"The choir's sound is fresh and supple, the blend sweet and nicely balanced… All phrased with care and musicality – directional without being mannered… There's a lot of care and affection in this recording, from the program notes to the choice of works and performances. Apart from being an attractive listen hopefully will also prove a valuable resource for other ensembles" - Gramophone
★★★★ "Standout tracks include Roxanna Panufnik's beautiful setting of Ubi caritas…against a lilting piano accompaniment, and a gorgeous set of evening canticles by Wayne Marshall…radiant phrases allow the girls' fresh young voices to bloom." - Choir and Organ-
Anna Lapwood is a trailblazing musician. Alongside her work as a conductor, Director of Music and pub- lic speaker, she performs an extensive number of organ recitals on some of the greatest instruments across Europe each season. In 2022 she was announced as Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall and Artist in Association at BBC Singers. This album is the second commercial release for these choirs and Anna Lapwood as a conductor. It is a recording of A unique collection of contemporary choral pieces, some newly arranged pieces never before recorded, and some premiere’s of new works. Directed by Anna Lapwood, The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College has one of the most exciting and varied ranges of choral endeavours among Oxbridge choirs. Alongside their primary responsibility of contributing to worship in the College’s Chapel, they engage in regular artistic collaborations, media appearances and outreach work. The Pembroke College Girls’ Choir was founded in October 2018 and has quickly gained a reputation as one of the UK’s leading girls’ choirs. Made up of 18 girls aged 11–18, the Choir sings twice a week in the College Chapel, as well as regularly singing alongside the Chapel Choir. ★★★★★ Editors Choice "The singers' vocal blend is impeccable…The sound is traditional but has an entirely novel flavor…An entirely distinctive release that will be treasured by lovers of English choral singing"- AllMusic.com -
Leading performers of 17th-century music the Magdalena Consort, Fretwork and His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts combine forces under the artistic direction of William Hunt for their third release exploring the English Anthems with instrumental consort for ceremony, reflection and prayer to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Orlando Gibbons, completing a three-part series that began in 2017 with the first complete recording of Gibbons’ consort anthems. Learn more about the Orlando Gibbons project here: https://www.orlandogibbonsproject.com/ "In Chains of Gold is a high-quality musical collective project that sheds light on these unknown masterpieces." - Sonograma"Nicolson’s anthem stands as the epitome of all that is best in Bill Hunt’s triumphantly successful project." - Early Music Review
"...there is a lot more there about the fresh ideas the ensembles here have applied to the music, but general listeners will also find much to enjoy" - AllMusic -
Release date: 05/12/2023 -
Joseph Nolan follows his five internationally acclaimed volumes of the Complete Organ Symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor with a collection of the composer’s other works for solo organ. The disc includes his Trois Nouvelles Pieces, March Amèricaine and Marche Nuptiale and Memento – a collection of transcriptions of works by J.S. Bach. This release completes a collection of 6 CDs that span Widor’s complete solo organ works, performed by Nolan on period Cavaillé-Coll organs from the French churches of St Sernin, Toulouse, St. François-de Sales, Lyon and La Madeleine, Paris. In April 2016, Joseph Nolan was made a Chevalier (Knight) in the Order of French Arts and Letters for his services to French Music. This recording is a must for all organ devotees and especially Widor fans - MusicWeb International Joseph Nolan follows his five acclaimed volumes of the complete organ symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor with a collection of the composer’s other works for solo organ - Northern Echo -
The complete 8 CD boxset of Widor's Complete Organ Works, played by Joseph Nolan. SKU: SIGCD596 -
The fifth volume in our series of Charles-Marie Widor’s Organ Symphonies, performed by Joseph Nolan on the magnificent Cavaille-Coll organs of La Madeleine, Paris and Saint-Sernin, Toulouse. Bridging the generations from Mendelssohn to Messiaen, Empire to Republic, Widor was born to the organ. His Lyonnaise kinsfolk were organ-builders, he showed early talent for the instrument, and for decades was the embodiment of its might and splendour across the Gallic domain – his ‘Organ Symphonies’ were genre-defining in their influence.★★★★★ Nolan transcends Widor's scores, truly revelling in the Gothic beauty of this music and the grandiose instruments of the belle époque - Choir & Organ Joseph Nolan proves himself an excellent Widor interpreter - MusicWeb International -
Following the acclaimed Brahms recording in 2021, Emmanuel Despax presents his sixth album with Signum Classics: Chopin Piano Concertos (chamber versions) with Chineke! Chamber Ensemble. “Chopin’s Piano Concertos are among his first and most significant points of departure, a marked liberation from the constraints of an early but short-lived respect for custom and tradition... I would say that the excep- tional nature of this Chopin recording lies in the combination of the chamber music, quintet slimmed-down version of the Piano Concertos complemented by a pianist who plays with an almost epic size and grandeur.” - Bryce Morrison, C.2021 Emmanuel Despax has gained worldwide recognition as a singular artist, whose interpretations bring a rare sincerity and imagination to the music. Chineke! was founded in 2015 by the double bass player, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, to provide career oppor- tunities for established and up-and-coming Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe. The Chineke! Chamber Ensemble comprises the principal players of the Chineke! Orchestra. ★★★★ "[The result] is entrancing, with piano and string quintet intimately interweaving, adding extra strength and beauty to scores already potent enough with their melodic riches and romantic allure. And if you imagine the results might be rather dainty, you don’t know Emmanuel Despax. Coming after the eloquent string players’ long introduction to the First Concerto, Despax’s opening statement arrives like a blast of dynamite. Though he sinks happily into meltingly lovely reverie when Chopin’s intentions allow, he’s driven mostly by dark energy and muscular strength. In doing so, Despax reveals to us the music of a 20-year-old already stretching beyond decorative brilliance towards the powerful expression of contradictory, sometimes troubling emotions…I didn’t miss the full orchestra at all" - The Times "When played with such aplomb as by Despax and the Chineke! Chamber Ensemble they are simply magnificent. Played with the authority, control and enthusiasm of Despax and Chineke, the results are breath-taking...Despax’s touch and tone are immaculate and Signum’s recordings are sensational. Heartily recommended" - International Piano "His legato tone and playing are fascinating, and the warm sound is combined with the performance of the five musicians of the Chineke! Chamber Ensemble, which live up to their potential. A performance of this quality really deserves nothing more than the best of the Signum Records label" - Sonograma "Despax's pianism is all we know to expect from him by now: considered eminently musical, deeply committed. He is clearly at home in chamber music, and the Chineke! Players are the most sympathetic partners" - Classical Explorer -
A new album bringing classic carols to life under the expert direction of conductor and author Andrew Gant, marking the release later this year of his new book “Christmas Carols, from Village Green to Church Choir.” Everyone loves a carol - in the end, even Scrooge. They have the power to summon up a special kind of midwinter mood, like the aroma of mince pies and mulled wine and the twinkle of lights on a tree. It’s a kind of magic. In this new accompanying recording, Andrew Gant’s choir, Vox Turturis, bring these carols to life with captivating performances of classics such as The Angel Gabriel, Adeste fideles and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, as well as less-known gems like Célébrons la naissance, Les anges dans nos campagnes and Tempus adest floridum. The CD booklet also includes a short essay by Gant highlighting some of the fascinating stories behind these works. Christmas Carols brims with anecdote, expert knowledge and Christmas spirit. It is a fittingly joyous account of one of our best-loved musical traditions. The recording debut of Gant's youthful professional choir is a spirited one - The Sunday Times The acoustic of St Peter's College Chapel serves these singers well, and the recorded sound is glorious - The Arts Desk This is another well-planned and splendidly performed CD, eminently recommendable - International Record Review -
