has taught at prestigious institutions such as the Central Music School in Moscow and Chetham’s School of Music, and currently holds a position at the Royal Northern College of Music. Parakhina has performed globally as a soloist, made numerous recordings, and given master-classes around the world. Her expertise and passion for music have also seen her serve on juries for international piano competitions.

    Parakhina’s illustrious career began in Sochi and led her to study under notable mentors in Moscow. She toured extensively with the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and later organized significant projects like the Medtner Marathon, which celebrated the works of Nikolai Medtner. Her recording of Medtner’s Piano Sonatas and Fairy Tales was critically acclaimed, highlighting her dedication to bringing classical masterpieces to contemporary audiences.

  • John Boyden: A Celebration

    John Boyden: A Celebration

    By kind permission, dedicated to H.M. The Queen, Patron of the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra.

    This album to be released in March celebrates the life and career of John Boyden, a pivotal figure in British music circles, not least for his founding of Classics for Pleasure, and later Enigma Records. Two key recordings from the original catalogues are presented for appraisal anew, together with a brand new recording of the ‘Trout’ Quintet, commissioned specially for this release and recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London,  on 10 and 11 July, 2023. Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata is played by John Lill courtesy of Universal /Decca (successors to the Enigma catalogue), and Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin by Ian and Jennifer Partridge is licensed from Warner Music as current owners of the former EMI/Classics for Pleasure list.

    Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“The Trout”) from this album is available as a digital ‘EP’ in high definition download here.

  • Schubert: “Unauthorised” Piano Duos, vols 1-3 (discount set)

    Schubert: “Unauthorised” Piano Duos, vols 1-3 (discount set)

    The critically acclaimed series of piano duo transcriptions of music by Schubert by his friends, colleagues, pupils and contemporaries – a fascinating insight into early 19th century transcription practice and performances of the usual brilliantly high standard by the awesome Goldstone and Clemmow.

    See individual CD for full track listings and reviews. This bundle includes the following albums and all three booklets are included in the digital versions:

    Volume 1 (DDA 25026)
    Volume 2 (DDA 25039)
    Volume 3 (DDA 25125)

  • Schubert: String Quartets

    Schubert: String Quartets

    Of these two great classical quartets which look forward so much to the heights of the Romantic period, one (“Death and the Maiden”) is almost universally loved. The almost contemporary A minor quartet is sometimes referred to as the ‘Rosamunde’ because of its strong thematic links to Schubert’s incidental music to that play. Both are here played on period instruments, with gut strings, in what is an authentic and thoroughly top-class performance by one of our foremost string ensembles.

    The Fitzwilliam Quartet has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Acknowledged as one of the finest British quartets of our age they are equally at home in the classics, playing period instruments, or in the modern and contemporary repertoire, having had personal links with Shostakovich who called the Fitzwilliams “the preferred performers of my quartets”.

    Note on Pitch:
    It is well known that a standard international pitch (A=440) was not established until well in to the 20th century; for this recording of music from 1824 we consulted historical tables of pitches for specific years in different countries, and established that if we were performing these works in London or Vienna in the 1820s the pitch might have been A=433 – as recommended by Sir George Smart for the London Philharmonic. – FSQ

  • Franz Schubert: Complete Piano Duets

    Franz Schubert: Complete Piano Duets

    The importance of this set cannot be over-stated. First released on 7 separate CDs by Olympia, it launched the international reputation of Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow as one of the world’s foremost duos, and it remains the only complete recording of Schubert’s original duet compositions including many little-known masterpieces and one Polonaise completed by Goldstone from Schubert’s unfinished manuscript. Each disc concludes with a Polonaise encore written by Schumann, inspired by Schubert. The set represents the whole stretch of Schubert’s output from D.1 to D.968.

    The performances are superb, exhilarating and perfectly integrated: the husband and wife team really do play like one person with four hands.

    Tragically, Anthony Goldstone died on January 2, 2017 while we were finalizing the design work, and did not live to see the re-issue of this marvelous collection, repackaged and remastered as a box set.

  • Schubert: The Unauthorised Piano Duos, Volume 3

    Schubert: The Unauthorised Piano Duos, Volume 3

    A fascinating and historically consequential recording, which follows the enthusiastic praise of the earlier volumes in this intriguing series. Here, we have firstly the world premiere recording of the ‘Death and the Maiden’ Quartet, transcribed by Robert Franz, better known for his lieder and who was almost contemporary with Schubert (he was 18 years younger).

    Even more exciting is the first ever recording of the transcribed version of the ‘Unfinished’ Symphony – but also in its complete new 2014) performing edition; the first two movements were transcribed by Schubert’s friend Hüttenbrenner; the third completed from Schubert’s part-finished movement by Anthony Goldstone, and the finale (also known as the Entracte from Rosamunde), transcribed by Friedrich Hermann with further adaptations by Anthony Goldstone. Essential listening.

    Volumes One (DDA 25026) and Two (DDA 25039) also available.

  • Schubert Piano Masterworks, vols 1-3 (discount set)

    Schubert Piano Masterworks, vols 1-3 (discount set)

    ANTHONY GOLDSTONE

    All three volumes of the Schubert Piano Masterworks;

    Superb recordings, critically acclaimed, by one the foremost Schubert interpreters, and all with a 25% discount if you buy all three together.
    (Digital downloads include all the booklets in PDF format)

    Explore the volumes:

  • Inspiration – Homage to Maria Curcio

    Inspiration – Homage to Maria Curcio

    Maria Curcio was one of the most influential and sought after piano teachers of the latter part of the 20th century including among her students such luminaries as Martha Argerich, Peter Frankl, Radu Lupu, and Mitsuko Uchida – and Anthony Goldstone. Following Curcio’s death in 2009 at the age of 89, this is Goldstone’s tribute to his mentor – a fine recital in its own right, and works all of which have a connection to her, in some way or other. This is the first ever recording of the lovely Waltzes composed by Artur Schnabel. As a bonus we include one of the very few surviving recordings made by Maria Curcio, where she accompanies Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in a Mozart aria – a performance first broadcast in 1957.

  • To Pan and Syrinx – Romantic Flute and Piano

    To Pan and Syrinx – Romantic Flute and Piano

    Following their first Divine Art album “Enchantment”, acclaimed flute and piano duo Ken Smith and Paul Rhodes have recorded a sumptuous disc of romantic music, including the rare and lovely Sonata by Melanie Bonis, one of the few women composers of the late 19th /early 20th centuries, and who was a pupil of César Franck. Presented in luxury digipak.

  • Violin Songs

    Violin Songs

    From one of the UK’s most celebrated and accomplished violinists comes a recording of personal favourites in a recital of romantic and lyrical music par excellence. Madeleine Mitchell is enjoying a highly successful career in both recording and live recitals, and her first CD for Divine Art is a joyful celebration of her chosen instrument. With highly accomplished pianist Andrew Ball, and joined in Strauss’s “Morgen” by soprano Elizabeth Watts, winner of the 2007 Recital Prize at the Cardiff “Singer of the World” competition. Included is the first ever recording of the newly-discovered Morceau Caracteristique by Frank Bridge.