Divine Art Records

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

  • Expectations

    Expectations

    Divine Art is delighted to present the 16 January 2026 release of Expectations from organist Alexander Ffinch, a musical journey of the seasons featuring original works and arrangements, recorded on the magnificent organ at Cheltenham College. Expectations takes the listener through a journey of the fall, winter feasts and festivals, and highlights the anticipation of opportunities and renewal in the new year. The various colours and choruses of the organ spark the imagination, making a wonderfully visceral listening experience which challenges the expectations of both the organ enthusiast and those new to the world of organ music. In this way, Expectations is a perfect follow-up and partner album to Ffinch’s 2024 release Parallels, which featured original works and arrangements alongside music not usually associated with the organ.

    Ffinch begins our seasonal journey at Halloween with Saint-Saëns’ spine-chilling Danse Macabre in a transcription by E. H. Lemare. Alexandre Guilmant’s powerful Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique maintains the dark atmosphere, portraying the arrival of a solemn funeral procession. We then look ahead to the Christmas season in a refreshingly colourful new take on the Advent melody Non Komm der Heiden Heiland by the young composer William Mason, intermixed with the exquisitely crafted Air from Brook Green Suite by Gustav Holst and Derek Bourgeois’ lighthearted Serenade, which provide a different kind of anticipation, both written for upcoming occasions.

    Christmas is in full swing with arrangements of the Overture, Russian Dance (Trépak), and Dance of the Reedpipes (des Mirlitons) from Tchaikovsky’s festive ballet The Nutcracker, wrapped up together with the dazzlingly inventive Variations sur un Noël by Marcel Dupré, a towering figure of 20th-century organ music. This brings us finally towards the new year with the captivating Epilogue from Fanny Mendelssohn’s Das Jahr, a stark yet optimistic depiction of the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Two works by master organist Marcel Lanquetuit complete the album: the centenary of his famous Toccata comes up in 2027, giving the album an ongoing cyclical feel, and we also hear his lesser-known Intermezzo.

    Just as Ffinch offered an organ ‘surprise’ along the lines of Coldplay’s “Paradise” on Parallels, he also extends the question of expectations with David Bowie’s probing song, “Life on Mars?”. The release will also mark the 10th anniversary of David Bowie’s death and reminds us, 55 years after its release, that the journey to find ourselves doesn’t end with New Year’s Resolutions.

    Alexander Ffinch has established himself as a renowned organist with performances spanning the UK, Europe, USA, and Asia. Notable for his role as the College Organist at Cheltenham College since 2004, Alexander oversees daily organ performances in the College Chapel and accompanies choirs while maintaining an active schedule as a recitalist. He has featured previously in the Cheltenham International Music Festival and on BBC Radio 3 live broadcasts. His recordings have also recently featured on Radio 3 programmes. There are forthcoming recitals at Notre Dame and La Madeleine in Paris as well as regular series appearances in Cheltenham and other concerts in both the UK and USA.

  • 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.

  • Russian Piano Music volume 15: Tchaikovsky

    Russian Piano Music volume 15: Tchaikovsky

    Stefania Argentieri is a young Italian pianist of consummate skill – so necessary to give full expression to the piano music of Tchaikovsky, much of which remains strangely under-appreciated. She has won many awards and has performed at prestigious events in Europe and the USA. She teaches at the Giordano Conservatory in Foggia and is also working as a music editor. Stefania has made recordings with her chamber ensemble. This is her second solo album for Divine Art, following her well-received recording of Prokofiev released in 2020: “outstanding (MusicWeb International); “True command of this daunting repertoire” (The Whole Note).

    This album showcases the spectrum of Tchaikovsky’s art from the pastoral and gentle (extracts from 18 Pieces and The Seasons) to the noble and high-Romantic (the ‘Grand Sonata’) and at a time when modern Russia is blighted by its leaders’ warmongering and aggression, a reminder that the Russian musical art of the past is still as instructive and valuable as ever.

  • ‘From Russia’ – music for clarinet and orchestra

    ‘From Russia’ – music for clarinet and orchestra

    Pure enjoyment is provided by this delightful new recording of popular Russian music arranged for clarinet and orchestra by Robin White. From Rimsky-Korsakov’s Clarinet Concerto – originally scored for military band – to the Andante Cantabile from Tchaikovsky’s first string quartet (a staple for arrangers for decades) this is a beautifully played album by one of Britain’s busiest orchestras. An interloper (but a welcome one) from Italy (but of Eastern European style) provides a superb finale.

    Ian Scott is the principal clarinet of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and has been guest principal with several top London orchestras. He has previously made premiere recordings of Clarinet Concertos for ASV and Dutton. Arranger and conductor Robin White has enjoyed a very busy and varied career; his first recording (1992, Chandos) was very popular and he has made other recordings of light music for several labels. He has managed his own orchestra and choir and appeared, with his choir, in a pivotal episode of the British TV drama series EastEnders. As an arranger of light music, his work has been broadcast by BBC orchestras many times.

  • Russian Piano Music, Vols. 1-15

    Russian Piano Music, Vols. 1-15

    25% PERCENT OFF USUAL PRICE

    A major series mixing familiar and less-known music, from the Russian Romantic school, from Rachmaninov to Ustvolskaya by way of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Rebikov, Gliere, Lyapunov, Arensky, Weinberg, Mussorgsky and more.

    Each CD has been critically acclaimed. Featuring pianists Natalia Andreeva, Anthony Goldstone, Murray McLachlan, Alfonso Soldano, Stefania Argentieri and Sergei Dukachev.

    Explore the series :

    Digital downloads include all booklets in PDF format.
    This set consists of 14 single albums and one double.

  • Tchaikovsky Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases, vol. 2

    Tchaikovsky Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases, vol. 2

    In this superb album Anthony Goldstone performs exquisite versions of music from Tchaikovsky’s three major ballets, The Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. Apart from the piece by Percy Grainger, these are, incredibly, the first ever recordings of these superb transcriptions.

    See vol. 1 (transcriptions of opera and orchestral pieces) here

  • Tchaikovsky Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases, Volume 1

    Tchaikovsky Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases, Volume 1

    As ever, Anthony Goldstone as both pianist and, in some cases, arranger, has produced a startlingly original and vibrant program. Here, music originally written for concert or operatic performance is presented in little known transcriptions, all but one in fact here receiving their first recording. An important and rare addition to the Tchaikovsky canon. Volume 2 contains transcriptions of music from Tchaikovsky’s ballets.

  • The Piano at the Ballet

    The Piano at the Ballet

    The final part of Anthony Goldstone’s brilliant triptych of recitals including transcriptions, variations, fantasias, and arrangements of music from public ‘spectacles’ – the first two CDs attracted enormous critical praise and this volume is no less fine, containing perhaps a few more well-known themes, such as those from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but in fresh and new arrangements by the performer – indeed most of the music here is receiving its first recording.

    Now, posthumously, here is volume 2 (DDA 25148)

    A Night at the Opera (DDA 25067)
    The Piano at the Carnival (DDA 25076)

  • Tchaikovsky for Four Hands

    Tchaikovsky for Four Hands

    With CDs numbering over forty and a busy concert schedule, the British piano duo Goldstone & Clemmow was firmly established as a leading force until the untimely passing of Anthony Goldstone. This CD, the first recorded by the duo for Divine Art, presents the only available recordings of 3 fantastic works. The disc has received great critical acclaim and has been one of our best selling discs. See their complete list of fine recordings here