3rd February Classical Releases

harmonia mundi UK

Classical new releases DISTRIBUTED LABELS: ACCENT RECORDS, ACTES SUD, ALIA VOX, APARTE, BELVEDERE, KINGS COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, CHRISTOPHORUS, CSO RESOUND, EDITION CLASSICS, EVIDENCE CLASSIQUES, FRA MUSICA, GLOSSA,

harmonia mundi,

LA DOLCE VOLTA, LES ARTS FLORISSANTS, LSO LIVE, MARIINSKY, MIRARE, MYRIOS, NAÏVE, ONYX, PAN CLASSICS, PRAGA DIGITALS, SIGNUM CLASSICS, UNITED ARCHIVES, WIGMORE HALL LIVE

available February 3rd 2017

FEBRUARY 3

RELEASE DATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night's Dream Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Label: LSO Live File Under: Classical/Orchestral Catalogue No: LSO0795 Barcode: 822231179528 NORMAL Price Format: 2 SACD+BLURAY Packaging: cristal Alexander Knox, Ceri-lyn Cissone, Frankie Wakefield Monteverdi Choir London Symphony Orchestra Sir John Eliot Gardiner SACD Hybrid + Pure Audio Blu-ray | 2 disc jewel case with clear tray 2.0 stereo | multi-channel 5.1 Notes in En, Fr, Ge | English libretto with En translation Recorded live in DSD128fs at the Barbican Hall, 16th February 2016

Continuing his award-winning cycle of works by Felix Mendelssohn, Sir John Eliot Gardiner leads the LSO, his Monteverdi Choir and three talented young actors from the Guildhall in a landmark performance of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream', which was performed as part of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. To mark the celebrations, Gardiner produced a special version of the work featuring some cuts to the original movements that, in his words, "remove all of the music relating to the Mechanicals and thus focus on the world of the fairies and the human lovers".

Mendelssohn, who adored Shakespeare’s writings, composed his concert overture based on 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' in 1827 aged 17, after having read a German translation of the play. The overture was immediately acclaimed as a masterpiece and quickly became a popular favourite throughout Europe. Years later in 1843 he was asked by the King of Prussia to provide a score for an entire production: 14 short works based on themes and moods from the original overture, with a broadly romantic sound although classical in style and structure.

The Pure Audio Blu-ray disc includes bonus footage of the concert performance of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 1, alongside high resolution master audio.

Concert reviews: "It was the consistent suavity of the LSO’s playing under Gardiner’s baton that impressed most of all. The winds were outstanding in Mendelssohn’s shimmering score" The Guardian ***** "You’d have had to have been an ass to find this performance of Mendelssohn’s incidental music …anything other than magical…John Eliot Gardiner unlocked both the silken beauty of this music and its evanescence" The Times ***** "I doubt I’ll hear it better played than the LSO under Sir John Eliot Gardiner…This performance tingled with drama" Bachtrack **** ALSO AVAILABLE: LSO0769 Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 'Italian' Gramophone Editor's Choice October 2016, Presto Discs of 2016 finalist LSO0765 Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 'Scottish', Hebrides Overture, Schumann: Piano Concerto/Maria João Pires Gramophone Editor's Choice January 2015 LSO0775 Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 “absolutely startling…Gardiner has taken a completely fresh and forensic look at the music, and has virtually reinvented the symphony...The LSO, here, is the best period band in the world.” Herald Scotland

RELEASE DATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

Queen Mary's Big Belly Hope for an heir in Catholic England Gallicantus perform music surrounding the fascinating yet tragic story of Queen Mary Tudor’s ‘phantom pregnancy’. On 30th April 1555 the city of London celebrated the birth of a healthy male heir, but abruptly ceased the next day after the news was revealed to be nothing but rumour. There was to be no heir, with gossip and speculation surrounding the tale of Mary’s pregnancy from that day onwards.

The music performed here resonates with the circumstances of the mid-1550s, including items composed outside of Mary’s reign; from the royal ceremonies in which Mary participated as queen, and music directly tied to the specific events of 1554-5. This includes a newly-reconstructed Litany which was performed during Mary’s assumed pregnancy.

The viewpoint shifts from the streets of London and its suburbs, through the ceremonial grandeur of the royal palaces and their chapels, to the intimacy of the Privy Chamber itself.

The all-male early-music consort Gallicantus (Latin for ‘song of the rooster’), led by former King's Singer Gabriel Crouch, is drawn from the ranks of award-winning choir Tenebrae.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD464 Barcode: 635212046425 NORMAL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal

1 Pater noster - Philip van Wilder 2 Exsurge Christe - William Mundy 3 Peccavimus cum patribus - Christopher Tye 4 Te spectant, Reginalde, Poli - Orlande de Lassus 5 New Ballad of the Marigold - anon. (text by William Forrest) 6 Enforced by love and fear - Robert Parsons 7 Fansye - Anthony Newman 8 Sarum Litany after - Thomas Tallis 9 O sacrum convivium - Thomas Tallis 10 Quod chorus vatum - Thomas Tallis 11 Christi virgo dilectissima - John Sheppard 12 Deus misereatur - John Sheppard 13 Martyr Dei qui unicum - John Sheppard 14 Like as the doleful dove - Thomas Tallis 15 When shall my sorrowful sighing slack - Thomas Tallis 16 Vain, all our life - John Sheppard 17 Loquebantur variis linguis - Thomas Tallis 18 Libera nos - John Sheppard

Gallicantus Gabriel Crouch [director]

ADVERTISED IN GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE (February issue) ALSO AVAILABLE: SIGCD339 Lassus: Lagrime di San Pietro %%& 5 %XLOGLQJ D /LEUDU\ )LUVW &KRLFH 'HFHPEHU SIGCD210 Dialogues of Sorrow, Passions on the Death of Prince Henry (1612) SIGCD295 The Word Unspoken, Sacred Music by William Byrd & Philippe de Monte *UDPRSKRQH (GLWRU V &KRLFH 2FWREHU SIGCD134 Robert White: Hymns, Psalms and Lamentations

RELEASE DATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

BYRD | BRITTEN The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge Mark Williams Director Led by Mark Williams, the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge continue their critically-praised series of recordings on Signum with this new recording of works by British composers Benjamin Britten and William Byrd.