This brand new Christmas album from The King’s Singers features 25 tracks covering everything from contemporary choral gems and folk songs through to well-loved carols. Dotted throughout the album are several of the most famous English church carols, which take The King’s Singers right back to their earliest singing days, and which also reflect the group’s heritage at King’s College, Cambridge. In Christmas Carols with The King’s Singers, the group bottle that frosty, moonlit, fireside Christmas wonder and pour it into their sound. ★★★★ "What's not to love? It's a typically varied programme with reaches across the decades, performed with pitch perfect vivacity and no small amount of joy. Very glad tidings" - BBC Music Magazine "Distinguished by beautifully chosen repertoire and a vocal blend to tight and delicate it becomes a picture of the Christmas miracle itself. There is something untouchingly precious about the full a capella Once in Royal David's city and Berlioz's The Shepherds Farewell…never less than totally convincing…Perfection is not always what you want from a Christmas disc, but here it takes listeners to a special place" - Gramophone's The Christmas List "It is a fitting tribute, combining traditional carols with new ones…and all sung with those hallmarks of the King’s Singers’ sound; neat, precise, finely polished, with every note perfectly placed, every syllable beautifully enunciated, and every phrase deliciously moulded…there is a real sense of intimacy which gives a sincerely personal feel to the recording….luscious arrangements and gorgeously blended and balanced voices. Solos emerge from the group like branches spouting from a tree, and their easy delivery, all seem as natural as breathing…the overriding effect of this recording is of warmth and comfort…Cleobury would have loved it all; The King’s Singers have done his memory proud." - Music Web International "The six voices blend as only King's Singers can, all the arrangements are appropriate, and the a cappella singing is a joy throughout" - Cross Rhythms "In all the items, the groups familiar sophisticated sound creates an atmosphere at once distinct and recognisable" - Planet Hugill "Familiar carols share space with enticing rarities, and hearing just six voices gives the music a winning immediacy. Highlights include a rhythmically snappy version of “Gaudete!”, brilliantly arranged by founder member Brian Kay, and a joyous transcription of the Catalan carol “La filadora”, replete with bell effects...Gloriously recorded too" - The Arts Desk "The arrangements are, as always with this group, brilliantly chosen. The ending of Tomorrow shall be my dancing day is particularly inventive and effective…[O magnum nysterium] again a stroke of programming genius" - Classical Explorer -
Recorded Live from their spiritual home of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, The King’s Singers present an album of festive Christmas music, blending ancient and modern works with traditional favourites and new arrangements. The disc also features A Thanksgiving by former King’s Singer Bob Chilcott, which is performed here alongside the National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain. ★★★★ As usual with this eternally-renewing 49-year old ensemble, the technique is impeccable - The Times Absolutely draws you in… the group has thought so seriously about how to make its distinctive sound work for each piece - Gramophone The King’s Singers are as alluring as ever - The Sunday Times The King’s Singers in particularly fresh, spontaneous fettle - BBC Music Magazine A gorgeous setting of a thanksgiving text by St Richard of Chichester… lifts the disc into the realm of the slightly special - Music Web International This is mostly a commendably serious, brilliantly performed live recital… The King’s Singers current incarnation are in fine vocal fettle - The Arts Desk -
Christmas presents a golden opportunity to present brand new music to wide audiences, and the role played by St John’s College Choir in this area has been significant, as demonstrated by new recording of traditional and contemporary choral works. The recording features Michael Finnissy’s John the Baptist, written for the Choir for its BBC Advent broadcast in 2014. The programme begins with Bob Chilcott’s The Shepherd’s Carol commissioned by Stephen Cleobury (a former St John’s organ scholar) for King’s College Choir, and also includes Creator of the Stars of Night, composed by another former St John’s organ scholar, John Scott. The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is one of the finest choirs of men and boys in the world, known and loved by millions from its recordings, broadcasts and concert tours. A cornerstone of the great English choral tradition since the 1670s, the Choir is recognised for its distinctive, rich and expressive sound and is today directed by Andrew Nethsingha.An evocatively sung collection from the Cambridge choir glowing with devotional joy - Choir and Organ -
Christopher Gunning has composed twelve symphonies, as well as concertos for the piano, violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar; many of these have now been recorded. He has also composed many scores for films and television dramas, including Agatha Christie’s ‘Poirot’, La Vie en Rose, Middlemarch, Cold Lazarus, Rebecca, Under Suspicion, Firelight, The Big Battalions, Wild Africa, When the Whales Came and Porterhouse Blue. With a career spanning 50 years, he has won 4 BAFTA and 3 Ivor Novello Awards, and BASCA’s prestigious Gold Badge Award. Christopher studied composition with Edmund Rubbra and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After a hugely successful career writing for the big and small screen he is now focussed on his classical work and releases. All downloads include booklets. ★★★★★ "The performances by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales sound splendid throughout, not just thoroughly well prepared and virtuosic, but full of relish and enjoyment also…Signum's sound is superlative and this is a disc I have been playing again and again (and will continue to return to). Strongly recommended" - Musical Opinion -
Following the celebrated releases of Gunning’s Symphonies Nos. 2, 10 & 12 in 2019 and his concertos for Violin and Cello with the piece ‘Birdflight’ in 2020, Signum presents the recording of Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 as well as his piece ‘Night Voyage’, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Linked by the theme of journeying, Symphonies 6 & 7 explore Gunning’s fascination with a single movement form broken into several sub-sections. The piece ‘Night Voyage’ is a sea piece born on a rainy evening whilst the composer was standing on the edge of the Mersey river. Four-time BAFTA winning composer Christopher Gunning, has composed twelve symphonies as well as concertos for the piano, violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar. “Gunning’s [...] symphonies, numerous concertos and sundry orchestral pieces are as meticulously wrought as they are powerfully conceived.” - Richard Whitehouse, Gramophone -
Four-time BAFTA winning composer Christopher Gunning, has composed twelve symphonies as well as concertos for the piano, violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar. Here the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Kenneth Woods, perform his eighth and ninth symphonies, recorded in Hoddinott Hall in March 2024. “Each scored for a moderately sized orchestra (the 8th has only one trumpet and no lower brass, while the 9th adds a second trumpet, a harp, and a small percussion section) and both [grapple], in Gunning’s highly individual way, with the legacy of classical symphonic form” - Richard Bratby. [9th Symphony] “I believe this piece has a strong emotional flavour but if you try and untangle the story you’re going to end up with your own story - and to me, that is absolutely perfect.” - Christopher Gunning. ★★★★ - BBC Music Magazine "This recording not only establishes Christopher Gunning as an essential symphonic composer of our time, but also confirms Kenneth Woods as one of the most refined and intelligent conductors in the field of contemporary music." - Sonograma “Gunning’s [...] symphonies, numerous concertos and sundry orchestral pieces are as meticulously wrought as they are powerfully conceived.” – Gramophone -
