LATEST NEWS
May 2013
Next up for Fine Sound Productions are recordings of Clara Schumann lieder for Telarc
Next up for Fine Sound Productions are recordings of Clara Schumann lieder for Telarc with sopranos Indra Thomas, Nicole Cabell, and pianist John Axelrod. These recordings will accompany recordings of the Brahms Symphonies 2 and 4 with Orchestra LaVerdi and John Axelrod conducting.
April 2013
Delos (distributed by Naxos) releases Fantasy and Farewell with violist Roger Myers, Michael Francis
Delos (distributed by Naxos) releases Fantasy and Farewell with violist Roger Myers, Michael Francis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. The master was recorded at Abbey Road by Michael Fine and Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.
April 2013
Decca makes digital downloads of Valentina Lisitsa's Moment Musicaux by Rachmaninov.
Decca makes digital downloads of Valentina Lisitsa's Moment Musicaux by Rachmaninov. They were recorded by Michael Fine and Wolf-Dieter Karwatky in Hannover's Beethovensaal.
April 2013
Waiting for Benny, the Benny Goodman tribute recorded by French clarinetist Julien Herve
Waiting for Benny, the Benny Goodman tribute recorded by French clarinetist Julien Herve and friends was released by Naxos. Fine Sound Productions recorded the album in the hall of the Paris Conservatory.
March 2013
In his 5-star review of Valentina Lisitsa's set of the Rachmaninov Piano Concertos and Paganini Rhapsody
In his 5-star review of Valentina Lisitsa's set of the Rachmaninov Piano Concertos and Paganini Rhapsody, critic Norman Lebrecht writes 'I find this the most compelling full set of Rachmaninov concertos since Vladimir Ashkenazy's with Andre Previn 40 years ago, a recording that perfectly captures its moment. Both the orchestra and label are the same. Sometimes, these things are no coincidence. A tradition is renewed.'
March 2013
Deutsche Grammophon released our production of the Beethoven Emperor Concerto and Fifth Symphony with pianist Sunwook Kim
Deutsche Grammophon released our production of the Beethoven Emperor Concerto and Fifth Symphony with pianist Sunwook Kim making his label debut. Myung Whun Chung conducted the Seoul Philharmonic in the new recording made in the Seoul Arts Centre. This recording was produced with all digital microphones by Sennheiser and Neumann.
February 2013
Michael Fine will produce a Brahms cycle with Orchestra laVerdi, Milano conducted by John Axelrod over two years.
Michael Fine will produce a Brahms cycle with Orchestra laVerdi, Milano conducted by John Axelrod over two years. Each symphony will include five lieder by Clara Schumann with singers including Ana Maria Martinez, Dame Felicity Lott, and Indra Thomas among others. Brahms Symphony 4 will be first; Symphony 2 will be recorded in March. The lieder will be recorded in the Beethovensaal in Hannover. The first two recordings, Symphonies 2 and 4, will be released this summer on Telarc.
January 2013
Michael returns to Seoul for his first recording of 2013: Beethoven Symphony Nr 5 and Piano Concerto Nr 5 with Myung Whun Chung and the Seoul Philharmonic.
Michael returns to Seoul for his first recording of 2013: Beethoven Symphony Nr 5 and Piano Concerto Nr 5 with Myung Whun Chung and the Seoul Philharmonic. Pianist Sunwook Kim makes his Deutsche Grammophon label debut in this recording to be released in the spring. The recording will document live concerts on January 17 and 18 in the Seoul Arts Centre.
January 2013
Post production is under way for eight projects with first edits of Gautier Capucon, Predrag Gosta's two LSO recordings, SPO Percussion..
Post production is under way for eight projects with first edits of Gautier Capucon, Predrag Gosta's two LSO recordings, SPO Percussion, Pia Brodnik, and Operatic Mad Scenes with Alexandra Lubchansky already completed and in the artists' hands. We are happy to report that Delos will release violist Roger Myers recording with Michael Francis and the London Symphony Orchestra in the spring.
