Willens, Michael Alexander

Georg Philipp Telemann: St. Lukes Passion 1728 / Wolfgang Klose, Marcus Ullmann, Christian Hilz, Raimonds Spogis

2 CD / CPO / 2013-04-30

Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Cologne Academy

Baroque master Telemann set the St. Luke Passion in 11 different versions. He did so because he composed for 5 of Hamburg's principal churches and...continue...

Carl Heinrich Graun: Easter Oratorio / Koufochristou, Saskova, Kobow, Wolf. Kolner Akademie, Willens

1 CD / CPO / 2013-04-30

Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Kolner Akademie

The world premiere recording of Graun's Easter Oratorio, interpreted on historical instruments by the Kolner Akademie led by Willens. The music is imaginative and festive...continue...

Mozart: Piano Concertos nos 19 & 23 / Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano

1 Super Audio CD / BIS (Sweden) / 2013-03-28

Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Kolner Akademie

In just two years, between 1784 and 1786, Mozart composed no less than twelve piano concertos - a staggering number. Often described as one of...continue...

Francesco Durante: Neapolitan Christmas, Vol. 2 / Michael Alexander Willens, Die Koelner Akademie

1 CD / CPO / 2012-11-13

Works: Francesco Durante: Pastorale "Cito Pastores", motet; Laudate, pueri "Breve" "Detto il Grottesco", motet; Litanie for 2 voices & violin in E minor; Kyrie-Gloria Mass, "in Pastorale" in A major, for vo...
Performers: Dahlmann, Thilo; Doest, Alberto ter; Kuhne, Christina [Soprano Vocal]; Piccinini, Monica
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

The Kölner Akademie under its proven conductor Willens now presents more atmospheric Christmas compositions by Francesco Durante, one of the greatest Neapolitan church composers of...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal (11/14/2011-11/17/2011)....continue...

Sigismund von Neukomm: Three Orchestral Fantasies; Sinfonie Heroïque / Willens

1 CD / CPO / 2012-10-30

Works: Sigismund Neukomm: Fantaisie for large orchestra in D minor, Op. 9 NV 26; Dramatic Fantasia on some passages of Milton's Paradise Lost, NV 426; Fantaisie for large orchestra in B flat major, NV 41; G...
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: ; Cologne Academy

Expedition Audio - Music that deserves to be heard
Throughout all four works, there is evident a great dramatic sense, some sections worthy of Beethoven. Neukomm's...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Köln (01/2010)....continue...

W.A.Mozart: Piano Concertos nos 17 & 26 / Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano; Kolner Akademie

1 Super Audio CD / BIS (Sweden) / 2012-09-08

Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Kolner Akademie

French Harp Concertos by Nagasawa, Akademie and Willens / Masumi Nagasawa, harp

1 Super Audio CD / ARS Productions / 2012-05-02

Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Cologne Academy Orchestra

Who would have thought that more than 30 harp concertos were written during 'The age of Enlightenment and Romanticism'? The most well known harp concertos...continue...

Franzüsische Harfenkonzerte: d'Alvimare, Petrini, Steibelt

1 Super Audio CD / ARS Productions Import / 2012-04-17

Works: Martin-Pierre Dalvimare: Harp Concerto no 2, Op. 30; Francesco Petrini: Premier Harp Concerto, Op. 25; Daniel Steibelt: Grand Concerto for Harp
Performers: Nagasawa, Masumi
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander

Recording information: Immanuelskirche Wuppertal (01/02/2010-01/05/2010)....continue...

Anton Eberl: Piano Concertos Op. 32 & 40 / Paolo Giacometti, Riko Fukuda

1 CD / CPO / 2012-02-28

Works: Anton Eberl: Concerto for Piano in E flat major, Op. 40; Concerto for Piano in C major, Op. 32
Performers: Fukuda, Riko [Piano]; Giacometti, Paolo
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: ; Kolner Akademie

In 1802, the author Julius Wilhelm Fischer ranked Eberl the composer next to Beethoven: "In piano compositions Beethoven and Anton Eberl are certainly now the...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Köln (2008)....continue...

Francesco Durante: Neapolitan Christmas / Mameli, Eittinger, Post, MacLeod

1 CD / CPO / 2011-11-15

Works: Francesco Durante: Ad presepe venite "Pastorale o Mottetto per la nativitate Jesu Christe" in G major, for voices & ens; Magnificat in B flat major; Litanie della BMV in F minor, for voices & ensembl...
Performers: Eittinger, Ursula; MacLeod, Stephan; Mameli, Roberto [Soprano Vocal]; Post, Andreas
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

Ever since the late 17th century, Christmas music, especially in the form of cantatas and motets, had been a Neapolitan tradition. Durante continued this tradition...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk, Kammermusiksaal (11/18/2010-11/21/2010)....continue...

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 24 in C minor & 25 in C major

1 Super Audio CD / BIS (Sweden) / 2011-10-03

Works: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Piano no 24 in C minor, K 491; Concerto for Piano no 25 in C major, K 503
Performers: Brautigam, Ronald
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

Ronald Brautigam, with the congenial support of Die Kölner Akademie, under Michael Alexander Willens, here performs Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 24 and 25, both composed...continue...
Recording information: Immanuelskirche, Wuppertal, Germany (12/2010)....continue...

