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CD of the Month
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PARRY Choral Masterpieces
Songs of Farewell, I was glad when they said unto me – Coronation Anthem, The Great Service — Magnificat & Nunc dimittis, Hear my words ye people, Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land from Judith, Jerusalem
Mark Rowlinson, baritone • Jeffrey Makinson, organ
Manchester Cathedral Choir • Christopher Stokes
Naxos 8.572104
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- Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848–1918) composed some of the most masterful and moving choral music of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
- His magnificent coronation anthem for Edward VII, I was glad, and his setting of Blake’s mystical poem Jerusalem rightly remain famous, while his Magnificat and Nunc dimittis display his debt to Anglican musical traditions.
- The Songs of Farewell draw psalms and English poetry together into a charming garland, and ‘Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land’ from his oratorio Judith sets the composer’s own prayerful text.
- “Choir, director and organist have clearly enjoyed themselves… a very high standard throughout. The Manchester Cathedral organ comes over well throughout. Highly recommended.” The Organ on a previous release
- “The choir sings with an unusually expressive tonal vocabulary as well as with dynamic variation which makes it distinctive from other choirs… The whole thing is very refreshing.” Cathedral Music on a previous release
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Naxos Featured CDs
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GLAZUNOV
Orchestral Works Vol 18
Masquerade (Maskarad),
Two Pieces Op 14,
Pas de caractère Op 68,
Romantic Intermezzo Op 69
Gnesin Academy Chorus
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Dmitry Yablonsky
Naxos 8.570211
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- A Symphony in all but name, Zemlinsky’s lavishly scored ‘symphonic fantasy’ Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid, 1903) is his most frequently performed large-scale work beside the Lyric Symphony (Naxos 8.572048). Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the mermaid who sacrifices herself out of unrequited love for a prince, the work places greater emphasis on thematic development than on mere illustration.
- Written over three decades later, when Zemlinsky’s music was taking on a more astringent manner, the Sinfonietta is remarkable for its nervous energy, anguished passion and sheer virtuosity.
- “Helped by vivid sound, James Judd conducts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in glowing performances… There have been a number of discs from this orchestra in recent years, but here Judd shows what quality of player the orchestra now attracts, especially in its ripely resonant string tone.” Gramophone on VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Fantasias, Norfolk Rhapsody, In the Fen Country, Concerto Grosso (8.555867)
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- Glazunov’s beautifully scored incidental music for Lermontov’s play Masquerade has only survived in manuscript. With characteristic genius, he illustrates both the glittering atmosphere and dances of splendid St Petersburg balls and depicts the horrifying descent into madness of the play’s protagonist, Evgeny Arbenin, who jealously poisons his innocent wife.
- The shorter works on this disc likewise show Glazunov’s amazing command of orchestral resources, whether evoking an exotic oriental vision, the vivacious spirit of Hungarian music, in the Pas de caractère, or painting a mood of gentle romantic lyricism.
- “Yablonsky provides full-blooded orchestral support. The recorded sound is very fine, as are the notes. Naxos’s bargain price is just an added incentive to buy this well-filled disc.” Fanfare on GLAZUNOV Orchestral Works Vol 14 - Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 (8.553928)
- BUY ONLINE FROM NAXOSDIRECT.CO.UK
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WEBERN
Vocal and Orchestral Works
Ricercata from JS Bach’s ‘Musical Offering’ transcribed for orchestra by Webern, Two Songs Op 19 (1926), Five Movements for String Orchestra Op 5 (1909-29), Two Songs Op 8 (1910), Five Pieces for Orchestra Op 10 (1911-13), Four Songs Op 13 (1914-18), Six Songs Op 14 (1917-21), Five Sacred Songs Op 15 (1917-22), Das Augenlicht, ‘Through Our Open Eyes Light Flows into the Heart’ Op 26 (1935) , Variations for Orchestra Op 30 (1940), Second Cantata Op 31 (1941-43)
Tony Arnold, soprano
Claire Booth, soprano
David Wilson-Johnson, bass
Simon Joly Chorale
Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble
Philharmonia Orchestra
Robert Craft
Naxos 8.557531
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TAYLOR Peter Ibbetson
Lyric Drama in Three Acts Op 20
Anthony Dean Griffey
Peter Ibbetson)
Lauren Flanigan
(Mary, Duchess of Towers)
Richard Zeller
(Colonel Ibbetson)
Charles Robert Austin
(Major Duquesnois)
Lori Summers
(Mrs Dean)
Emily Lunde, Paul Gudas, Carolyn Gronlund,
Barry Johnson, Terri Richter, John Obourn, Eugene Buchholz, Erin Stark,
Seattle Symphony Chorale
Abraham Kaplan,
Associate Conductor
for Choral Activities
Seattle Symphony,
Gerard Schwarz
Naxos 8.669016-17 (2 CDs)
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- Robert Craft’s abiding love and understanding of Anton Webern’s music have made him an internationally renowned champion of this elusive composer’s oeuvre.