Christopher Gunning returns with recordings of his Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto and Birdflight. Not composed until 2011, Gunning's Violin Concerto was composed after inspiration whilst the composer was out hiking in Wales. The violin is supposed to represent ducking and weaving, rather like the insects and animals found in the Welsh hills and valleys. However, despite this positive venture for the composer, the emotions of sadness and melancholy are never far from this music - feelings which never seem far from Gunning's music. The Cello Concerto is quite different. Although composed hard on the heels of the Violin Concerto, it is generally darker though equally expressive. The third piece, Birdflight, is for the orchestra alone; a kind of tone poem. At the opening and close there is some quiet night music with spacious strings. The birds take flight but encounter a problem; a hawk is on their tail. The birds manage to hide and there is a pause. Then, when danger has passed, they take off and once again enjoy the sheer pleasure of flying. All downloads include booklets. -
Joining forces again for their second album on Signum Classics, duo JULIAN BLISS (Clarinet) And JAMES BAILLIEU (Piano) perform works by composer giants Clara & Robert Schumann. Many of the tracks on this recording are new arrangements by Bliss himself, and world premiere recordings. "Bliss exulting in the outgoing ring of his clarinet…provides immense pleasure" - Gramophone “Bliss and James Baillieu work very well indeed together, Baillieu discreet when needed, but so much more than just an accompanist.” -BBC Music Magazine -
Acclaimed Signum artist Alexandra Dariescu brings a new combination of concertos: Clara Schumann’s Concerto in A minor Op. 7 coupled with Grieg’s A minor concerto Op. 16. Alexandra Dariescu is a trailblazing pianist who demonstrates fearless curiosity and ground-breaking innovation. As part of her artistic journey, Dariescu has achieved gender equality in her concerto programming for three consecutive seasons, reviving and premiering important works by both male and female composers, championing inclusion and diversity. “I got to know Clara Schumann’s Concerto and fell in love with this youthful piece, full of dreams, fiendish virtuosity and a testament to what an innovative performer and composer Clara was, even as a teenager. [Recording these works] It made me realise once again what a responsibility we all have to show both sides of history, to mirror our society in concert programmes and to shine a light on the often-overlooked brilliance of women composers” – Alexandra Dariescu. ALBUM OF THE WEEK "Brilliantly performed" - Scala Radio ALBUM OF THE WEEK "A great performance...such a great listen. An exception recording" - Classic FM "[Schumann] A thoughtful and polished guide to this youthful, virtuosic concerto and her approach is hand-in-glove with conductor Tianyi-Lu...[Grieg] There's an authority and natural ease to her performance, matched by some lovely playing from the Philharmonia" - BBC Music Magazine "Dariescu sails through the more virtuosic moments of the Schumann with confidence and agility...she has a 'sensitivity and ear for colour' which shows up in the way she handles filigree and, even more, in the seductive way she coaxes out the quieter passages. The Romance at the centre of the Schumann, especially its closely measures, is exquisitely fine-spun; the opening of the Adagio of the Grieg is similarly alluring." - Gramophone "Dariescu succeeds in holding her own in the demanding piano part…enthusiastic and sublime in the Maestoso and [In the finale] an energetic tour de force…really exciting…brava!" - Piano News -
‘Close Harmony’ is the latest musical offering from Grammy Award winning and internationally acclaimed vocal group The King’s Singers. A combination of newly recorded works and tracks from their The Library EP series, the album takes a deep-dive into one of the most beloved and unique corners of their music library: the close-harmony arrangements. New arrangements feature from composers Daryl Runswick (such as an imaginative, exciting version of Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture) and John Rutter (Jerome Kern’s The Way You Look Tonight) showcasing the diversity of both their talent and the repertoire they present. ★★★★★ "The current line-up of King's Singers demonstrates their continued pre-eminence with these outstanding recordings of often very difficult arrangements…the Singers deliver with their usual mix of charm and skill" - Choir & Organ "All the characteristic features that constitute the unique King’s sound are here plentifully: the often complicated and thrilling arrangements, the technical and rhythmical expertise, the perfect homogeneity of the concerted singing, and the inventiveness. The songs in themselves are of course first class, but very often the arrangements ennoble them further into little masterpieces – and it is not just the technical wizardry that impresses. Many of the more lyrical songs are sung in simple six-part arrangements, so beautifully, so loveably...They are equally at home in every genre they approach...I recommend it with all possible enthusiasm!” - Musicweb International "A simple scan of the thirty-one songs reveals the immense breadth of the release...Close Harmony is that all-too-rare album where with every listen a new favourite emerges...It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that pretty much every track on Close Harmony will take its place at the top of one's playlist at some point...the six have developed a spectacular ensemble blend...there's no shortage of delights to enjoy on this encompassing, double- disc collection" - Textura -
Hertfordshire Chorus continue to build on their reputation for commissioning and performing some of the very best in contemporary choral music. In their first recording with Signum they are joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra for a 2CD set featuring James McCarthy’s Codebreaker (an exploration of the life of the pioneering computer scientist and mathematician Alan Turing) and Will Todd’s Ode to a Nightingale (setting the famous poem by John Keats). The BBC Concert Orchestra offer superb support to both composers and the engineering is up to Signum’s customary excellence. This important release should be in every keen choral singer’s Christmas stocking - Gramophone Splendidly recorded and performed… I give a thorough recommendation to this issue - Music Web International For me, this is undoubtedly the choral album of the year - The High Arts -
Pianist Malcolm Martineau brings together some of the UK’s finest singers for the third release in his series charting the complete songs of French composer Gabriel Fauré. This series follows Martineau’s well-received 5-CD series of The Complete Songs of Francis Poulenc. -
Gabriel Prokofiev’s famous first Concerto for Turntables reached a global audience when performed by Mr. Switch at the 2011 BBC Proms, under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski. It has since been performed 55 times worldwide, with the 5th movement being performed 20 times as part of the BBC’s Ten Piece’s project. The aim of the piece is demonstrate the main DJing techniques, with each movement showing off a specific one. Prokofiev’s Cello Concerto was composed in 2012 and is the third concerto he composed. It was the most conventional of his concertos, with the other two (at that point) being for Bass Drum and Turntables. Despite this, Prokofiev still manages to explore influences of electronic and dance music in the concerto, whilst also exploring the traditional lyrical side of the cello. All downloads include booklets. -
Founded in 1973 by Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert has been a leading light in the performance of Baroque and Classical music for for over 40 years. Under their present Artistic Director Harry Bicket and with distinguished guest artists they continue to perform with the passion, sophistication and technical mastery established at their creation.
