Christopher Jesina 8/21/26 Christopher Jesina 8/21/26

OUT TODAY: Joshua Bell and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Release All-Paganini Album on Sony Classical

Album Artwork – For Media Use (Download)

Joshua Bell and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Release All-Paganini Album on Sony Classical
Digital Album Out Today – Listen Here

Today, August 21, 2026, GRAMMY winner and honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to Music Joshua Bell releases PAGANINI on Sony Classical with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, where he is about to embark on his fifteenth season as Music Director. The digital-only album is available now and features Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 – with a new cadenza by Bell – and Cantabile, arranged by James Stephenson for solo violin and chamber orchestra. Bell’s recording of Paganini’s Carnival of Venice, originally released on the Ladies in Lavender soundtrack, is included as a bonus track. A trailer for the concerto is available here.

An exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 albums, winning Grammy, Mercury, Gramophone, Diapason d’Or, and OPUS KLASSIK awards. His release of Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat, capturing Bell’s own arrangement of the piano piece for violin and strings, has already been streamed more than 26 million times. Bell has led the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields on several albums, including Beethoven’s 4th and 7th Symphonies, Bach Concertos, and the 2019 GRAMMY-nominated Bruch: Scottish Fantasy.

Bell first performed Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1 at just 13 years old. More than 40 years later, he returns to one of the violin repertoire's most technically demanding works with the insight and artistry that come from a lifetime of performing.

Bell explains: "Just a decade after [the composition of] Beethoven's iconic Violin Concerto, Paganini pushed the violin's physical capabilities further than anyone had before. Despite its obvious technical difficulty, this concerto is rich with musical challenges – it is extraordinarily operatic, straight out of The Barber of Seville, full of wit, charm, and drama. As the soloist, you get to play every character! This is not just a ‘showpiece,’ it is a masterpiece in its own way.”

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Principal First Violin Harvey de Souza comments about Bell’s approach to the concerto:

"Joshua is one of those rare musicians who can meet every one of its extraordinary demands while making the music feel spontaneous, expressive and completely alive. To experience him combining that breathtaking virtuosity with the generosity and connection of directing the orchestra from the violin was genuinely thrilling for all of us."

Annie Lydford, Chief Executive, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, adds:

“In 2022, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields undertook a major tour across Germany, with Joshua playing Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 (and then, incredibly, coming back onstage after the interval to direct Schumann’s Second Symphony from the violin). The performances, quite simply, took my breath away. To hear Joshua’s interpretation of this virtuosic work, which placed such emphasis on the beauty and lyricism of the writing, felt like a breath of fresh air. Without a separate conductor, the bond between Joshua and this orchestra is very special indeed: trusting, sensitive, adventurous, and like chamber music presented on the grandest scale. After performing this piece to standing ovations around the world, I am so pleased that Joshua and ASMF have captured it in a recording so that listeners can continue to enjoy it for years to come. This coming season, we will celebrate 15 years with Joshua as ASMF Music Director, coinciding perfectly with a record that celebrates so much of what is special about this important artistic relationship.”

Since succeeding Sir Neville Marriner as Music Director of London’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) in 2011, Bell has “brought a new bite and vigour to the band’s well-established aristocratic nobility,” which makes for “captivating music-making” (The Scotsman). Indeed, the success of their multifaceted partnership has been recognized with a Grammy nomination and the extension of Bell’s contract through the 2027-28 season. As the UK’s Arts Desk puts it: “Who needs a conductor with a leader-soloist of this calibre?”

Download high-resolution photos here.

Joshua Bell: Paganini
Release date: Aug 21

Joshua Bell, violin and conductor
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, orchestra

Track list:

Niccolò Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6

1. Allegro maestoso (original cadenza by Joshua Bell)
2. Adagio espressivo
3. Rondo. Allegro spiritoso

Niccolò Paganini: Cantabile in D major (arr. James Stephenson)

[BONUS TRACK] Niccolò Paganini: The Carnival of Venice

Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical, Milan Records, XXIM Records, and Masterworks Broadway imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.sonymusicmasterworks.com.

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Christopher Jesina 8/21/26 Christopher Jesina 8/21/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Releases New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Single Midnight Dreamer Out Today

Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Releases New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Single Midnight Dreamer Out Today

**PR Photo: Credit – Alex Lake (Download**)

Pioneering Composer and Pianist
Alexis Ffrench

New Single: Midnight Dreamer
Out Today - Listen Here
Taken From Upcoming Album, 24

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 2, 2026
Pre-Save Here

New York, NY – Pioneering pianist, composer and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench has shared new single, Midnight Dreamer, out now from his forthcoming album 24 - listen here. The album set for release on October 2, 2026 and available for pre-save here. “Midnight Dreamer is all about quiet, introspection, and meditation. It represents the space between the end of one and the start of another.” says Ffrench.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24 unveils as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day.

Gently guiding listeners from dawn to dusk – through the quiet of early morning into the busy heart of day and on to the evening’s golden hour – 24 is woven from daydreams, memories of human connection and the desire for authenticity amongst an ever evolving and increasingly simulated digital age.

Made at legendary Provençal studio Miraval, owned by Brad Pitt and Damien Quintard, Ffrench recorded 24 during ten-days of near-total immersion on an array vintage of grand pianos, upright pianos and organs. Adding delicate ripples of percussion to the record’s kaleidoscopic sound, 24 also enlists a string ensemble featuring harp and upright bass.

Inspired in part by the many messages Ffrench has received from listeners throughout his career, 24 finds Ffrench reflecting on what his music means to those who find solace in it and the cherished moments it has served to soundtrack. He explains: “I wanted this album to reflect the everyday miracles in people’s lives.”

Throughout his career, Ffrench has asked one question above all others: “what do my listeners need from me?” Now, with 24, the answer is both simple and profound: music to live by.

2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of Ffrench’s seminal debut album Piano Diaries. With each piece evoking the pull of a series of intimate and reflective moments, the record fuses cinematic simplicity with an emotionally direct and highly accessible composition that welcomes all listeners to step directly into Ffrench’s intimate and atmospheric world.

One of the world’s most exciting artists, Alexis Ffrench has played a pivotal role in bringing instrumental music to an ever-increasing audience. His accolades speak for themselves, with well over 1 billion streams across his catalogue, multiple No.1 albums and Gold-selling status in the USA for his single “Bluebird.”

Whether he’s performing at the King’s Coronation Concert to an audience of over 18 million, scooping an ARIA Award for his Apple Music show Classical Connections, hosting brand-new Classic FM series “Music to Live By”, performing at major festivals and selling out venues worldwide, hosting masterclasses with schools & charitable organizations or putting his own spin on contemporary pop hits for his enthusiastic social media audience, Alexis is driven by the desire to make music accessible to all.

Refusing to be penned in by genre, time period or the expectations of the kind of musician he should be, and rather than leaning into the traditional understanding of the ‘classical’ genre, Alexis instead leans outward – with his expansive perspective drawing on a multifarious mosaic of influences that takes his listeners by the hand and leads them on a journey through a world of possibility.

