The young Egyptian soprano Fatma Said, praised for the luminosity and rich colours of her voice, makes her recording debut for Warner Classics with El Nour. Her enticing and absorbing recital programme crosses cultures, combining art songs by French, Spanish and Egyptian composers with Egyptian folk songs and popular songs from the Middle East. As she explains, "'El Nour' in Arabic means 'the light', and this album sheds light on how music that has been interpreted many times can be perceived in a different light. The idea is to connect three cultures - Arabic, French and Spanish - and to show how much, despite cultural, geographical and historical differences, they have in common when it comes to music".
Piotr Anderszewski takes a characteristically creative approach to Bach's Das Wohltemperierte Klavier (The Well-tempered Clavier). Rather than recording all 48 of it's prelude-and-fugue pairings, he has focused on 12 pairings from Book Two. "I decided to put the pieces together in a sequence of my own subjective choosing, based sometimes on key relationships, at other times on contrasts. The idea behind this specific order is to create a sense of drama that suggests a cycle: 12 characters conversing with one another, mirroring each other." Anderszewski's last Erato album of Bach prompted BBC Music Magazine to write: "For anyone who loves Bach (or the piano)... this life-enhancing disc is required listening."
Voces8, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble, is pleased to announce the release of their new album, 'A Choral Christmas' out on November 3rd via Decca Classics and showcasing a joyful, cinematic soundscape-packed hamper of choral and orchestral treats. A Christmas musical extravaganza filled with sparkling, cinematic new arrangements of favourite carols from US composer Taylor Scott Davis. Featuring several world premiere recordings of brand new works and arrangements, including the centrepiece of the album, a major new work for choir and orchestra, Taylor Scott Davis's dazzling setting of the Magnificat, originally commissioned for Voces8's LIVE From London festival. Also includes a serene and intimate new a cappella carol The Sleeping Child from British composer Bob Chilcott written especially for Voces8. Largest scale recording of Voces8 to date - featuring the Voces8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra for the first time, instrumental soloists and conducted by Voces8's co-founder and countertenor Barnaby Smith.
exciting reading of Arnold's finest symphony from unexpected sources, coupled with enchanting CD debutants... The 5th is a marvellous symphony, perhaps his greatest - powerfully argued, confidently structured, and full of memorable invention. It is good to see it so well played and recorded in Munich, guided by Douglas Bostock who comes into his own in four extra works, which are all first recordings. Divertimento- a splendidly characterful triptych; there is much outrageous fun in the St Trinian's score - bursting with irreverent ideas and effects; and the lovely, nostalgic 'Sarabande' of Solitaire (one of his most touching tunes).(Gramophone)
Alto finally releasing a worthy version of this cornerstone of the repertoire. When it was first released the Sunday Times was rapturous; "a magnificent Ninth, done with total commitment under Haitink's inspiring leadership... with splendid chorus and soloists in full cry, and orchestra in blazing form"the slow third movement... moves along at a pace few conductors would have employed fifty years ago. Yet it never sounds hurried, and the dramatic brass interruptions towards it's close have an appropriately apocalyptic ring. The extraordinarily vivid recording, in which the basses are caught to stupendous effect - especially in their passages of recitative... before welcoming the 'Ode to Joy' theme - adds hugely to the effect." (BBC Music magazine)
Marlow articulates the music so coherently that he neatly side-steps any impression of aimlessness.... carefully graduated dynamics, close attention to the meaning and spirit of the text and disciplined singing result in readings which sparkle with life.
For their liturgical debuts in London and Leipzig respectively, Handel and Bach played the card of vocal and orchestral splendor. Whether celebrating the Peace of Utrecht (Handel's Te Deum) or the Nativity (Bach's Magnificat, performed here in it's original version), the RIAS Kammerchor offers us a flamboyant interpretation of these seminal works.
