New Releases - 2 November 2009 - Part 2
Wednesday, 4 November 2009 16:12
There are so many new releases out this week that they come in two parts: here's the second. Discover contemporary Latvian composer Rihards Dubra, cellist Sol Gabetta with Classical concertos and Carl Davis' music for Cranford, and much more.
Paavo Järvi - Beethoven
Paavo Järvi is a busy man: Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris from 2010 and Artistic Director of the band he conducts on this new disc – the German Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of Bremen. They perform two Beethoven symphonies – Nos. 2 and 6 – and their version of the Pastoral Symphony is a particular delight. We’ll be playing this new recording regularly on Classic FM over the next few weeks.
Rihards Dubra - Hail Queen of Heaven
Rihards Dubra was born in Riga in 1964 and spent his early years under a Soviet regime, where any public performances of sacred music constituted religious propaganda and were not permitted. An admirer of John Tavener and Arvo Pärt, Dubra has now emerged from the largely secular tradition of choral music-making in Latvia as a composer devoted exclusively to the composition of sacred music. This new CD features beautiful performances of music which is very much in the sound world of Tavener and Pärt – listen out for a beautiful Ave Maria which we’ll be playing on Smooth Classics at Six and Relaxing Classics over the coming weeks.
Chopin - Rafal Blechacz
The Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz has signed an exclusive deal with the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label, and for this new CD he’s chosen to perform the music of his countryman, Chopin. These are rich performances of the composer’s two piano concertos, with Blechacz joined by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Chopin began composing both concertos in Warsaw in 1829, during a very happy and productive period of his life; these performances were recorded in July this year, and are available for the first time on this new CD.
Sol Gabetta - Hofmann, Haydn and Mozart
Sol Gabetta first came to our attention earlier this year, with her playful album of opera arias, film music and standalone pieces – all arranged for cello and orchestra. For this new disc, she’s taking a more conventional approach and has chosen to perform three concertos from the Classical period. So, we get Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1 and a work by Leopold Hoffmann – but Gabetta evidently can’t resist including something with a bit of a twist, performing as she does a cello arrangement of a Mozart flute concerto. She’s joined by the Basel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Sergio Ciomei.
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 60, 88 & 96
All year, we’ve been marking the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Joseph Haydn – so often called the ‘Father of the Symphony’ because of his important contributions to the genre. Here, we get to enjoy Nos. 60, 88, and 96, all performed by the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra conducted by Ivor Bolton.
Carl Davis - Cranford
Filming has just finished on a new episode of Cranford, apparently due to be screened on Christmas Day. Now, for the first time, Carl Davis’s music for the programme is available on CD – and we’ll be playing it regularly on Classic FM.
Vivaldi - Gloria
The award-winning, world-renowned conductor Rinaldo Alessandrini returns with his outstanding period instrument ensemble Concerto Italiano, to perform the music of Vivaldi. This disc includes a star line-up of soloists, headed by contralto Sara Mingardo – recently described by Gramophone Magazine as ‘one of the richest voices before the public today’.
Concentio - Sleep
This recording hails from Northern Ireland, and features two sets of very talented young musicians. The first is the Concentio Chamber Choir, who here perform some beautiful versions of Classic FM favourites – the highlight being Eric Whitacre’s haunting piece, Sleep. Also featured are the string players of the Ballymena Chamber Orchestra, bringing us a gorgeous version of Ungar’s The Ashokan Farewell.
Manchester Camerata Live - Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3
Manchester Camerata under conductor Douglas Boyd offer us the latest in their critically-acclaimed Beethoven cycle: a vivid, live recording of the First and Third Symphonies. This is the ensemble’s fifth release on the Avie label, and there’s a freshness and immediacy here which we’ve come to expect from this 33-piece orchestra. In a market crowded with Beethoven symphonies, there’s always room for a new recording as skilful and spirited as this one – as we’ll be proving over the next few weeks on Classic FM.
Julian Marshall - Out of the Darkness
This new CD features a selection of contemplative works by contemporary composers, the highlight of which is a beautiful performance of Arvo Pärt’s ever-popular Spiegel im Spiegel. We’re used to hearing this on the violin – but here, cellist Sophie Harris is joined by pianist Ian Belton for a different interpretation of the piece. What’s more, it really works – as you’ll discover!
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Sam Jackson
Classic FM Executive Producer Music & Events
