This essential recording of Walton’s Troilus and Cressida is widely recognized as the finest available. Edward Greenfield wrote in Gramophone that ‘[e]ven among Chandos’ many bold achievements…this magnificent set…stands out…Hickox relishes the romanticism to the full”. Troilus and Cressida was William Walton’s first opera, a BBC commission, premiered in 1954. The version recorded here follows Walton’s more concise, shortened 1976 score with Cressida in its original soprano register.

Lisa Friend leads this collection of original works and transcriptions for flute and guitars, joined by Craig Ogden and the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet. The wide-ranging programme includes Fauré’s Pavane and Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise. Lisa Friend (Flautist) has appeared as a soloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Prague Philharmonic, Virtuosi Pragenses Chamber Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic and has toured throughout much of Europe, Asia and the USA. Lisa has recorded as a solo/chamber artist for Silva Screen, Universal, Chandos, Champs Hill and Signum Records. Her previous album 'Essence' has been aired on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio London, WQXR Classical Radio, New York and WFMT Radio, Chicago.

Responding to overwhelming popular demand, Chandos is releasing Verdi and Variations as a 12” LP for the first time. This new venture is Chandos’ first LP production in many years. The works on the record are performed by Canadian ensemble I Musici de Montreal under the direction of the late, lamented Yuli Turovsky. Despite Giuseppi Verdi’s curt dismissal of his one and only chamber work as of ‘no importance’, it nevertheless received a fantastic reception at its premier and was hailed as a masterpiece. The present recording is a string orchestra arrangement by Yuli Turovsky. The other two works represent two composer’s unique takes on Verdi’s music. Antonio Pasculli’s Grand Concerto on Themes from Verdi’s I vespri siciliani was designed to showcase the composer’s considerable virtuosity as an oboist; it is here played by Philippe Magnan. Marc-Oliver Dupin’s Fantasia on Arias from La Traviata (1995), revisits the ‘fantasy’ genre in a set of six contrasting and highly entertaining variations.