Soprano Gillian Keith joins the acclaimed Baroque ensemble Armonico Consort under Christopher Monks for the first release in a three disc series featuring the solo cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach's cantatas hold a special place amongst performers and devotees of his music. Whether sacred or secular, these works provide incredible variety for listeners and players alike. Some contain elements of storytelling similar to arias and recitatives from his great Passions; many have instrumental movements and solo passages that rival any of his concerti, and are indeed borrowed directly from some of the most famous. Not surprisingly, Bach's cantatas are often incredibly virtuosic, demanding as much technical ability, style and understanding of the music as any of his other works.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Released in conjunction with the his new book of the same name (published by Quercus), Fire On All Sides is the soundtrack to James Rhodes’ intimate exploration of what it’s like to be a celebrated pianist embarking on a world tour, when you have multiple voices jostling in your head, sabotaging your happiness and sapping your confidence. James Rhodes writes: “So in 2016 I did an extensive tour of around twenty cities in a few short weeks. I wrote a book about it called Fire On All Sides and this recording is the soundtrack to that book. Like every other area of my life, it’s heavily based on fantasy. A huge thank you both to those who came to the gigs and also to these immense composers for supplying the tools required to help put out the flames.”

One of the UK's leading choral directors for over 50 years, stephen Wilkinson, MBE has led both professional and amateur choirs across Europe, and is particularly renowned for his work with the BBC Northern Singers and the William Byrd Singerse of Manchester. Only retiring from conducting in 2009 at the age of 90, Stephen Wilkinson's songs span the breadth of his long career as a conductor and musician, and are best described by his daugher, Clare - an acclaimed mezzo-soprano herself who also performs on this recording - as being ''a unique voice, yet deeply rooted in the English song tradition of Finzi, Gurney and Quilter.'' Performed by British singers Mhairi Lawson, Clare Wilkinson, James Gilchrist and Matthew Brook, they draw on texts by a wealth of sources including Auden, Yates, Coleridge, Shakespeare and many more.

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Classical Music

Classical Music

Prayers for Mankind celebrates the life and writings of Father Alexander Levine, which capture the beauty and humanity of Men's view of the World. Don't miss the latest release by world famous choral group Tenebrae, BBC Magazine quotes, 'they seem to have an extra gear, a kind of choral overdrive that allows them to soar almost serenely over corners that have some of the finest vocal ensembles showing the strain.' CD review Andrew McGregor May 2010.

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• “Into the Ravine” is the first release on Signum from the Carducci Quartet, one of the UK’s most dynamic string quartets. • The quartet is joined by oboist Nicholas Daniel for three world premieres from well-established UK composers, and all written specially for them. • The Carducci quartet run their own festival and recording label, and are international competetion winners.

Classical Music

Classical Music