October 21st 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,

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

available October 21st 2016, call-off October 9th

OCTOBER 21

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

MOZART: Violin Concertos Isabelle Faust Il Giardino Armonico The five most brilliant concertos for violin, all penned before the age of 19! Mozart was not even 15 years old when he began composing violin concertos that would serve as a backdrop at Salzburg receptions. An insatiable drive for independence would however lead the young Konzertmeister to overtly challenge musical forms, innovate with genres, humour and frivolity, all of which can be heard in this delightful first collaboration between Isabelle Faust and the musicians of Il Giardino Armonico.

Label: harmonia mundi File Under: Classical/Orchestral Catalogue No: HMC902230/31 Barcode: 3149020223024 MID Price Format: 2 CD Packaging: digipack Isabelle Faust [violin] Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini [director]

CD1: 1-3 Concerto for violin and orchestra no.1 K 207 B flat major 2 Rondo for violin and orchestra K 269 (261ÂŞ) B flat major 3-5 Concerto for violin and orchestra no.2 K 211 D major 6-9 Concerto for violin and orchestra no.3 K 216 G major CD2: 1 Rondo for violin and orchestra K 373 C major 2-5 Concerto for violin and orchestra no.4 K 218 D major 6 Adagio for violon and orchestra K.261 E major 7-9 Concerto for violin and orchestra no.5 K 219 A major Cadenzas by Andreas Staier

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Remembrance Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Graham Ross Graham Ross directs the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge in a wide-ranging and moving sequence of music for Remembrance, including John Tavener’s “Song for Athene”, settings of the text “When David heard of the death of Absolom “ by two of England’s foremost 16th-century composers, Thomas Tomkins and Thomas Weelkes, and featuring Durufle’s 1948 setting of the Requiem Mass.

Label: harmonia mundi File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: HMU907654 Barcode: 093046765422 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Graham Ross

Founded in 1971, the Choir of Clare College has gained an international reputation as one of the leading university choral groups in the world. Beyond its primary function of leading services three times a week in the College Chapel in Cambridge, the Choir maintains an active schedule recording, broadcasting and performing worldwide.

In addition to live performances the Choir has produced an impressive discography: their partnership with harmonia mundi includes recordings of Handel’s 'Messiah', Blow’s 'Venus and Adonis', with René Jacobs, world première recordings of choral works by Imogen Holst, and most recently a series based on the major festivals in the Anglican calendar, produced, engineered and edited by John Rutter and accompanied by excellent booklet notes by Graham Ross.

“I love this recording; the selections and also the way you’ll find the same Easter texts set by different composers alongside one another. Excellent singing, it’s a lovely recording as well from sound engineer producer and editor John Rutter.” BBC Radio 3 CD Review, 19th March 2016 [HMU907655 Haec Dies, Music for Easter] Teaser video on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/Bvt5b_An4fw

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

The Queen's Harp Les Arts Florissants William Christie At the end of the 18th century, France and Germany developed a passion for harp music; the instrument was everywhere, in concerts and drawing rooms and many masterpieces were written for it. Queen Marie-Antoinette regularly played the pianoforte and the harp and the instrument has remained a symbol of the last two decades of the French court.

NB NOT FINAL ARTWORK Label: harmonia mundi File Under: Classical/Instrumental Catalogue No: HAF8902276 Barcode: 3149020227602 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack Xavier de Maistre [harp] Les Arts Florissants William Christie [conductor]

The harpist Xavier de Maistre has been leading a brilliant career for 25 years: at 22, he became solo harp at the Vienna Philharmonic and this prestigious position has opened doors on an international career.

Passionate about his still little-known instrument and its extraordinary repertoire, he has chosen with William Christie the most evocative works of this golden age of the harp. They are inseparable from the image of the Queen of France, the elegance of her playing on an instrument which reached under Louis XVI unequaled refinement in workmanship, Xavier de Maistre appears courtesy of Sony Classical

1-3 Johann Baptist KRUMPHOLZ: Concerto No. 5 Op.7 for harp and orchestra 4-7 Joseph HAYDN: Symphony n°85 "La Reine" 8-9 Johann David HERMANN: Concerto No. 1 Op. 9 for harp and orchestra 10 Christoph Williband GLUCK: OrphÊe et Eurydice, Dance of the Blessed Spirits (transcription: Xavier de Maistre)

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Arvo PART: Kanon Pokajanen Cappella Amsterdam Daniel Reuss

Label: harmonia mundi File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: HMC905274 Barcode: 3149020527429 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack Cappella Amsterdam Daniel Reuss

The 'Kanon Pokajanen' (Canon of Repentance), premiered in March 1998, is Arvo Pärt’s most monumental composition.

