Wolfgang Birtel

The Czech composer Julyus Fucik (1872–1916) studied violin, bassoon and - with Antonín Dvorák - composition at the Prague Conservatory. During his spell as a bandmaster in the Austro-Hungarian army he...

The composer Theodor Kirchner (1823-1903), a friend of Johannes Brahms, devoted his work almost exclusively to piano and chamber music as well as lieder. Among his numerous works are also collections...

With this double concerto, the Reger pupil Johanna Senfter (1879-1961) is entirely in the tradition of Antonio Vivaldi and J.S. Bach, although she combines the concerto form with the classical four-mo...

Harald Genzmer has done a great deal for the promotion of young musical talent, and no doubt many a string instrument player can recall from their school orchestra days when his Sinfonietta was on the...

The genre of the violoncello concerto was born in 17th-century Italy. Thanks to the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), there exists today not only a wealth of magnificent violin concertos...

The genre of the violoncello concerto was born in 17th-century Italy. Thanks to the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), there exists today not only a wealth of magnificent violin concertos...

The genre of the violoncello concerto was born in 17th-century Italy. Thanks to the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), there exists today not only a wealth of magnificent violin concertos...

The genre of the violoncello concerto was born in 17th-century Italy. Thanks to the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), there exists today not only a wealth of magnificent violin concertos...

The present arrangement is based on the Edition Moravetz version (1925). In the new edition of the piano version, which also serves as a piano reduction and contains the solo part, the lines and finge...

Diese Bearbeitung des beliebten Werks ist so eingerichtet, dass sie die Abweichungen zwischen Orchester- und Klavierfassung einerseits sowie Erstdruck und alter Gesamtausgabe andererseits und auch die...

Diese Bearbeitung des beliebten Werks ist so eingerichtet, dass sie die Abweichungen zwischen Orchester- und Klavierfassung einerseits sowie Erstdruck und alter Gesamtausgabe andererseits und auch die...

'Alt Wiener Tanzweisen' [Old Viennesse dance tunes] are pretty miniatures, vibrant and catchy (the second one with a slightly elegiac colouring), but all have melodic charm and musical elegance. And w...

Maurice Ravel's melancholy popular 'Pavane for a Dead Princess' composed in 1899 was originally written for piano before he arranged it for orchestra in 1910. Though dedicated to a real princess, the...

A 'Last Night of the Proms' without this march - unthinkable! 'Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1' with its middle section, the hymn-like 'Land of Hope and Glory' by Edward Elgar (1857-1934),...

The 19th century was not only the era of great forms, monumental symphonies and melodious sonatas, no, the Romantic composers proved to be versatile and highly imaginative in the field of little music...

A wedding without a famous wedding march - unimaginable! Wagner's 'Bridal Chorus' from 'Lohengrin' and Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March' from the incidental music of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' vie for th...

The music scene took notice of Erik Satie (1866-1925) all of a sudden: The world premiere of his ballet 'Parade' on 18 May 1917 caused quite a scandal. The production which involved Sergey Diaghilev w...