A Debussy Album Release

Composer Claude Debussy, one of the most prominent music figures of the first decades of the XX century, believed that 'Music is the silence born between sounds'. Commemorating 150 years since the birth of the French musician this year, the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon and Decca record labels compiled a selection of Debussy's most famous works, gathered into an event-collection, which was released on 2^nd April.

This Debussy release, represents over eighteen albums, on whose covers we find the names of modern-day first rank musicians: under the baton of Pierre Boules were recorded, by the members of the Symphonic Orchestra in Cleveland, the triptychs 'Images' and 'Nocturnes'; Krystian Zimerman performs the pieces from the first 'Preludes' Book, and Mischa Maisky and Martha Argerich complete the record collection with their own version of 'Nocturne et Scherzo' for cello and piano in D minor. Soprano Véronique Dietschy sings the verses, and conducting 'Pelléas et Mélisande' performance, recorded in this anniversary context, is Claudio Abbado. Furthermore, this collection also includes a booklet of forty four pages which gathers together novel essays that portrays the personality of the visionary artist Claude Debussy, and also a generous portions of images.

Hector del Curto, performing the opening concert of the Houston International Festival, Texas

The bandoneón, the instrument which is practically synonymous with the Argentinian tango, is frequently brought to the forefront of today's musical life, in festivals, concerts, and even lectures which are dedicated to it. Richard Galliano, Olivier Manoury, Alberto Caracciolo and Hector del Curto are among the best known bandoneón players of the moment, attesting the success the instrument has in Argentine and France - although it is rarely spoken of the fact that the bandoneón is a German invention, developed in the second half of the XIX century.

On 21^st April, the Quintet led by Argentinian Hector del Curto performed the opening concert of the Houston International Festival in Texas. At its forty second edition - the events scheduled this year are dedicated to the promotion of Argentine music - the festival is housed at the Hobby Center in Houston. Dedicated to the 'eternal tango' - just the way its title also suggests, the above mentioned concert brought before the audience pianist Gustavo Casenave, contrabassist Pedro Giraudo, violinist Nick Danielson, cellist JIsoo Ok and, naturally, Hector del Curto playing the bandoneón. Musician as well as dancer, born in Buenos Aires, Hector del Curto received the 'The Best Young Bandoneón Player' in his country when he was only 17. Today the musician lives in New York, where he promotes Argentine music internationally.

Details from the BBC Proms Festival programme

The official site of the BBC Music Magazine publication, classicalmusic.com, made known, a few days ago, the programme of the BBC Proms Festival which will be held between 13^th July and 8^th September in London. What is new in the festival's 118^th edition? Beethoven's integral symphonies, presented in the BBC Proms programme after nearly sixty years and which can be heard, between 20^th and 27^th July, in the performance of the 'West-Eastern Divan Orchestra' Ensemble led by Daniel Barenboim; Sir Simon Rattle - conducting the Berlin Philharmonic and Bernard Haitink - the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, are also among the guests. Furthermore, on 29^th July, the youngest music lovers can watch, as they did last year, the 'Musical Wonders with Wallace and Gromit' show, which suggests the discovery of Claude Debussy, Dmitri Sostakovici and John Adams's music, with the help of Wallace and Gromit, two famous characters from British animation movies.