Through the centuries composers have brought colour and panache to bear in their depictions of animals in music. For some, such as Sibelius, animals become the central focus in their tone poems, whilst for others a symphonic unity is sought, as Beethoven showed in his ‘Pastoral’ Symphony. Poetic imagery, through song, offers another avenue. The rich variety of the animal kingdom – from bees to birds, from fleas to fish (and much else) – offers memorable opportunities for sonic richness.

Artists

Johann Aratore (organ), Balázs Szokolay (piano), Giorgio Koukl (piano), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Einar Steen-Nøkleberg (piano), István Tóth (double bass), Jenö Jandó (piano), Håkan Austbø (piano), Hakon Austbo (piano), David Greed (violin), Jenő Keveházi (horn), Alexandre Tharaud (piano), Jiří Válek (flute), Marian Lapsansky (piano), Peter Toperczer (piano)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Handel Festival Chamber Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lille, Kodály Quartet, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, English Northern Philharmonia, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Kees Bakels, John Tinge, Peter Breiner, Stephen Gunzenhauser, David Lloyd-Jones, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Ondrej Lenárd, Anthony Bramall, Michael Halász, Fabio Mastrangelo, Kenneth Schermerhorn, Jaroslav Krček