December 2012
Following the recording of the SPO percussion ensemble, the recording team moved to the Seoul Arts Centre
Following the recording of the SPO percussion ensemble, the recording team moved to the Seoul Arts Centre for live recordings of the Beethoven 9th Symphony with Myung Whun Chung conducting the Seoul Philharmonic and soloists Kathleen Kim, Songmi Yang, Joseph Kang, and Samuel Yoon. This was the first orchestral recording in Asia made with all digital microphones.
December 2012
Michael Fine inaugurated the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's new recording facilty just after Christmas
Michael Fine inaugurated the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's new recording facilty just after Christmas with Lou Harrison's and John Cage's Double Music for percussion quartet featuring the SPO's superb musicians. Edward Choi, Miyoune Kim, Mun-Hong Kim, and Adrien Perruchon. The new state of the art studio has a Yamaha DM2000 mixing desk and 58 Sennheiser digital microphones, B&W Nautilus speakers, and a range of superb outboard equipment including 2 TC reverb units and Weiss EQ. Wolf-DIeter Karwatky was tonmeister for the session assisted by Jin Choi.
November 2012
Decca releases our production of the Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto performed by Valentina Lisitsa with Michael Francis
Decca releases our production of the Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto performed by Valentina Lisitsa with Michael Francis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. All four concertos plus the Paganini Rhapsody will be available in a deluxe box set this spring, we are told.
November 2012
Handel at the Piano Nr. 1 on the Netherlands Itunes Classical Charts
Daria van den Bercken's Handel at the Piano, released by SONY Classical and produced by Michael Fine has been at the top of the Itunes charts in the Netherlands and recently received a rare 5 star review from the Volkskrant. We couldn't agree more.
November 2012
Master cellist Gautier Capucon and pianist Frank Braley will record a program of music
Master cellist Gautier Capucon and pianist Frank Braley will record a program of music by Debussy, Schumann, Schubert, and Britten in Hohenems, Austria. Michael Fine will produce the recording for Virgin Classics with Jin Choi, engineer.
October 2012
SONY Classics to release Daria van den Bercken's Handel at the Piano on October 25th
SONY Classics to release Daria van den Bercken's Handel at the Piano on October 25th. The recording, made in Hannover's Beethovensaal on a Boesendorfer Imperial, was produced and edited by Michael Fine. Visit Daria's website Handel at the Piano.com for more information and some delightful video clips.
October 2012
Slovenian soprano Pija Brodnik will sing fifteen Puccini arias in a recording with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dejan Savic
Slovenian soprano Pija Brodnik will sing fifteen Puccini arias in a recording with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dejan Savic. Michael Fine will produce the sessions in Abbey Road Studio with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky. Well known in her region for many recitals, recordings, and performances in opera and concert, this is Mdee Brodnik's first recording in the West.
October 2012
Predrag Gosta will lead the London Symphony Orchestra in two recordings to be produced by Michael Fine at Abbey Road Studios
Predrag Gosta will lead the London Symphony Orchestra in two recordings to be produced by Michael Fine at Abbey Road Studios. Repertoire includes Mussorgsky-Ravel 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and Rachmaninoff's 'Symphonic Dances' as well as a program of premiere recordings by the Greek-American composer Andreas Makris.
October 2012
Our recording of the Complete Chamber Music of Faure
Our recording of the Complete Chamber Music of Faure with Renaud Capucon, Gautier Capucon, Gerard Causse, Nicholas Angelich, Michel D'alberto, and the Quatuor Ebene on Virgin Classics has been awarded the 2012 Echo Klassik Prize.
