📀 CD OF THE WEEK — "Journal de Folie" by Hongbo Cai
Pianist Hongbo Cai reaches the top of this week’s KNS Classical streaming charts with a program that moves across three distinct sound worlds: Classical balance, Romantic imagination and twentieth-century architecture.
The album opens with Haydn’s Sonata in E-flat major Hob. XVI:52, one of the composer’s most expansive keyboard works, combining brilliance with structural clarity. At its centre stands Schumann’s Piano Sonata No. 1, a deeply personal and dramatic work shaped by literary fantasy and emotional contrast. The recording concludes with Dutilleux’s Piano Sonata, a cornerstone of modern French piano repertoire, where rhythmic precision and colouristic writing create a strikingly different expressive landscape.
Already appearing at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras across Europe, Asia and North America, Hongbo Cai continues to attract international attention for his refined and individual artistic voice.
Congratulations to Hongbo Cai on this week’s most streamed album.
Listen here:/es/album/journal-de-folie/1777649819
#KNSArtists #hongbocai #cdoftheweek #carnegiehall #KNSClassical
📀 CD OF THE WEEK — "Salzburg Recital" by Francisco Berény
This week’s most streamed album on KNS Classical features guitarist Francisco Berény, whose recording explores one of the most fascinating threads in the history of European instrumental music: La Folia.
From Gaspar Sanz’s early Baroque treatment of the theme to the richly structured variations by Fernando Sor and the expansive reimagining by Manuel M. Ponce, the album traces the transformation of a musical idea across centuries. The program is framed by works such as Maurice Ohana’s Tiento and Léo Brouwer’s La Gran Sarabanda, adding twentieth-century colour and expressive contrast to this historical journey.
A graduate of the Mozarteum University Salzburg, Berény brings clarity of structure and stylistic sensitivity to repertoire that connects tradition with modern guitar writing.
Congratulations to Francisco Berény on this week’s most streamed release.
Listen to this recording on: /gb/album/salzburg-recital/1657044898
#cdoftheweek #knsclassical #franciscobereny #guitar #classicalmusic
CD Recording & Digital Publishing with KNS Classical🏆
Victory Award Winners of the Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition are invited to record and publish a professional album with KNS Classical (@knsclassical ), reaching international audiences through worldwide digital distribution platforms.
A recording is more than a prize. It is the beginning of an artistic identity.
Applications now open worldwide.
Deadline: 30 June 2026 🎹🌍
#pianocompetition #cdrecording #knsclassical #awards #carlesandsofiainternationalpianocompetition
🎹 KNS ARTIST — Kasparas Mikužis (@kkasparas2 )
Lithuanian pianist Kasparas Mikužis, based in London, is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most compelling young voices of his generation. Recently named one of Classic FM’s Rising Stars 2025 and a prize winner at the prestigious Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) international auditions, he continues to appear on major European stages including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.
His performances combine expressive depth with architectural clarity and a natural affinity for both Romantic and twentieth-century repertoire; qualities already evident in his KNS Classical debut album Free Soul, featuring works by Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Ligeti, Khachaturian and Kapustin.
In the current season, Kasparas continues to expand his international presence with orchestral appearances, chamber collaborations and recital projects across Europe.
Listen to his album on: /ca/album/free-soul/1398181958
#KNSArtists #KasparasMikuzis #Piano #YoungPianists #ClassicalMusic #KNSClassical #WigmoreHall #Concertgebouw
📀 CD OF THE WEEK — Voyage by Aristo Sham (@aristosham )
This week we highlight Voyage, the remarkable recording by pianist Aristo Sham, currently leading the KNS Classical Spotify charts.
With a program that travels through the distinctive sound worlds of Mozart, Scriabin, Ravel and Liszt, Aristo Sham reveals an exceptional sense of colour, structure and imagination at the keyboard. His interpretations have already captured the attention of audiences internationally — and this album is a brilliant example of his artistic voice.
