BASQUE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA CD DEDICATED TO COMPOSER RAMON LAZKANO NOW ON SALE

The Basque National Orchestra has added yet another CD to its repertoire. This latest release, a monographic CD devoted to San Sebastian-born composer Ramón Lazkano, was recorded in September 2009 at the BSO Miramón headquarters in San Sebastián. The Orchestra discography now boasts more than 40 recordings.

This CD features three works taken from the Ramon Lazkano composition catalogue: Hauskor (2006), together with the Amsterdam Cello Octet; Ortzi Isilak (2005), with Swiss clarinet soloist Ernesto Molinari; and Ilunkor, commissioned for Lazkano by the Orchestra in 2000. The recording came under the baton of German conductor Johannes Kalitzke, specialist in contemporary repertoire, in his first conducting appearance with the BNO.
This CD falls under a new line of recordings called "Música de hoy-Gaurko Musika" (Music of Today), and is part of the Orchestra's decision to diversify its discography. Recorded for Kairos, the prestigious record label specialising in contemporary music, Lazkano is the first name in a line of CDs geared to contemporary classical music.

It is also the first time for the Orchestra to join forces with the Austrian record label Kairos. Founded in Vienna in 1999, Kairos focuses exclusively on the promotion of contemporary music. Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment, a unique moment in time. Kairos aims to preserve the "supreme moment" we call music. The goal is to capture music for the listening pleasure of contemporary music lovers, music that opens new spaces and experiences for modern minds and ears.

The record
Ramon Lazkano
Recorded at the Basque National Orchestra headquarters from September 14-18, 2009.

The works
Hauskor for eight cellos and orchestra (2006)
Ortzi Isilak for clarinet and orchestra (2005)
Ilunkor for orchestra (2000)

Johannes Kalitzke, conductor
Ernesto Molinari, clarinet
Cello Octet Amsterdam
Basque National Orchestra
Record label: KAIROS