October 2012
Violinist Brian Lewis and pianist Laura Kennedy will record a recital program in Hannover's Beethovensaal with Michael Fine producing
Violinist Brian Lewis and pianist Laura Kennedy will record a recital program in Hannover's Beethovensaal with Michael Fine producing. Repertoire includes "Hexapoda" - Five Studies in Jitteroptera by Robert Russell Bennett, Praeludium and Allegro and Schon Rosmarin by Kreisler, Un poco triste by Josef Suk ), Marche Miniature Viennoise and Polichinelle by Kreisler, and The Hot Canary. Brian's previous recording was the well received Delos CD of Bernstein's Serenade and Michael McLean's Elements with Hugh Wolff conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
September 2012
The reviews of the our production of the Brahms and Berg Violin Concertos with Renaud Capucon, Daniel Harding and the Vienna Philharmonic
The reviews of the our production of the Brahms and Berg Violin Concertos with Renaud Capucon, Daniel Harding and the Vienna Philharmonic have been exceptionally good. Here is part of what Geoffrey Norris has to say in London's The Telegraph about the Brahms: 'Teaming up here with the Vienna Philharmonic under Daniel Harding, Capuçon has an impressive grasp of the concerto’s expressive contours, using his technical arsenal with finesse and tracing the music’s breadth of line and its arching shapes while maintaining its inner momentum. The rhythmic punch and energy of the finale are echoed by the orchestra’s powerful attack and buoyancy, but, at the other end of the spectrum, the second movement’s tranquillity – the “serenity” of which Capuçon speaks – is affectingly conveyed.' He concludes by writing 'This is altogether a remarkable disc.'
September 2012
Soprano Alexandra Lubchansky records a challenging program of operatic mad scenes by Rameau
Soprano Alexandra Lubchansky records a challenging program of operatic mad scenes by Rameau. Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Boito, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Previn. Constantin Trinks will conduct the Orchestra of Montpellier. Michael Fine will produce the sessions with engineer Romain Roux.
September 2012
Maestro Chung with the Platinum Award for his first two recordings with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra presented by Pete Song
Maestro Chung with the Platinum Award for his first two recordings with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra presented by Pete Song, head of Unversal Music's Classics and Jazz division in Korea.
August 2012
Deutsche Grammophon announces the release of the fourth recording in the Seoul Philharmonic series conducted by Myung Whun Chung on August 13
Deutsche Grammophon announces the release of the fourth recording in the Seoul Philharmonic series conducted by Myung Whun Chung on August 13. The live recording of Tchaicovsky's Symphony 6 and Rachmaninoff Vocalise was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky was recorded at the Seoul Arts Centre. The first three recordings in the series have all achieved Platinum sales status in Korea with good sales reported world wide as well. Next recording: Beethoven's Symphony 9 in December.
August 2012
Virgin Classics announces the release of Renaud Capucon's recording
Virgin Classics announces the release of Renaud Capucon's recording of the Brahms and Berg Violin Concertos with Daniel Harding and the Vienna Philharmonic for October 2012. The recording, produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky was made in the ORF Sender in Vienna last December.
April 2012
Michael Fine will give the keynote address at the World Federation of International Music Competitions
Michael Fine will give the keynote address at the World Federation of International Music Competitions, in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on April 14. In June, Michael Fine will again be a juror at the Alieva International Piano Competition in Gaillard, France.
March 2012
Universal Music Korea and Universal Music Japan announce the release a live recording of Mahler's 2nd Symphony
Universal Music Korea and Universal Music Japan announce the release a live recording of Mahler's 2nd Symphony with Myung Whun Chung and the Seoul Philharmonic on the Deutsche Grammophon label. The recording was produced by Michael Fine from concerts at the Seoul Arts Centre. The recording follows the critically acclaimed release of Mahler's 1st Symphony, also recorded in concert. Later this year, DGG will release the SPO's recording of Tchaicovsky's Pathetique and Rachmaninoff's Vocalise with Maestro Chung. The SPO will perform Tchaicovsky 6 and Mahler 1 on tour in North America in April (Vancouver, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles)
March 2012
Universal Music Korea will release Julius Kim's recording of the Rachmaninoff '5th' Concerto
Universal Music Korea will release Julius Kim's recording of the Rachmaninoff '5th' Concerto - the Second Symphony transformed into a stunning Piano Concerto by Alexander Warenberg - with Shostakovich's 2nd Concerto on Deutsche Grammophon. Michael Francis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in this Abbey Road recording produced by Michael Fine.
