Classical Music

The "Five Orchestral Pieces" by Joaquin Rodrigo chosen for this recording range from 1924 to 1982, the last year in which Rodrigo wrote compositions for orchestra. "Cinco Piezas Infantiles" was the first of Rodrigo's orchestral scores to make an impact: "Reading the score makes one's hair stand on end!" (E. L. Chavarri) "These five children's pieces are made to please grown-up children who enjoy games of sounds and rhythms." (R. Brussel) "Per la flor del lliri blau" [For the flower of the blue lily] is a symphonic poem, based on a Valencian legend. Though the idiom of the piece is part of the European late-Romantic tradition, the voice is unmistakeably Rodrigo's own and demonstrates how easily Rodrigo integrates popular Spanish styles of music to great effect, as also seen in "Palillos y Panderetas" and "Homenaje a la Tempranica" - a homage to a famous zarzuela, the Spanish form of light operetta. During a visit in Texas, Rodrigo had made the acquaintance of some astronauts and had been allowed to touch some stones from the moon. He was thinking about this event when he wrote "A la búsca del mas alla" [In search of the 'beyond'] some years later. This piece begins and ends somehow lost in space - in the beyond.

Recorded in: All Saints' Church, East Finchley, London 6, 8 & 9 January 1996 Producer(s) Nicholas Anderson Sound Engineer(s) Ben Connellan Jonathan Cooper (Assistant) Richard Smoker (Assistant)

Convinced that the Revelation of Saint John was the response to questions that man has posed since the beginning of time, and that music has the power of evoking something and making it comprehensible even without using images, he turned to the overpowering subject of the Apocalypse, a subject that is difficult to grasp in human, artistic terms: visions of the end of time, of the goal and fulfilment of divine creation. Completed by the end of 1939, the premiere took place in occupied Paris on 11 June 1942 under the direction of Charles Munch. The passage in the text about the 144,000 children of Israel who were redeemed went unnoticed by the Nazi censors. The unusual orchestration of this fantastic oratorio includes a quartet of vocal soloists, a mixed chorus, organ, and two orchestras: the orchestra of heaven, which corresponds more or less to a large symphony orchestra, and the orchestra of hell, an ensemble of grotesque sound effects.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Recorded in: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea 25-26 February 1998 Producer(s) Ralph Couzens Sound Engineer(s) Ralph Couzens Richard Smoker (Assistant)

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

KEDYKOLWIEK TERAZ JESTES

ROYAL CONCERT: UN CONCERT ROYA

LENDVAY / BOGAR / HIDAS / RANKI / DUBROVAY: Contemporary Hun

Classical Music

LEES: Symphony No. 4, 'Memorial Candles'

Classical Music

William Primrose Collection, Vol. 1

The unique radiance of traditional English choral singing that made Agnus Dei such a phenomenon is displayed in this set of international Christmas music by Higginbottom & The Choir of New College, Oxford. Mixing familiar tunes with less frequently heard gems, the carol texts take the listener from Annunciation through Epiphany with music from around the world - including the eloquent Poulenc Christmas Motets and Herbert Howell's haunting carol-anthems.

"In vivid, full-ranging recordings made by German Radio, Müller-Brühl conducts lively performances with his excellent chamber orchestra of three symphonies frrom around 1774. Müller-Brühl uses modern instruments, yet reflects period practice in asking for ery limited vibrato and light articulation from the strings."

-- Penguin Guide [2003/4]

VIVALDI : L'Estro Armonico / Wind and Brass / Concerti

BAROQUE CONCERTOS (FAMOUS)

PROKOFIEV: Ten Small Pieces / Sarcasms / Visions Fugitives

STAMITZ, J.: Orchestral Trios Nos. 1 - 3, Op. 1 and No. 3, O

REICHA: Wind Quintets, Op. 88, No. 4 and Op. 99, No. 6

Dvorák: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7