The Doors of Heaven

The Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds has rapidly become one of the world’s most performed choral composers. His ability to bring a dramatic text to life through textures that are lush yet permeated with a more stringent and angular aesthetic has ensured a steady steam of commissions from leading orchestras and choral forces. The four works here reflect an interest in the beauty of nature, religious faith and legend.

MUSIC FOR VIOLIN, VOL. 1

In his autobiography, Igor Stravinsky wrote of his not having had an ''great liking'' for the combination of strings and piano. That there nevertheless are a number of chamber works by him featuring the violin is to a large extent due to the violinist Samuel Dushkin. The two were introduced to each other by Stravinsky's german music publisher who wanted to persudade him to compose a violin concerto. They obviously hit it off: their collaboration continued after the concerto had come into being in 1931, and they devised a recital programme to perform together on tours.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Acclaimed Chinese/American composer Bright Sheng has been fascinated by folk music for his entire career and Northern Lights is his first work to use Scandinavian folk music, exploring its kinship with American sources such as Appalachian and Bluegrass music. Bright Sheng combines Chinese and Western musical ideas to create luminous, deeply expressive and rhythmic scores, giving new meaning to the idea of music as a universal language.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, THE NUTCRACKER & SWAN LAKE

To celebrate the eighteenth birthday of Neeme Jarvi, one of today's most prolific conductors, we have gathered his recent recordings of Tchaikovsky's three full-length ballets in a box set. Recorded with the legendary Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, these are landmark performances, both for the music itself and for the critically acclaimed interpretations.