Few operas benefit as much as does Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro from being sung in the language of the audience. Even in this age of super-titles, there is no substitute for the direct communication from singers to audience in this brilliantly conceived social comedy. Thus, this new recording may well be one of the most important releases in Chandos’s admirable “Opera in English” project...this is a very well paced, lovingly shaped performance that binds into a persuasive whole. Chandos’s recording is, as is usually the case, on the reverberant side, but not unpleasantly so. An excellent essay accompanies the set, along with a complete English printed text. Henry Fogel, FANFARE
Alessandro Grandi is widely regarded as one of the finest composers from Italy in the early 17th century but his music itself is little known. This premiere recording of his 16 Motets for Five Voices rectifies that and demonstrates his extraordinary musical powers. Also on the CD are musical items from the soundtrack of the film/live/multimedia work "Fallen", a collaboration between Musica Secreta and playwright Fiona Mackie.
Pianist Joe Bonner (1948 – 2014) was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina where Thelonious Monk was born about three decades earlier and left strong influence on the young pianist. An impressive modernist Joe Bonner performed in and around Denver, Colorado towards the end of his life and became a legendary figure. He spent considerable time in Denmark during the 80s. This album from Copenhagen in March 1987 is a studio recording with another American expatriate Bob Rockwell on tenor.
"...The Lost Melody is a good group session, marked by strong charts ...." (The Penguin Guide to JAZZ)
"... one cannot but admire the fluency and precision, the dexterous right hand...the diversity in his play is a mark of a great pianist..." (Jean-Paul Ricard, Diapason)
Pianist Joe Bonner (1948 – 2014) was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina where Thelonious Monk was born about three decades earlier and left strong influence on the young pianist. An impressive modernist Joe Bonner performed in and around Denver, Colorado towards the end of his life and became a legendary figure. He spent considerable time in Denmark during the 80s. This album from Copenhagen in March 1987 is a studio recording with another American expatriate Bob Rockwell on tenor.
"...The Lost Melody is a good group session, marked by strong charts ...." (The Penguin Guide to JAZZ)
"... one cannot but admire the fluency and precision, the dexterous right hand...the diversity in his play is a mark of a great pianist..." (Jean-Paul Ricard, Diapason)
“…magnificent recording reveals grand moments of Bonner…” (Yves Sportis, Jazz Hot)
“Bonner is an impressive modernist…a fine solo performer and an adventurous group leader…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz)
Previously issued on SCCD 31176 & SCCD 31182
