Classical Destinations introduces a new concept in travel and history on television, exploring Europe's most spectacular cities and landscapes while luxuriating in the great classical music composed within their precincts. Viewers will learn about the lives of the master musicians, the cities they lived in, and how their work reflects the very same surroundings we see today.

Vivaldi's Venice, the Salzburg of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the fjords of Norway evoked in music by Edvard Grieg, and the Vienna that waltzed to Johann Strauss...all have never looked - or sounded - better. The wonderful destinations included in the series include Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, St Petersburg, Venice, Tuscany, Bergen, Leipzig and Helsinki and many more.

Narrated by the celebrated British actor and music expert Simon Callow, Classical Destinations mixes documentary, music performance, real life soap-opera (and grand opera!), philosophy and tragic-comic whimsy in a moving visual tapestry combining stunning new High Definition images and an unforgettable Decca Records soundtrack which features the world's greatest orchestras and soloists. There is sublime music by Verdi, Vivaldi, Mozart, Grieg, Bach, Sibelius and many other composers.

Now this 13 episode TV series becomes available on a special Decca double-DVD release, as well as a 2CD set.

MARKETING PLANS

TELEVISION
A 13-part series currently broadcast on SBS: Sundays 6pm
CD, DVD (plus Book, through Penguin) all release
TV advertising for 6 weeks on SBS, starting 4 March.

RADIO
MBS network CD of the Week in March

RETAIL
Dymocks March-April catalogue; Dymocks Mother's Day catalogue
Borders Mother's Day catalogue

PRESS
Extensive press coverage of the series in major dailies
Full page advertisement in Limelight April issue (out March 15)

COMPETITION
TV will be tagged with competition - win a trip for 2 to Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Prague - competition will be run through a dedicated website. Plus iPod Nanos as runner-up prizes!

ARTISTS
Various Artists

TRACKLISTING
Danny Boy - The Immortal Irish Song
1 Danny Boy
Paul McMahon tenor , Andrew Greene piano
2 Danny Boy
Jane Rutter flute , The Queensland Orchestra, Sean O'Boyle conductor
3 Danny Boy
Judy Garland vocalist , MGM Studio Orchestra, Georgie Stoll conductor
Recorded 10 September 1940
4 Londonderry Air
Alice Giles harp
5 Danny Boy
Mario Lanza tenor , Ray Sinatra conductor
Recorded 14 March 1952
6 Irish Tune from County Derry
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender conductor
7 Londonderry Air
Fritz Kreisler violin , Victor Symphony Orchestra, Donald Voorhees conductor
Recorded 4 May 1945 in the Lotos Club, New York City
8 Far Away (Londonderry Air)
Glasgow Orpheus Choir, Sir Hugh Roberton conductor
Recorded October 1945
9 Danny Boy
Yvonne Kenny soprano , Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski conductor
10 Irish Tune from County Derry
Guitar Trek (Timothy Kain, Fiona Walsh, Richard Strasser, Peter Constant guitars )
11 Irish Tune from County Derry
Leslie Howard piano
12  Danny Boy
Paul McMahon tenor , Cantillation, Brett Weymark conductor
13  Irish Tune from County Derry
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Geoffrey Simon conductor
14  Danny Boy
Bing Crosby vocalist , John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra
Recorded 5 July 1941
15  O Mary Dear (Londonderry Air)
John McCormack tenor , Edwin Schneider piano
Recorded 1935
16  Danny Boy
Larry Adler harmonica with studio trio
Recorded 31 December 1947 in New York
17  Danny Boy
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Recorded 5 February 1940
18  Danny Boy
Tony Gould piano
19  Irish Tune from County Derry
Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir, Antony Walker conductor

Danny Boy is the world's most beloved song. It has endured over the years in many different guises ranging from traditional vocal versions to lush orchestral arrangements and settings for choir, solo instruments and every combination in between. This disc features a selection of classic versions ranging from Percy Grainger's Irish Tune from County Derry (orchestral, choral and piano settings) to sung versions by Mario Lanza and Judy Garland.

