Divine Art Records

Composer: Johannes Brahms

  • Tomono Kawamura: Reminiscence

    Tomono Kawamura: Reminiscence

    In her new album, pianist Tomono Kawamura invites listeners on a journey through the rich tapestry of classical piano music. From her early beginnings of music education in Japan to her career on the global stage, Tomono’s deep connection to the piano shines through in every piece she plays. Her selections for this album reflect a blend of personal memories and timeless masterpieces, each one brought to life with her distinct poetic sensitivity and technical brilliance.

    The album begins with Tchaikovsky’s October, Op. 37a No. 10, from his celebrated cycle The Seasons. In choosing this particular piece, Tomono captures the reflective and nostalgic mood of autumn, with its lingering profound warmth and hint of melancholy. Her interpretation brings out the delicate interplay of light and shadow in Tchaikovsky’s evocative composition, setting the tone for the album’s journey through the changing emotional landscapes of classical music.

    Following this, Jean Sibelius’s Etude, Op. 76 No. 2 offers a glimpse into the Finnish composer’s introspective world. In Tomono’s hands, the piece’s subdued elegance and quiet intensity are carefully balanced, reflecting the stark beauty of the Finnish landscapes that inspired it. Brahms’s Hungarian Dance adds a lively burst of energy to the collection, with Tomono expertly navigating its spirited rhythms and fiery folk influences. The piece’s vibrant, dance-like qualities are captured with a joyful intensity that showcases her dynamic range and versatility.

    Tomono’s deep affinity for Chopin is evident in her performance of six of the composer’s works, each selected to highlight different facets of his genius. From the lyrical intimacy of his nocturnes to the virtuosic brilliance of his études, Tomono’s interpretations are marked by
    an emotional depth and clarity that resonate with the heart of Chopin’s music.

    The album continues with selections from Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Grieg, each piece chosen to reflect the diverse stylistic periods of the piano repertoire. Whether it’s the crystalline precision of Scarlatti’s sonatas, the sweeping passion of Rachmaninoff’s preludes, the dreamlike textures of Debussy, or the rugged beauty of Grieg, Tomono’s performances are a testament to her understanding of the masterpieces.

    A highlight of Reminiscence is the inclusion of Tomono’s own Variations which was written at the age of twelve. This original work bridges the past and present, blending classical form with contemporary expression. It serves as a showcase of her creativity and deep understanding of the classical tradition, offering a fresh voice while paying homage
    to the composers who have inspired her musical journey.

    Reminiscence is more than just a collection of classical works; it reflects Tomono Kawamura’s lifelong devotion to music. Through her thoughtful interpretations and masterful technique, she shares with listeners a deeply personal experience and memories that will resonate long after the final notes have faded.

    About Tomono Kawamura:

    Born in Japan, at the age of three, Tomono started her piano studies at the Yamaha Music School under Fumiko Eguchi. She made her orchestral debut as a soloist at fifteen. Later, Tomono was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Christopher Elton where she graduated with the First Class Honours. She has won number of awards and appeared in such venues like the Wigmore Hall, London. In recent years, Tomono has appeared internationally as a solo recitalist, captivating audiences around the globe.

  • Gabriele Micheli – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital

    Gabriele Micheli – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital

    Introducing the young prodigy, Gabriele Micheli, recipient of the esteemed Second Prize in the renowned Ciccolini Piano Competition. At just 22 years old, Gabriele’s musical journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Gabriele secured his place at the acclaimed Conservatoria Santa Cecilia in Rome aged 9, and his passion for the piano continued to flourish. Graduating with flying colours in 2017, he further honed his skills, obtaining his Master’s degree from the same prestigious institution in 2020.

    Gabriele’s exceptional talent has earned him international acclaim, as he has emerged victorious in numerous global competitions, leaving audiences spellbound with his soulful performances. This album showcases his diverse repertoire, offering a splendid fusion of keyboard masterpieces from the baroque, Romantic, and 20th Century eras. His profound musical expression and technical finesse can be heard clearly in this excellent recording.

    As a token of recognition for these gifted artists and a commitment to fostering emerging talents, Divine Art takes pride in presenting the second album in our ‘Debut’ series, exclusively dedicated to the outstanding Ciccolini Prize Winners. The first in this series “Violetta Fialko – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital” was released in July 2022.

  • Shades of Night: a piano recital by Andrew Brownell

    Shades of Night: a piano recital by Andrew Brownell

    Step back to a time when the night was an antithesis to the clarity of illumined day. In the especially fertile imaginations of the 19th-century Romantic composers, this was a time when the world gave itself over to mystery and magic.