With the new album acting as a timelessly enchanting musical journey through the in numerous possibilities held inside one singular day, 24 is the first studio album from Alexis Ffrench since 2024’s Classical Soul Vol. 1 – welcoming in a contemplative and captivating new dawn for the forerunner of contemporary classical music.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 out October 2, 2026
Listen to Midnight Dreamer and Pre-Save 24 here

About Alexis Ffrench

Alexis Ffrench is an artist with a special ability to create music for the soul. A pioneering superstar and trailblazer of ‘Classical Soul’, Alexis’ sound refuses to be penned in by genre, time period, or the expectations of the kind of musician he should be. Rather than leaning into the narrow, traditional understandings of ‘classical’, Alexis instead leans outward, expansive in his perspective, drawing on a multifarious mosaic of influences that takes the listener by the hand and leads them on a journey through a world of possibility.

Alexis’ accolades speak for themselves, as he has surpassed a staggering 1 billion streams across his catalogue, his record Evolution and his single ‘Bluebird’ achieved RIAA Gold status in the US.

A passionate advocate for music education, Alexis is the first-ever Artistic Director of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in its 133-year history. He is also Trustee and Governing Body Member and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, London, and Honorary Fellow of Homerton College, Cambridge. Alexis is an Ambassador for Restore The Music, who work with state schools to provide funding to buy musical instruments and ensure every young person has access to music.

Alexis Ffrench Socials
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Christopher Jesina 8/21/26 Christopher Jesina 8/21/26

Out Today: New Single from Violinist Esther Abrami's Sony Classical Album Amour - Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle "Habanera"

Acclaimed Violinist Esther Abrami
Releases New Album Amour on Sony Classical

Album Marks Major Artistic Milestone For Abrami
Who Presents Her First Own Large-Scale Composition

New Single: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle Habanera (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra) from Carmen

Out Today - Listen Here

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 9, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

Celebrated violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami will release her new album Amour on October 9, 2026 on Sony Classical. The new single, out today, is L'amour est un oiseau rebelle Habanera (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra) from Bizet's Carmen. One of the most popular opera melodies ever written made into an epic instrumental version: Esther Abrami reimagines Georges Bizet's Habanera from Carmen for solo violin and orchestra. Originally written for the opera's lead character, the aria has become one of the best-known works in the classical repertoire. Esther's new arrangement brings the famous melody to the violin, offering a fresh take while preserving the character of Bizet's original.

Marking a major artistic milestone, ‘Amour’ is the first album where Abrami presents an original own large-scale composition at its core: a self-written nine-part suite. Conceived as an intimate and deeply expressive exploration of love in all its forms, the work captures the full spectrum of emotions, from tenderness and passion to longing and heartbreak, and stands at the heart of a project that blends original music with newly reimagined works for violin and orchestra.

“With ‘Amour’, I wanted to explore love in all its forms – not just the joy and beauty, but also the vulnerability, the longing, the anger and the pain that often comes with it. Writing my own suite of nine movements allowed me to express a range of very personal emotions, while the other pieces on the album reflect how universal these feelings are across time and genres. Love is something that we all experience, for the best and the worst but at the end, that’s what connects us all. I hope this album resonates with anyone who listens to it,” says Esther Abrami.

Beyond the central suite, ‘Amour’ brings together a diverse selection of iconic classical works about love, each newly arranged for solo violin and orchestra. A particular highlight of the album is Nino Rota’s ‘Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme’, featuring the celebrated mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. Viotti’s vocals add a captivating dimension to the piece as she engages in a duet with Esther’s violin. The programme further includes epic versions for violin and orchestra of Céline Dion’s All by Myself’ and Georges Bizet’s Carmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle from Habanera. New arrangements of Francis Poulenc’s Les chemins de l’amour, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Melodie), and the virtuosic intensity of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor add even more musical colours to this collection of works centred around love. The album also features a new version arranged by Esther Abrami of Charlie Chaplin’s Désillusion amoureuse from the movie “The Circus”, a poignant composition that reveals the legendary filmmaker’s deeply expressive musical voice.

Throughout her career, Esther Abrami has been known for her ability to connect classical music with a wide and diverse audience, bringing fresh perspectives to the repertoire. With ‘Amour’, she reaches a new artistic dimension, uniting her work as a composer with her unique voice as an interpreter, thus shaping a musical language that is unmistakably her own.

This new chapter in her career follows a period of exceptional success. Since the release of her album ‘Women’ in April 2025, Esther Abrami has become one of the most visible young artists in classical music. Especially in her home country, France, she has appeared on major television programmes, performing for millions of viewers and captivating audiences through a series of highly successful concerts. Her book ‘La musique est (aussi) une affaire de femmes’ has quickly become a genre bestseller and will be released in English and German in September under the title ‘Music is (also) a Women’s Affair’. In recognition of her artistic impact, she will receive an Opus Klassik Award 2026, the most important classical music prize in the German speaking world.

Amour features the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Irene Delgado-Jiménez and will be available for streaming and digital download in stereo and the immersive format Dolby Atmos. The album will also be released as CD and a limited-edition 2x Ecorecord InkPlosion Colour LP – pre-order here.

Amour - Track List

1. Désillusion amoureuse (Charlie Chaplin)
2. – 10. Amour Suite (Esther Abrami)
11. Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme (Nino Rota) – feat. Marina Viotti
12. All by Myself (Céline Dion)
13. Carmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Bizet)
14. Moods, Impressions and Souvenirs, Op. 41: Lento (Fibich)
15. Les chemins de l’amour (Poulenc)
16. Orpheo and Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Gluck)
17. Chaconne in G minor (Vitali)

* City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Irene Delgado-Jiménez

Christopher Jesina 8/21/26 Christopher Jesina 8/21/26

Aug. 28: Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma Announce Fifth Album in Beethoven For Three Series on Sony Classical

Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma Announce Fifth Album in Beethoven For Three Series on Sony Classical

Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma
Announce Fifth Album in Beethoven For Three Series

Symphony No. 3 Eroica and Leonore Overture No. 3
with Violist Antoine Tamestit
Arranged for Piano Quartet by Shai Wosner

Scherzo from Symphony No. 3 Eroica
Out Now - Listen Here

Worldwide Album Release Date: August 28, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma announce the fifth album in their acclaimed Beethoven for Three series, out August 28, 2026 on Sony Classical. Pre-order is available now. Pairing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, Eroica, with Leonore Overture No. 3 from the composer’s only opera, Fidelio, this new recording marks another milestone in three friends' journey through the marvels of one extraordinary composer. This installment welcomes celebrated violist Antoine Tamestit into the ensemble for the first time. The Scherzo from Symphony No. 3, Eroica, is available now – listen here.

Beethoven for Three features three friends in pursuit of the essential elements of Beethoven's musical language, presenting his most iconic symphonies in arrangements for small groups. By performing the symphonies on three (and now four) instruments, the artists give audiences a rare look at Beethoven's compositional language at its most intimate and raw.

"We all feel that being able to participate in a symphony is such a wonderful thing to do," says Ma. "One of the things that has separated people since recording began is the categories that we put people in, in which chamber musicians, orchestra players, people who play concertos, people who do transcriptions, people who compose, people who conduct, are all viewed as separate categories with no overlap. That siloed thinking discourages actual creativity and collaboration between people. And so, we feel that one of the things that is really important to do today is to actually go back to the first principles of music, the simple interaction between friends who want to do something together."

"The beginnings of all this music were first arranged," says Ax. "It used to be completely normal that the first release of a symphony would not be the full score. You wouldn't get that music until dozens of years later. You would get the arrangement for one piano four hands, or trio, or quartet, that was done by the composer and handed to the publisher. And that's how you got to know the music."