MARKETING PLANS
Extensive reviews and airplay
Print advertising in Limelight magazine
National radio promotion on ABC Classic FM
TV Promo on ABC TV from release for 6 weeks
Targeted marketing around St Patrick's Day (17 March)

ARTISTS
Various artists

TRACKLISTING
1 Soave sia il vento (Gentle be the breeze) from Così fan tutte, KV588
2 Adagio from Clarinet Concerto in A major, KV622
3 Romance (Andante) from Eine kleine Nachtmusik, KV525
4 Deh, vieni alla finestra (Oh, come to the window - Serenade) from Don Giovanni, KV527
5 Adagio from Gran Partita, KV361, arr. Schwenke        
6 Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben (Rest gently, my sweet love) from Zaïde, KV344/336b   
7 Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, KV467           
8 Bei Männern, die Liebe fühlen (With men who feel love) from The Magic Flute, KV620
9 Larghetto from Clarinet Quintet in A major, KV581,
10 Lacrimosa from Requiem, KV626           
11 Andante from Divertimento in D major, KV136
12 Larghetto from Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, KV595
13 Ave verum corpus, KV618           
14 Serenade (Deh, vieni alla finestra) from Don Giovanni, arr. Backhaus         
15 O Isis und Osiris from The Magic Flute, KV620
16 Fantasia in D minor, KV397

TRACKLISTING
1 HANDEL Largo from Xerxes, HWV40
2 HANDEL Waft Her, Angels, through the Skies from Jephtha, HWV70
3 HANDEL Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me lament) from Rinaldo, HWV7
4 HANDEL Courante from Keyboard Suite No. 1 in A major, HWV246
5 HANDEL arr. Somervell Silent Worship ('Non lo dirò col labbro', from Tolomeo, re di Egitto, HWV25)
6 HANDEL arr. Walsh The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon, HWV67
7 HANDEL Air from Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV348
8 HANDEL V'adoro pupille (O eyes, I adore you) from Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV17
9 HANDEL arr. Beon Passacaille
10 HANDEL Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) from Messiah, HWV56
11 HANDEL O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me? from Semele, HWV58
12 GIULIANI Variations on a Theme by Handel 'Harmonious Blacksmith', Op. 107 (excerpt)
13 HANDEL Where'er You Walk from Semele, HWV58
14 HANDEL Minuet I and II from Water Music Suite No. 3 in G major, HWV350
15 HANDEL Verdi prati, selve amene (Green pastures and shady woods) from Alcina, HWV34
16 HANDEL Air in B-flat major, HWV470
17 HANDEL I Know that My Redeemer Liveth from Messiah, HWV56
18 HANDEL Cavatina: Quando mai spietata sorte (Tell me, pitiless fate) from Radamisto, HWV12 19 19 HANDEL Largo (Ombra mai fù) from Xerxes, HWV40

TRACKLISTING
1 Adagio sostenuto from Piano Sonata No. 13 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
2 Adagio un poco moto from Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'
3 Adagio cantabile from Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 'Pathétique'
4 Mit einem gemalten Band (With a painted ribbon), Op. 83 No. 3
5 Für Elise - Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59
6 Larghetto from Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
7 Andante from Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79
8 Adagio molto espressivo from Violin Sonata in F major, Op. 24 'Spring'
9 Allegretto from Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
10 Adagio cantabile from Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1 No. 1
11 Andante from Octet in E-flat major, Op. 103
12 Cavatina from String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130, transcr. Alkan

The Timeless Music series presents not only the more famous works of these important composers, but highlights some of the lesser known but equally as beautiful works.

The first CD in the series, Contented Rest - The Timeless Music of Bach, sold in excess of 40,000 copies, and with the three latest additions - The Timeless Music of Beethoven, The Timeless Music of Handel, and The Timeless Music of Mozart - this series will be essential listening for fine music lovers everywhere.

With beautiful artwork inspired by the music contained within, the Timeless series is both an aural and visual delight.