- Whether transforming the ‘Ricercata’ from JS Bach’s A Musical Offering into a kaleidoscope of orchestral sounds, creating vivid new colours through ever-changing vocal and instrumental groupings, revelling in multi-layered polyphony or cultivating the purest simplicity, Webern reveals new musical worlds which remain as fresh and fascinating today as when they were written.
- “[Robert Craft’s] new home, Naxos, adds the lure of bargain prices to recordings that would be important no matter the cost…they provide rich overviews of the evolving styles of Webern and Schoenberg. Many of the performances are by the Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble, a group of veteran New York new-music players who could just as well call themselves the Robert Craft All-Stars…their interpretations reflect Mr. Craft’s half century of experience with this repertory.” The New York Times
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- From its triumphant, star-studded première in 1931 until 1985, Peter Ibbetson (1930) was the most-performed American opera at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The story (based on the novel by George Du Maurier) of two star-crossed lovers who secretly escape to a mystical “dream world” was immensely popular in the 1930s, and was the subject of several Hollywood films.
- Composer Deems Taylor—known to millions as the host of the original Disney Fantasia movie—was at that time a leading voice in American music. His lush, romantic/impressionist music and masterful dramatic timing make Peter Ibbetson a most rewarding listening experience, and a “must” for all opera fans.
- Rediscover an American classic with this world-première recording featuring some of today’s leading opera stars.
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Naxos Distributed Label Priority Titles
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POUL RUDERS CONCERTOS
Concertos in Pieces (1994–95), Violin Concerto No 1 (1981), Monodrama (1988)
Erik Heide, violin
Mathias Reumert, percussion
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård
DACAPO 8.226034
- Poul Ruders is one of the biggest names in contemporary Scandinavian music. His orchestral works in particular have a brilliance and intensity that have made a great impression on audiences around the world.
- These concertos, each with its own highly personable character, are eminently enjoyable, full of life and beauty, and well worth discovering.
- The music is impeccably performed by musicians who clearly revel in both the technical demands and the sheer excitement of this music. And the recording itself is superb.
- BUY ONLINE FROM NAXOSDIRECT.CO.UK
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DANSES et DIVERTISSEMENTS
TAFFANEL Quintette en sol mineur pour instruments à vent (1878),
POULENC Sextuor pour piano et quintette à vent (1932–39),
JOLIVET Sérénade pour quintette à vent avec hautbois principal (1945),
TOMASI Cinq Danses Profanes et Sacrées pour quintette à vent (1948)
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet
Stephen Hough, piano
BIS-SACD-1532
- “The combination of Stephen Hough and wind players from the BPO makes for sparkling performances” Gramophone on MOZART/BEETHOVEN Piano Quintets (BIS-CD-1552)
- One of the world’s foremost wind quintets meets one of today’s finest pianists in a work that many consider to be the best work for piano and winds: Poulenc’s Sextet, as well as works by other French composers.
- BUY ONLINE FROM NAXOSDIRECT.CO.UK
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MONTEVERDI Orfeo
Dietrich Henschel •
Maria Grazia Schiavo •
Sonia Prina •
Luigi De Donato
Antonio Abete •
Hanna Bayodi •
Xavier Sabata •
Cyril Auvity •
Juan Sancho
Jonathan Sells •
Ludovic Provost •
Agustín Prunell-Friend
Les Arts Florissants, Caen •
Les Saqueboutiers, Toulouse
William Christie •
Pier Luigi Pizzi (Director, Scenes and Costumes)
DYNAMIC DVD 33598
- This is the first recording in the complete Monteverdi cycle with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants, made possible by a three-year collaboration between Dynamic and Teatro Real.
- The production is enhanced by the rich colour of 17th century costumes, with Christie himself clad in a flowing red cloak and white ruffed collar.
- The DVD features interviews with Christie, Pizzi and the Opera’s two protagonists.
- BUY ONLINE FROM NAXOSDIRECT.CO.UK
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