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Violin and piano duo Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins explore a violin and piano programme spanning four generations of musical imagination. Prokofiev’s F minor Sonata captivates with its dramatic intensity and baroque-inspired clarity. Stravinsky’s Duo Concertant enchants through five lyrical musical poems, blending wit, elegance, and classical poise. Knussen’s ‘Reflection’ written for Waley-Cohen and Watkins immerses listeners in a jewel-like world of colour and introspection, where every note is deliberately placed. Watkins’s Violin Sonata fuses modern lyricism with bursts of earthy vitality, creating a dialogue of subtle contrasts. ★★★★ - The Times "artfully constructed and sympathetically recorded" - The Strad -
The Calidore Quartet present their first disc on Signum Records – a collection of quartets by Janáček, Prokofiev, Golijov and Mendelssohn.
The pieces were the products of four compelling personal narratives: an escape from the NAZI eastern offensive in WWII, a life caught in the crosshairs of a surge of violence in the Middle East, the sudden death of one’s closest friend and the struggle of being trapped in a loveless marriage. Felix Mendelssohn and Leoš Janáček turned to their art to find an outlet for their personal grief while Sergei Prokofiev and Osvaldo Golijov used their compositions to make sense of a world that was turned upside down by violent conflict.
Because of and despite these origins the works are imbued with emotional potency, and the quartet hope that that these works can provide “a message of hope because they illuminate the human potential to create beauty even in the darkest of circumstances.”
Superb young quartet presents a timely and thought-provoking programme - The Strad Precision needn't inhibit expression; these lively, intelligent performances of an attractive and thought-provoking programme offer compelling proof - Gramophone Superb, rhythmically alert playing, the players’ collective virtuosity always at the service of the music - The Arts Desk The Calidore Quartet successfully capture the emotional charge of this powerful work, bringing resilience to a suitably stirring close - BBC Music Magazine If the recording is comparable to what this admirable group displayed last week, the loud ovations after the concert were completely justified - Seen and Heard International Never do these players lose sight of the fact that the music, for all its violence and passion, should be a thing of beauty - MusicWeb International -
The Piatti Quartet and Emmanuel Despax join forces to present an album of works by Farrenc, Schumann and Durosoir. Louise Farrenc arranged her own brilliantly dramatic Wind Sextet and Pi- ano, for Piano Quintet and this arrangement is a World Premiere Recording on this release. They’ve chosen to include three of Lucien Durosoir’s most touching and beautiful pieces, one for violin and piano, and two for cello and piano. “Emanuel Despax and the Piatti Quartet play with conviction, finesse and lyrical sweep that blow away all doubts ... a life-affirming recording:" - Gramophone -
The Ancient Greek word Kalon was used by philosophers to describe perfect physical and moral beauty. In this recording, the two string ensembles (the Albion Quartet and the Czech Philharmonic) explore the different aspects of Kalon through the context in which beauty can exist in ugliness and darkness. This record is the result of Richard Blackford's doctorate at the University of Bristol, which investigates the use of polytempo. The recording is a way of applying the findings of his doctorate in a range of musical contexts. Kalon is unique as it explores the use of polytempo in the context of extended tonality and modality, which could be said surpasses the complexity posed by serialist works of a similar nature, such as Stockhausen's Gruppen or Carré. -
Rivers is the second EP from composer John Barber and Fourth Window vocal ensemble. Over its five tracks conductor Sarah Latto and 8 acapella voices tell five different love stories- spiritual, romantic and parental. Julia, setting text by Robert Herrick, imagines a lover heading to a magical late night rendezvous; My River - written for John’s son just after he was born - uses text by Emily Dickinson to create a modern day spiritual of hope and gratitude. In Lullaby, a mother sings her baby to sleep whilst her partner is at war. The EP is bookended by The Voice Of My Beloved and Love Is As Strong As Death - setting timeless text from the Song of Songs. ★★★★ - "If you enjoy contemporary choral music this is highly recommended" - Crossrhythms“There is such variety of colour and texture but also, he has these themes that run through them so this sense of flow, this sense of rhythmic impetus—the rivers, the night, the sort of sensuous and erotic but also spiritual so there is a unifying sense across them but there’s lots of variety and I can imagine a lot of these songs going straight into choirs repertoires and people really enjoying getting to know them.” - BBC Radio 3 Record Review
