Joshua Bell Tops The Billboard Charts With New Star-Studded Duets CD AT HOME WITH FRIENDS

JOSHUA BELL's new recording, AT HOME WITH FRIENDS (Sony Masterworks) marks the violin virtuoso's best-selling debut ever. Released on September 29, AT HOME WITH FRIENDS takes the #1 spot on both Billboard's Classical and Classical Crossover charts, and the #2 position on the Heatseekers Chart.

Alex Miller, Senior Vice President/General Manager of Sony Masterworks says "We couldn't be more pleased by the immediate success of Joshua Bell's new album. It is an innovative and accessible body of work that we believe appeals to fans of all genres of music around the world."

On AT HOME WITH FRIENDS, the Grammy Award-winning violinist fulfills a life-long career dream of recording a CD of instrumental and vocal duets with a diverse roster of musicians including Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Regina Spektor, Anoushka Shankar, Marvin Hamlisch, Tiempo Libre, among others.

The concept of AT HOME WITH FRIENDS was inspired by Bell's long-time practice of holding 'musical soirees' at his New York residence - eclectic gatherings of musicians, actors, comics, literary figures and others who convene for the sheer joy of sharing their art in an informal setting. With this in mind, Bell has spent the past four years designing and building his home in Manhattan to accommodate the ideal 'stay-at-home' venue.

With more than 30 original albums to his credit, Bell has captured the public's attention like no other classical violinist of his time, enchanting audiences worldwide with his breathtaking playing and tone of rare beauty, as performed on his legendary Stradivarius violin made in 1713. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader, Bell has earned countless awards and honors for his work as a concert stage performer and recording artist. He has won multiple Grammy awards and was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize. His 2004 album Romance of the Violin was named the "Classical CD of the Year" by Billboard Magazine, with Bell named "Classical Artist of the Year." In the national spotlight since age 14 (when he made his acclaimed orchestral debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra), and a recording artist since age 18, Bell has been an exclusive Sony Music artist for more than a decade. Acclaimed for the wide range of music he has chosen to record, Bell's output ranges from mainstream classical concertos by Sibelius and Beethoven, a live recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (Tchaikovsky concerto), the bluegrass inspired Short Trip Home - from the jazz influenced Gershwin Fantasy, to the Bernstein-inspired West Side Story Suite and many others. His interest in film is particularly notable, having performed all the violin solos in The Red Violin, helping the film win an Oscar for the "Best Original Score" (written by John Corigliano). He has received recognition beyond his awards that are not common to most classical artists, having been the first musician to have a classical music video played on VH1, to appearing as himself on Sesame Street and alongside Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart.

  Track Listing
  1. I Loves You Porgy - featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
  2. Come Again - featuring Sting, vocals
  3. Oblivion - featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
  4. Cinema Paradiso - featuring Josh Groban, vocals
  5. Para Ti - featuring Tiempo Libre, various
  6. My Funny Valentine -  featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
  7. Maybe So - featuring Edgar Meyer, Double-bass, Sam Bush, Mandolin and
     Mike Marshall, Guitar
  8. Grieg: Sonata No. 3 - featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph
     re-performance)
  9. Eleanor Rigby  - featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
  10. O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair  - Nathan Gunn, baritone
  11. Il Postino - featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
  12. Left Hand Song - featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
  13. Chovendo Na Roseira - featuring Dave Grusin, piano
  14. Look Away - featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin
  15. Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin (abridged version) - featuring
      Anoushka Shankar, sitar

  16. I'll Take Manhattan - featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano

RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz are labels of Sony Masterworks. For e-mail updates and information regarding RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz artists, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit www.sonymasterworks.com.

www.JoshuaBell.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Sony Masterworks

CONTACT: Angela Barkan, Sony Masterworks, +1-212-833-8575,
angela.barkan@sonymusic.com, or Jane Covner, JAG Entertainment,
+1-818-905-5511, jcovner@jagpr.com

Web Site: http://www.sonymasterworks.com/