An avid performer of chamber music, violist Antoine Tamestit joins the group following a recent collaboration with the trio in recital at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood, opening the 2025–26 Tanglewood season. Tamestit, a founding member of Trio Zimmermann with Frank Peter Zimmermann and Christian Poltéra, has a rich, deeply colored tone and formidable technique that have made him one of the most sought-after violists of his generation, with premieres including Jörg Widmann's Viola Concerto, which was written for him.

Pianist and composer Shai Wosner’s arrangements have become central to the project's distinctive sound and reflect the tradition of Beethoven's own era, when symphonic works were commonly disseminated through chamber arrangements. Wosner has arranged Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 1, 4, and 6 for the trio in addition to this new arrangement of "Eroica" for quartet. His arrangement of the Sixth Symphony, "Pastorale," was singled out by Gramophone for the way it honors Beethoven's original writing without being confined by it. Wosner's own honors as a pianist include an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.

This new album brings together two defining masterpieces from Beethoven's heroic period, the "Eroica" Symphony's journey from struggle to triumph and the Leonore Overture's vivid musical drama capture a composer expanding the possibilities of Classical form and paving the way toward the early Romantic era.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 Eroica represents one of the most profound artistic statements of the composer's heroic period. Originally conceived as a tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom Beethoven admired as a champion of the ideals of the French Revolution and the promise of a new age, the symphony underwent a profound transformation when Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. Disillusioned by what he viewed as Napoleon's abandonment of those ideals, Beethoven famously erased the dedication and instead presented the work as a broader exploration of heroism itself.

Complementing the “Eroica” on the album is Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3, originally conceived as an overture to Fidelio. First composed around 1803, the opera underwent nearly a decade of revision before achieving success in its final 1814 version. In the process, Beethoven wrote four overtures for the work: three now known as the Leonore Overtures, named after the opera's heroine, and a fourth, the Fidelio Overture. Of the four, Leonore No. 3 has become the most celebrated as a standalone concert work. The piece references the dramatic climax of the final act of Fidelio, distilling the essence of Beethoven's heroic-humanist opera into a concentrated fifteen minutes of potent, exhilarating music.

Ax, Kavakos, and Ma first performed together as a trio at the 2014 Tanglewood Festival, playing a program of Brahms's piano trios; their first recording effort, Brahms: The Piano Trios, was released in 2017 to universal critical acclaim, with Gramophone observing that the performances "get straight to the heart of Brahms's music, relishing its pull of opposites."

Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 3 Eroica and Leonore Overture No. 3
Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos, Emanuel Ax, Antoine Tamestit

Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 Eroica

1. I. Allegro con brio
2. II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
3. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
4. IV. Finale. Allegro molto

5. Leonore Overture No. 3 in C Major, Op. 72b

The concept of Beethoven for Three has its origins at the 2021 Tanglewood Music Festival, where Ax, Kavakos, and Ma first performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in trio format. The performance was an instant success, leading to the first release in the series, Beethoven for Three: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5, released December 3, 2021 on Sony Classical, featuring an arrangement of Symphony No. 2 attributed to Beethoven's friend and student Ferdinand Ries, working under the composer's supervision, alongside a new arrangement of Symphony No. 5 by contemporary English composer Colin Matthews. Gramophone noted that "the performance by Ax, Kavakos and Ma is not just aptly intense—the opening Allegro con brio is as involving as any orchestral performance I've heard—but also incredibly sensitive to the music's crucial juxtapositions, as one can hear in the Andante con moto, where they so deftly balance delicacy and heroic swagger—note the vulnerability in Kavakos's tone at 1'42"—in a way that I find deeply moving."

The second installment, Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" and Op. 1, No. 3, followed on November 11, 2022, offering listeners two very different sides of the composer using the same three voices: the brilliant exploration of each instrument's expressive capabilities in the C Minor piano trio, and, in the "Pastorale," lovingly reimagined for trio by Shai Wosner, a vision of the piano, violin, and cello transcending their own identities to become, in turn, bird, brook, and storm. The Strad noted that "the blend and balance between these three hugely experienced players is just about ideal in the relaxed outer movements [of Symphony No. 6] and in the 'Scene by the Brook', while the 'Peasants' Merrymaking' is as rustic and playful as the 'Storm' is disruptive...This is Ax's stamping ground and he brings his string-playing friends along with him for a performance that beguiles and delights from beginning to end."

The third volume, pairing the unforgettable "Archduke" trio with Symphony No. 4, again arranged by Wosner, was released March 15, 2024. The London Times wrote, "Ax's ten fingers provide most of the symphony's harmonic support, leaving Ma and Kavakos free to concentrate on melodic charms and quirks. All unite in ensemble verve and kaleidoscopic hues... intimate chamber music playing doesn't come much better than this."

The fourth volume, released August 22, 2025, featured Symphony No. 1 (Op. 21) alongside the "Gassenhauer" (Op. 11) and "Ghost" (Op. 70, No. 1) piano trios — three works spanning more than a decade of the composer's output, from his early years well into his "middle" period.

Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical, Milan Records, XXIM Records, and Masterworks Broadway imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/.

APPROVED PR IMAGE (Credit: Vincent Tullo): Download
Left to Right: Leonidas Kavakos, Emanuel Ax, Antoine Tamestit, Yo-Yo Ma

Connect with the artists

Emanuel Ax
Website | Facebook | X

Leonidas Kavakos
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Antoine Tamestit
Website

Christopher Jesina 8/14/26 Christopher Jesina 8/14/26

Sept. 18: Cellist Sol Gabetta Releases New Album on Sony Classical – Saint-Saëns & Lalo: Cello Concertos with Les Siècles New Single Out Now

Cellist Sol Gabetta Releases New Album on Sony Classical – Saint-Saëns & Lalo: Cello Concertos with Les Siècles New Single Out Now

Sol Gabetta Releases New Album on Sony Classical Saint-Saëns & Lalo: Cello Concertos with Les Siècles

New Single Out Now - Listen Here
II. Allegretto con moto
from Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33

Worldwide Release Date: September 18, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

On September 18, 2026, cellist Sol Gabetta’s new albumSaint-Saëns & Lalo: Cello Concertoswill be released on Sony Classical – pre-order is available now . Recorded with the French orchestra Les Siècles, performing on period instruments, the cellist presents Camille Saint-Saëns’ two Cello Concertos alongside Édouard Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D minor—three cornerstone works of the Romantic cello repertoire. New single, II. Allegretto con moto from Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33 by Camille Saint-Saëns is out now - listen here.

Bringing together historically informed orchestral sound with her own distinctive voice, Sol Gabetta explores the contrasting musical worlds of these concertos. Saint-Saëns’ First Concerto and Lalo’s concerto, composed within a span of just a few years, both place a strong emphasis on the orchestra, creating a dynamic dialogue between soloist and ensemble. By contrast, Saint-Saëns’ Second Concerto—written three decades later—emerges as a highly virtuosic and structurally expansive work that demands exceptional technical and expressive range from the soloist.

Known for her expressive intensity and clarity of interpretation, Sol Gabetta shapes each of these works with a strong sense of narrative and colour, highlighting their lyrical qualities while bringing out their distinctive characters. The collaboration with Les Siècles adds a further dimension to the recording, offering a sound palette that reflects the stylistic context of the late 19th century while remaining vivid and immediate.