February 2012
Fine Sound Productions officially becomes Fine Sound Productions, Netherlands BV
Fine Sound Productions officially becomes Fine Sound Productions, Netherlands BV
February 2012
The first edit is completed on Roger Myers' new recording
The first edit is completed on Roger Myers' new recording. The Australian violist recorded music by Schuman, Michael McLean and Shostakovich with the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Michael Francis. The Abbey Road recording, produced by Michael Fine, took place on January 3,4,5.
January 2012
From the Gramophone review of our Mahler 1 with the Seoul Philharmonic :
"The orchestra’s keen and articulate display is greeted by a vociferous ovation, the applause retained then quickly faded in Michael Fine’s splendid, sophisticated-sounding production for DG. "
January 2012
Handel on the Road :
We'll record an all Handel program with pianist Daria van den Bercken in the Beethovensaal, Hannover at the end of January.
Daria's Handel on the Road has been delighting the public both in Amsterdam and via video. She will record on Gerd Finkenstein's superb Bosendoerfer Imperial.
December 2011
Next stop, Vienna to record Renaud Capucon
Next stop, Vienna to record Renaud Capucon, Daniel Harding, and the Vienna Philharmonic in two masterpieces, the violin concertos of Brahms and Berg.
December 2011
Post production is nearly finished on the Seoul Philharmonic's stunning live recording
Post production is nearly finished on the Seoul Philharmonic's stunning live recording of Mahler's Symphony Nr. 2 with Maestro Myung Whun Chung. This is scheduled as an Easter release by Deutsche Grammophon.
December 2011
The Beethovensaal in Hannover was the setting for Valentina Lisitsa's most recent recording
The Beethovensaal in Hannover was the setting for Valentina Lisitsa's most recent recording: a program of rare and fiendishly demanding Liszt including the famously unplayable La Contradbandista. Valentina played an extraordinary Boesdendorfer Imperial meticulously prepared by Gerd Finkenstein. As usual, Wolf-Dieter Karwatky was tonmeister, Michael Fine produced. Valentina will play a full recital at the Royal Albert Hall on June 19, 2012.
December 2011
Embarrassing overproduction of Mahler in the past decades has raised the bar ridiculously high
Even though the almost embarrassing overproduction of Mahler in the past decades has raised the bar ridiculously high, worthwhile recordings do occasionally seep through and, in the case of the Houston Symphony under Hans Graf, demand to be taken seriously. Graf’s musical values are entirely different from Sanderling’s; clarity is prized above all, not merely in the musical line but in each little diversion along the way. But individual threads never dangle far from the musical fabric.
Perhaps the only similarity between these recordings is their use of non-traditional Mahler singers. Although mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel, a frequent performer of gramophone.co.uk Wagner and Strauss, finds herself on familiar ground, it’s Gregory Kunde – generally a bel canto tenor – who remains the standout. I’m not sure how much of Kunde’s refined elegance would soar above the orchestra in a live performance but this is the first Das Lied recording in a long time that made me wish Mahler wrote more for the
November 2011
Superb reviews from the leading British newspapers
With superb reviews from the leading British newspapers, it's no surprise that the Virgin set of Faure's complete chamber music is on the specialty classical recording charts in England. As Andrew Clements concluded his five star review in the Guardian, " ...it's a real treat to hear chamber-music playing of such assurance and enquiring intelligence."
November 2011
Naxos releases Michael's production of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde recorded live
Naxos releases Michael's production of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde recorded live by the Houston Symphony with Hans Graf, tenor Gregory Kunde, and mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel. Naxos has previously released Hans Graf's critically lauded recording of the Zemlinksy Lyric Symphony, also recorded in concert with the Houston Symphony and recorded by Michael Fine.
