Divine Art Records

Period: Classical

  • 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.

  • Beethoven: Diabelli Variations

    Beethoven: Diabelli Variations

    Beethoven’s Opus 120, the 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, is an extraordinary and great work: in many ways ahead of its time, it is exceptionally complex but always accessible. The imagination Beethoven applies to Diabelli’s theme – itself ‘rich in solid musical facts’ (Tovey) – leads to a wealth of original structures and ideas. Incomprehensible as late Beethoven was to many, Diabelli himself recognized its genius and advertised the work as a ‘great and important masterpiece’.

    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.

  • Mozart: Serenades for Wind Instruments

    Mozart: Serenades for Wind Instruments

    Mozart’s Wind Serenades need little introduction as staples of the repertoire and true works of genius. This fine performance by the EUCO brings fresh life to these well-loved works, but something more: Mozart revised the E-flat serenade into Octet form (it was previously a septet) but the publishers made serious errors in the score, omitting part of the minuet and inserting a spurious bar. Santiago Mantas has prepared a new performing edition to correct these errors, and this is the first recording of the complete Serenade as intended by Mozart.

  • Mozart: Piano Sonatas

    Mozart: Piano Sonatas

    Diana Boyle’s Mozart is special: recorded after years of deep thought and reflection on the spirit of the music, her touch is deft, light and delicate, well balanced and never disfigured by harshness. Fast passages trip along while the slower parts are wonderfully expressed. We believe this to be a landmark interpretation essential for even those who know (or think they know) these works inside out.

  • 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:

  • From the British Isles – music for flute and piano

    From the British Isles – music for flute and piano

    The third in a series of albums by this leading flute and piano duo (and their seventh recording for Divine Art) in which we welcome back some iconic recordings previously issued by ASV (and long unavailable) together with some new recordings; this 2 CD set at mid price has several major works by British and Irish composers, from the early 18th to the late 20th century. As ever the duo demonstrate both remarkable virtuosity and also super musicality and depth in these mainly ‘Romantic’ works. The set is provided in luxury packaging at no extra cost, with detailed notes on the music. From the funfilled quirky and jazz-inflected Sonata by Malcolm Arnold through more ‘serious’ pieces by Leighton and Mathias, back to the late baroque sonata of John Ranish, this program is a perfect compilation of lyrical music for flute and piano.

  • Remembering Alfred Deller

    Remembering Alfred Deller

    Alfred Deller was ‘discovered’ by Michael Tippett, and with the supprt of Tippett, Walter Bergmann and others, re-introduced the countertenor voice to the current music repertoire. His influence cannot be overstated. This CD is a tribute to Deller by musicians who have carried on his tradition in major contributions to music both in Britain and around the globe. Music from the late 17th century to the end of the 20th, of incredible beauty and charm.

  • Mozart, Beethoven, Bach-Busoni Piano Works

    Mozart, Beethoven, Bach-Busoni Piano Works

    A British pianist specializing in the late baroque and classical periods, Jill Crossland has acquired an impressive reputation for her new insights into even the most familiar and hackneyed of ‘core repertoire’ works. Penguin Guide to CDs has said “a natural Mozartean … wonderfully lyrical Beethoven”. Here, Jill gives that special treatment to the ‘Moonlight’ with a beautiful and fresh reading; she presents three Bach-Busoni chorale preludes in full Romantic style and sparkles in delightful Mozart.

  • Haydn: Complete Notturni & Scherzandi

    Haydn: Complete Notturni & Scherzandi

    Among the chamber orchestral works of Joseph Haydn, these are relatively little known – his eight Nocturnes and the six Scherzandi are lovely unassuming but well balanced pieces ideal for both concert hall and salon.

    This release has been sponsored and supported by the Haydn Society of Great Britain whose President, Denis McCaldin, is also the conductor here.

  • Stephen Beville in Karlsruhe

    Stephen Beville in Karlsruhe

    After studies at the Royal Academy and the Royal Northern College of Music, British pianist Stephen Beville won a scholarship to study at the Staadt Hochschule in Karlsruhe, Germany. During his time there he gave several acclaimed concerts and made studio recordings, a selection of which make up this, his commercial recording debut. Described as ‘one of the most talented young musicians to emerge from the UK’ by Frankfurter Neue Press, his musicianship and deep consideration of his music are well demonstrated. In this 2 CD set the performances of the Beethoven Op. 111 and Schumann’s C major Fantasie are taken from live concerts.

  • Rainlight – Evocations of Water for Piano Solo

    Rainlight – Evocations of Water for Piano Solo

    From the gentle to the torrential, water in nature affects, blesses (and afflicts) us in many ways, and composers have been drawn to this theme time and again. Here one of the world’s brightest young pianists, in his first CD for us, pulls together a stunning programme representing little raindrops and fountains to oceans and stormy tempests, and including five very fine and atmospheric new pieces by British-Australian composer Alicia Grant.