MARKETING PLANS
Extensive reviews and airplay
Print advertising in Limelight magazine
National radio promotion on ABC Classic FM
TV Promo on ABC TV

TRACKLISTING
1 BACH Adagio from Concerto in C minor for violin and oboe, BWV1060 -new
2 BACH Vergnügte Ruh (Contented rest) from Cantata No. 170 - different artists
3 MARCELLO arr. BACH Adagio from Concerto in D minor, BWV974         
4 BACH Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV1068       
5 BACH Mache dich (Purify yourself) from St Matthew Passion, BWV244 - new
6 BACH Siciliana from Sonata No. 3 in E-flat major for flute and harpsichord, BWV1031 - new
7 BACH Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from Cantata No. 147 - different artists   
8 BACH Prelude from Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV1007 - new     
9 BACH arr. GOOSSENS Andante from Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
10 BACH Erbarme dich (Have mercy) from St Matthew Passion, BWV244 - different artists   
11 BACH Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Chorale prelude, BWV645 - new
12 STÖLZEL Bist du bei mir (If you are beside me), BWV508
13 KOEHNE To His Servant Bach, God Grants a Final Glimpse: The Morning Star - different artists
14 BACH orch. WALTON Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata No. 208 - new
15 BACH Weichet nur (Hence, dismal shadows) from Cantata No. 202 - new
16 BACH Prelude No. 8 in E-flat minor, BWV853 from The Well-Tempered Clavier - new
17 BACH Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio, BWV248 - new

Re-issue of the popular Timeless Music Series title Contented Rest
All of the old tracks (tks 3, 4, 9, 12) have been remastered.

The Timeless Music series presents not only the more famous works of these important composers, but highlights some of the lesser known but equally as beautiful works.

The first CD in the series, Contented Rest - The Timeless Music of Bach, sold in excess of 40,000 copies, and with the three latest additions - The Timeless Music of Beethoven, The Timeless Music of Handel, and The Timeless Music of Mozart - this series will be essential listening for fine music lovers everywhere.

With beautiful artwork inspired by the music contained within, the Timeless series is both an aural and visual delight.

MARKETING PLANS
Extensive reviews and airplay
Print advertising in Limelight magazine
National radio promotion on ABC Classic FM
TV Promo on ABC TV

ARTISTS
Mitsuko Uchida, piano

TRACKLISTING
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata Op.109 in E major
Piano Sonata Op.110 in A flat major
Piano Sonata Op.111 in C minor

'Once again, the Festival Hall was packed [with 3,000 people] for Mitsuko Uchida's latest recital, and rightly so...the despair and sublimity of both this music and Uchida's performance are really beyond words.'
The Times

'This was Beethoven pushed to the edge of a precipice, and the kind of virtuosity steeped in risk taking rather than sheer display.'
New York Times

Released to coincide with a concert performance at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw on February 15th 2006, this magnificent new recording is Mitsuko Uchida's first disc of Beethoven piano sonatas.

Throughout her distinguished international career Mitsuko Uchida has focussed on in-depth explorations of major composers. Her definitive recordings of the piano concerti and sonatas of Mozart were followed by an 8 CD cycle of the solo piano music of Schubert. Now Mitsuko Uchida is increasingly fascinated by the music of Beethoven and feels that the time is right to record these cornerstones of the piano repertory - the last three sonatas.

Mitsuko Uchida has said that it wasn't until she played all three together in concert that she realised that they can be considered as one giant musical structure and it is this approach she brings to these recordings made in the concert hall at Snape, Suffolk on the Eastern coast of England.

MARKETING PLANS
EPK - interview and performance footage available
Serviced to key media
Advertised in Limelight - April issue

ARTISTS
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

TRACKLISTING
ALBINONI: Adagio in G minor for Strings and Organ
PACHELBEL: Canon
GRIEG: Solveig's Song
MOZART: Romance ( Eine kleine Nachtmusik )
MASSENET: Méditation ( Thaïs )
VIVALDI: Rain ( The Four Seasons: Winter )
MASCAGNI: Intermezzo Sinfonico ( Cavelleria Rusticana )
BACH: Air
SIBELIUS: The Swan of Tuonela
CHOPIN/DOUGLAS: Nocturne ( Les Sylphides )
MAHLER: Adagietto ( Symphony No. 5 )
RAVEL: Pavane pour une Infante défunte
GLUCK: Dance of the Blessed Spririts ( Orfeo ed Euridice )
OFFENBACH: Barcarolle ( The Tales of Hoffmann )
GRIEG: Ase's Death ( Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 )
MOZART: Adagio & Fugue in C minor for Strings, K.546
BIZET: Entr'acte II ( Carmen )
HANDEL: Aria ( Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 12 )
DVORAK: Largo ( Symphony No. 9 'From the New World' )
TCHAIKOVSKY: Love Theme ( Romeo and Juliet )
BEETHOVEN: Allegretto ( Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 )
BIZET: Adagietto ( L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 )
WAGNER: Isolde's Liebestod ( Tristan und Isolde )