Musik Aus Der Frauenkirche: 2005-2010

1 CD / Carus / 2011-06-28

Works: Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto d-Moll BWV 596; Markus-Passion BWV 247; Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 294; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659; Jeremiah Clarke: Prince of Denmark's March; J...
Performers: Grünert, Matthias; Johannsen, Kay; Kühmeier, Genia; Kircheis, Friedrich; Korondi, Anna; Kummer, Samuel; Lorenz, Andreas; Markert, Annette; Mertens, Klaus; Rubens, Sibylla; Saelens, Yves; Sc...
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander; Güttler, Ludwig; Mackerras, Charles, Sir; McGegan, Nicholas; Immerseel, Jos van; Kreile, Roderich; Rademann, Hans-Christoph
Ensemble: ; Blechbläserensemble; Virtuosi Saxoniae

Carus presents musical highlights from the critically acclaimed 18 Disc series entitled Musik aus der Frauenkirche Dresden. The recordings in this series not only document...continue...
Recording information: Frauenkirche Dresden....continue...

Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 9 "Jeunehomme" & No. 12

1 Super Audio CD / BIS (Sweden) / 2010-12-02

Works: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Piano no 9 in E flat major, K 271 "Jeunehomme"; Concerto for Piano no 12 in A major, K 414 (385p); Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in A major, K 386
Performers: Brautigam, Ronald
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

To a unique degree, Ronald Brautigam has managed to combine highly successful careers as a performer on both the fortepiano and the modern piano. With...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Cologne, Germany (11/2009)....continue...

Johann Mattheson: Christmas Oratorio, Die Heilsam Geburt; Magnificat

1 CD / CPO / 2010-11-16

Works: Johann Mattheson: Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra; Magnificat, for 2 choruses
Performers: Gsanger, Johannes; Hansen, Sven; Kennedy, Nicki; MacLeod, Stephan; Post, Andreas
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Cologne Academy

For a long time Johann Mattheson was the "known unknown" among the composers of the eighteenth century. His name was frequently cited but always as...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk, Kammermusiksaal (11/09/2009-11/12/2009)....continue...

Johann Mattheson: Christmas Oratorio / Ryden, Schmid, Turk, Friedrich, Dahlamann

1 CD / CPO / 2010-11-16

Works: Johann Mattheson: Das gröáte Kind, christmas oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra
Performers: Cordes, Ulrich; Dahlmann, Thilo; Friedrich, Wolf Matthias; Gramá, Nele; Ryden, Susanne; Turk, Gerd
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Cologne Academy

Gramophone Magazine
The singers function as concertists throughout...[and] mix their solo and choral duties capably...Willens achieves an impeccably stylish and enjoyable performance of an a...continue...
Recording information: Peterskirche Kempen (12/20/2008)....continue...

Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4; Concert Overture

1 CD / CPO / 2010-10-26

Works: Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda: Overture for orchestra no 17 in F minor, Op. 242; Symphony no 2 in E flat major, Op. 17; Symphony no 4 in C major, Op. 60
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander

"In him fate again seemed to want to grant a master of the first rank. Many-sided, sure of himself in every field, often new and...continue...
Recording information: Deutschlandfunk, Kammermusiksaal, Cologne (01/24/2009-01/27/2009)....continue...

Johann Sebastian Bach: Markus-Passion

1 CD / Carus / 2010-07-13

Works: Johann Sebastian Bach: Saint Mark Passion, BWV 247
Performers: Knauft, Daniel; Krause, Holger; Ozimek, Frank
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander

Taken from a live performance in March of 2009, this recording uses the edition reconstructed by Dietmar Hellmann and Andreas Glockner....continue...
Recording information: Frauenkirche Dresden (03/26/2009-03/28/2009)....continue...

Virtuose Oboenkonzerte

1 Super Audio CD / ARS Productions Import / 2010-06-29

Works: Johann Christian Fischer: Concerto for Oboe no 1 in C major; Concerto for Oboe no 7 in F major; Concerto for Oboe no 2 in E flat major; Carl Stamitz: Concerto for Oboe in B major
Performers: Niesemann, Michael
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing....continue...

Wiener Kontrabasskonzerte [Hybrid SACD]

1 Super Audio CD / ARS Productions Import / 2010-06-29

Works: Franz Anton Hoffmeister: Concerto for double bass & orchestra in E flat major; Wenzel Pichl: Concerto for double bass & orchestra in D major; Johann Baptist Vanhal: Concerto for Double Bass in E flat...
Performers: Sinclair, David
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander
Ensemble: Die Kölner Akademie

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing....continue...
Recording information: Immanuelskirche Wuppertal (01/10/2006-01/12/2006)....continue...

Ries: Double Horn Concerto, Violin Concerto, Overtures / Michael Alexander Willens, et al

1 CD / CPO / 2009-09-29

Works: Ferdinand Ries: Die Räuberbraut, Op. 156; Concerto for 2 horns and orchestra in E flat major, WoO 19; Overture to the opera "Liska oder Die Hexe von Gyllensteen", for orchestra, Op. 164a; Concer...
Performers: Steck, Anton; Wieringa, Erwin; Zwart, Teunis van der
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander

Although Ries studied with Beethoven, the concerto's length and overall design recall not so much the concerto of Beethovian stamp but the tradition of the...continue...

Mattheson: Der liebreiche und geduldige David / Willens, Hilz, Kennedy, Eittinger, Spogis, Ciolek, et al

1 CD / CPO / 2009-06-30

Works: Johann Mattheson: Der liebreiche und geduldige DAVID, oratorio for 5 voices, chorus & orchestra
Performers: Ciolek, Max; Hilz, Christian; Kennedy, Nicki; Spogis, Raimonds
Conductors: Willens, Michael Alexander

The fact that Mattheson is not at all known as a composer certainly is the result of a considerable portion of his compositional oeuvre being...continue...