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Goethe-Lieder is the premiere recording of a three-song set by Billboard-charting composer Rodrigo Ruiz. These settings of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe—‘Selige Sehnsucht’, ‘Meine Göttin’, and ‘Gegenwart’—trace a subtle emotional arc from the fragility of human longing, through the hope of spiritual transformation, into the radiant light of love’s presence. Nigerian-American soprano Francesca Chiejina and British pianist Jocelyn Freeman bring the cycle to life with luminous clarity and expressive depth, their interpretation marked by sensitivity and restraint. Released in 2025, the album offers a quiet nod to the 250th anniversary of Goethe’s arrival in Weimar, while inviting today’s listeners to inhabit these texts anew. -
To mark their 50th anniversary, The King's Singers have made it their mission to celebrate great music above all else - an aim which has driven them throughout their history. Their newly recorded triple-disc album - GOLD - completely reflects this with 60 tracks divided across three albums, themed as Close Harmony, Spiritual, and Secular. What unites every track across these albums is the quality of the material. Whether ancient motets, brand new commissions or much-loved arrangements of close-harmony music from the last 50 years, The King's Singers have put together a selection of great music that reflects the extra-ordinary diversity of their repertoire. ★★★★ The box-set is a delight for King’s fans and a defiant statement of longevity - Choir and Organ Fans of the ensemble will delight in finding a copy under the tree on Christmas morning… beautifully supple, technically pristine singing - Primephonic This disc is a distillation, by their current incarnation, of what makes them special. Here’s to the next fifty years - Music Web International It’s hard to think of a group whose music-making has aged so well… Here’s to another 50 years - Gramophone Features in BBC Music Magazine's Six of the Best King's Singers Recordings -
Continuing their complete Mozart opera recording cycle, The Mozartists’ latest release shines a light on two early opera works by Mozart. Bastien und Bastienne is the only one of Mozart’s operas to have been written for performance in a private house rather than a theatre. Commissioned at some point in mid-1768 by the renowned and controversial German physician Franz Anton Mesmer, it tells the tale of two young shepherds, Bastien and Bastienne, being reconciled in love by the fortune teller and magician Colas after Bastien has briefly been lured away by the attractions of a noble lady from the city. This new recording uses Mozart’s original 1768 setting of the libretto by F. W. Weiskern & J. H. F. Müller, the provenance of which was only established in the 1980s. The orchestra is the star of the show - BBC Music Magazine Ian Page and his crack team are clearly having a lot of fun, which comes across in this excellent recording. It's a treat to experience - Gramophone Page’s Classical Opera project goes from strength to strength - The Sunday Times If you are looking for a superb performance of one of Mozart’s young productions then this is very much the best place to invest - Music Web International A little jewel not to be missed! - Crescendo (France) Heavenly! - Stretto (Holland) Ian Page's subtle and dynamic gesture makes all the difference, and places his musical output among that of the best Mozartian interpreters of today - Classique News (France) This CD is an ideal point of discovery both for those curious about Mozart’s earlier works and the Mozart connoisseur alike- BSECS -
The Sacconi Quartet record the string quartets of British composer Graham Fitkin, The Composer writes in the introduction to this disc: “ The string quartet medium seems to me to thrive in contexts of both poignant intimacy or extrovert forceful information overload. (And indeed all those delicate shades in between.) I feel it has a strength of purpose that I relish, an honest homogeneity to it, a good wide pitch range and quite frankly the ability to play decent long sustained notes or short pizzicati. It’s been all too tempting.” Composed between 1992 and 2007, this disc compiles Fitkin’s complete works for String Quartet, performed by one of the UK’s most dynamic and versatile string quartets. The Sacconi Quartet, for whom the medium-length String was composed, play throughout with élan and what sounds like a complete understanding of the ebb and flow of each of these quite diverse pieces… A terrific disc that I encourage everyone to buy - Gramophone All weaved with his trademark rhythmic complexity - Northern Echo -
Bill Ives has enjoyed a rich and varied career as both performer and composer (Grayston Ives). These experiences, culminating in nearly two decades as Informator Choristarum (Director of Music) at Magdalen College, Oxford, are reflected in a compositional style which is complex yet accessible, rich and colourful. His choral music comes from the heart, and this deeply personal reaction to the texts enables the performer or listener to engage with and enjoy the music to its full extent. This recording represents two ‘firsts’ for the choirs of Jesus College, Cambridge: The first time the choir have collaborated on a recording with the Britten Sinfonia, as well as is the first time both chapel and college choirs they have joined forces for an entire album. Bill (Grayston) Ives writes: “In the Requiem many influences are thrown into the musical melting pot and will be apparent to the discerning listener. Ultimately, the piece is firmly rooted in the Anglican choral tradition (written specifically for liturgical performance), the distillation of a lifetime in music ... The delicate, sweet sound of a pair of tiny hand-held cymbals is heard at the opening and at intervals throughout. They were bought at Snape Maltings from a group of Tibetan monks who were resident there during the summer of 2008 when ideas for the piece were forming.” “Ives exquisite score is played to perfection by the Britten Sinfonia. Congratulations to the Jesus College Choir and Richard Pinel on such an impressive achievement…A treasure of a disc, superbly engineered” - Gramophone "★★★★ An admirable showvcase for the combined forces of Jesus College, Cambridge's Chapel and College Choirs; the boy trebles of the former and the sopranos of the latter each get a movement to themselves, but othwise sing together, very effectively. The Britten Sinfonia's playing is immaculate" - Choir and Organ -
Around the time The King’s Singers was starting up, one of the most productive periods of song- writing in history was coming to a close in America, starting with composers such as Gershwin, Kern, Berlin and Porter in the early 1920s, and continuing through to the early 1960s.