    These works explore the “otherness” of night and its potential for strangeness. The album also focuses on the theme of passion, mostly from the Romantic period.

    In the especially fertile imaginations of the 19th-century Romantic composers, this was a time when, shielded from the gaze of the Almighty, the world gave itself over to mystery and magic: lovers met for forbidden trysts, revelers drank and cavorted through the small hours, and spirits walked the earth.

    In this album, Brownell hopes to transport you out of our sterile, modern understanding of night and into the stranger, more interesting reality it must have been for most of human history. Described by Musical Opinion as “potentially one of the most significant pianists of his generation”, since winning 1st Prize at the 2005 J.N. Hummel Competition (Bratislava), he has achieved widespread recognition as “one of the foremost Hummel interpreters of our time” (Hudobný Život).

    Brownell’s performances have been seen and heard on BBC radio and television, Classic FM, NPR, CBC, ORF, and RBB KulturRadio. He has been soloist with orchestras such as the Hallé, Royal Liverpool
    Philharmonic, and Calgary Philharmonic.

  • Finzi and Brahms: Music for clarinet and piano

    Finzi and Brahms: Music for clarinet and piano

    Helen Habershon is both an accomplished performer and also an inspired composer of music which often evokes nature, or human emotions and sensibilities. Her first two CDs have been highly praised and were Album of the Month and Album of the Week on Classic FM (UK) respectively. Her album ‘Found in Winter’, released in 2019, has been aired by Classic FM ever since. Helen had an established performing career until a serious injury led her to turn to composing, but she is now once again able to perform.

    Here she teams up with the successful pianist and arranger John Lenehan, who has appeared on over 70 recordings including several solo albums for Sony. It follows their March 2022 release ‘Found in Dreams’ – a collection of romantic lighter pieces, where Helen and John offer a wonderfully diverse collection of repertoire. This includes beautiful arrangements of some of their favourite pieces; a couple of short movements from the Brahms and Finzi works played in full on the new album, and some delightful new compositions of their own.

    As grand master of the high Romantic era, Brahms and his first Clarinet Sonata need no introduction. Here, that work is partnered by two songs and two of his Intermezzi, all arranged by John Lenehan for clarinet and piano. As counterpoint we have the Five Bagatelles by Gerald Finzi, a composer in the English post-Romantic pastoral tradition (with Vaughan Williams, Delius etc). Written in 1940 they are simply enchanting, delightful pieces – perhaps not in the modernist fashion of the day but which will prove enduring despite the composer calling them ‘only trifles’.

  • Found in Dreams

    Found in Dreams

    Helen Habershon is both an accomplished performer and an inspired composer of music which often evokes nature, or human emotions and sensibilities this is music which is ‘easy listening’ and in the light music tradition, and is unpretentious, but never facile: it has deep meaning. Her first two CDs have been highly praised and were Album of the Month and Album of the Week on Classic FM (UK) respectively. Her most recent album, ‘Found in Winter’, released in 2019, has been aired by Classic FM ever since. Helen had an established performing career until a serious injury led her to turn to composing, but she is now once again able to perform. Here she teams up with the successful pianist and arranger John Lenehan, who has appeared on over 70 recordings including several solo albums for Sony.

    For Found in Dreams Helen Habershon and John Lenehan offer a wonderfully diverse collection of repertoire. This includes beautiful arrangements of some of their favourite pieces; a couple of short movements of outstanding clarinet repertoire by Brahms and Finzi and some delightful new compositions of their own. As well as his beautifully crafted arrangements John has also written two lovely pieces to add to Helen’s. The cover design is a dream image from Helen’s five year old grandson.

    Throughout history mankind has been intrigued by the idea of dreams and Helen is no exception. As she says: “It’s interesting that all happenings begin as an idea and in order to get an idea one has to be in a receptive place. When creating I find myself in a kind of timeless space, rather like a daydream. I love the freedom of dreams, anything can happen. There are no boundaries and we are free to explore with no limits. The theme of ‘dreams’ came quite naturally and many of the pieces in the album reflect this.”

  • Mdina – Music for Horn

    Mdina – Music for Horn

    Following the release of his debut album in May 2007 the virtuoso horn player Etienne Cutajar, who took up his first orchestral seat at 18, has seen his career develop with important orchestral appointments in Scotland and elsewhere before returning to his native country to become principal horn of the Malta Philharmonic. He has also appeared as chamber soloist in many prestigious venues.