With selections ranging from Praetorius to Britten, plus all-time favorites such as J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Handel's Messiah, this album brings together some of the most beautiful and justly famous musical settings of the Nativity story. Festive or intimate, exuberant or elegiac, these highlights from iconic recordings in harmonia mundi's voluminous catalogue are an ideal sampling of the Christmas magic across epochs and styles.
This collections celebrated Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlins' forty years of excellence with and around the Bach family. In addition to such famous works as the Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites, this anniversary set invites you to explore the golden age of a veritable dynasty, from Johann Sebastian's distant cousin Johann Ludwig to his sons Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian - from the finest works of the Baroque era to the first examples of the Classical style: simply breathtaking.
Intense, emotional and pure is how Pavel Kolesnikov describes the experience of making this recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. It is the fruit of a collaboration between the pianist and choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. The spirit of the dance, so fundamental to Bach, is never far away in this compelling new account.
Bach wrote three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord. Scholars estimate they were composed in the early 1740s, possibly for Carl Fredrich Abel, son of Bach's colleague Christian Ferdinand Abel. They are paired here with Scarlatti's Gamba Sonata and a Violin Sonata by Handel. These works are performed by violinist Robin Michael, cellist Steven Isserlis and harpsichordist Richard Egarr in a program of haunting tranquility.
As one of the most respected liturgical composers of our time, Michael Joncas has earned his reputation by writing music for the Church that proclaims the Scriptures in song, fits the ritual moment, and speaks to the heart. This new collection will no doubt reaffirm his fine reputation and reestablish once again his valuable contribution to the art of pastoral music making. The rich, lyrical Joncas style is evident in the title song, "As the Deer," a beautiful setting of Psalm 42 usable as a responsorial or processional, scored for harp, winds, and strings. "Exultate Justi," "Cantate Domino," and "Wisdom Is Calling" are grand processionals, scored for brass and organ. There's also a lovely setting of the Francis Patrick Sullivan text "A Shepherd" for solo voice, and Joncas's ever-popular "Spirit of God within Me," with text by Timothy Dudley-Smith, is recorded with a full complement of instruments. Joncas's scholarly research and personal love of the Liturgy of the Hours has led him to compose a new setting of evening prayer entitled "St. Francis Evening Prayer." Composed in a classical style, this new and accessible setting should be explored by any community considering the Liturgy of the Hours.
More and more music lovers are discovering Antonio Rosetti, Mozart's contemporary from Wallerstein in Bavaria. After a number of horn concertos and a few delightful symphonies, these are the two first piano concertos to be released; one of them - also a rarity - was composed by Rosetti together with his pupil Nanette von Schaden. A Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra with delight in playing, a soloist (Nerine Barrett) who hits Rosetti's timbre most perfectly, and a conductor who clearly cares about this music are the features of this recording. A must for every music collection. (customer review) " the sound of the TACET recording is of demonstration quality... The notes, by Sterling E. Murray, president of the International Rosetti society, are very thorough. The performances are first-class. As expected, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra is well polished. Johannes Moesus is a young German conductor of considerable quality. He is also president of the International Rosetti society. I have not previously encountered pianist Nerine Barrett. A Jamaican, she has studied and performed widely according the notes. Certainly her performances here indicate we should be hearing more from her (...) Anyone interested in Rosetti is well advised to obtain both recordings." (Fanfare)
David Shifrin leads the nation's most acclaimed ensemble, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, through Bach's famed Brandenburg Concertos. This double-CD set was recorded in Delos' acclaimed VR2 Dolby Surround process and packaged in a space-saving slimline case.
Tacet is one of the handful of companies that seem quite competent at delivering superb ambience and acoustical cues from just a couple of well-placed microphones. Very highly recommended - this disc is such a delight to listen to that it's more than generous 75-minute playing time passes all too quickly! (Audiophile Audition) Your J. S. Bach Partitas CD is safely esconced in my Top Ten: I keep my collection down to a maximum of ten CDs, in other words, each time a better one comes along I throw out one that isn't as good. (customer's letter)