In this new 2-CD studio recording – featuring brand new a cappella arrangements by jazz composer and arranger Alexander L’Estrange, and swing-orchestra performances with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra – The King’s Singers bring their own unique performance style to this wonderful music. The King’s Singers bring their unique style to some of the most beloved hits from the golden era of songwriting - The Lady -
Drawing international media attention following their founding in 2014, The Girls’ Choir of Canterbury Cathedral have quickly become leading lights in the British choral music landscape. For their first recording with Signum – led by their director David Newsholme – they draw on the rich catalogue of what have become British cathedral anthems from the 16th Century to the 20th, performing works by composers including Tallis, Byrd, Stanford, Parry and Howells. They are joined on this recording by the Men of Canterbury Cathedral choir, as well as organists Aidan Bawtree and Nicholas Wearne. ★★★★ A highly enjoyable, well recorded CD that flows well and contains some wonderful singing… Go ahead and buy it! - iClassical The Girls and Men of Cantebury Cathedral Choir [draw] in the rich catalogue of what have become British cathedral anthems - Northern Echo -
Greensleeves is a celebration of music spanning the length and breadth of the British Isles, featuring mesmerising new arrangements by Geoffrey Webber and Toby Young of some of the most beautiful folk music ever written. The recording includes Loch Lomond, Lisa La?n and of course, perhaps the most famous British melody ever written - Greensleeves.
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"The idea for writing this Sequence came to me when I attended a sequence recorded for the BBC by the Third Eton Choral Course in the summer of 1989. I devised a sequence for Ascension-tide in which the different choral forms and solo organ pieces give it musical variety within the intrinsic unity of a single composer's work. The Provost and Fellows of Eton College commissioned it for part of the celebrations marking Eton's 550th anniversary; it was first performed on 18th May 1990 and subsequently broadcast by the BBC on 26th May." - Francis Grier -
Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins continue their duo partnership with a new recording of works by two trailblazing composers from France and Poland respectively - Reynaldo Hahn and Karol Szymanowski. Waley-Cohen's playing is radiant and soaring, and Watkins's pianism a model as always of sensitivity - The Sunday Times An intelligent recital disk...all played with verve and style - The Guardian It is the sheer melting beauty in the opening pages of the final movement that makes Hahn's sonata so affecting, especially with Waley-Cohen's hushed tone... an enjoyable recital - BBC Music Magazine Tamsin Waley-Cohen produces a beautiful, soft, creamy tone in the lyrical passages, and throughout the recital we're treated to a remarkable palette of tone colours. Huw Watkins is able to match this range most effectively - Gramophone [Waley-Cohen] has a potent rhetorical style, moving neatly from dramatic flourishes and cadenzas into gentle lyricism... a fine performance - The Strad -
As both an organist and a composer, Lebanese-born Naji Hakim has distinguished himself as one of the most active artists of his generation. A virtuosic performer, who succeeded Olivier Messiaen as organist at l'église de la Trinité in Paris, many of his works draw on his own Christian beliefs (in 2007 he was honoured with a Papal award for his services to the church). The works are recorded on the new van den Heuvel organ of the Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen (opened in 2009). The most immediately striking thing about this disc – apart from the excellence of the recording quality – is the brilliance and virtuosity of the performances … I regard this as an important recording and I recommend it unreservedly - International Record ReviewHakim's spiritual exuberance is expressed in harmonically ear-tickling music which sings and dances, accelerating, in his inimitably breathless toccatas, to the insane-sounding speeds of whirling dervishes - Choir and Organ
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Naji Hakim returns to disc on Signum with a second volumne of powerful organ works, featuring works inspired by different locations around the world with his Suite Norvégienne, Esquisses Persanes and Suite Française.Completed in 2000, the Schuke Organ of the Palacio Euskalduna is housed in a magnificent concert hall of wood and steel - itself inspired by the Euskulduna shipyards that once occupied the area. A modern instrument, it is well-suited to the nuanced voicings of modern organ compositions, as well as being sympathetic and adaptable to the great works of the past. -