    This album is named for the central work, Mdina, by Maltese composer Jesmond Grixti; this is a work for horn solo and accompanied by two more contemporary pieces: Air für Horn by Jörg Widmann and Cynddaredd-Brenddyd by Heinz Holliger. These works require the highest accuracy and technical ability which Cutajar supplies with aplomb.

    Accompanying these new pieces are three mainstream works: Beethoven’s well known Sonata receives a superb performance, as do the Andante by Richard Strauss and Brahms’s Horn Trio in E flat.

    In these works, Cutajar is joined by esteemed pianist and Royal Academy professor John Reid, and in the Brahms Trio by Carmine Lauri, one of the UK’s principal orchestral violinists, who has led the London Symphony, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and Royal Opera House among others, and has been featured violinist in a host of major feature films.

    “Cutajar impresses with his breath control, rock-solid evenness of tone, and amazing pppppppps. One has to admire Cutajar for his facility and technical prowess.” – Robert Markow (Fanfare)

  • Diana Boyle – Brahms Piano Works

    Diana Boyle – Brahms Piano Works

    This album focuses on Intermezzi and Capriccios from Brahms’s very late period – Op. 76 and Op. 116-119. All of these pieces are true ‘Songs without Words’ though not titled as such, and are reserved, rather intimate works, never ‘flashy’ or virtuosic for the sake of virtuosity. They carry a strong sense of mood or inner feeling that mere titles could not convey.

    Diana Boyle is a fine pianist who records little but prepares each recording with years of thought, consideration and meditation on the music. Her interpretations are individual and thought-provoking, often delicate, not always conforming to the norm which pianists of lesser talent will follow, but looking to breathe new life and spirit into classic masterpieces.

    Like all of Boyle’s work this is a very carefully prepared and well crafted performance, an excellent addition to the library of recordings of this work.

    The second of our new digital-only ‘Intangible Classics’ series and of the Diana Boyle edition; these works by Brahms remain much less familiar to many than his Songs without Words and Hungarian Dances, but are pinnacles of the Romantic piano repertoire. Though recorded in 1994, this recording is as fresh as today and was previously on Integra Records (CD).

  • Chopin for Piano Duo

    Chopin for Piano Duo

    There seems no end to the brilliance not only of the musicianship and pianistic skill of our top piano duo but also their dedication to re-discovering and recording lost or neglected masterpieces. Here we have the very well known Second Piano Concerto of Chopin, in a two-piano version by Chopin himself and his pupil Mikuli – and never before recorded. A host of other rarities and transcriptions complete yet another reference recording.

  • Cello Diverse

    Cello Diverse

    Susanne Beer was one of the UK’s leading orchestral cellists and here makes her debut solo album with the extremely talented pianist Gareth Hancock. Diverse works, yet bound in commonality by the cello’s voice-like quality and ability to convey emotion and mood.

    Tragically, Susanne died in December 2019, at the age of 52, after a battle with cancer. She will be sadly missed.

  • The Voice of the Clarinet

    The Voice of the Clarinet

    Along with the cello, the clarinet is often regarded as the most “voice-like” expressive instrument. In a unique programme, 20 art-songs and lieder (and one swing classic!) have been newly arranged for clarinet and piano. The result is a beautiful, unusual and uplifting recital with music from across the world.

  • Tzigane

    Tzigane

    A dazzling display of fireworks from the keyboard, this new recording by Anthony Goldstone shows to best effect both his virtuosity and musicianship. Featuring four world première recordings and three superb arrangements by the pianist, a piano showcase of the highest standing.

    The cover image for this CD is the painting “Gypsy Dancer” by the remarkable artist Nina Mikhailenko whose work is full of vitality and passion: see her website.

  • Brahms, Beethoven & Wood – Clarinet Trios

    Brahms, Beethoven & Wood – Clarinet Trios

    The Trio made its debut in Madrid in 1994, and its first, acclaimed appearance at the Wigmore Hall in 1997. The Trio has appeared on BBC Radio 3 and 4 and has recorded the music for several BBC TV documentaries. John Bradbury is principal clarinet of the BBC Philharmonic and his identical twin Adrian appears with the London Sinfonietta and other highly regarded chamber groups. Emily Segal made her concerto debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The work by Hugh Wood was commissioned by the Trio for the Cheltenham International Music Festival and this is its first recording.

    Trio Gemelli are: John Bradbury (clarinet) – Adrian Bradbury (cello) – Emily Segal (piano)