"There are some things you just can’t fake. The chemistry of a group is one of those – the sparks of musical energy that fly when certain artists collide. Bjarte Eike’s Barokksolistene is an alchemical miracle of an ensemble… pure musical gold", wrote Gramophone for the album entitled "The Alehouse Sessions".

Lea Birringer’s first concerto recording is a fascinating combination of the well known with a delightful concerto that does not deserve the obscurity to which it has been consigned.Christian Sinding (1856-1941) composed his concerto 1898. It proved a great success, so its neglect today is difficult to understand. It is certainly demanding on the soloist, but also flatters them. Full of memorable tunes and with brilliant use of the orchestra, this is a cleverly constructed work that deserves to be better known.The later Romance published in 1910 is a wonderfully tender, romantic piece similar to those by Bruch or Dvořák. Mendelssohn’s evergreen concerto of 1845 occupies a place in the pantheon of great violin concertos. It was to be his last orchestral composition (a 3rd piano concerto remained unfinished), and represents perfection – playing without a break, it has many surprises, not least the entry of the soloist after a bar of accompaniment.

Yuval Zorn’s debut album is a truly original and fascinating recital crossing continents from the turbulent revolutionary streets of a violent eastern Europe, to exotic birdsong in the south of France, the tense middle east, the vivid contrasts of Brazil and finally to 1732 Leipzig and the quiet contemplative world of J.S Bach’s famous Chorale Prelude transcribed by Busoni.