Such is the commitment and passion that their players bring to every performance. Drawn not only from home-grown talent, The English Concert can boast a truly international cast of musicians. Soloists in their own right, and backed-up by scholarly knowledge of style and genre, the close-knit relationship between their musicians makes for a truly special blend of sound. This new recording features the talents of these soloists in performances of Concertii by Telemann, Marcello, Dall’Abaco, Tartini and Porpora.
Performance: ★★★★ Recording: ★★★★★ Here's that increasing rarity: A Baroque disc with no conceptual axe to grind, no over-arching theme - save for giving the members of The English Concert a concerto moment in the sun - and seemingly out to do little more than delight (which it does so in spades) - BBC Music Magazine [Harry] directs from the harpsichord, bringing both vitality and cohesion to the performances - Andrew Benson-Wilson A nice way to spend 70 minutes of your time - Gramophone -
Some of the most atmospheric music from the numerous Liturgical settings in Holy Week is that composed for the Office of Tenebrae. Victoria’s are the most well-known, but equally beautiful and arguably more dramatic are the settings composed by Gesualdo and Couperin. The Gesualdo is intense with the Couperin atmospheric, yet both compliment each other perfectly on another world-class recording from Tenebrae. Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles renowned for its passion and precision. These are Tenebrae’s core values and with their continued dedication to performance of the highest quality, Tenebrae’s vision is to deliver dramatic programming, flawless performances and unforgettable experiences, allowing audiences around the world to be moved by the power and intimacy of the human voice. All downloads include booklets. ★★★★ “Gesualdo is sung by six solo voices, wonderfully balanced and tuned to perfection, bringing out the rich idiosyncratic harmonies characteristic of the composer” - Choir and Organ ★★★★ “This is an ideal album for Holy Week reflections, respecting the power of the texts and it is a major sacred music release” - AllMusic.com “The singing of six members of Tenebrae (Doyle and Davidson the sopranos) is accomplished, snappy and defined with firm control of changing dynamics. Nigel Short shows a strong sense of mannerist storytelling...the way the words sometimes shout into the silence of the church is immensely powerful” - Gramophone “The sheer beauty and accuracy of Tenebrae’s singing is utterly persuasive. They’re named for this music, and occupying the shadows of Maundy Thursday from these two very different composers is a moving experience” - BBC Radio 3 Record Review -
Born in Weimar, Carl Philipp Emanuel (1714-88) was the fifth child and second surviving son of JS Bach and his first wife Maria Barbara. By his own account he had no other teacher for composition and keyboard except his father. Nevertheless, the majority of Emanuel’s earliest works owe more to the influence of Telemann and other exponents of the new galant style, while already suggesting his own progressive instinct. At the age of twenty-four, after seven years studying law, Emanuel decided to devote himself to music. In 1738 he accepted the position of keyboard player at the court of the Prussian crown prince – the future Frederick the Great. After nearly thirty years of royal service he left Berlin and moved to Hamburg, where he occupied the positions of Music Director and Cantor until his death. Described by the Guardian as a performer of “fearless intensity”, former ECHO Rising Star Tamsin Waley-Cohen has established herself as one of the most insightful and versatile young British violinists. Described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘in a class of his own’ James Baillieu has been the prize-winner of the Wigmore Hall Song Competition, Das Lied International Song Competition, Kathleen Ferrier and Richard Tauber Competitions. He plays these C.P.E. Bach compositions on a modern piano. -
Avant garde. Eccentric. A maniac. Wild and adventurous. Off the wall. Extraordinary. No marketing hyperbole - this is how the players of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment describe Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach and his music. One of the many children of JS Bach, CPE Bach always lived in his father’s shadow, and now is an almost unknown figure at least beyond the classical cogniscenti. How can such an unknown be considered a gamechanger? A listen to his music reveals just why – it constantly shifts, wrongfooting the listener when they least expect it with wild changes of direction and colour – it is bright, effervescent, and is a fascinating link between the music of his father (and the Baroque era) and Joseph Haydn (and the Classical era). ★★★★ It is the sense of adventure that comes across vivaciously here in a fusion of stylistic taste, smooth and supple phrasing and an exuberant thrust - The Daily Telegraph Editor's Choice: Self-critical perspective is clearly not a problem for these artists ... the unfurling description of of a lover's kisses permit all kinds of glorious opportunities for the singers' seemingly telepathic understanding for chiaroscuro, impeccable tuning and innate grammatical sense - Gramophone The OAE under Rebecca Miller play with an accuracy and passion that's infectious: this is among the most exciting, adrenalin-filled period instrument recordings you'll hear - The Arts Desk Symphonies that embrace the strangeness and originality of the writing as well as the beauty of some of the middle movements and the feistiness of the finales. Made live, but they’ve emerged in excellent shape - BBC Radio 3 Record Review The orchestra's playing here is bright, effervescent and fascinating – truly positioning C.P.E. Bach as the missing link between his father and the music of Haydn - Classic FM These energetic, committed performances of five symphonies dating from between 1757 - when Haydn was first writing in the genre - and 1780 show the period band has lost none of its verve and enthusiasm for this strange, dramatic music from the dawn of the "classical" era - The Sunday Times -
Their second album of 2025, and their 11th album with Signum Records, baroque giants La Serenissima return with an album of works by composers including Telemann, Sieber, Durante, and Brescianello. The album explores how their styles changed and developed as they ‘crossed borders’ between Italy, Germany, France and other European countries. ★★★★★ - “Once again, the ensemble La Serenissima convinces with an extremely determined, but never unloving articulation” - Fono Forum “Fascinating, poetically communicative, subtly virtuosic, thoroughly beautiful, this is my favourite La Serenissima album in some years.” - Gramophone "This is a peach of an album, put together with all the care and dynamism we’ve come to expect from this outstanding team." - Europadisc “With their usual interpretative exquisiteness and musicological rigor, La Serenissima offers a rich and varied listening experience” - Sonograma "This is a most enjoyable disc, which offers a nice mixture of familiar and little-known pieces in top-class performances. Don’t miss it." - MusicWeb International -