The best of the best: the hugely successful Karajan Adagios is now available as a twofer!

ARTISTS
Janine Jansen, violin

TRACKLISTING
TCHAIKOVSKY: Danse Russe ( Swan Lake )
KHATCHATURIAN: Nocturne ( Masquerade Suite )
SAINT-SAËNS: Havanaise Op. 83
SAINT-SAËNS: Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso Op.28
SHOSTAKOVICH: Romance ( The Gadfly )
WILLIAMS: Theme ( Schindler's List )
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: The Lark Ascending
RAVEL: Tzigane - Rhapsodie de Concert

'Right from the beginning of this disc you can hear why Decca has snapped her up... There's something very special about this young Dutch violinist.'
BBC Radio 3

'She seems to have it all: youth, statuesque beauty, an astounding technique, a delightfully lyrical 'voice' and a winning stage presence' ( The Times, London )

'Every so often you hear an artist that simply takes your breath away. She has all that it takes to make it as a recording artist; good looks, stage presence and personality. But most of all, she is a great artist. I am confident that Janine will become an internationally admired violinist and feel proud to work with her to build her career' (Peter Van der Heyden - Managing Director, Universal Classics and Jazz/Netherlands)

Janine Jansen is a 25 year old Dutch virtuoso violinist and a star in her native Netherlands, whose captivating playing ensures she is destined for an incredible musical future. At the age of 14 she made her concert debut with the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and has since build a reputation as a entrancing instrumental soloist performing with orchestras both in the Netherlands and abroad including; Kirov Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, City Of Birmingham Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Concergebouw Chamber Orchestra, The Hague Residentie Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerkademie, and Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

Janine has built a strong reputation as an international soloist having performed in Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Athens, New York, Brussels, London, Birmingham and Cologne. She is appearing in March with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

MARKETING PLANS
Advertised in Limelight
Articles in Limelight and 2MBS FM magazine
CD of the Week (March) on MBS network

TOUR REPERTOIRE & DATES
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto
with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Piero Bellugi
4, 6 March: Hamer Hall - Arts Centre

MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5
with Sydney Symphony Orchestra / Gianluigi Gelmetti
8, 9, 10 March: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

ARTISTS
Juan Diego Flórez, tenor
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Miguel Harth Bedoya

TRACKLISTING
GUTIRREZ : Alma Llanera
JIMENEZ: Ella
LARCA: La Flor de la Canela arr Juan Diego Flórez
GARDEL: El Dia que me quieras
LARA: Granada
ANON: La Jarra de Oro arr. Juan Diego Flórez
PADILLA: Princesita
GREVER: Júrame
PONCE: Estrellita
LARCA: Fina Estampa arr. Juan Diego Flórez
ESTRADA: En mi Viejo san Juan
LECUONA: Siboney
MENEDEZ: Aquellos ojos verdes
LARCA: Bello Durmiente arr. Juan Diego Flórez
MONGE: México Lindo y Querido

latin goes classical!

Peruvian tenor star Juan Diego Flórez sings from the heart on this glorious new album of irresistible popular songs from his native South America and Spain. The thrilling voice of one of today's most exciting young opera stars in the romantic ballads and popular songs of his homeland including Granada, Júrame and La Fleur de Canela

Symphonic orchestral arrangements, songs with traditional Mariachi band and intimate moments with solo guitar. Includes colourful orchestral arrangements by Juan Diego Flórez himself (and he plays bongos on Fina estampa)

The CD will be promoted on SBS-TV for six weeks from 26 February. 2006 will also see the release of two opera recordings starring Flórez - a CD recording of Donizetti's rare opera Matilde de Shabran and a DVD of La fille du Régiment.