Saint-Saëns & Lalo: Cello Concertos by Sol Gabetta with Les Siècles will be available from September 18, 2026 on CD, as well as for download and streaming in Stereo and in Dolby Atmos.

Sol Gabetta is one of the leading cellists of her generation, internationally acclaimed for her expressive playing and wide-ranging repertoire. She performs regularly with major orchestras and conductors worldwide and is known for her close engagement with both core repertoire and lesser-known works. She appears with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and London Symphony Orchestra, and is a frequent guest at major international venues and festivals including the Lucerne Festival and New York’s Lincoln Center. Following her recent return to the United States, she made her debut with the New York Philharmonic and appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, while her international touring activity has also taken her to Asia, including appearances at the BBC Proms Japan. Sol Gabetta performs on a rare Matteo Goffriller cello from 1730.

Repertoire:

Camille Saint-Saëns:
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33
I. Allegro non troppo
II. Allegretto con moto
III. Molto allegro

Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 119
I. Allegro moderato e maestoso – Andante sostenuto
II. Allegro non troppo – Cadenza – Molto allegro

Édouard Lalo:
Cello Concerto in D Minor
I. Prélude. Lento – Allegro maestoso
II. Intermezzo. Andantino con moto – Allegro presto
III. Introduction. Andante – Allegro vivace

Christopher Jesina 8/3/26 Christopher Jesina 8/3/26

OUT TODAY: Guitarist Marcin Releases Live Sessions – New Sony Music Masterworks EP

Marcin Releases Live Sessions
New EP on Sony Music Masterworks
Out Today - Listen Here

New Video: Art Of Guitar (Live) Feat. Yamandu Costa
Watch Here

Catch Marcin Live on His Art of Guitar World Tour
Tickets & Info Here

JULY 31 – NEW YORK, NY – Today, Marcin releases LIVE SESSIONS, a new EP of nine songs that capture the guitar mastermind’s extraordinary musicianship in its purest form — listen here. The EP was recorded live without an audience and showcases Marcin’s unique fusion of virtuosity, percussive guitar technique, and genre-defying arrangements. It features classics such as the Moonlight Sonata and Chopin Nocturne alongside original compositions, and his recent streaming hit Art of Guitar. Accompanying the EP is the release of a new live video for “Art of Guitar,” this time, featuring renowned Brazilian guitarist and composer, Yamandu Costa – watch here.

Of his new Live Sessions EP, Marcin notes: “As I'm working on my second studio record, I wanted to keep things fresh, so I decided to record a brand-new EP featuring live studio versions of my most engaging arrangements and compositions. It includes songs from Dragon In Harmony, as well as some older arrangements that I play at my shows. Meeting Yamandu Costa for this project was a highlight for me. I've been following him for a long time, and he's a real inspiration for me. Collaborating with him in Warsaw on a remix of “Art of Guitar” was a real honor. His performance on the song is fantastic, and I’m also excited about the new reworked elements added in this live version. I'm very proud of this release. It captures raw, unfiltered performances of songs I love to play, and I hope audiences enjoy listening to them.”

Fans can experience Marcin performing live on the final leg of his Art of Guitar World Tour, which kicks off in Asia on August 7, and includes stops in India, Thailand, China, Indonesia, as well as three sold out shows in his native Poland. For ticketing and information, please visit https://marcin.tix.to/tour.

LIVE SESSIONS: TRACKLIST

1. Just The Two Of Us (Live)
2. Smooth Operator (Live)
3. Tribute to Paco (Live)
4. Art of Guitar (Live), feat. Yamandu Costa
5. Chopin Nocturne (Live)
6. Toccata (Live)
7. Carmen (Live)
8. Bite Your Nails (Live)
9. Moonlight Sonata (Live)

ABOUT MARCIN

Named “one of the most talented guitarists of his generation” by Guitar World, Marcin is one of the pioneers of a new percussive style, rooted in flamenco and classical. With nods from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Guitar World, Premier Guitar and more, plus a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and his first-ever cover for Total Guitar, Marcin continues to captivate millions of fans and followers with his show-stopping guitar style across multiple platforms. In a few short yet explosive years, Marcin’s virtuosic technique has been championed by the likes of Tom Morello, Paul Stanley, Madonna, BTS’ Jungkook, Timbaland, Ty Dolla $ign and Wyclef Jean, to name a few. In 2022, Marcin launched a signature guitar with Ibanez Guitars as an ambassador for the Japanese brand. The electrifying performances by this Polish-born musician extend far beyond the screen, selling out across Asia and Europe in weeks. Marcin is currently on the road for his first-ever global headline Art of Guitar tour performing hits and music from his debut album, Dragon in Harmony (Sony Masterworks).

Connect With Marcin:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

ART OF GUITAR TOUR DATES:
TICKETING AND INFO HERE

AUG 7 – Mumbai, India – NMACC
AUG 8 – Bengaluru, India – PCPA
AUG 9 – Delhi, India – Siri Fort Auditoriums
AUG 12 – Shillong, India – Latiri
AUG 15 – Bangkok, Thailand – MGI Hall (2)
AUG 18 – Hong Kong, China – Tung Po
AUG 20 – Haikou, China – Hainan Centre
AUG 22 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Lalala Festival
DEC 13 – Wrocław, Poland – Narodowe Forum Muzyki
DEC 22 – Warsaw, Poland – Palladium
DEC 23 – Warsaw, Poland – Palladium

# # #

Christopher Jesina 7/24/26 Christopher Jesina 7/24/26

Sony Classical Releases Serge Koussevitzky: The Complete Boston Symphony Recordings (1928–1950) - 55 Albums Out Digitally November 20

Black and white photographic portrait of Serge Koussevitzky — **Photographic portrait of Serge Koussevitzky (Garo)**

Coming this Fall:
Serge Koussevitzky: The Complete Boston Symphony Recordings(1928–1950)

Historic Collection Encompassing 55 Albums To Be Released Digitally by Sony Classical in November 2026

Please note that this is a digital-only release. There will be no advance press copies or downloads available.

As the annual Tanglewood Music Festival marks its founder Serge Koussevitzky’s 152nd birth anniversary this weekend, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Sony Classical announce the digital release this November of Serge Koussevitzky: The Complete Boston Symphony Recordings(1928–1950). The landmark collection encompasses all 55 albums recorded during Koussevitzky’s quarter-century tenure as the BSO’s conductor and music director and includes several first recordings of works the BSO premiered by composers that Koussevitzky championed like Prokofiev, Copland, and Harris. Also included are major works of the great symphonic canon by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and others. Set to be released globally on November 20 on the Sony Classical label, the complete Koussevitzky-BSO collection will be available to download and stream, newly remastered and presented in the highest quality audio across digital music platforms, made possible by the generosity of BSO donors.

The earliest album from November 1928 is the Boston Symphony’s very first electrical recording: Stravinsky’s Petroushka and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé suites. The latest recordings of the set, acclaimed performances of Sibelius’s Second Symphony and Grieg’s The Last Spring, were made on November 29, 1950, just six months before Koussevitzky died in Boston.

The highly anticipated collection offers many important works, notable guest soloists, and first recordings, among them:

The first recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion in its entirety and all of his Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites.

The first recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf (a later version featured Eleanor Roosevelt as narrator), his Symphony No. 5, and his Violin Concerto No. 2, with soloist Jascha Heifetz. The BSO gave the American premieres of all three works.

The first studio recording of Copland's Appalachian Spring orchestral suite and the first recording of Lincoln Portrait.

