Verdi Giuseppe (1813-1901) Orchestra e coro del Teatro Regio di Torino  Inno delle nazioni (Hymn of the Nations) Cantica Composed for the International Exhibition in London, 1862 Francesco Meli tenor Libera me, Domine  Barbara Frittoli soprano Quattro pezzi sacri  (Four Sacred Pieces) La vergine degli angeli  Concluding chorus, with Leonora, from La forza del destino, (Act II) Barbara Frittoli soprano CD and Download   Reviews Gianandrea Noseda leads his Italian forces in a rich, red-blooded rendition of Verdi’s late, cobbledtogether masterpiece and other choral works. Francesco Meli and Barbara Frittoli, with her wide and warm vibrato, give performances of great energy and directness. Look out for a fascinating filler, Inno delle nazioni, which is a strangely wonderful “mash-up” of English, French and Italian national anthems. Paul Gent - The Telegraph - 9 April 2011 Novelties and sketches they may be but Verdi’s craftsmanship shines through ... The Turin chorus gives an idiomatic and highly satisfying performance of the taxing Four Sacred Pieces... Their orchestral colleagues provide opulent and exhilarating support throughout this varied and well-balanced programme. Malcolm Riley – Gramophone May 2011
	The Italian Intermezzo BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Francesco Cilea (1866-1950) Adriana Lecouvreur Intermezzo, Act II Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) Manon Lescaut  Intermezzo, Act III Alfredo Catalani (1854-1893) Loreley  Dance of the Water Nymphs Giacomo Puccini Suor Angelica Intermezzo Umberto Giordano (1867-1948) Siberia Prelude to Act II Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886) La Gioconda Dance of the Hours Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) L'Amico Fritz  Intermezzo Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) La traviata  Prelude to Act III Giacomo Puccini Edgar  Prelude to Act I  Prelude to Act III  Alfredo Catalani La Wally  Prelude to Act III Intermezzo  Prelude to Act IV Intermezzo  Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) I Quattro Rusteghi  Intermezzo Jewels of The Madonna  Intermezzo Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919) I Pagliacci  Intermezzo Umberto Giordano  Fedora  Intermezzo to Act II CD and Download Music without Words These orchestral intermezzi are, in the main, mood-painting interludes found in the great Italian operatic repertoire of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, usually connecting acts in the opera. The music is powerfully atmospheric, designed not only to create the right mood for the ensuing action of the opera, but also to provide some respite from the drama itself. The exception is the famous ‘Dance of the Hours’ from Ponchielli’s La Gioconda, which like most ballets found in operas represents a break for the audience to enjoy the dance sequence. The piece was immortalised in Walt Disney’s film Fantasia and has long been one of the classics of the repertoire. Gianandrea Noseda is in his element in music from his native Italy, conducting the BBC Philharmonic in a unique programme.   Reviews  'Anyone new to Romantic Italian Opera will enjoy a sampler par excellence and those who adore the full works will relish these tasty nibbles of their wonderful qualities.’ Colin Anderson, Classical Source, January 2010
	Bassoon Concertos Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Bassoon Concerto in B flat KV 191 Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) Bassoon Concerto Conradin Kreutzer (1780-1849) Fantasie for Bassoon and Orchestra Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838) Bassoon Concertino in B flat Karen Geoghegan bassoon CD or Download   Reviews The Scottish bassoonist throws a light on a neglected repertoire. Here is Livingston’s finest – bassoonist Karen Geoghegan – in full bloom with the magnificent BBC Philharmonic and its soon-to-depart principal conductor Gianandrea Noseda furnishing luxury accompaniment to a glorious set of performances. Others can make the bassoon sing, and there are countless acrobats of the instrument these days; but nobody combines all of these skills with such musicianship, grace, poise and the effortless sense of style of Geoghegan. Her Mozart playing is the best I’ve ever heard, and elevates Amadeus’s Concerto way above its regular standing. On a disc that features beautiful performances of lesser-known concerto-type works by Kreutzer and Crusell, delivered with spectacular virtuosity, the real find (and a recent one) is the Bassoon Concerto by Rossini. There is some dispute about the authorship of the piece, but it is Rossini to the life. Whoever wrote it, it’s a fabulous addition to the repertoire, and Geoghegan plays it with every ounce of character at her disposal. A brilliant disc. Herald Scotland
	Bartok Bela (1881-1945) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Piano Concerto No. 1, BB 91 Piano Concerto No. 2, BB 101 Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127 Jean-Efflam Bavouzet piano CD or DOWNLOAD   Reviews ORCHESTRAL CD OF THE MONTH BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2010 'In league with the finely honed BBC Philharmonic, these are performances vibrant in colour, vital in rhythm and detail and viscerally exciting in impact.'Geoffrey Norris 'If you’re after a disc of Bartók’s piano concertos that maximises on the music’s drive, elegance and sparring potential, then you could hardly do better than this ear-catching new production by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and the BBC Philharmonic under the spirited direction of Gianandrea Noseda.' Gramophone 'Exciting and dynamic accounts of Bartók's Piano Concertos' Erik Levi