"Da Vinci Requiem brings together my chosen Latin texts from the Missa pro Defunctis with extracts from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, and is structured in seven movements in the shape of an arch... It has been a fascinating exploration, aligning Leonardo’s extraordinary insights, both artistic and philosophical, with such a profound and ancient text. Seventy degrees below zero is a three-movement work for chamber orchestra and tenor soloist. [Inspired by work carried out by the Scott Polar Research Institute], the phrase for the title was taken from Scott’s Letter to his wife: ‘Dear, it is not easy to write because of the cold – 70 degrees below zero’. The scientific exploration and data collected by Captain Scott’s team at the beginning of the 20th century still powerfully underlies the research which continues to this day. It was with a desire to join the past with the present that I asked the poet, Seán Street, to write two poems to accompany Scott’s words: words from ‘then’ and words from ‘now’.” - Cecilia McDowall Wimbledon Choral has been described as “one of the most substantial and formidable choirs in London ... a vigorous and sophisticated choral ensemble”. The choir is over 100 years old, re-founded in the early stages of the First World War, but its earliest recorded roots go back to 1870. Today we are a modern, dynamic group of singers, always ready to stretch ourselves and try new things, making sure we keep up our reputation as one of the finest amateur symphonic choirs in south-east England. ★★★★★ "Wimbledon Choral, one of the most enterprising amateur choirs in south-east England, acquit themselves with aplomb in the Requiem, with Neil Ferris drawing from them a well-focused sound. Soloists are top-notch, with Benjamin Hulett giving a fine account of Seventy Degrees" - Choir & Organ ★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording "Gently swirling, shimmering, beautifully orchestrated textures often imbued with devotional mystery…The Wimbledon Choral, for whom it was written, are impressive, with clear lines and luminous hush under soprano Kate Royal's magnificent soaring lines in the beautiful Agnes Dei movement, Roderick Williams is typically compelling…Tenor Benjamin Hulett captures the changing moods, from the hopeful excitement via anguish to resignation…The City of London Sinfonia are sensitive partners to the voices throughout, while conductor Neil Ferris should be commended for his judicious pacing and marshalling of all involved" - BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★ "McDowall's Da Vinci Requiem is a masterpiece. The performance here is compelling [70 Degress below Zero] forms a perfect musical coupling…especially in such a fine performance as this…The performances are uniformally excellent, as is the presentation of this important release" - The Organ -
Dance forms the final part of a trilogy of albums following the huge success of ‘Flight’ and ‘Seasons’. This project started as a concept album, using the title as the inspiration for the works. Though several of the works embrace the composer’s background collaborations in ballet, there are other works influenced by violinist Kerenza Peacock’s connection with folk music. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios the disc features Kerenza Peacock, pianist Huw Watkins and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Bateman. -
Julian Bliss and the Carducci Quartet pair two highly contrasting works – Johannes Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet and David Bruce’s Gumboots.Bruce's piece pivots on the contrast between its elegaic first movement and the five dances that follow it, and Bliss and the Carduccis relish the expressive variety - The Times Clarinettist Julian Bliss and the Carducci Quartet are mot sensitive and elegaic - Financial Times [Bliss] flits seamlessly between regular and bass clarinet. The finale's joyous barrage could almost be out of a Falla ballet - The Guardian Here's a double delight. First, an engaging new work that deserves a place in the Chamber repertory; second, a passionate account of Brahms' Clarinet Quintet which can hold its head high against starrier competition - Gramophone -
A frequent collaborator with both the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Jac van Steen, David Matthews’ new recording explores both the natural world and the symphonic idea, the second of which has, in his words, “obsessed me since I started composing at the age of 16”. As well the Sinfonia and Symphony No. 8, the programme includes Toward Sunrise; inspired by the sound of the sun (a rising fourth of C-F), as recorded by scientists at Sheffield University, and A Vision of the Sea; drawn from the sights and sounds of English Channel near the composers’ home in Deal, Kent. With a singular body of work spanning almost 60 years, David Matthews has established an international reputation as one of the leading symphonists of our time. Born in London in 1943, he began composing at the age of sixteen. He read Classics at the University of Nottingham – where he has more recently been made an Honorary Doctor of Music – and afterwards studied composition privately with Anthony Milner. He was also helped by the advice and encouragement of Nicholas Maw and spent three years as an assistant to Benjamin Britten in the late 1960s. In the 1970s a friendship with the Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe (leading to collaboration and numerous trips to Sydney) helped Matthews find his own distinctive voice. "★★★★★ A deeply personal work of integrity and distinction, Matthew's Eighth Symphony is superbly rendered…Under van Steen's alert direction, the performers bring energy and polish to this dynamic score…Atmospheric recorded sound and high production values set the seal on an outstanding album. Warmly recommended" - Musical Opinion "★★★★★ Atmospheric recorded sound and high production values set the seal on an outstanding album. Warmly recommended." - Musical Opinion "With excellent presentation and sound…these finely- honed and dedicated performances by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Jac van Steen" - Colin's Column -
2018 Grammy Award nominees Tenebrae perform a new collection of choral works by Polish composer Paweł Łukaszewski.
Born in southern Poland in 1968 in the city of Częstochowa and described by Gramophone as writing “enchanting choral music…beautifully measured phrases, immaculately tailored textures and ingenious use of light and shade to invoke light shining in darkness”, Łukaszewski has secured a place in the forefront of European sacred music with performances throughout the world and his works featuring on over one hundred recordings. He studied at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, where he still teaches, and is now the Artistic Director and Conductor of Musica Sacra Cathedral Choir in Warsaw.