The first recording of Harris's Symphony No. 3, a BSO premiere regarded as among the most important mid-century American works.

The first recording of Ravel's Koussevitzky-commissioned orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (BSO gave the American premiere under Koussevitzky) and one of the earliest recordings (1930) of Ravel’s Boléro.

Koussevitzky was considered one of the great Tchaikovsky interpreters, and the collection includes the Tchaikovsky symphonies nos. 4, 5, and 6, as well as recordings of Romeo and Juliet and Francesca da Rimini.

Mozart is represented by six symphonies as well as overtures from his operas; Dorothy Maynor sings an aria from The Magic Flute.

A special highlight is an album on which Koussevitzky himself plays the double bass, including the beautiful slow movement from his own Double Bass Concerto.

More information about Serge Koussevitzky’s life and work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra may be found in the BSO’s online digital exhibits prepared during the celebration of the Koussevitzky 150 Celebration in 2024. Additional information about Sony Classical is available at Sony Classical.

Christopher Jesina 7/24/26 Christopher Jesina 7/24/26

Out Today: Second Single from Violinist Esther Abrami's Sony Classical Album Amour - Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet

Acclaimed Violinist Esther Abrami
Releases New Album Amour on Sony Classical

Album Marks Major Artistic Milestone For Abrami
Who Presents Her First Own Large-Scale Composition

Second Single "Love Theme" from Romeo and Juliet is Out Today
Listen Here

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 9, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

Celebrated violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami will release her new album Amour on October 9, 2026 on Sony Classical. The second single, out today, is "Love Theme" from Romeo and Juliet. Abrami and mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti join forces to present a truly unique interpretation of Nino Rota’s legendary love theme. Viotti’s voice adds a captivating new dimension to the piece, engaging in a duet with Abrami’s violin using vocalizations only. The track was recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Irene Delgado-Jiménez.

Beyond the central suite, ‘Amour’ brings together a diverse selection of iconic classical works about love, each newly arranged for solo violin and orchestra. A particular highlight of the album is Nino Rota’s ‘Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme’, featuring the celebrated mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. Viotti’s vocals add a captivating dimension to the piece as she engages in a duet with Esther’s violin. The programme further includes epic versions for violin and orchestra of Céline Dion’sAll by Myself’ and Georges Bizet’sCarmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle from Habanera. New arrangements of Francis Poulenc’sLes chemins de l’amour, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Melodie), and the virtuosic intensity of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor add even more musical colours to this collection of works centred around love. The album also features a new version arranged by Esther Abrami of Charlie Chaplin’sDésillusion amoureuse from the movie “The Circus”, a poignant composition that reveals the legendary filmmaker’s deeply expressive musical voice.

Amour - Track List

Christopher Jesina 7/24/26 Christopher Jesina 7/24/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Releases New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Single In Flight Out Today

Pioneering Composer and Pianist
Alexis Ffrench

New Single: In Flight
Out Today - Listen Here
Taken From Upcoming Album, 24

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 2, 2026
Pre-Save Here

New York, NY – Pioneering pianist, composer and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench has shared new single, In Flight, out now from his forthcoming album 24 - listen here. The album set for release on October 2, 2026 and available for pre-save here.

Nine On Blue finds Alexis Ffrench stepping into a late‑night jazz trio, with piano, bass and drums in close conversation. Written for the 9pm chapter of his 24‑hour album, it weaves blue‑note harmony and rhythmic nods to David Brubeck and George Gershwin into an unmistakably Alexis Ffrench sound.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24unveils as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 out October 2, 2026
Listen to Nine on Blue and Pre-Save 24 here

About Alexis Ffrench

Alexis Ffrench Socials
Website | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

Christopher Jesina 7/22/26 Christopher Jesina 7/22/26

OUT NOW: Sony Classical Releases 2026 Summer Night Concert with The Vienna Philharmonic and Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel – Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti

Sony Classical Releases The 2026 Summer Night Concert
with The Vienna Philharmonic, Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti
Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel

Out Now - Listen Here

Album Release Dates:
Digital / CD / DVD and Blue-Ray: Out Now

Sony Classical and the Vienna Philharmonic are for the very first time, offering innovative music products on the occasion of the successful 2026 Summer Night Concert from the grounds of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.

The Vienna Philharmonic’s 2026 Summer Night Concert – released by Sony Classical on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and digitally – is out now - listen here.

The 2026 Summer Night Concert was held on June 19, 2026 before an audience of 50,000 enthusiastic fans. This open-air concert by the Vienna Philharmonic has been held annually since 2008 and, as always, the grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Schönbrunn Palace have provided a magical backdrop.

This concert was also the first occasion on which the Vienna Philharmonic and Sony Classical presented a range of innovative music products with an NFC chip as part of their joint partnership deal. These products were sold on site by Michaela Pretul and Andreas Poglitsch from the Viennese specialist music firm of Major Babies Entertainment. The products in question are valuable caps in nine different colors and a scarf embroidered with the venerable orchestra’s logo linked via an NFC chip to a digital musical experience. If a smartphone is held next to the chip, a limited-access web application will open, allowing users to stream and download concert highlights from the last few years as well as find out more about the evening’s program and test their knowledge of the Summer Night Concert by means of a quiz. As soon as the recording of the concert has been mixed, this too will be available to be streamed and downloaded. The latest information about the Vienna Philharmonic is also available on this app.

The President of Sony Classical, Per Hauber, has said in a statement: “Together with the Vienna Philharmonic we have developed a product format that allows audiences to experience classical music in the most up-to-date ways outside the formal setting of a concert hall. This combination of innovation and a living tradition is very special. It also reflects the spirit not only of the Summer Night Concert but also of the Vienna Philharmonic and Sony Classical. We are immensely grateful to the Vienna Philharmonic and to the organizers of the Summer Night Concert for their inspirational partnership and for the opportunity to develop a product like this one.”

Daniel Froschauer, the Chairman of the orchestra’s board of directors, adds: “For the Vienna Philharmonic, it is of central importance that we keep our finger on the pulse of the times and continue to present our musical tradition in new and exciting ways. Thanks to these innovative products and ideas Sony Classical is supporting us in our desire to inspire our audiences all over again.”

Held at the height of the summer in a uniquely memorable atmosphere, the 2026 Summer Night Concert was conducted for the first time in its history by Lorenzo Viotti and witnessed the Vienna Philharmonic presenting a varied program full of musical highlights that included gripping scenes from Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele, Verdi’s Falstaff and Wagner’s Das Rheingold. The evening’s soloist was Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, who added a very special note of his own with Tevye’s “If I Were A Rich Man” from Jerry Bock’s phenomenally successful musical Fiddler on the Roof. A further high point was undoubtedly the appearance of the Vienna State Ballet in the Second Suite from Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé. The Vienna Philharmonic’s Summer Night Concert is one of the world’s most important classical music events and is broadcast on the radio, on television and online. Millions of viewers from over eighty countries have been able to follow the concert online, on television and on the radio.

