Immerse yourself in the serene and captivating world of "Airs by the River," a meticulously curated album by the timeless Johann Sebastian Bach, set to release on October 13, 2025, under Warner Classics. This exquisite collection of classical and classical piano pieces spans a generous 3 hours and 23 minutes, offering a rich tapestry of musical experiences that celebrate the essence of rivers and waterways through the ages.
The album features a diverse array of compositions, including Bach's own "An Wasserflüssen Babylon," alongside works from musical giants such as Chopin, Debussy, and Beethoven. Each piece has been thoughtfully selected to evoke the gentle flow of rivers, the tranquility of streams, and the profound connection between water and human emotion. From the delicate piano etudes of Chopin to the orchestral grandeur of Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony, the album is a testament to the enduring power of music to capture the essence of nature.
"Airs by the River" is not just a compilation of tracks; it is a journey through the musical landscapes inspired by the world's rivers. Whether you are a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to enchant and inspire. The combination of well-known masterpieces and lesser-known gems ensures a listening experience that is both familiar and refreshing. Prepare to be transported to the banks of the Rhine, the shores of the Nile, and the tranquil streams of the Swiss countryside, all through the magic of music.
Chopin: 12 Études, Op. 10: No. 4 in C-Sharp MinorFrédéric Chopin, Rafael Orozco
Bach, JS: An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 267Johann Sebastian Bach, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Choir
Stravinsky: L'histoire du soldat, Pt. 1: Musique pour la scène 3. Petits airs au bord du ruisseauIgor Stravinsky, Charles Dutoit, Ensemble Instrumental de Lausanne
Shall We Gather at the RiverRobert Lowry, Joel Cohen, Boston Camerata
Bartók: For Children, Sz. 42, Book III "Slovakian Folk Songs": No. 55, A Swim in the River. AllegroBéla Bartók, Dezsö Ranki
Handel: Dixit Dominus, HWV 232: VII. De torrente in via bibetGeorge Frideric Handel, Emmanuelle Haïm, Karine Deshayes, Le Concert d'Astrée, Natalie Dessay
Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Première année "La Suisse", S. 160: No. 4, Au bord d'une sourceFranz Liszt, Aldo Ciccolini
Poulenc: La fraîcheur et le feu, FP 147: No. 7, La grande rivière qui vaFrancis Poulenc, Jessye Norman, Irwin Gage
Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin, Op. 25, D. 795: No. 20, Des Baches WiegenliedFranz Schubert, Elisabeth Schumann, George Reeves
Debussy: Images, Livre II, CD 120, L. 111: No. 3, Poissons d'orClaude Debussy, Cecile Ousset
Down by the RiversideTraditional, Barbara Hendricks, Moses Hogan, The Moses Hogan Singers
Vivaldi: Orlando, RV 728, Act 2: "Se cresce un torrente" (Bradamente)Antonio Vivaldi, Claudio Scimone, I Solisti Veneti, Carmen Gonzales
Einaudi: I due fiumiLudovico Einaudi, Dalal
Fauré: Le ruisseau, Op. 22Gabriel Fauré, Jean Sourisse, Delphine Collot, Emmanuel Strosser, Ensemble Vocal Jean Sourisse
Mancini: Moon River (From "Breakfast at Tiffany's")Henry Mancini, Renaud Capuçon, Stéphane Denève, Brussels Philharmonic
Rossini: Guillaume Tell, Act 1: "Près des torrents qui grondent" (Chœur)Gioachino Rossini, Lamberto Gardelli, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Hasselmans: La source, Op. 44Alphonse Hasselmans, Markus Klinko
Delius: To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water: I. Slow, But Not DraggingFrederick Delius, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Philip Ledger
Mendelssohn: Warnung vor dem Rhein, WoO 16, MWV K105Felix Mendelssohn, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Deep RiverTraditional, Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker, Janne Saksala
Stuck: Cantates françaises et italiennes, Livre IV: No. 5, Les festes bolonnoises: Air. "Que de la Seine à la Tamise"Jean-Baptiste Stuck, Gérard Lesne, Il Seminario Musicale
