The New Releases Blog - 22 April
Over the course of this year, some of the best new CDs that have come my way are from one small label - Signum Classics - and I thought I should take a moment to sing their praises.
If you're a regular listener to Classic FM, you'll probably have heard the Philharmonia Orchestra's recordings of symphonies by Brahms and Schumann , which were released on Signum last year. They received rave reviews from the critics, and are all the more impressive given that the performances were recorded live in concert.
A few months ago, Signum released what is surely the most bizarrely-titled album of the year: Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos from the pianist James Rhodes, who I saw performing at the Classical BRIT Award nominations earlier this week.
And now, Signum's success continues. They're the label behind our CD of the Week from Patrick Hawes , and they're also about to release a beautiful new recording of the Durufle Requiem. It's one of the most exquisite choral works of the 20th century - and it took many years before the composer was happy with it. The first version was completed in 1947, but Durufle was such a perfectionist he kept making changes to the work right up until 1961. All the pieces on this disc are performed by the Vasari Singers under their conductor Jeremy Backhouse, with two fine British soloists - mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly and baritone Christopher Maltman.
Like our own Composer in Residence Howard Goodall, Durufle was greatly inspired by Gregorian chant - and alongside the Requiem, this disc also includes Durufle's Four Motets on Gregorian Themes. The first one, Ubi Caritas , is one of those melodies that stops you in your tracks - and we'll be playing it lots on Classic FM in the coming weeks.
Take a look at Signum's website when you get the chance - www.signumrecords.com - for news of lots more recordings from this small but perfectly formed record label!
Sam Jackson
Classic FM's Executive Producer, Music & Events