Christopher Jesina 7/17/26 Christopher Jesina 7/17/26

Sept. 11: Pianist Lucas Debargue Releases Gershwin Variations New Album on Sony Classical – New Singles Out Today

Pianist Lucas Debargue Releases New Album on Sony Classical Gershwin Variations

New Singles Out Today:
Rhapsody in Blue – Molto moderato
But Not For Me, in F – Prelude
Listen Here

Worldwide Album Release Date: September 11, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

In Concert at Ladies Morning Musical Club in Montreal on October 25, 2026
In Concert at Lincoln Center in New York City on October 29, 2026

Lucas Debargue presents Gershwin Variations, an ambitious tribute to George Gershwin in two parts: One recorded with the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Elim Chan, the other devoted to the pianist's original creations inspired by Gershwin's songs.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Lucas Debargue's Gershwin Variations stand as an ambitious and unprecedented project, born from the desire to explore a radically different universe after recording Scarlatti sonatas and the complete solo piano works of Fauré. This double album – to be released September 11, 2026 on Sony Classical and for which pre-order is available now – is an ode to George Gershwin, an unclassifiable composer standing at the crossroads of classical music and jazz, whose singularity inspired Lucas to create a work equally impossible to categorize.

The album is divided into two parts, both equally grandiose and virtuosic… yet each with its own distinct identity.

The first part, recorded at the Philharmonie de Paris on Stephen Paulello’s unique SP/287 piano, features some of Gershwin’s most iconic works, including the Concerto in F with the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Elim Chan, the Three Preludes for Piano, and a highly personal version of Rhapsody in Blue, enriched with the pianist’s own cadenzas.

The second part, recorded at the Paulello Studio, is entirely devoted to twelve virtuosic études composed by Lucas from Gershwin’s most popular songs, spanning all chromatic keys. This cycle represents the most ambitious creation of his career as a pianist to date, affirming a deep commitment to freedom and invention, while placing itself in the tradition of the great composers who wrote their own études.

The Gershwin Variations is neither a classical album nor a jazz album, but a hybrid work reflecting the anticonformist spirit and the American dream embodied by Gershwin. Lucas offers a bold and poetic reinterpretation in which counterpoint, shifting harmonies, and unconventional rhythms reveal the richness of Gershwin’s melodies. He invites listeners to rediscover a repertoire where popularity is never synonymous with triviality, and where music becomes a space for freedom, daring, and vitality.

Lucas Debargue says: “I wanted to create an album that captures the spirit of constant transformation that breathes life into music in general—and into Gershwin’s music in particular. It features moments of spontaneous improvisation, original compositions, and interpretive choices that leave no trace in the original scores. That is why I decided to title it Gershwin Variations.”

TRACKLIST

CD 1

Rhapsody in Blue, 3 Preludes, Concerto in F
Lucas Debargue – piano
Orchestre de Paris, Orchestra
Elim Chan – conductor

George Gershwin (1898-1937)

1. Prelude I - Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
2. Piano Concerto in F - I. Allegro
3. Piano Concerto in F - II. Adagio – Andante con moto
4. Piano Concerto in F - III. Allegro agitato
5. Prelude II - Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
6. Rhapsody in blue - Molto moderato (Cadenzas: Lucas Debargue)
7. Rhapsody in blue - Meno mosso e poco scherzando (Cadenzas: Lucas Debargue)
8. Rhapsody in blue - Andantino moderato (Cadenzas: Lucas Debargue)
9. Rhapsody in blue -- Agitato e misterioso (Cadenzas: Lucas Debargue)
10. Prelude III - Allegro ben ritmato e deciso

[Total Time: 55:02]

CD 2

12 Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs
Lucas Debargue, piano

Lucas Debargue
1. Embraceable You - Rumba, in E
2. Fascinating Rhythm - Valse, in A
3. Someone To Watch Over Me, in D - Pavane
4. Someone To Watch Over Me, in D - Gaillarde
5. It Ain’t Necessarily So, in G - Fantaisie
6. It Ain’t Necessarily So, in G - Chaconne
7. It Ain’t Necessarily So, in G - Fugue
8. Liza - Gavotte § Double, in C
9. But Not For Me, in F – Prelude
10. But Not For Me, in F – Perpetuum Mobile ****
11. I Want To Stay Here (I love you Porgy) Adagio Dekadent, in B-flat
12. The Man I Love - Mirage, in E-flat
13. They Can’t Take That Away From Me - Romance, in A-flat
14. I Got Rhythm (I Really Got Rhythm !) - Boom Bap, in D-flat - Part I
15. I Got Rhythm (I Really Got Rhythm !) - Boom Bap, in D-flat - Part II
16. I Got Rhythm (I Really Got Rhythm !) - Boom Bap, in D-flat - Part III
17. Lady Be Good - Berceuse, in F-sharp

Summertime - 20 Concert Variations & Finale, on a Theme of George Gershwin, in B
18. Summertime - Introduction
19. Summertime - Thème
20. Summertime - Variation 1: Tempestoso
21. Summertime - Variation 2: Tango
22. Summertime - Variation 3: Scherzino
23. Summertime - Variation 4: Polonaise
24. Summertime - Variation 5: Féroce
25. Summertime - Variation 6: Scintillante
26. Summertime - Variation 7: Nocturne
27. Summertime - Variation 8: Marcia Funèbre
28. Summertime - Variation 9: Sicilienne
29. Summertime - Variation 10: Intermezzo
30. Summertime - Variation 11: Reggae
31. Summertime - Variation 12: Con Fuoco
32. Summertime - Variation 13: Caccia
33. Summertime - Variation 14: Choral
34. Summertime - Variation 15: Toccatina
35. Summertime - Variation 16: Bossa Nova
36. Summertime - Variation 17: Largo Recitativo
37. Summertime - Variation 18: Teneramente
38. Summertime - Variation 19: Fugue
39. Summertime - Variation 20: Tarentelle
40. Summertime – Finale: Alla Marcia

[Total Time: 55:29]

ABOUT LUCAS DEBARGUE

Website
YouTube
Facebook
Spotify

Christopher Jesina 7/10/26 Christopher Jesina 7/10/26

July 17: Sony Classical Releases 2026 Summer Night Concert with The Vienna Philharmonic and Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel – Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti

Sony Classical Releases The 2026 Summer Night Concert
with The Vienna Philharmonic, Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti
Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel

New Single Out Now
Tchaikovsky: Trepak from The Nutcracker
Listen Here

Album Release Dates:
Digital - July 17, 2026
CD - July 17, 2026
DVD and Blu-Ray - July 17, 2026

The Vienna Philharmonic’s 2026 Summer Night Concert will be released by Sony Classical on July 17, 2026 on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and digital. New single,Trepak from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, is out now - listen here

Christopher Jesina 7/10/26 Christopher Jesina 7/10/26

Oct. 9: Violinist Esther Abrami Releases Amour on Sony Classical – New Album Presents Her First Large-Scale Composition

Acclaimed Violinist Esther Abrami
Releases New Album Amour on Sony Classical

Album Marks Major Artistic Milestone For Abrami
Who Presents Her First Own Large-Scale Composition

New Single by Zdeněk Fibich Out Now
Moods, Impressions and Souvenirs
Op. 41/H 311, Book 4, No. 14: Lento

Listen Here | Watch the Music Video Here

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 9, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

Celebrated violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami announces the release of her new albumAmour on October 9, 2026 on Sony Classical. The first single, out now, is a new version for solo violin and orchestra of the lento from Zdeněk Fibich’s piano work Moods, Impressions and Souvenirs, Op. 41, released to coincide with the pre-order, which is available now. Listen to the new single here and watch the accompanying music video here.