MARKETING PLANS
TV
SBS TV campaign from release (4 March)

RADIO
Serviced to radio - talkback, classical, ethnic (Spanish, South American)
CD of the month throughout March on the MBS network

PRESS
Advertised in Limelight (April issue) and selected retail newsletters
Cover of 4MBS magazine plus article
Interviews in major dailies with Florez

ONLINE
E-card sent to UMA Classical database

ARTISTS
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic Orchestraº
Wiener Philharmonikerºº
Zubin Mehta

TRACKLISTING
BERNSTEIN: Overture ( Candide )*
ROSSINI: Overture ( Guglielmo Tell )º* · Overture ( La scala di seta )º*
WEBER: Overture ( Oberon )º* · Overture ( Der Freischütz )*
VERDI: Overture ( La forza del destino )* · Prelude to Act 1 º* ·   Prelude to Act 3º* ( La Traviata )
SUPPÉ: Overture ( Dichter und Bauer )*
J STRAUSS: Overture ( Die Fledermaus )*
RAVEL: Boléro* · La Valse* · Suite No. 2 ( Daphnis et Chloé )
STRAVINSKY: Circus polka* · Le Sacre du printemps*
COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man
WILLIAMS: Star Wars - Suite · Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Suite
KRAFT: Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists & Orchestra
IVES: Decoration Day (No.2 from ' Holidays in a Connecticut Country Town' ) · Variations on 'America' (orchestrated William Schuman)
HOLST: The Planets
ELGAR: Enigma Variations, op.36
BRUCKNER: Symphony No.8 in C minor (Nowak edition)*
WAGNER: Prelude to Act 1 ( Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg )ºº* · Overture ( Rienzi )* · Prelude to Act 1 ( Lohengrin )ºº* ·
VON EINEM: Philadelphia Symphonyºº*
R STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra

Zubin Mehta was born in Bombay on 29 April 1936 and this set is released by Decca to mark his 70th birthday in April 2006.

Mehta first studied medicine and he abandoned this when his musical interests developed and he embarked on studies at the Vienna Academy. Zubin Mehta first came to prominence in 1958 when he entered the conducting competition organised by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; winning the major prize there gave him the opportunity to work as a musical assistant in Liverpool for a year. Subsequent guest appearances with a variety of orchestras as geographically diverse as Los Angeles, Montreal and Vienna created very favourable impressions and he was appointed to Montreal for seven years (1960-67), and after starting as associate conductor at Los Angeles in 1960 he became director in 1962. Mehta's London debut was with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1961 and his Covent Garden debut was in 1977 when he conducted Otello . Mehta was appointed to New York Philharmonic in 1976 and in July 1990 conducted what is now regarded as one of the most famous musical events of the LP and CD era, and one which resulted in unprecedented sales of a classical album: Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert, live from the Baths at Caracalla in Rome.

Zubin Mehta made many records of late 19th and 20th century repertory for Decca and the first recordings with Los Angeles were made in 1967; the following year he made his first recordings for Decca with the other orchestra he was closely associated with at this time: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Other recordings on Decca include the legendary Turandot with Sutherland and Pavarotti. This 6-CD set is released as a 70th birthday tribute to this great conductor and includes recordings with Los Angeles and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras as well as some Wagner with Vienna Philharmonic.

Many of these recordings are making their first international appearance on CD*.

MARKETING PLANS
Advertised in April issue of Limelight magazine
Zubin Mehta tribute in 2MBS Fine Music magazine - April issue

ARTISTS
Akiko Suwanai, violin
Volkhard Steude, violin
François Leleux, oboe
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe

TRACKLISTING
BACH: Concerto for 2 violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Concerto for violin in E major, BWV 1042
Concerto for violin and oboe, BWV 1060
Concerto for violin in A minor, BWV 1041

An inspirational disc of sublime Bach concertos from Japanese violin star Akiko Suwanai. Akiko Suwanai is joined by Volkhard Steude for the concerto for two violins, and by François Leleux for the concerto for violin and oboe.