Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of nature's tiniest musicians with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Zzzz. Carnival of the Insects - A Symphony for Life." This captivating album, set to release on June 12, 2025, under Warner Classics, is a unique celebration of the insect kingdom, blending classical elegance with the whimsical charm of our six-legged friends.
Spanning a diverse range of genres from classical and opera to chamber music, this 1 hour and 48-minute collection features an impressive array of 51 tracks. The album is a symphony of life, showcasing the intricate and often overlooked beauty of insects through the lens of classical music.
From the delicate flutter of butterflies in Grieg's "Butterfly" to the industrious hum of bees in Schubert's "L'abeille," each piece is a testament to the rhythm and harmony found in nature. The album also includes operatic gems like Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and Offenbach's "Duo de la mouche," adding a touch of theatrical flair to the insect symphony.
Mozart's masterful orchestration, combined with the contributions of other renowned composers, creates a rich tapestry of sound that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. Whether you're a seasoned classical aficionado or a curious newcomer, "Zzzz. Carnival of the Insects" offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the natural world, proving that even the smallest creatures can inspire some of the most beautiful music.
Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Book 3, Op. 43: No. 1, ButterflyEdvard Grieg, Leif Ove Andsnes
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Act 3: The Flight of the BumblebeeNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Kurt Masur, New York Philharmonic
Berlioz: 8 Scènes de Faust, Op. 1, H 33: No. 5, Chanson de Méphistophélès "Histoire d'une puce"Hector Berlioz, Yutaka Sado, Choeur de Radio France, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Chopin: 12 Études, Op. 25: No. 9 in G-Flat Major "Butterfly"Frédéric Chopin, Maurizio Pollini
Lyadov: 8 Russian Folksongs, Op. 58: No. 4, Humorous Song "I Danced with a Mosquito"Anatoly Lyadov, Andreyev Imperial Russian Orchestra, Dmitri Hochlov
Prokofiev: Cinderella, Op. 87, Act 1: No. 14, Grasshoppers and DragonfliesSergei Prokofiev, André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
Trenet: La cigale et la fourmiCharles Trenet, Francois Le Roux, Jeff Cohen
Bartók: Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107, Book VI: No. 142, From the Diary of a FlyBéla Bartók, Thierry De Brunhoff
Tippet: Songs for Ariel: No. 3, Where the Bee SucksSir Michael Tippett, Ian Bostridge, Antonio Pappano
Schubert: Der Schmetterling, Op. 57 No. 1, D. 633Franz Schubert, Lucia Popp, Irwin Gage
Barrios Mangoré: Las abejasAgustín Barrios Mangoré, Thibaut García
Couperin: Second livre de pièces de clavecin, Sixième ordre: VIII. Le moucheronFrançois Couperin, Olivier Baumont
Schumann: Liederalbum für die Jugend, Op. 79: No. 14, MarienwürmchenRobert Schumann, Peter Schreier, Christoph Eschenbach
Vaughan Williams: The Wasps, an Aristophanic Suite: II. EntracteRalph Vaughan Williams, Vernon Handley, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Arne: Where the Bee Sucks (From Shakespeare's "The Tempest")Thomas Arne, Janet Baker, Martin Isepp, Ambrose Gauntlett, Douglas Whittaker
Desprez: El grilloJosquin des Prez, The Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier
Bennett: Songs Before Sleep: No. 1, The Mouse and the BumblebeeRichard Rodney Bennett, Jonathan Lemalu, Malcolm Martineau
Wiltschinsky: PapillonPeter Wiltschinsky, Robin Hill
Satie: Carnet d'esquisses et de croquis: No. 17, Petit prélude de "La mort de monsieur Mouche"Erik Satie, Aldo Ciccolini
Lecocq: 6 Fables de La Fontaine: No. 4, La cigale et la fourmiCharles Lecocq, Francois Le Roux, Jeff Cohen
Johnson: Where the Bee Sucks (For Shakespeare's "The Tempest")Robert Johnson, Emma Kirkby, David Thomas, Anthony Rooley
Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Act 3: Mückentanz. "Mücken, Wespen, Fliegenchor" (Spärlich, Cajus, Falstaff, Reich, Chor)Otto Nicolai, Robert Heger, Carl Hoppe, Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Friedrich Lenz, Gottlob Frick, Bavarian State Orchestra
Chausson: 7 Mélodies, Op. 2: No. 3, Les papillonsErnest Chausson, Barbara Hendricks, Michel Dalberto
Roussel: Le festin de l'araignée, Op. 17, Pt. 2: XIII. Funérailles de l'ÉphémèreAlbert Roussel, Jean Martinon, Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F.