Beyond the central suite, ‘Amour’ brings together a diverse selection of iconic classical works about love, each newly arranged for solo violin and orchestra. A particular highlight of the album is Nino Rota’s ‘Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme’, featuring the celebrated mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. Viotti’s vocals add a captivating dimension to the piece as she engages in a duet with Esther’s violin. The programme further includes epic versions for violin and orchestra of Céline Dion’sAll by Myself’ and Georges Bizet’sCarmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle from Habanera. New arrangements of Francis Poulenc’sLes chemins de l’amour, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Melodie), and the virtuosic intensity of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor add even more musical colours to this collection of works centred around love. The album also features a new version arranged by Esther Abrami of Charlie Chaplin’sDésillusion amoureuse from the movie “The Circus”, a poignant composition that reveals the legendary filmmaker’s deeply expressive musical voice.

Amour - Track List

Christopher Jesina 7/2/26 Christopher Jesina 7/2/26

July 17: Sony Classical Releases 2026 Summer Night Concert with The Vienna Philharmonic and Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel – Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti

Sony Classical Releases The 2026 Summer Night Concert
with The Vienna Philharmonic, Conducted by Lorenzo Viotti
Bass-Baritone Sir Bryn Terfel

New Single
Thaïs: Méditation - Listen Here

Album Release Dates:
Digital - July 17, 2026
CD - July 17, 2026
DVD and Blu-Ray - July 17, 2026

The Vienna Philharmonic’s 2026 Summer Night Concert will be released by Sony Classical on July 17, 2026 on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and digital. New single, Thaïs: Méditation is out today - listen here

Held at the height of the summer in a uniquely memorable atmosphere, the 2026 Summer Night Concert was conducted for the first time in its history by Lorenzo Viotti and witnessed the Vienna Philharmonic presenting a varied program full of musical highlights that included gripping scenes from Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele, Verdi’s Falstaff and Wagner’s Das Rheingold. The evening’s soloist was Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, who added a very special note of his own with Tevye’s “If I Were A Rich Man” from Jerry Bock’s phenomenally successful musical Fiddler on the Roof. A further high point was undoubtedly the appearance of the Vienna State Ballet in the Second Suite from Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé. The Vienna Philharmonic’s Summer Night Concert is one of the world’s most important classical music events and is broadcast on the radio, on television and online. Millions of viewers from over eighty countries have been able to follow the concert online, on television and on the radio.

Christopher Jesina 6/29/26 Christopher Jesina 6/29/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Releases New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Single Nine on Blue Out Today

Pioneering Composer and Pianist
Alexis Ffrench

New Single: Nine on Blue
Out Today - Listen Here
Taken From Upcoming Album, 24

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 2, 2026
Pre-Save Here

New York, NY – Pioneering pianist, composer and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench has shared new single, Nine on Blue, out now from his forthcoming album 24 - listen here. The album set for release on October 2, 2026 and available for pre-save here.

Nine On Blue finds Alexis Ffrench stepping into a late‑night jazz trio, with piano, bass and drums in close conversation. Written for the 9pm chapter of his 24‑hour album, it weaves blue‑note harmony and rhythmic nods to David Brubeck and George Gershwin into an unmistakably Alexis Ffrench sound.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24 unveils as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 out October 2, 2026
Listen to Blackbird Rising and Blackbird Returning, and Pre-Save 24 here

About Alexis Ffrench

Alexis Ffrench Socials
Website | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

Christopher Jesina 6/19/26 Christopher Jesina 6/19/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Releases New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Single Grateful Out Now

Pioneering Composer and Pianist
Alexis Ffrench

New Single: Grateful
Out Now - Listen Here
Taken From Upcoming Album, 24

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 2, 2026
Pre-Save Here

New York, NY – Pioneering pianist, composer and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench has shared new single, Grateful, out now from his forthcoming album 24 - listen here. The album set for release on October 2, 2026 and available for pre-save here.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24 unveils as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 out October 2, 2026
Listen to Blackbird Rising and Blackbird Returning, and Pre-Save 24 here

About Alexis Ffrench

Alexis Ffrench Socials
Website | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

Christopher Jesina 5/8/26 Christopher Jesina 5/8/26

OUT TODAY: New Sony Classical Album by Pianist Arcadi Volodos Featuring the Music of Franz Schubert & Robert Schumann

New Album by Pianist Arcadi Volodos
Out Today on Sony Classical

Schubert: Piano Sonata No.17 In D Major, D.850
Schumann: Kinderszenen Op.15

Kinderszenen, Op.15/I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
Out Today - Listen Here

Album Release Date: Out Today

A musician known for conjuring up magical sounds on the piano is back with a new release – out today. Seven years after his last album, the exceptionally gifted Arcadi Volodos releases a new and long-awaited Sony Classical album, recorded live at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. And again, he is devoting himself to the music of Franz Schubert as well as Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen. Kinderszenen, Op.15: XII. Kind im Einschlummern is out today – listen here.

“The great difficulty with Schubert”, says Volodos, “is the basic outline, the absolute transparency. It is in silence that the personality and the spirituality of the interpreter shine through.” For Volodos as an interpreter, it is here, in this world of stillness and half-tones, that his real work begins, since “this demands simplicity and depth”.

Volodos’s earlier Schubert recordings have included the great sonatas in G major (D 894, released in 2002) and in A major (D 959, first issued in 2019). He is now turning his attention to the D major Sonata D 850, a work sometimes known as the “Gastein” Sonata since Schubert composed it during the summer of 1825, when he was taking the waters at Bad Gastein to the south of Salzburg.

Arcadi Volodos draws particular attention to the “extreme sensibility” of Schubert’s music, which explains why he favours a freedom of approach that allows for flexible tempos.

“It is absurd to want to fix the tempo by means of a metronome,” he argues, because “music is a language, not an equation.” It is very much the many incomparable transition passages, the melodies and the gently changing harmonies that make Schubert’s music so unmistakably his own. And this is all the more true when they are performed by a pianist as exceptional as Arcadi Volodos.

The second work on his new album is Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, a set of thirteen priceless miniatures for the piano, the best known of which is the famous “Träumerei”.

“I think that it is only when you grow older that you understand these pieces better and better,” says Volodos, referring obliquely to the fact that Schumann did not write them for children. What matters more, as Volodos explains, is “It is a question of rediscovering within oneself the child’s sense of wonderment, this pure and sincere understanding of a world that one spends an entire lifetime trying to rediscover.”

To that extent this recording of Kinderszenen seems like a summation of Volodos’s whole life as an artist: each piece is a little jewel that allows the piano to radiate with light and to shine in all its colours and nuances. One could argue that this profundity is accessible only to those artists who, like Volodos, have a relatively manageable repertory at their command, at least in terms of their public appearances. “I like it when the works come to life inside me and become a part of me.” The present recording attests to the truth of this comment in many different ways.

Arcadi Volodos was born in St. Petersburg and it was there, too, that he studied. He first became famous for his highly virtuosic piano arrangements of Romantic orchestral works but since his international breakthrough in the late 1990s he is now invariably numbered among the finest pianists currently before the public. He appears in all the leading concert halls and at festivals all over the world. His relatively few recordings have regularly garnered the most prestigious international awards.

Christopher Jesina 5/8/26 Christopher Jesina 5/8/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Announces New Album 24 on Sony Masterworks – New Two-Track Bundle Out Today

Pioneering Composer and Pianist
Alexis Ffrench

Shares New Two-Track Bundle
Blackbird Rising and Blackbird Returning

Out Today - Listen Here
Taken From Upcoming Album, 24

Worldwide Album Release Date: October 2, 2026
Pre-Save Here

New York, NY – May 1, 2026 – Today, pioneering pianist, composer and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench has shared Blackbird Rising / Blackbird Returning - listen here, a fluttering and thoughtful two-track release taken from his forthcoming album 24 set for release on October 2, 2026 and available for pre-save here.

A calming and contemplative duo of tracks that serve to bookend the day – from the first birdsong of morning to the blackbird’s final lullaby at dusk – Blackbird Rising / Blackbird Returning finds Ffrench artfully reconciling with one of the most distinctive threads in his work: birdsong. From 2018 hit Bluebird, which has been streamed over 200 million times globally and is Gold-certified in the US, to 2022’s Songbird and now to the blackbird, birds have circled his music throughout the span of his career.

Ffrench explains: “That sense of awe and wonder when you look at a bird in flight makes you feel that you’re part of this incredible Earth when we’re all connected.”

The new tracks also coincide with International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday, May 3, 2026. A global celebration encouraging us to wake at sunrise to hear the “natural symphony” of Spring’s peak birdsong, the Dawn Chorus celebrates connection with nature and the notion that the beauty of the natural world can be appreciated from the most ordinary locations: whether from a garden, woodland or urban park.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24 unveils as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 out October 2, 2026
Listen to Blackbird Rising and Blackbird Returning, and Pre-Save 24 here

About Alexis Ffrench

Alexis Ffrench Socials
Website | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

Christopher Jesina 4/24/26 Christopher Jesina 4/24/26

Oct. 2: Classical Soul Pianist Alexis Ffrench Announces: 24 – New Album on Sony Masterworks

Alexis Ffrench Announces: 24
New Album on Sony Masterworks

Debut Single: Good Morning
Out Now - Listen Here

Available October 2, 2026 | Pre-Save Here

Pioneering pianist, composer, and chart-topping Classical Soul artist Alexis Ffrench announces his brand-new album 24, set for release on October 2, 2026, via Sony Music Masterworks. The new album is available for pre-save here. Accompanying the new album's announcement is the release of Ffrench's debut single, Good Morning, which is out now - listen here.

Formed of 24 meticulously crafted piano pieces and intended as a musical companion to the clockwork regularity of everyday life, 24 reveals as an intimate and immersive snapshot of a singular day. See full track listing below.

Gently guiding listeners from dawn to dusk - through the quiet of early morning into the busy heart of day and on to the evening’s golden hour – 24 is woven from daydreams, memories of human connection and the desire for authenticity amongst an ever-evolving and increasingly simulated digital age.

Made at legendary Provençal studio Miraval, owned by Brad Pitt and Damien Quintard, Ffrench recorded 24 during ten days of near-total immersion on an array of vintage grand pianos, upright pianos, and organs. Adding delicate ripples of percussion to the record’s kaleidoscopic sound, 24 also enlists a string ensemble featuring harp and upright bass.

Throughout his career, Ffrench has asked one question above all others: “What do my listeners need from me?” Now, with 24, the answer is both simple and profound: music to live by.

Arriving as an instant warm embrace and a simple promise of things to come, new single “Good Morning” opens a window to the new world Ffrench has built. An invitation to greet the day, whatever it might bring, the piece was inspired by a close friend’s routine of articulating out loud the things he is grateful for. Carrying with it that same spirit of thankfulness in the face of the everyday, Ffrench describes “Good Morning” as “a burst of positivity at the start of the day.”

One of the world’s most exciting artists, Alexis Ffrench has played a pivotal role in bringing instrumental music to an ever-increasing audience. His accolades speak for themselves, with well over 1 billion streams across his catalogue, multiple No.1 albums, and RIAA Gold in the USA for his single “Bluebird.”

Whether he’s performing at the King’s Coronation Concert to an audience of over 18 million, hosting his ARIA Award-winning Apple Music show Classical Connections, performing at major festivals and selling out venues worldwide, hosting with schools & charitable organisations, or putting his own spin on contemporary pop hits for his enthusiastic social media audience, Alexis is driven by the desire to make music accessible to all.

Refusing to be pinned by genre, time period or the expectations of the kind of musician he should be, and rather than leaning into the traditional understanding of the ‘classical’ genre, Alexis instead leans outward– with his expansive perspective drawing on a multifarious mosaic of influences that takes his listeners by the hand and leads them on a journey through a world of possibility.

With the new album acting as a timelessly enchanting musical journey through the various possibilities held within one singular day, 24 is the first studio album from Alexis Ffrench since 2024’s Classical Soul Vol. 1 – welcoming in a contemplative and captivating new dawn for the forerunner of contemporary classical music.

Alexis Ffrench - New Album 24 Out October 2, 2026
Listen to Good Morning & Pre-Save Here

24 TRACKLISTING

1. Good Morning
2. Where The Sunrise Finds Me
3. Blackbird Rising
4. Coffee Song
5. Lifted
6. A Moment Of Calm
7. Daydreamer
8. A Friend In You
9. In Flight
10. This Life, This Moment
11. Passing Time
12. Stolen Whispers
13. My Life, In Motion
14. Grateful
15. Nightfall
16. Blackbird Returning
17. Nine On Blue
18. City Lights
19. Golden Hours
20. Midnight Dreamer
21. Coffee Dreams (Reprise)
22. Low
23. Dreaming In Slow Motion
24. Before The World Sings

About Alexis Ffrench

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Christopher Jesina 4/10/26 Christopher Jesina 4/10/26

May 1: New Sony Classical Album by Pianist Arcadi Volodos Featuring the Music of Franz Schubert & Robert Schumann - Latest Single Out Today

New Sony Classical Album by Pianist Arcadi Volodos

Schubert: Piano Sonata No.17 In D Major, D.850
Schumann: Kinderszenen Op.15

Kinderszenen, Op.15/I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
Out Today - Listen Here

Album Release Date: May 1, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now

A musician known for conjuring up magical sounds on the piano is back. Seven years after his last album, the exceptionally gifted Arcadi Volodos is releasing a new and long-awaited Sony Classical album on May 1, 2026, recorded live at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. And again, he is devoting himself to the music of Franz Schubert as well as Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen. New single Kinderszenen, Op.15/I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen is out today – listen here.

Arcadi Volodos draws particular attention to the “extreme sensibility” of Schubert’s music, which explains why he favours a freedom of approach that allows for flexible tempos.

The second work on his new album is Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, a set of thirteen priceless miniatures for the piano, the best known of which is the famous “Träumerei”.

To that extent this recording of Kinderszenen seems like a summation of Volodos’s whole life as an artist: each piece is a little jewel that allows the piano to radiate with light and to shine in all its colours and nuances. One could argue that this profundity is accessible only to those artists who, like Volodos, have a relatively manageable repertory at their command, at least in terms of their public appearances. “I like it when the works come to life inside me and become a part of me.” The present recording attests to the truth of this comment in many different ways.

Arcadi Volodos was born in St Petersburg and it was there, too, that he studied. He first became famous for his highly virtuosic piano arrangements of Romantic orchestral works but since his international breakthrough in the late 1990s he is now invariably numbered among the finest pianists currently before the public. He appears in all the leading concert halls and at festivals all over the world. His relatively few recordings have regularly garnered the most prestigious international awards.