This collection of sacred choral works bears an easily-discernible cultural link with his Polish predecessors such as Lutosławski and Penderecki, but the influence of Henryk Górecki and the Estonian Arvo Pärt is evident too in the fervent but restrained spiritual aspect of Łukaszewski’s music, and his individual voice never stoops to mere imitation.
There is always a sense of rhythmic and harmonic displacement about his work, which makes it not only difficult to deliver but curiously timeless - Choir and Organ Very effective - Gramophone I would strongly recommend this as a CD of great interest, wonderfully well sung - Cathedral Music Magazine Moving and uplifting - Cross Rhythms I offer plaudits to Nigel Short and Tenebrae for their quality of singing and commitment - iClassical -
The Choir of St John’s College Cambridge launch their new series of recordings with Signum by exploring the close connections between the college and celebrated British composer Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012), in a disc of works for choir and organ. Harvey’s music has influenced a generation of composers, described by The Guardian’s Tom Service as being “at once vividly contemporary and timeless”. The Choir’s director Andrew Nethsingha reflects on his own experiences and work with the Jonathan Harvey in CD’s programme note, in particular as the choir collaborated on what would be Jonathan Harvey’s final work for the choir, The Annunciation (2011). -
“Inspirations and imaginings, evolving, changing English usage, landscapes, friendships and passings lie behind this album... Loosely, the songs we’ve selected embrace multiple interpre- tations and nuances of ‘divine’. As well as, I could argue, that sentiment of English song and English speaking composers embodying the [Blake/Parry] ‘Jerusalem-Builded-Here’ trope. The world I came from (singing in choir stalls), along with how countertenors are perceived generally, has been hard to escape. So here perhaps I’m taking on the challenge. As well as an opportunity to include songs written for me that for some while I’ve been needing to put down on disc.” - Iestyn Davies. ‘Divine Music’ marks Iestyn Davies’ third recital album on Signum Classics. The ‘Four Songs’ (Purcell/ Adès), Spoons Aria (Adès), Four Traditional Songs and Old Bones (Muhly) are world premiere recordings. Muhly’s Four Traditional Songs were also written dedicated to Iestyn Davies. Song of the Day "This is just gorgeous" - BBC Radio 3 Essential Classics "Beautiful" - Radio 4 "A characterful, unusual programme…[Davies] flexible instrument and impressive range" - Gramophone ★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording "Little if anything phases Davies technically: he pins the setting’s wide intervals with laser accuracy, and easily encompasses the trickily embellished closing ‘Hallelujah’…The Lover in Winter is included, the ice-like angularities of the piano part contrasting vividly with Davies’s hovering, velvet-soft vocalism…[The Four Traditional Songs by Nico Muhly] Davies and Middleton slot together seamlessly, equal partners in the heartworn melancholy Muhly forefronts in these settings…taken whole this is a classy and interestingly varied recital, with unfailingly sensitive contributions from both performers." - BBC Music Magazine -
In September 2025 Fretwork return with an album of works for Viol by the John Jenkins. Jenkins was a highly active and productive composer who lived through a period of significant transformation in English music, with his lifetime spanning from the era of William Byrd to that of Henry Purcell. He is particularly known for his contributions to the viol consort fantasia, drawing inspiration in the 1630s from a previous generation of English composers such as Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger, Thomas Lupo, and Orlando Gibbons. His work is distinguished by its rich lyricism, exceptional craftsmanship, and a unique approach to tonality and counterpoint.★★★★★ - “Fretwork harness the delicious interplay between dissonance and consonance” - BBC Music Magazinr
“An aural experience of richness, clarity and elegant balance.” - Sonograma
"This repertory is Fretwork's core and they perform it with customary polish, ably supported by the organist Silas Wollston" - Gramophone "The Rolls-Royce among viol consorts" - The Strad -
A unique programme of works by father and daughter. Sir Andrzej Panufnik was a leading Polish composer of the 20th Century, and his daughter Roxanna has made a name for herself in her own right as a contemporary composer in the 21st. This disc, programmed by Roxanna to combine works by both her and her father, explores the parallels between their two musical languages and forms a touching tribute to Andrzej from his daughter.This is intensely personal music-making, beautifully performed - The Observer -
The choral works of Duruflé, like his organ works, are small in number but beautifully crafted. Frequently written and rewritten until he was completely satisfied, he was a composer who rethought and reconfigured his music right up to the moment he had to let go of it. Often described as a man out of step with his times, his pieces look back to Gregorian chant and plainsong at a time when the musical life of his home city of Paris was steeped in radical new compositional ideas – a testament perhaps to Duruflé’s enduring love of France’s choral heritage. In a new recording produced by Grammy® winning producer Blanton Alspaugh, the Houston Chamber Choir are led by artistic director Robert Simpson on their first release with Signum Records. ★★★★★ Houston Chamber Choir here offer beautifully presented accounts of all of Duruflé’s choral music - Choir & Organ ★★★★ No listener could fail to be impressed by both the quality of the compositions and performances - Cross Rhythms ★★★★ Beautifully crafted - Classical Source [Ken Cowan] certainly adds real distinction to this performance of the Requiem - Gramophone The Houston Chamber Choir, led by their artistic director Robert Simpson, present an immaculate account of these works- The Northern Echo Beautiful, artistic singing and thoughtful, sensitive music-making at every turn - Dale Warland A superb recording to be treasured - Simon Carrington All downloads include booklets. -
Formed in 2016, the Albion Quartet brings together four of the UK’s exceptional young string players who are establishing themselves rapidly on the international stage. This disc marks the first release in a new Dvořák cycle with Signum Records, as well as future releases of Walton and Britten plus the premiere recording of Richard Blackford’s Kalon with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra later in 2019. Having made their debuts last season at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam as well as the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, the 2018/19 season sees the Albion Quartet’s debuts at the Wigmore Hall and at Town Hall/Symphony Hall Birmingham. They also continue their residency at London’s Kings Place, become quartet-in residence at the Stratford Festival of Words and Music and perform at the Oxford Lieder Festival. Their attention to the smallest detail reaps dividends - Gramophone "These recordings make for a fascinating and enticing listen" - The Strad -
