Testament to the versatility and musical command that Teodor Currentzis and his unique orchestra and choir possess, this new album brings together two diverse masterworks from two titans of Russian music. Although they have been acquainted for a long time prior, this recording represents the first musical collaboration between Teodor Currentzis and the exceptional violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. The instant artistic rapport (an “artistic wedding” of sorts) between these two maverick musicians can be heard in this dynamic new recording of Tchaikovsky’s Violin concerto - one of the most popular works in the violin repertory. Currentzis’ authentic approach to the folk influences in Stravinsky’s music (as revealed in Le Sacre du Printemps) is again very present in his interpretation of Les Noces. This work for percussion, pianists, chorus, and vocal soloists - originally composed as ballet music - is probably one of Stravinsky’s most rarely recorded works. The work is based on a Russian peasant wedding, which the cover artwork references. Exceptional to this new recording is that the MusicAeterna choir members are all native-Russian speakers who bring another level of understanding and authenticity to the work. After her prominent participation in the “Rameau – The Sound of Light” recording, Nadine Koutcher – freshly crowned “2015 Cardiff Singer of the Year” - returns to sing the leading soprano solo part in Les Noces.

To some extent, this recording of all Tchaikovsky's string quartets (including the sextet "Souvenir de Florence") gives an overall picture of the composer: they cover almost the entire span of his career and are of very different character. The musicians of the Klenke Quartet prove themselves to be the ideal conduit of his personal, almost confessional messages, combining clarity and precision with bright colors and intensity. Their performance benefits from their eschewing any sense of false pathos as well as false caution: the quartet succeeds in pulling at the audience's heart strings without sentimentality--in the funeral march of Quartet No. 3, for instance. Listeners will be astounded how close Tchaikovsky allows them to come to him through his chamber music.