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CLASSICAL NEWS
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>> In the Studio
Cecilia Bartoli is in the studios in London during March with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and  Adam Fischer, finishing sessions for her Salieri record, due to be released later this year. Cecilia spoke to us  recently about the project

" I chose to record the works of Antonio Salieri as I believe that he is one of the leading figures in the history of  Opera at the end of the 18th century. Unfortunately Salieri's name is associated more with myth rather than  music and only very few of his own compositions are performed nowadays. The aim of the recording, which is  based totally on Salieri's own manuscripts, is to give full recognition to a composer whose vast creativity led to  the most vivid portrayal of human emotion in music."

Also, Kun Woo Paik is recording Chopin in Warsaw, and Juan Diego Florez is recording favourite arias in the  studio in Milan.

>> New signing - Janine Jansen
Decca has just signed an exclusive contract with the extraordinarily talented Janine Jansen, a 25-year-old  violinist who is already a huge star in her native Holland. Janine just finished recording her debut Decca  recording this month with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Barry Wordsworth. The new album combines  classic virtuoso works (Ravel's Tzigane and Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, for instance), the  rarely heard Khachaturian Nocturne and Tchaikowsky Russian Dance, and the sweetly lyrical (Shostakovich's  ravishing Romance from The Gadfly and Vaughan Williams's sublime The Lark Ascending). The album will be  available first in The Netherlands mid-April, with an international release in July 2003. We've got an exclusive  listen to a track from her debut album here.  www.deccaclassics.com/media/audio/jansen_promo_schlindlerslist_56k.ram

>> Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky - Valery Gergiev
This month sees the release of the first in a series of important releases by Valery Gergiev and the Kirov  Orchestra & Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre. 2003 is both Valery Gergiev's 50th birthday year, and 50 years  since the death of Prokofiev Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, op 78 was written in 1939 to provide music for  Sergei Eisenstein's film of the same name. As Eisenstein wrote admiringly in 1947:

"Prokofiev works like a clock. This clock neither gains nor loses time. His exactness in time is a by-product of  creative exactness... of absolute exactness in transposing musical imagery into a mathematically exact means  of expression, which Prokofiev has harnessed with a bridle of steel"

In addition to Alexander Nevsky, this release also includes the Scythian Suite. Both were recorded live at the  opening of the first Moscow Easter Festival in May 2002. Alexander Nevsky features the renowned vocal talents  of Olga Borodina.

>> The Decca & Philips Original Masters Series
Fresh from the archives this month are the first releases in the Decca and Philips Original Masters series.
Original Masters: Clifford Curzon
The Original Master from Clifford Curzon features two international release premieres, and one recording of  Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.23 in A major, K488 & 27 in B flat major, K595 (WP/Szell - recorded December  1964) which has NEVER BEEN RELEASED!  http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473116.html

Original Masters: Arthur Grumiaux
Belgian-born Arthur Grumiaux was noted not just for his impeccable technique but also for his insights and  sensitivity to all that he performed. The selection of recordings included here covers the years 1953-62 and  reveal Grumiaux at the absolute height of his musical powers.  http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473104.html

Original Masters: Eduard van Beinum
This collection features Van Beinum with both the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the London Philharmonic  Orchestra in a broad range of repertory from Mozart, Schubert & Beethoven through to pieces by 20th-century  composers he championed such as Bartók and Dutch composers Alphons Diepenbrock (1862-1921) and Willem  Pijper (1894-1947). http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473110.html

Original Masters: Josef Krips
Josef Krips was one of the great conductors of the 20th century. This selection includes repertoire from  Beethoven, Brahms , Dvorák, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, R Strauss and Tchaikovsky.  http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473121.html

Original Masters: Sir Georg Solti
When Sir Georg Solti died in September 1997, a month before his 85th birthday, he had been an exclusive  Decca artist for 50 years. What is sometimes forgotten is that when Solti first signed to Decca in 1947 it was as  a pianist and his first recordings were as partner with violinist Georg Kulenkampff. These are all included in  this Original Master collection. http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473127.html

>> Juan Diego Florez website launch
We've just re designed Juan Diego Florez' website at http://www.deccaclassics.com/juandiegoflorez You'll  now be able to catch up with all the latest news and reviews, leave messages in the guestbook, and have a  sneak peek at the new album ahead of the release, and listen to soundclips.

>> Next Month...
The next releases in the Compact Opera Collection, Riccardo Chailly at 50, and full details about the Gilbert &  Sullivan reissues (get a preview at www.deccaclassics.com/gilbertandsullivan !)

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CROSSOVER & SOUNDTRACK NEWS
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>> Bond in "Johnny English"
Bond are all set to appear in the forthcoming spoof James Bond film "Johnny English" due for worldwide release  in April 2003 (USA in July). The film stars Rowan Atkinson ("Mr Bean," "Black Adder"), Natalie Imbruglia and  John Malkovich. The main movie theme is performed by Bond. The soundtrack is coming out soon on Decca,  and will also feature ""Kismet" from Bond's debut album Born, an exclusive Robbie Williams track, and an ABBA  and Moloko track. Watch out for your favourite girls on screen soon!

>> Evelyn
Decca has recently released the soundtrack to "Evelyn", Based on true events, Evelyn tells the inspiring story of  real-life hero Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) and his young children, Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), Maurice, and  Dermot. The soundtrack features a new, exclusive song by multi-Grammy ® winner Van Morrison and two tracks  sung by Pierce Brosnan himself! http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/soundtracks/evelyn

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NEW RELEASES
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For full information on all our new releases, please go to
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases

>> CLASSICAL RELEASES
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (complete ballet) - RPO, Ashkenazy
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/436078.html

Montserrat Caballé: Vissi d'arte - Anniversary Album
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473704.html

Mozart Piano Sonatas - Alfred Brendel
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473689.html

>> ORIGINAL MASTERS SERIES
Original Masters: Clifford Curzon
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473116.html

Original Masters: Arthur Grumiaux
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473104.html

Original Masters: Eduard van Beinum
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473110.html

Original Masters: Josef Krips
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473121.html

Original Masters: Sir Georg Solti
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473127.html

>> COLLECTOR'S EDITIONS
Labčque sisters: Piano Fantasy - Piano Duets
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473582.html

Sibelius: Symphonies, Tone Poems, Violin Concerto, etc. - Vladimir Ashkenazy
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473590.html

Ashkenazy performs Great Piano Concertos
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/march2003/473601.html

>> SOUNDTRACKS
The Life OF David Gale - Original Soundtrack
http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/soundtracks/davidgale.html