Formed in 2016, the Albion Quartet unites four outstanding young string players, brought together by a shared belief in the visceral power of the string quartet. The upcoming season sees the quartet returning to the Wigmore Hall and Aldeburgh Festival, as well as continuing residencies at Sainte-Mère Festival in France and RWCMD in Cardiff. They will be making a number of broadcasts for BBC Radio 3, whilst continuing their recording projects for Signum Records, for whom they are exclusive artists. Performances in the 2019-20 season include their US debut at the Phillips Collection in Washington, alongside appearances at several festivals including the Oxford Lieder, Stratford International, Belfast International, Cheltenham, Presteigne, and Lichfield, and participating in Beethoven cycles in the UK and Portugal. Here, the quartet continue their Dvořák series on Signum with spectacular renditions of his 8th and 10th quartets. All downloads include booklets. "Anyone who thinks that the new generation of super-quartets are merely about virtuoso brilliance should hear the myriad shades of russel and gold that the Albion Quartet find in these two enchanting works" - Gramophone Magazine “The playing, by the excellent Albion, is masterly in its vividness, freedom and sensitivity” - The Sunday Times "Sophisticated...appealing and...thrilling" - BBC Music Magazine -
Following their acclaimed mix-tape series on Signum Classics, Earthcycle is the fifth album from Orchestra of the Swan and David Le Page. Earthcycle is an innovative and timely project which finds a compelling way to engage with humanity’s most urgent threat. Through three initial performances, a recording and a film, Earthcycle contemplates our impact on Earth’s environment and the disruption of its natural rhythms. To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons they have commissioned a new version from our Associate Artist, baroque/jazz musician and composer David Gordon which is interspersed with traditional folk songs related to the theme of the seasons and performed by singer Jackie Oates. Earthcycle highlights the 21st century’s greatest concern whilst celebrating nature and our place within it. "The entire album is replete with musical birdsong, rain showers, shafts of light, gusty autumn winds, swirling leaves, and many other delights, which create a compelling, engaging and intriguing whole. Earthcycle provides an important reflection on climate change while offering listeners chamber music of the highest order, imaginatively presented and beautifully performed." - ArtMuseLondon "Impossible not to shiver during Gordon's duet with Le Page in his own 'Feeling the Chill'. Superb recorded sound repays listening on headphones with some ravishing details. The curious-minded won't be disappointed." - Gramophone "Outstanding pieces are ones that bring out the versatile qualities of all the musicians... Its [performance of The Bright Phoebus] wassail-like qualities leave a smile on the face and it is a lovely example of the clear honesty of this project - refreshing in spirit." ★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording - BBC Music Magazine -
Completing their cycle of mixtape albums, ECHOES is Orchestra of Swan’s third album on Signum Classics. Featuring works by artists including JS Bach, Philip Glass, and Frank Zappa and some new arrangements by Artistic Director, David Le Page. “Although you can listen to each track in isolation Echoes is, first and foremost, a complete journey; the way a work ends and another begins is designed to create a frisson, a jolt of recognition or a feeling of surprise and satisfaction. Echoes explores landscape, light, water, dreams, birth, and the slowly changing rhythm of the seasons; it also represents a callback to the days of vinyl when the act of listening to recordings was necessarily more involved and required all of your attention... Despite the ongoing march of music technology and the death of various beloved formats the mixtape has somehow survived and adapted It is unaccountably more popular than it has ever been” - David Le Page ALBUM OF THE WEEKEND "This album is going to be huge..Timelapse and Labyrinth, have had 7.5 million audio streams since January 2021 …we know it’s probably going to be even bigger" - Scala Radio "Listen to it end to end for an eclectic mix of sophisticated sounds; favourite tracks include Philip Sheppard’s Buffalo Jump and a tender arrangement of Venus Furs…it’s another lovely collection. Roll on the next release" - Thoroughly Good Blog "It is the sheer eclecticism of the disc that is so appealing. from that re-imagined Vivaldi straight to the fierce energy of Phillip Shepherds Buffalo Jump in a performance ie magnificent, fiery energy from the Orchestra of the Swan; and then, the jarring contrast to the madcap Peaches en Regalia by Frank Zappa, a phenomenal four minutes of fun…Echoes is a vibrant journey, its contents perfectly considered, the superb performances beautifully delivered….It is the first recording I have heard that really works in Spatial Audio: the immersive spatial element to the Max Richter in particular elevates the experience" - Classical Explorer -
'Electric' contains many of the best works for cello and electronics written in the last 40 years. A delicious sonic feast that showcases the treasure of Barley's 18th century cello and the electronic wizardry and imagination of some of the most talented composers working today like Anna Meredith, Joby Talbot, Michael Gordon and John Metcalfe. From the machine-like rhythms of Motion Detector to the tenderness of Constant Filter that is a wide choice of style and mood. "Fiercely committed, immaculately delivered disc. There's plenty here to captivate…Barley is bright and energetic amid the frenetic electronic activity…It makes for an eclectic collection of pieces, but what brings them together is Barley's rich, supple playing, which he varies dramatically in tone and style as he allies himself with each composer's music across the disc's carefully considered emotional journey. Recorded sound is so rich and detailed that its something of a sonic marvel in itself" - The Strad "'Electric' is a timely album…it's the longer works that draw the best from Barley's warm tone and sensitive playing…moonmoons brilliantly blends legato Lydian-key phrasing and electronic accompaniment, the cello's expressive voice surrounded by halo of pitch-shifted pizzicato. [Honeyed Words] a simple, playful work, and has a winning charm" - Gramophone ★★★★ "As a collected work, Electric is haunting and otherworldly...beautifully raw…With electronic technology that is constantly in development, it’s important to see these works set down with strong recordings that reflect the landscape for and possibilities of contemporary performers and technology. Electric offers us just that." - BBC Music Magazine "Warm tone and sensitive playing" - Songlines -
Mary Bevan and Joseph Middleton’s new album Elegy grew out of their recital programme From Earth to Heaven, conceived during a time of deep personal loss. Shaped by Bevan’s experience of grieving her father, the recital explores the mystery of death and the solace music can offer. Featuring works by Schubert, Fauré, Mahler, Jeanne Landry, Errollyn Wallen, and Pauline Viardot amongst others, Elegy is a poignant journey through mourning and transcendence. Their previous album Voyages was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award, and the duo’s recitals across Europe have been met with widespread critical acclaim. ★★★★ - BBC Music Magazine ★★★★ - "The seduction starts with her very first notes." - The Times “Bevan extracts a luminous, almost visionary reading” - Sonograma “It’s well nigh faultless, the whole thing, and the most moving recital I’ve heard for some time.” - Gramophone "A lovely sequence of songs of mourning, reflection on death and the comfort to be found in music" - The Arts Desk -
Elgar’s unjustly neglected ‘greatest choral masterpiece’ (Jeremy Dibble) is given an outstanding new recording by conductor David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players, and soloists Francesca Chiejina, Dame Sarah Connolly, Benjamin Hulett and Ashley Riches.