Purcell: Dioclesian, Z. 627, Act 4: Butterfly DanceHenry Purcell, John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Martin: 5 Songs of Ariel: No. 5, Where the Bee Sucks There Suck IFrank Martin, Eric Ericson, Stockholm Chamber Choir
Crumb: Black Angels "Thirteen Images from the Dark Land": Threnody I. Night of the Electric InsectsGeorge Crumb, Brodsky Quartet
Ravel: Histoires naturelles, M. 50: No. 2, Le grillonMaurice Ravel, Gabriel Bacquier, Dalton Baldwin
Samazeuilh: Le cercle des heures: V. Si j'étais une lucioleGustave Samazeuilh, Charles Münch, Éliette Schenneberg, Orchestre De La Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire
Friml: The Firefly, Act 1: "Love Is Like a Firefly" (Nina)Rudolf Friml, Alan Braden, Stephanie Voss, The New World Show Orchestra
Mussorgsky: Mephistopheles' Song in Auerbach's Cellar "Song of the Flea"Modest Mussorgsky, Boris Christoff, Georges Tzipine, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Gallot: Dialogue ou Chaconne "La mouche"Jacques Gallot, Pascal Monteilhet
Plakidis: 2 Grasshopper Dances for Solo Violin: No. 2, Happy DancePēteris Plakidis, Gidon Kremer
Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Act 2: "Come una mosca prigioniera" (Suzuki, Butterfly)Giacomo Puccini, Victoria de los Ángeles, Miriam Pirazzini, Gabriele Santini, Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma
Elgar: The Wand of Youth, Suite No. 2, Op. 1b: III. Moths and ButterfliesEdward Elgar, Sir Adrian Boult, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Shostakovich: Romance from The GadflyDmitri Shostakovich, Daniel Lozakovich, Mikhail Pletnev
Delage: Fables de La Fontaine, Op. 20: No. 2, La cigale et la fourmiMaurice Delage, Felicity Lott, Kammersensemble de Paris, Armin Jordan
Offenbach: Orphée aux enfers, Act 2: Duo de la mouche. "Il m'a semblé sur mon épaule" (Eurydice, Jupiter)Jacques Offenbach, Marc Minkowski, Laurent Naouri, Natalie Dessay, Orchestre de Chambre de Grenoble, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
Porter: Hitchy-Koo: Bring Me Back My ButterflyCole Porter, Thomas Hampson, London Symphony Orchestra, John McGlinn
Andreyev: The ButterflyVasily Andreyev, Andreyev Imperial Russian Orchestra, Dmitri Hochlov
Wilbye: The Second Set of Madrigals: No. 17, Sweet Honey Sucking Bees: Pt. 2John Wilbye, The Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier
Lincke: Lysistrata, Act 2: Glühwürmchen-Idyll. "Wen die Nacht sich niedersenkt"Paul Lincke, Erna Sack, Chor der Städtischen Oper Berlin, Hugo Diez, Orchester der Städtischen Oper, Berlin
Franck: Roses et papillons, FWV 81César Franck, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hartmut Höll
BeeRIOPY
Caplet: 3 Fables de La Fontaine: No. 2, La cigale et la fourmiAndré Caplet, Francois Le Roux, Jeff Cohen
Fauré: Papillon, Op. 77Gabriel Fauré, Paul Tortelier, Eric Heidsieck
Messager: Madame Chrysanthème, Act 3: "Écoutez, c'est le chant des cigales" (Madame Chrysanthème)André Messager, Mady Mesplé, Pierre Dervaux, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo