September 2010

IAN PARKER’s DEBUT CD FOR ATMA

Canadian pianist Ian Parker’s new CD of concertos by Ravel, Stravinsky, and Gershwin with the London Symphony Orchestra has been released to critical acclaim. The recording was made in Abbey Road and produced by Michael Fine. As the Toronto Star puts it:

Young Canadian pianist Ian Parker brings youthful shimmer and silken restraint to George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major and Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, demonstrating how close in style these two pieces really are. The real treat on this disc is a cappricio by Igor Stravinsky, a boisterous romp we should hear more often. The London Symphony Orchestra is in fine form under conductor Michael Francis.

July 2010

The Faure Project for Virgin

Over the summer, Michael Fine recorded the complete chamber music of Faure with a group of the finest French musicians in the world including Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Gérard Caussé , Nicholas Angelich, Michel D’Alberto, Nicholas Angelich, and the Quator Ébène. Michael worked with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky; recording took place at the Foundation Singer-Polignac. The project is now in post-production

May 2010

Orchestra Music of Ravel with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nezet:

Orchestra Music of Ravel with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin has been awarded the 2010 Edison Award as Best Orchestral Recordings. The EMI disc, produced and edited by Michael Fine, has received widespread critical acclaim for performance and sonics. It has already been selected a a Gramophone Editors Choice (December), BBC CD of the Week and has just won Canada's Res Musica 'Symphonic CD of the Year. Belgium's Knack magazine referred to Michael Fine as one of the top European producers. Hugh Canning in the London Times concluded his 5 star review: 'I’ve not heard a more gorgeously played orchestral disc all year.

April 2010

The Swedish label BIS has released a DVD commemorating Gergiev's final performance:

The Swedish label BIS has released a DVD commemorating Gergiev's final performance as Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a performance of Brahms A German Requiem with soloists Mariusz Kwiecien and soprano Solveig Kringelborn and the Swedish Radio Choir. The video was directed by Christiaan van Scheermbeeck, the audio was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.

March 2010

The Rachmaninoff project :

The Rachmaninoff project : Ukranian pianist Valentina Lisitsa with Michael Francis and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded the four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos in Abbey Road and immediately after Christmas recorded the 1st Piano Sonata, Moments Musicaux and a selection of Preludes in Hannover's Beethovensaal. The Paganini Rhapsody was recorded in March with the LSO and Michael Francis in Abbey Road. Michael Fine has produced all sessions with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.