Composed in 1906 after The Dream of Gerontius and The Apostles, The Kingdom depicts the lives of Christ’s disciples and the community of the early church with a mixture of gentle conversational sections and astonishing dramatic passages. Recorded in the recently restored Victorian Theatre at Alexandra Palace, its fluid musical narrative is both arresting and profoundly moving.
Echoing Sir Adrian Boult, David Temple considers the oratorio to be Elgar’s pinnacle achievement. ‘I truly believe The Kingdom to be Elgar’s greatest choral work. It is a gem from the first note to the last.’
EDITORS CHOICE - GRAMOPHONE ★★★★★ - Choir and Organ ★★★★ - BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★ - Mail on Sunday - "Everything about this recording is outstanding. The sound, under veteran Mike Hatch, is brilliantly vivid. The singing of the chorus that the self-taught Temple founded 40 years ago is truly exceptional." “A very fine large-scale piece, given a most persuasive and sympathetic recording ... Temple gets them to sing with passion and guts, but never at the expense of a very fine sound and the kind of flawless intonation that is hard to achieve with an ensemble of this size.” - The Arts Desk “The music, both solemn and triumphant, projects an aura of divinity over the mission of Christ, and elevates the listener to a dimension of sacredness and reverence.” - Sonograma "Indispensable" - The Elgar Society -
Emmanuel Despax is a rising star on the UK and international piano scene, who has performed at the Wigmore and Cadogan Halls in London, the Salle Gaveau and Louvre Auditorium in Paris, and with orchestras including the CBSO. His debut concerto recording, with the Orpheus Sinfonia under Thomas Carroll, features the premiere recording of Stephen Goss's Piano Concerto, inspired by the designs of Thomas Heatherwick (the work’s premiere performance was the first classical concert in which audiences were invited to bring their ipads and tablets, to watch an interactive display designed to accompany the music). The work is accompanied by two similarly expressive and characterful works, Saint-Saëns’ ever-popular Piano Concerto No.2 and Franck’s Variations symphoniques. Emmanuel Despax is a formidable talent, fleet of finger, elegant of phrase and a true keyboard colourist...a noteworthy achievement - Gramophone Despax displays fine power and urgency with some brilliant piano playing...brings just the right combination of charm, brilliance and depth to the playing - Planet Hugill -
Following the acclaimed Bach recording ‘Spira, Spera’ in early 2021, Emmanuel Despax releases a recording of his most treasured piano concerto alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton. The concerto is paired with the 16 Waltzes (op.39) for piano four-hands, performed here with his wife and fellow pianist, Miho Kawashima. “Recording Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 is a childhood dream of mine, and it was wonderful to play it with such outstanding musicians. I have grown up with it, obsessively listening to all the recordings I could find for months on end, and it is hard to describe what this piece represents to me ... I wanted to pair the concerto with the exquisite Sixteen Waltzes, Op. 39 for piano four hands, and show a more intimate side of Brahms. Each one is a different shade, a different mood, like daily entries in one’s personal diary. It was very special for me to be joined by my wife Miho Kawashima to record these charming and delightful pieces.” - Emmanuel Despax "The French pianist Emmanuel Despax smoothly balances tension and novelty in the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Johannes Brahms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In the dramatic finale in particular, he achieves a wonderful aura of virtuoso elegance. He and his wife Miho Kawashima designed the rather introverted waltz cycle for piano four hands with noticeable empathy and excellent coordination, whereby the asymmetrically nimble phrases of waltz No. 6 in C sharp major are a highlight is. A clever combination"- Piano News"Covering both the orchestral immensity of the Piano Concerto No.1 and the levity of the 16 Waltzes, this disc is highly recommended to anyone who appreciates Brahms’ music and the pluralities present therein: joyful solemnity and tragic sweetness." - The Whole Note -
“Chopin the composer has always fascinated me – multifaceted, complex, a man of paradoxes. His music has huge scope yet at the same time is incredibly intimate and poetic. He sometimes has a reputation for being merely a writer of sentimental salon music; I wanted to correct this through this recording, and demonstrate how timeless and relevant, indeed modern his message is...” Emmanuel Despax Pianist Emmanuel Despax performs Chopin’s timeless collection of 24 Preludes, Op. 28, alongside the Berceuse in Op. 57 and Barcarolle Op. 60. Working from the latest editions as well as original facsimiles of Chopin’s scores, Despax’s brings his own passion for the works into performances that seek to remain as truthful to the composers’s intentions as possible on a modern instrument. -
Despax has recently released a piano fantasy based on the themes of The Sound of Music, in celebration of the musical’s 60th anniversary. The piece pays tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beautiful and iconic melodies, adding a few jazz and classical influences: “There is a long tradition in classical music of virtuoso instrumental transcriptions based on opera, from Carmen fantasies to various Liszt transcriptions, and I wanted to do the same with a musical. I have wonderful childhood memories watching The Sound of Music with my family, and I wanted to pay tribute to these beautiful melodies. This piece has influences ranging from jazz to classical composers like Ravel, Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Godowsky and Rachmaninov. There is even a small one bar quote from Debussy’s L’isle joyeuse, one of my favourite piano works hidden in there. At the start, I set out to write a small simple work using one theme, but it quickly became much more ambitious in scope. In the words of Ravel describing Scarbo, one of the most fearsome works of the piano repertoire: “perhaps I let myself get carried away”. - Emmanuel Despax -
Eric Whitacre, normally known for his choral compositions and arrangements, personally requested Joby Burgess arrange some of his well-known works for Marimba quartet. This unique recording shows the warm, earthly tones of the marimba, beautifully playing the lush harmonies of Whitacre's choral works. All download include booklets.