Discover Voyage here:
/intl-es/album/5eOwXI0CQBmByUIymV1RQM?si=VPgP0gb0TRWPjMuMXs8lZA&nd=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0CriLsMk6rbMCAuzliiJLOH-6XG_5xsCwVye3vC-ypKEkLpOph3n77nGw_aem_AVpFNRgAMqgcw_sWoguZ5pFRac3VNMZkpKR610ysUBbl0XWWK5O73YMbISr81FxWO4QA1ZgKSCX2tczlbB-4fLn1
#cdoftheweek #KNSClassical #AristoSham #knsclassicalartists #classicalmusicrelease
APPLICATIONS OPEN!
Many prizes, including CD Recordings and digital publishing!
Professional recording
with KNS Classical (@knsclassical )
Worldwide release
International visibility
APPLY NOW! #carlesandsofiapianocompetition #knsclassical #tributetoemilgilels #cdrecording #internationalvisibility
THE KNS CLASSICAL ARTISTS 🌟 - Leo de María (@leodemariapiano )
"“Power”, “Plays like a great”, “Dominant and Conquering” are some of the superlatives used by various critics around the world to describe him." – El Norte (México – Monterey)
Spanish pianist Leo de María has established himself as a prominent figure in the classical music scene among his generation, known for his emotive interpretations and technical skill.
With the album "Borderless," a live recording made at the Auditorio de Zaragoza, Spain, de María invites listeners on a journey through a diverse repertoire, spanning classical masterpieces to contemporary gems.
Listen to his dazzling performances here: /intl-es/album/0K8cU9AKbt59OzCWWqdGyu?si=TNvAkwB_SVmcoo_xQQT7Cg&nd=1&dlsi=102fc9634b5642b8
#leodemaría #borderless #piano #distinguishedclassicalartists
#classicalmusic
📀CD OF THE WEEK - "Absolute Chopin" – Dmitry Shishkin (@shishkindmitry )
We are thrilled to announce that "Absolute Chopin", the album of internationally acclaimed pianist Dmitry Shishkin, was the most streamed album on Spotify from our label last week! 🏆
This extraordinary recording, released by KNS Classical, showcases Shishkin’s deep sensitivity, technical mastery, and his personal connection to the music of Frédéric Chopin. Each piece is performed with elegance, character, and a profound understanding of Chopin’s style, confirming why Dmitry is considered one of the rising stars of the classical piano world.
💿 Don’t miss this essential addition to your collection, whether you’re a lifelong Chopin admirer or just discovering his genius.
👉 Listen now on Spotify:
/album/5Swj9Qn8XTj0TmayACdJUl
#DmitryShishkin #ClassicalMusic #ClassicalNewRelease #PianoVirtuoso #Prizewinner
📀NEW RELEASE📀 - "Wisteria Lights" by Rae Pung
Explores Four Visions of the Piano Repertoire
KNS Classical is pleased to announce the release of Wisteria Lights, a recording by Singaporean pianist and Young Steinway Artist Rae Pung, whose performances have increasingly drawn international attention for their individuality and interpretive insight.
The album brings together four major pillars of the piano repertoire, tracing a compelling path from Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C minor, WoO 80 to the expressive breadth of Chopin’s Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, the dramatic contrasts of Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14, and the concentrated intensity of Alban Berg’s Sonata Op. 1. Across this wide stylistic spectrum, Rae Pung reveals a strong architectural sense and a keen sensitivity to shifting musical language, moving naturally between Classical clarity, Romantic expansion, early modernist tension, and twentieth-century expression.
Her performances have taken her to concert halls across Europe, Asia, and Australia, in collaboration with orchestras including the Danube Symphony Orchestra, the Dohnányi Symphony Orchestra Budafok, the Toruń Symphony Orchestra, and the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, among others. Praised by The Straits Times as a pianist “already turning heads internationally,” she continues to develop a distinctive artistic voice on today’s concert stage.
You can now listen to this striking recording on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and YouTube: /album/3UlPPpLhKV2CIadlB97FiF?si=b5fENSHQSXSXg_dg9_HYXA&nd=1&dlsi=65340ed02ae24600
#KNSClassical #CDRelease #WisteriaLights #RaePung #SteinwayArtist
THE KNS CLASSICAL ARTISTS
Giacomo Menegardi (@giacomomenegardi )
Luca Ciammarughi, an expert in music, piano, and radio, was blown away by Menegardi’s talent. He said, “Giacomo Menegardi is really talented. He amazed me, which doesn’t happen often in competitions.”