October 2011
The Seoul Philharmonic's 2nd recording
The Seoul Philharmonic's 2nd recording, a stunning live performance of Mahler's 1st Symphony conducted by Myung Whun Chung and recorded by Michael Fine at the Seoul Arts Centre, will be released in October. The SPO's first recording, music of Debussy and Ravel, has already received a Gold Record in Korea and sources there tell us that Platinum is not far away for this critically lauded recording. Future releases include live recordings of Mahler's 2nd Symphony.
August 2011
First recording with the SPO/Chung goes 'Gold' three weeks after its release.
First recording with the SPO/Chung goes 'Gold' three weeks after its release. In the photograph, Pete Song, head of Universal Classics, Korea, Maestro Chung, and Michael Fine. The photograph was taken after a full day of recording sessions for Tchaicovsky's Pathetique and Rachmaninoff's own orchestration of Vocalise. Michael will join the orchestra for their European tour beginning at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on August 19, continuing to the Edinburgh International Festival, Grafenegg, and the Bremen Musikfest. Next CD release: Mahler Symphony 1 in October.
August 2011
Deutsche Grammophon releases Libera with soprano Sumi Jo, the Prague Philharmonia, and conductor Ondrej Lenard.
Deutsche Grammophon releases Libera with soprano Sumi Jo, the Prague Philharmonia, and conductor Ondrej Lenard. The recording celebrates the great Korean singer's 25th anniversary on the stage. The recording was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Jin Choi.
August 2011
EMI/Virgin Classics announces the release of The Complete Chamber Music of Faure
EMI/Virgin Classics announces the release of The Complete Chamber Music of Faure, recorded last summer and fall in Paris with a stellar group of French musicians. The recording was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.
August 2011
A souvenir of Michael Fine's concert with the Opole Philharmonic in June
A souvenir of Michael Fine's concert with the Opole Philharmonic in June, here accompanying the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with clarinetist Michael Kowalski.
July 2011
The Seoul Philharmonic's first recording under the new DGG contract will be released in July.
Maestro Myung Whun Chung leads the orchestra in a program of Debussy and Ravel. The recording was produced and edited by Michael Fine. The Seoul Philharmonic plays in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Edinburgh Festival, Grafenegg, and opens the Bremen Musikfest in August.
July 2011
Music Web International
"Praise too here for the engineering and production of the disc. Ace producer Michael Fine and his engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky have created a disc of demonstration quality. There is a wealth of orchestral detail—including extended ‘ethnic’ percussion and a vast dynamic range all of which has been captured without excessive spotlighting of instruments. Add to that the need to integrate the solo line believably into the sound picture and the fact that the second concerto was recorded live—not that one is aware of any extraneous sounds or fallible playing for an instant—and you can see that the scale of what they have achieved is very impressive indeed. The same can be said of the playing of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under Lothar Zagrosek. It says something about the stature of Naxos as a label that established performers of such stature appear here as a matter of course ... Indeed, I would go as far as saying that this is one of the finest concerto discs from Naxos that I have heard. On the strength of his performance here I will look forward to hearing more from cellist Mark Kosower." Read the entire review
July 2011
Michael Fine conducts Opole Philharmonic
Michael Fine conducted the Opole Philharmonic in the final concert of the orchestra's season.
June 2011
Next recordings include a disc with French clarinetist Julien Herve to be called 'A Tribute to Benny Goodman'
Next recordings include a disc with French clarinetist Julien Herve to be called 'A Tribute to Benny Goodman' The disc will be recorded in Trappes, France. In August, Michael will record Tchaicovsky's Symphony 6 and Mussorgsky's Pictures with Mo. Myung Whun Chung and the Seoul Philharmonic
May 2011
Fine Sound Productions has had a busy spring.