Although their respective careers separated by 350 years, they shared one very significant characteristic: both were outsiders. As a devout Catholic Byrd was obliged to pursue a kind of double life, expressing his spiritual exile in music of emotional intensity. Like Byrd, Britten became highly regarded for his artistic achievements, but reservations regarding his homosexuality and pacifism prevented his complete acceptance by the establishment; both made him an outsider.

The choir's sixth release on Signum, previous discs by the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge have drawn near universal praise from critics.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD481 Barcode: 635212048122 NORMAL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge Mark Williams Director

1 O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth our Queen - Byrd 2 Hymn of St Columba - Britten 3 Nunc dimittis - Byrd 4 Jubilate Deo - Britten 5 Ave verum corpus - Byrd 6 Laudibus in sanctis - Byrd 7 Hymn to St Peter - Britten 8 Praise our Lord all ye gentiles - Byrd 9 Antiphon - Britten 10 The Queen’s Alman - Byrd 11-15 Missa Brevis - Britten 16 Quomodo cantabimus - Byrd 17 Te Deum in C - Britten “Another Oxbridge college, another fine mixed-voice choir, another gorgeously captured chapel acoustic (Mike Hatch engineering) - this selection of favourite pieces by mainly British composers makes a pleasingly intimate impression.”

BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2012 **** $'9(57,6(' ,1 %%& 086,& 0DUFK LVVXH

RELEASE DATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

Virgin & Child Music from the Baldwin Partbooks II

Contrapunctus Early music consort Contrapunctus return to disc on Signum for the second release in their series centred on music of the Baldwin Partbooks. John Baldwin was a member of the choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and his transcriptions during the 1570s and '80s create one of the greatest surviving collections of Marian polyphony, composed during the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary Tudor. This volume explores texts celebrating Mary as mother of God, and on the Virgin and her Child.

Contrapunctus, led by Owen Rees, couple powerful interpretations with pioneering scholarship, particularly in music of the 16th and 17th centuries. Currently Vocal Consort in Residence at Oxford University, the ensemble’s first two recordings, 'Libera nos' and 'In the Midst of Life', were both shortlisted for the Gramophone Early Music Award.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD474 Barcode: 635212047422 NORMAL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal Contrapunctus Owen Rees [director]

1 Gaude gloriosa Dei mater - Thomas Tallis 2 Mater Christi - John Taverner 3 Tota pulchra es - Robert White 4 Magnificat - Thomas Tallis 5 Videte miraculum - Thomas Tallis 6 Regina cĂŚli - Robert White 7 Ave Dei Patris filia - Robert Fayrfax 8 Verbum caro - John Sheppard $'9(57,6(' ,1 *5$023+21( )HEUXDU\ LVVXH

ALSO AVAILABLE: 6,*&' ,Q WKH 0LGVW RI /LIH 0XVLF IURP WKH %DOGZLQ 3DUW ERRNV 9RO “Contrapunctus are special...These are understated performances whose moment-to-moment drama is less striking than the long, aching arcs they achieve over five or six minutes - director Owen Rees shows his experience here, making a case for a conductor in a climate in which musical democracy is increasingly king.�

Gramophone Magazine, (GLWRU V &KRLFH May 2015 “Contrapunctus really knows what to do with these pieces and from the very first item...the tuning is superb and the ensemble rock solid. Moreover, Owen Rees's interpretations are revelatory and even visionary...The next volume is keenly awaited.� BBC Music Magazine, &KRUDO 6RQJ &KRLFH August 2015 *****

RELEASE DATE 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

Anthem Great British Hymns & Choral Works

Huddersfield Choral Society Founded in 1836, the Huddersfield Choral Society has developed an international reputation as one of the UK’s leading choral societies. Their new recording features works that are central to the choir's musical heritage, including works by Handel, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst and many more.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD465 Barcode: 635212046524 NORMAL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal Huddersfield Choral Society Thomas Trotter [organ] Aidan Oliver [conductor]

1 Zadok the Priest, HWV 258 -George Frideric Handel 2 And I Saw a New Heaven - Edgar Bainton 3 Ave, verum corpus, Op. 2 No. 1 - Edward Elgar 4 O How Amiable - Ralph Vaughan Williams 5 Jubilate Deo in C - Benjamin Britten 6 The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune - Ralph Vaughan Williams 7 My Soul, There is a Country - Charles Hubert Hastings Parry 8 Give Unto the Lord, Op. 74 - Edward Elgar 9 Psalm 148, H117 - Gustav Holst 10 Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace - Samuel Sebastian Wesley 11 God So Loved the World - John Stainer 12 A New Song - James MacMillan 13 God Be in My Head - Henry Walford Davies 14 God is Gone Up, Op. 27 No. 2 - Gerald Finzi 15 Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars - Jonathan Dove 16 I Was Glad - Charles Hubert Hastings Parry $'9(57,6(' ,1 %%& 086,& 0$*$=,1( 0DUFK LVVXH