In his latest album “Humoreske,” Menegardi displays his virtuosity, expressiveness, and unique touch through three piano masterpieces: Mendelssohn’s Fantasia in F# Minor, Op. 28; Beethoven’s Op.111 Sonata; and the rarely heard yet stunning Schumann’s Humoreske.
Dive into the enchanting melodies and captivating performances by accessing the recording on Spotify: /intl-es/album/7hJNzuBKTiiC4h5cyhul5r?si=z_b341ypRQqu6QXmdIYPkg&dl_branch=1&nd=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR25zRMPZPT6AAGhSX1lAoHZnjOjpMX6rne5mpMt4gHllcfwD6i6i22nPs4_aem_AeDV33oJfezf8ITCT_A0D_Im-GAXBteY7WP7gpAB3_NRHskdsUxU-GlLS2FkcTfGyP88o_LcLULtXLwYo-MQTPab
Let’s celebrate classical music and support Giacomo Menegardi’s talent. 🎼✨
#KNSClassical #knsclassicalartists #classicalpianomusic #promising #musicgenius #youngpianist
📀NEW RELEASE📀 - "Eternal Dialogues" by Maple Trio
A Dialogue Across Generations: Maple Trio Releases “Eternal Dialogues” with KNS Classical
KNS Classical is pleased to announce the release of Eternal Dialogues, the new recording by Maple Trio, an ensemble that has rapidly gained recognition for its cohesion, clarity of vision, and refined chamber interplay.
Bringing together Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 41 in E-flat major, Hob. XV:31 and Brahms’s Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8, the album explores a compelling conversation between Classical balance and Romantic depth. Haydn’s late trio, with its rare two-movement structure, unfolds with a sense of introspection and wit, while Brahms’s expansive Op. 8 reveals a broader emotional landscape: at once lyrical, turbulent, and architecturally rich.
Formed in 2021 by violinist Liu Yiming, cellist Jiang Junhao, and pianist Yuan Chang, the Maple Trio brings together musicians trained across some of the world’s leading institutions. Their performances have been praised for their unity and expressive clarity, offering interpretations that combine precision with a strong sense of shared musical direction.
With Eternal Dialogues, the Maple Trio presents a program where tradition is not only preserved, but re-examined. The amazing CD is now avaliable on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube: /release/eternal-dialogues/
#KNSClassical #MapleTrio #EternalDialogues #Brahms #Haydn
📀NEW RELEASE📀 - "Eroica" by Schuyi Wang
Victory Award Winner Schuyi Wang (@schuyi.pianist ) Presents a Powerful New Recording with KNS Classical
KNS Classical is pleased to announce a new release by acclaimed Chinese pianist Schuyi Wang, winner of the Victory Award at the Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition 2024 (@carlesandsofiapianocompetition ). Already an established KNS Classical Artist, Wang returns with a compelling program that brings together four monumental works from the piano repertoire.
The album opens with Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 “Heroic”, a work of unmistakable grandeur and rhythmic vitality. It is followed by Liszt’s Réminiscences de Norma, one of the composer’s most dazzling operatic paraphrases, inspired by Bellini’s celebrated opera. Liszt appears again with Vallée d’Obermann from Années de pèlerinage, a deeply introspective work that explores philosophical reflection and emotional transformation. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Variations and Fugue in E-flat major, Op. 35 “Eroica Variations”, a masterful cycle that reveals Beethoven’s extraordinary imagination and structural brilliance.
Praised by the press as a “New Jewel of International Music”, Schuyi Wang has built an impressive international profile, collecting more than thirty awards in major competitions and appearing on stages across Europe and Asia. A Petrof Global Artist, KNS Classical Artist, and member of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now, she has collaborated with orchestras including the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and the Liaoning Symphony Orchestra, and her performances have received widespread media attention in Germany and China.
With this new recording, Schuyi Wang presents a program that moves between heroic brilliance, operatic drama, philosophical depth, and classical ingenuity.
Do not miss her heroical playing, now available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube: /album/3yop8hJY88d4OBmZQhb0mS?si=3w4v5f7CR42tqJTGAMyFdA&nd=1&dlsi=759e5d1b39264442
#KNSClassical #NewRelease #SchuyiWang #Eroica #Piano