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“To my ears, Llŷr Williams is one of the great pianists of our age.” John Gilhooly, CBE. His 15th album with Signum Classics, the Welsh pianist, Llŷr Williams, brings a profound musical intelligence to his work as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. His new album of Robert Schumann works explores a selection of works that span a substantial part of Schumann’s life, including Papillons Op. 2 (written while he studied law at Leipzig University) all the way up to Faschingsschwank aus Wien published in 1841. Llŷr Williams’ long and successful collaboration with Signum Records includes the 8-disc box-set ‘A Schubert Journey’ (2020), the 12-volume ‘Beethoven Unbound’ (2018), a ‘Wagner Without Words’ double album (2014) and highlights from Liszt’s ‘Années de pèlerinage‘ (2012). "… the performances are always immaculate, their working out totally lucid; it’s unquestionably thoughtful, authoritative playing." ★★★★ - The Guardian"[Williams] is a subtle, sensitive, and eminently satisfying artists possessed of a magnificent technique, a glorious tonal palette and terrific musical intelligence... I found Williams’s entire approach to Schumann a breath of fresh air, finding new perspectives around every corner." - International Piano"Llŷr Williams’s poise, clarity and wholeness of approach, admirable in themselves, are no barriers to the passion, romance and reverie inherent in this generous selection from Robert Schumann’s piano catalogue … poetry and panache from both hands” - Colin's Column -
“To my ears, Llŷr Williams is one of the great pianists of our age.” John Gilhooly, CBE. His 17th album with Signum Classics, the Welsh pianist Llŷr Williams, brings a profound musical intelligence to his work as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. His second album of Robert Schumann works explores a selection of works that span a substantial part of Schumann’s life. Llŷr Williams’ long and successful collaboration with Signum Records includes the 8-disc box-set ‘A Schubert Journey’ (2020), the 12-volume ‘Beethoven Unbound’ (2018), a ‘Wagner Without Words’ double album (2014) and highlights from Liszt’s ‘Années de pèlerinage‘ (2012). "This is a collection bound to appeal to admirers of expressive piano mastery, as well as to the most discerning of Schumann aficionados." - Gramophone ★★★★ - “There’s so much to admire in these remarkable recordings” - BBC Music Magazine Praise for Robert Schumann: Piano Works Vol. 1: “… the performances are always immaculate, their working out totally lucid; it’s unquestionably thoughtful, authoritative playing.” ★★★★ – The Guardian“[Williams] is a subtle, sensitive, and eminently satisfying artists possessed of a magnificent technique, a glorious tonal palette and terrific musical intelligence… I found Williams’s entire approach to Schumann a breath of fresh air, finding new perspectives around every corner.” – International Piano“Llŷr Williams’s poise, clarity and wholeness of approach, admirable in themselves, are no barriers to the passion, romance and reverie inherent in this generous selection from Robert Schumann’s piano catalogue … poetry and panache from both hands” – Colin’s Column -
On their premiere recording, the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, directed by celebrated choral conductor Ralph Allwood, perform the works of British Choral Award winner Roderick Williams. Based in Greenwich, East London the choir is comprised of both students from the conservatoire (including several choral scholars) as well as outstanding volunteer singers. It is unique amongst cathedral, church and collegiate choirs in the UK in that it has ready access to the wide range of musical resources at the Conservatoire, collaborating frequently in a wide variety of genres as well as performing for services at the beautiful 18th Century Chapel of St Peter & St Paul. As well as being renowned as a singer Roderick Williams is also well-respected as a composer, and his works have been premiered at the Wigmore and Barbican Halls, the Purcell Room and live on national radio. ★★★★ This is a well presented introduction to a contemporary composer of whom I hope and expect to hear more - Cross Rhythms This vivid choral anthology has given continued pleasure throughout the year, filled as it is with an astonishing versatility of moods and styles - Gramophone This disc shows another equally distinguished side to one of the UK’s leading singers. It’s very well worth hearing - MusicWeb International -
One of the UK’s most lauded composers, Roxanna Panufnik celebrates her 50th birthday with a new release of her previously unrecorded choral music, performed by leading British choir Ex Cathedra under Jeffrey Skidmore. Known for her interest in world music, the programme includes performances from Indian arts organisation Milapfest on Unending Love, as well as the a recording of Child of Heaven: Dawn Chorus III – a new commission from Ex Cathedra that sets a Hymn to Dawn from the Rig Veda.
Roxanna has written a wide range of pieces including opera, ballet, music theatre, choral works, chamber compositions and music for film and television which are regularly performed all over the world. This disc follows the 2017 release of 99 Words (SIGCD519), combining works by Panufnik and Sir John Tavener.
★★★★ Beguiling and soothing, it’s Panufnik at her most individual - Classical Source ★★★★ Very exciting - All Music A pleasurable disc - GramophoneThe work is elegantly-shaped and full of warmth, rather like this disc as a whole - BBC Music Magazine
This album is a fine and nicely varied birthday gift from Ex Cathedra to Roxanna Panufnik - Music Web International
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Since Westminster Mass (2000) established Roxanna Panufnik’s firm place among today’sleading British composers, she has often been celebrated for her choral music. Her instrumental and chamber works, however, are equally striking, filled with dazzling imagination and poetic lightness of touch. Her latest album Heartfelt encompasses compassion, tragedy and irresistible humour, while demonstrating her passion for exploring diverse musical cultures, from East Sussex to Myanmar. Featuring a stellar line-up of leading British soloists (including soprano Mary Bevan, pianist Charles Owen and baritone Roderick Williams) and led by the Sacconi Quartet, the title work includes a musical translation of the heartbeat of a young European Brown Bear named Albie: captured by a digital stethoscope, Bristol Zoological Society’s Wild Place Project was generously able to send Panufnik a recording of Albie’s heartbeat whilst he underwent a small surgical procedure, the anaesthetic possibly resembling the bear’s hibernation. Albie himself is pictured on the album’s front cover. -
Violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen continues her series of concerto recordings on Signum with two contrasting works by American composers.Already considered by many to be a modern classic, John Adams 1993 Violin Concerto was described by the composer as having a ‘hypermelody’, in which the soloist plays longs phrases without stop for the duration of the 35 minute piece. Although composed in 1949, the first performance of Roy Harris’ Violin Concerto didn’t occur until 1984. Since then it has been championed for its “luminous orchestration and exalted tone" and has been rarely recorded.For this recording, Tamsin Waley-Cohen is joined by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under American conductor Andrew Litton.
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Venus & Adonis is the premiere recording of the eponymous song cycle by Billboard-charting composer Rodrigo Ruiz. Released to celebrate William Shakespeare’s 460th anniversary, this album is a tribute to the poet’s unmatched inspiration. When the composition was finished in 2020, Venus & Adonis became the first song cycle known to be written by a Mexican composer, as well as the only known song cycle (in English or otherwise) set entirely to Shakespeare's texts. Despite the newness of the cycle, the music lacks no lyricism and will gladden singers, pianists, artistic directors and all those longing to perform and programme such lyrical and well-crafted music. These seventeen songs, performed by British duo Grace Davidson (soprano) and George Herbert (piano), exemplify the enormous variety of expression that Ruiz is able to conjure in his writing, making of Venus & Adonis a truly exciting and refreshing addition to the art song tradition —one that will touch audiences and musicians alike. All Music Classical Highlights October 2024 "Especially priceless is this recording of Venus&Adonis by the Mexican composer Rodrigo Ruiz...[Davidson and Herbert] conjure up a suitably unsettling atmosphere true to the spirit of Ruiz's music...The songs are enchanting, the text clearly expressive, with soft melodic lines, with he loving piano of George Herbert, who offers a graceful accompaniment...Ruiz has the capacity to construct a musical narrative connected to the poetry, where everything flows: fire, passion, coldness, tenderness and turbulence. These are beautiful musical performances" - Sonograma Melómano de Oro (JANUARY 2025) "The compositional mastery of Ruiz makes every part fuse to perfection with the text, offering a memorable auditive experience...The interpretation of Grace Davidson brings delicacy and strength to each song, adapting her colour and vocal texture according to the demands of the work...This album reminds us of the potential to combine different artistic expressions" - Melómano -