Schenck: L'écho du Danube, Op. 9: Sonata No. 6 in A Minor: II. Presto - AdagioJohannes Schenck, Sarah Cunningham
Enescu: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, Op. 27 "Villageoise": IV. River in the MoonlightGeorge Enescu, Lawrence Foster, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Ives: Set No. 1 for Chamber Orchestra: III. The Ruined RiverCharles Ives, Ensemble Modern, Ingo Metzmacher
Blue River (Arr. Wiéner & Doucet for Two Pianos)Joseph Meyer, Alexandre Tharaud, Frank Braley
Brahms: 18 Liebeslieder, Op. 52: No. 9, Am DonaustrandeJohannes Brahms, Helmut Deutsch, Anne Sofie von Otter, Barbara Bonney, Bengt Forsberg, Kurt Streit, Olaf Bär
Elgar: 2 Songs, Op. 60: No. 2, The RiverEdward Elgar, Robert Tear, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Anonymous: Like a Mighty River FlowingAnonymous, Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral, John Scott
Bliss: A Knot of Riddles: I. Fish in River. Slowly FlowingArthur Bliss, John Shirley-Quirk, Wyn Morris, London Chamber Orchestra
Rorem: The Lordly HudsonNed Rorem, Susan Graham, Malcolm Martineau
Kern / Arr. Carradot: Show Boat, Act 1: "Old Man River"Jerome Kern, Maurice André, Andre Carradot, André Carradot Orchestra
Jiping: On the Yellow River. Unflinching Love (From "Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker")Zhao Ji-Ping, Hu Bing Xu, Zhang Weiliang, Zhao Lin, China Symphony Orchestra
Strauss II, J: An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314Johann Strauss II, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Schumann: Dichterliebe, Op. 48: No. 6, Im Rhein, im heiligen StromeRobert Schumann, Brigitte Fassbaender, Aribert Reimann
Zabel: La source, Op. 23Albert Heinrich Zabel, Lily Laskine, Marielle Nordmann
Monteverdi: Il sesto libro de madrigali: No. 9, Presso un fiume tranquillo, SV 116Claudio Monteverdi, Consort Of Musicke, Anthony Rooley
Gluck: Ezio, Wq. 15, Act 1: Aria. "Se povero il ruscello" (Massimo)Christoph Willibald Gluck, Alan Curtis, Topi Lehtipuu, Il Complesso Barocco
Victoria: Liber primus: No. 27, Super flumina BabylonisTomás Luis de Victoria, Pro Cantione Antiqua, Bruno Turner
Mondonville: Dominus regnavit: IV. Elevaverunt flumina, DomineJean-Joseph Cassanéa De Mondonville, Jean-François Paillard, Ensemble Animat de Valenciennes, Ensemble vocal Adam de la Halle, Ensemble vocal de Chevreuse-Essonne, Ensemble vocal À cœur joie de Lille, Orchestre de chambre Jean-François Paillard
Verdi: Aida, Act 1: "Su! Del Nilo al sacro lido" (Il Re, Ramfis, Aida, Radamès, Amneris, Coro, Messaggero)Giuseppe Verdi, Zubin Mehta, Birgit Nilsson, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Coro Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma, Ferruccio Mazzoli, Franco Corelli, Grace Bumbry, Piero de Palma, Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma
Picker: Old and Lost RiversTobias Picker, Christoph Eschenbach, Houston Symphony
Vierne: 24 Pièces de fantaisie, Suite No. 3, Op. 54: No. 5, Sur le RhinLouis Vierne, Gaston Litaize
Cavalli: Ercole amante, Prologo: "O Gallia fortunata" (Coro di Fiumi)Francesco Cavalli, Michel Corboz, English Bach Festival Chorus, Luciano Sgrizzi, English Bach Festival Baroque Orchestra
Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn: No. 7, RheinlegendchenGustav Mahler, Klaus Tennstedt, Lucia Popp, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Smetana: Má Vlast: No. 2, The MoldauBedřich Smetana, Paavo Berglund, Staatskapelle Dresden
Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina, Act 1: Prelude. Dawn Over the Moscow RiverModest Mussorgsky, Sir Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker
Rameau: Les fêtes d'Hébé, Prologue: "Volons sur les bords de la Seine" (Chœur)Jean-Philippe Rameau, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie
Song of the Volga BoatmenTraditional, Boris Christoff, Issay Dobrowen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Fučík: Donausagen, Op. 233Julius Fučík, Václav Neumann, Czech Philharmonic
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": II. Szene am Bach. Andante molto motoLudwig van Beethoven, Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti