CD · 8 discs
SACD · 1 disc
Riemuitkaamme! is an imaginative and unconventional selection of choral music associated with Christmas as it is celebrated in Finland. Several of the pieces are by Finnish composers – Sibelius, Rautavaara and Madetoja, to name a few – while others have become part of the Christmas traditions of the country despite their international background. Among these Berlioz’ The Shepherds’ Farewell and Tchaikovsky’s Christ, when a Child… are quite late additions compared to the medieval hymns Puer natus in Bethlehem, Ecce novum gaudium and Angelus emittitur. All three of these were included in the collection Piae cantiones from 1582, the oldest Finnish music publication. Here, they are performed in settings by various composers from different countries and eras – forming a kind of soundtrack of Christmases past and present, distant and close. Contemporary music forms an important part of the activities of the Helsinki Chamber Choir and Nils Schweckendiek, and true to form, the team includes a world premiere recording in their celebrations: Aattoilta, by the Canadian-born composer Matthew Whittall.
CD · 7 discs
CD · 2 discs
This is the premiere recording of J.S. Bach’s John Passion, heard for the first time within its original liturgical context. Director John Butt succeeds in giving listeners a refreshing outlook on one of the best-known pieces of the choral repertoire. The recording also features works by Jacob Händl Gallus, J. Crüger and J.H. Schein from an original Leipzig hymn book performed by a congregational choir and the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir. John Butt takes centre stage to perform organ chorale preludes by Bach and Schütz on the Collins organ at Edinburgh’s Greyfriar’s Kirk. The impressive cast includes Nicholas Mulroy (Evangelista), Matthew Brook (Jesus), Robert Davies, Joanne Lunn and Clare Wilkinson. The recording was named a Gramophone Award Finalist, ‘Recording of the Month’ by three separate publications and topped the UK Specialist Chart upon its release in 2013. Dunedin Consort’s recreation of this recording at the 2017 BBC Proms was a highlight of the summer, earning critical acclaim for the ‘revelatory’ and ‘vital’ performance.
CD · 5 discs
A festive concert of great voices, this Volkslied-Edition offers on 5 CDs the most famous and most beloved German folksongs, performed by well known singers like Hermann Prey, Peter Schreier, and famous choirs, especially boys choirs, such as the Dresden Kreuzchor, Thomanerchor Leipzig and the Regensburger Domspatzen. A well done edition for all friends of choir music offered for a verys special price!