Grace Davidson presents her third release with Signum Classics, an intimate recording of Sacred Chants by Hildegard von Bingen, translations by Jeremy Summerly. Hildegard was an extremely accomplished composer, as well as a scientist, a diplomat, a poet, and the founder of a religious community. Her melodies rise out of Gregorian chant, with wide voice ranges that are suited to trained singers. The florid imagery of Hildegard’s texts is matched by suitably florid tunes, whose calculated intervals suggest both vocal improvisation and carefully controlled composition. Hilde- gard had the ability to write tunes whose very essence is simultaneously spontaneous yet structured. And such was Hildegard’s character – on the one hand she was intensely practical, and on the other she was a vessel for dreams and visions. Grace Davidson is a British soprano who specialises first and foremost in the performance and recording of Baroque music. she has worked as a soloist with leading Baroque ensembles, under the batons of Sir John Eliot Gardner, Paul McCreesh, Philippe Herreweghe and Harry Christophers. RECORDING OF THE MONTH - Musicweb International ★★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording "Grace Davidson, singing alone, unfolds a tapestry of sounds filled with exceptional purity, mellifluous continuity and a focused sense of form. The vocal techniques of breath control…the command of stunning and dizzying meanders of melody…and the subtle colouring of modal changes…are very impressive. An exceptional recording" - BBC Music Magazine "Absolute purity of a single voice, perfectly modulated in all its details and gliding effortlessly through the often tortuously difficult music" - Gramophone ★★★★ "You cannot get a solo recital that feels as intimate as one for a single voice…Here is a British soprano with a voice so radiantly pure in colour and tone that you might think yourself in heaven…The warmly resonant recording, is pretty heavenly in itself" - The Times -
Crouch End Festival Chorus presents two Britten classics: Saint Nicolas and A Ceremony of Carols. Full of vibrancy and drama, Saint Nicolas is performed alongside the fabulous BBC Concert Orchestra and features tenor Mark Le Brocq as well as Coldfall Primary School Choir, members of Hertfordshire Chorus and Hannah Brine Choirs. The ever-popular A Ceremony of Carols is performed with harpist Sally Pryce, and both works are conducted by David Temple. -
There was a craze for the music of Josquin Desprez in sixteenth-century Spain. All three of the greatest Spanish composers of the age – Morales, Guerrero, and Victoria – were directly inspired by one particular rhetorical effect developed by Josquin: ostinato, the repetition throughout a piece of a musical motto. This album explores Josquin’s legacy as manifest in the motets of Morales, Guerrero, and Victoria, and in Victoria’s great six-voice Missa Gaudeamus. In the hands of such composers the use of ostinato produces results that are dynamic, compelling, and striking in expressive impact. These work show the Spanish composers not just emulating Josquin but also competing to out do him in inventiveness. All downloads include booklets. -
Mahler 2 is the second album from Philharmonia Records, following their first album - Santtu conducts Strauss. “[Also sprach Zarathustra] Rouvali’s conducting of both is certainly interesting and personal... impressive, an expansive reading that sees the work whole... [An Alpine Symphony] undeniably picturesque, vivid and dramatically projected... top-notch playing, and this extravagant score also enjoys notable recorded sound... lingering lyricism, invariably heartfelt and, in conclusion, cathartic” Founded in 1945, The Philharmonia Orchestra creates thrilling performances for a global audience and has premiered works by Richard Strauss, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Errollyn Wallen, Kaija Saariaho and many others. The Philharmonia has an extraordinary 77-year recording legacy, and has recorded around 150 soundtracks, with film credits stretching back to 1947. In the 2021/22 season the Orchestra performs in Romania, Spain, Finland, Greece and Germany. Santtu-Matias Rouvali is a Finnish conductor and percussionist, and is currently principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Rouvali continues his relationships with orchestras across Europe, including with the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Munich Phillharmonic and the the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. "The Philharmonia are on fine form for Santtu with much brilliance coming from the woodwind and brass and bags of generosity from the strings" - Gramophone ORCHESTRAL CHOICE ★★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording "This is special indeed…such spectacular engineering…Rouvali draws exquisite colouring…(the Philharmonia Chorus) soprano power in the great climax has never blazed better" - BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★ "Vibrant version of the Second of Mahler. Powerful and emotional” - Ritmo ★★★★ "The orchestral sound is very good, the soloists are excellent" - Fono Forum