Fine Sound Productions has had a busy spring. In late March, we traveled to Prague to record the legendary Korea soprano Sumi Jo in a program ranging from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Bellini in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her debut this September. The Prague Philharmnonia under Ondrej Lenard accompanied Sumi in the Rudolfinum. Michael Fine produced with Jin Choi, engineer. Michael also finished mixing the Faure Complete Chamber Music Project with Wolf-Dieter Karwatky– five CDs for EMI to be released later this year. The second edit of Julius Kim's recording of the Rachmaninoff ‘5th Concerto’ and Shostakovitch 2nd Piano Concert has just been finished as well.
May 2011
Coming in May from Naxos
A new recording of Ginastera's poignant and evocative cello concertos played with insight, conviction, and virtuosity by Mark Kosower, principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, with the Bamberg Symphony conducted by Lother Zagrosek. The sessions were produced and edited by Michael Fine.
February 2011
Pianist Julius Kim recorded Rachmaninoff's '5th' and the Shostakovich 2nd Piano Concerto in Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Francis conducting.
The Rachmaninoff is an arrangement of the composer's 2nd Symphony for piano and orchestra by Alexander Warenberg and is the first recording of the work with a major orchestra. The recording was produced by Michael Fine who is now editing the recording.
January 2011
SONY Classical (Korea) releases Eugene Choi's new CD of Liszt Transcriptions on January 25th
The well chosen program beautifully showcases the young Korean pianist's compelling blend of lyricism, poetry, and virtuosity. The recording was produced by Michael Fine at the Beethovensaal in Hannover with Wolf-Dieter Karwatky as engineer.
January 2011
NAXOS releases the London Symphony's new recording of Bartok and Brahms with Jonathan Pasternack conducting.
The recording, produced in Abbey Road studios by Michael Fine and engineered by Wolf-Dieter Karwatky, was the first large orchestra recording made entirely with digital microphones, supplied by Sennheiser and Neumann.
November 2010
SEOUL PHILHARMONIC AND MYUNG WHUN CHUNG
The Seoul Philharmonic with Maestro Myung Whun Chung have begun a major recording program with Michael Fine and Fine Sound Productions. Post-production has just been completed on a recording of Debussy and Ravel; Mahler’s 2nd Symphony was recorded at the Seoul Arts Centre in September and now, the orchestra will record Mahler’s 1st Symphony in concert on November 3 with Michael Fine producing and engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky. Discussions with a major label for distribution and marketing are underway.
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-October 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.
January 2010
Post-production on Emmanuel Pahud's new CD - Fantasy:
Post-production on Emmanuel Pahud's new CD - Fantasy: A Night at the Opera - with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Yannick Nezet-Seguin has been finished. This delightful collection of operatic transcriptions and fantasies for flute will be released early in 2010 by EMI Classics.
January 2010
Michael Fine has signed a new three contract as Artistic Advisor to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra:
Michael Fine has signed a new three contract as Artistic Advisor to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, beginning January 2010. The Seoul Philharmonic recently made its European debut under Maestro Myung Whun Chung at the Bozar in Brussels. Next year, the SPO will play a major European tour beginning in Italy and ending in St Petersburg with stops in Germany and the Czech Republic along the way. Michael Fine will also produce sessions with the orchestra for a new SPO label to be distributed by Naxos.
November 2009
Virgin Classics release Renaud Capucon's new recording of the Beethoven and Korngold Violin Concertos:
Virgin Classics release Renaud Capucon's new recording of the Beethoven and Korngold Violin Concertos: Yannick Nezet-Seguin leads the Rotterdam Philharmonic. The recording was produced at the Netherlands Radio Studio in Hilversum by Michael Fine who also edited the recording. The engineer was Wolf-Dieter Karwatky. Capucon played the renowned Ysaye Guarnerius del Gesu. Critic Harry Collier wrote: 'The Rotterdam Philharmonic sounds almost like the Vienna Philharmonic. Perhaps it is a trick of the recording engineers. Whatever: a good disc.' The recordings was a BBC CD of the Week.