Naji Hakim returns to disc on Signum with a new and powerful collection of organ works. Hakim is joined by Marie-Bernadette Dufource for the central piece of the programme, a set of meditation for two organists inspired by Lucas Cranach the Elder’s woodcuts of the Apostles. Completed in 2000, the Schuke Organ of the Palacio Euskalduna is housed in a magnificent concert hall of wood and steel - itself inspired by the Euskulduna shipyards that once occupied the area. A modern instrument, it is well-suited to the nuanced voicings of modern organ compositions, as well as being sympathetic and adaptable to the great works of the past.Naji Hakim's extraordinary virtuosity has never been in doubt - Choir and Organ Hakim is joined by his wife, Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet, and so perfect is their musical partnership that it is easy to overlook that there are two players involved - Gramophone -
Naji Hakim returns to disc on Signum with a new release of his own unique compositions for solo organ – performed on the magnificent Stahlhuth-Jann Organ of St Martin’s Church, Dudelange, Grand Duché du Luxembourg. One of the finest organists in the world and a composer of no little significance … [Gershwinesca] brings this impressive issue to a brilliant conclusion - International Record ReviewA walk on the wild side; an absolute must for adventure lovers - MusicWeb International
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This will be the 5th NAJI HAKIM PLAYS NAJI HAKIM organ CD released by Signum Classics. It will include the following world premiere recordings of Naji Hakim’s works at the historic STAHL- HUTH-JANN ORGAN at St Martin’s Church, Dudelange , Grand Duché de Luxembourg : Grego- riana (2003) - Bogurodzica (2018) – Prière (2020) - Villancico aragonés (2018) - Carnaval (2014) - Sindbad (2014) - Korean Prelude (2014) - Cantilena (2016) - Trois Paraphrases sur Ave maris stella (2003) - O sacrum convivium (2018) - Tanets (2019). Dr Naji Hakim studied with J. Langlais and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he was awarded seven first prizes. He is a licentiate teacher in organ from the Trinity College of Music in London and won ten first prizes at international organ and composition competitions. In 1991 he was awarded the Prix André Caplet from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. At first organist of the Basilique du Sacré- Coeur, Paris from 1985 until 1993, he then became organist of l’église de la Trinité, in succession to Olivier Messiaen, from 1993 until 2008. He is professor of musical analysis at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, and visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London. "This is truly a demanding, virtuosic work, but also one in which the organist’s technique is subservient to an astonishingly creative piece. His music is, for the most part, fascinating and often intense. I will certainly look out for further releases of his music." - The Art Music Lounge "The loud and lively numbers are most impressive but there are, too, some stunningly beautiful gentle moments." - Organists' Review "This fifth instalment is self-recommending...the material is characteristically eclectic. Hakim is his own exemplary and expressive advocate in Augustin Party's fine recording. ★★★★" - Choir and Organ "Hakim has developed a highly virtuoso musical language …the meditative movements such as the 'Gregoriana', the 'Korean Prelude' or the three paraphrases on 'Ave maris stella' sound particularly expressive…the classical colours of fundamental and reed voices and mixtures of thirds make his music an enjoyable expression of the French style" - FONO FORUM -
A prolific composer and organist, Naji Hakim is truly one of the most versatile performer-composers working today, garnering praise from his numerous organ and composition competition prizes as well as an award from Pope Benedict XVI for his musical work in benefit of the church. This new recording with the Danish Chamber Players explores some of Hakim's works for chamber ensemble and organ, with performances from the Th. Frobenius & Sonner Organ of Vangede Kirke, Gentofte, Denmark. The Sakskoebing Praeludier are vigorously entertaining chorale arrangements. Concerto No. 4 stars the composer, firing off an explosively active finale - BBC Music MagazineBy far the strongest, leanest work is the vividly scored Concerto No 4 for organ and chamber ensemble ... The finale is a riot of joyous dancing - Gramophone