Highly respected in the 19th-century Parisian music scene, Louise Farrenc was acclaimed as a pianist and admired by Robert Schumann for her compositions. The Theme and Variation sets are among her most significant works for piano. Their content ranges from the humour and playfulness of the Op. 7 set, to the intimacy and melancholy of Op. 6 on the popular aria ‘O ma tendre musette!’ Maria Stratigou’s recording of the Études (GP912-13) was considered ‘beguiling piano music’ in BBC Music Magazine, confirming once again that Farrenc has been unjustly neglected as a composer.

Louise FARRENC - Variations brillantes sur un theme d'Aristide Farrenc, Op. 2

A blistering rebuke of religious hypocrisy, Elmer Gantry is the story of a charismatic and manipulative social climber who rises to power within his church, despite his insincerity. Though he preaches against immorality and temptation, Reverend Dr Elmer Gantry can’t seem to give up his own vices, and he leaves a trail of broken people behind him in his pursuit of pleasure and power, betraying anybody and doing anything to get ahead. Published in 1927, the novel created a furore upon its publication, resulting in threats of violence against the author, who was called ‘Satan’s cohort’. However, the book was a commercial success, and it is considered a landmark in American literature. It is recognised today for its prescient depiction of power and fanaticism. For more information, visit naxosaudiobooks.com/elmer-gantry-unabridged

Sinclair Lewis – Elmer Gantry (sample)

This sixth volume of Gottlieb Wallisch’s acclaimed 20th Century Foxtrots series takes us to Southern Europe, with composers in Italy, Spain and other Mediterranean countries becoming caught up in the jazz craze that swept through dance and concert halls by the 1920s. International influences blend with regional character and famous names jostle with new discoveries, all of whose contributions create a joyous mix of exuberant theatricality, evocative elegance and colourful blues.

Franco CASAVOLA - Tango viola da 'Cabaret Epilettico' (excerpt) [GP926]

Poland, January 1945. Two women and four men escape from a Nazi death march after enduring the horrors of imprisonment at Auschwitz. Despite their individual backgrounds and nationalities, they form their own family caught between the euphoria of freedom and the terror of their circumstances. This is a tale of exploding joy within a hothouse of fear, of human beings erupting into life after breaking free of death’s embrace – an unusual and moving tale that cements Albert Maltz’s reputation as a compassionate observer of character and one of the finest storytellers of his generation.

Read by the versatile AudioFile Golden Voice, Rupert Degas, and including the music that features within the story. Visit naxosaudiobooks.com/tale-of-one-january-a-unabridged for more information.

Albert Maltz – A Tale of One January (sample)

Set in the Dutch East Indies in 1900, Joseph Conrad’s last major novel, Victory, tells the story of Axel Heyst, a European who has retreated to the island of Samburan following a business misadventure. Heyst’s aim to live a solitary existence is cut short when he meets an enchanting English violinist named Lena and brings her back to his island, rescuing her from her predatory patron Schomberg. Together they create a haven and Lena reawakens Heyst’s passion for life, but the world soon breaks in on them as Schomberg exacts his revenge. Visit naxosaudiobooks.com/victory-unabridged for more information.

Joseph Conrad – Victory (sample)

Hester (1883) is a dramatic story of female power and family tensions within Victorian society. Using her own money, Catherine Vernon manages to save the family bank from collapse after her cousin John absconds with some of its money. As the matriarch of Redborough, Catherine is used to commanding authority, but this is challenged with the arrival of John’s strong and capable teenage daughter, Hester. Ignorant of her father’s conduct, Hester takes against Catherine and a mutual antipathy soon sets in. A masterpiece of domestic realism, the novel is one of Mrs Oliphant’s most admired works. Visit naxosaudiobooks.com/hester-unabridged for more information.

Margaret Oliphant – Hester (sample)

Published in 1928, Orlando is a fictional biography that spans several centuries and follows the protagonist, Orlando, an Elizabethan nobleman who undergoes a mysterious gender transformation. The novel explores themes of gender identity, fluidity and the constraints imposed by societal norms. It challenges traditional notions of gender roles and raises questions about the nature of identity and the passage of time. Orlando is widely regarded as one of Virginia Woolf’s most innovative and influential works. It is known for its lyrical prose and experimental narrative style, blending historical fiction, fantasy and satire. The book is often celebrated for its contribution to feminist literature. Visit naxosaudiobooks.com/orlando-unabridged for more information.

Virginia Woolf – Orlando (sample)

The Grand Piano label has gained a reputation for drawing from a deep pool of talent around the globe to release high quality recordings of rare musical gems. Dedicated to the exploration of undiscovered repertoire for piano, the label’s specialty is multi-volume recordings and complete piano cycles of lesser-known composers, such as Alexander Tcherepnin, Mieczysław Weinberg, Joachim Raff, and Leopold Koželuch, whose works might otherwise have remained unknown and unrecorded. The label, which is distributed by the Naxos Group of Companies, has released over 70 recordings to date, most of which are world premières.

Louise FARRENC - Variations brillantes sur un theme d'Aristide Farrenc, Op. 2

Grand Piano Records

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