Its prolonged genesis, a meticulous process of assimilation of the text in Church Slavonic, and the austerity and subtlety of its style embody the same sincerity, the same spiritual and contemplative radiance as an icon painting.

He was commissioned by KölnMusic GmbH to write a work commemorating the 750th anniversary of the building of Cologne Cathedral. He finished it in 1997 and it premiered at Cologne Cathedral on March 17, 1998.

'Kanon Pokajanen' exhibits characteristics of Pärt's tinntinabular style and the piece remains almost exclusively in D minor, deviating only in particularly expressive passages and sometimes final cadences. Overall, the melodies and harmonies remain fairly static throughout.

Perhaps the greatest of the 'holy minimalists' [along with Henryk Górecki and Sir John Tavener] Arvo Pärt describes his encounter with the text and the history of setting this text to music thus: "Many years ago, when I first became involved in the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, I came across a text that made a profound impression on me although I cannot have understood it at the time. It was the Canon of Repentance.

Since then I have often returned these verses, slowly and arduously seeking to unfold their meaning. Two choral compositions (Nun eile ich...., 1990 and Memento, 1994) were the first attempts to approach the canon. I then decided to set it to music in its entirety-from beginning to end. This allowed me to stay with it, to devote myself to it; and, at the very least, its hold on me did not abate until I had finished the score. I had a similar experience while working on Passio.

It took over two years to compose the Kanon pokajanen, and the time "we spent together" was extremely enriching. That may explain why this music means so much to me" Ode I Ode III Ode IV Ode VI Kontakion Ikos Ode VIII Ode IX Prayer after the canon

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Christmas with St John's, The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge Andrew Nethsingha Christmas presents a golden opportunity to present brand new music to wide audiences, and the role played by St John’s College Choir in this area has been significant, as demonstrated by this new recording of contemporary choral works.

Featuring two works commissioned by the choir – Judith Bingham’s 'The Clouded Heaven' and Michael Finnissy’s 'John the Baptist'. The programme begins with Bob Chilcott’s 'The Shepherd’s Carol' commissioned by Stephen Cleobury (a former St John’s organ scholar) for King’s College Choir, and ends with 'Creator of the Stars of Night', composed by another former St John’s organ scholar, John Scott.

The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge is one of the finest choirs of men and boys in the world, known and loved by millions from its recordings, broadcasts and concert tours. A cornerstone of the great English choral tradition since the 1670s, the Choir is recognised for its distinctive, rich and expressive sound and is today directed by Andrew Nethsingha.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD458 Barcode: 635212045824 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge Andrew Nethsingha [director]

The Shepherd’s Carol Bob Chilcott, Tomorrow shall be my dancing day John Gardner O little town of Bethlehem Henry Walford Davies, The Holly and the Ivy Traditional, arr. Henry Walford Davies Sir Christemas William Mathias, Adam lay ybounden Boris Ord A spotless rose Philip Ledger, O Oriens Cecilia McDowall People, look East Peter Tranchell, A clouded heaven Judith Bingham Silent Night Franz Gruber, arr. Mark Blatchly, I saw three ships Traditional arr. Simon Preston As dew in Aprylle Peter Warlock, On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol) David Willcocks Three Kings Peter Cornelius, John the Baptist Michael Finnissy I wonder as I wander Carl Rutti, Dormi Jesu John Rutter The Cherry Tree Carol Traditional arr. Stephen Cleobury, Out of your sleep Anthony Milner Mary’s Magnificat Andrew Carter, The seven joys of Mary William Whitehead Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston, Ding, dong, merrily on high Traditional, arr. Charles Wood Creator of the stars of night Plainsong, arr. John Scott

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Adeste Fideles Christmas Carols from Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal

The Choir of the Chapel Royal Huw Williams Huw William’s leads the choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal in a festive new recording of Christmas carols old and new from St James’s Palace, London.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Choral Catalogue No: SIGCD460 Barcode: 635212046029 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal The Choir of the Chapel Royal Huw Williams [conductor]

1 Sans Day Carol English Traditional, Arr. John Rutter 2 Mary Had a Baby American Spiritual, Arr. Malcolm Sargent 3 Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston 4 Once in Royal David’s City Henry John Gauntlett, Harm. H. Mann 5 Sussex Carol English Traditional, Arr. David Willcocks 6 The Lamb John Tavener 7 A Maiden Most Gentle French Melody, Arr. Andrew Carter 8 Hosanna to the Son of David Thomas Weelkes 9 The Three Kings Jonathan Dove, arr. Ivor Atkins 10 A Spanish Carol Spanish Traditional, Arr. A. Carter 11 Suo Gân Welsh Traditional, Arr. George Guest 12 There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob Felix Mendelssohn 13 O Little Town of Bethlehem English Traditional, Harm. R. V. Williams 14 I Saw Three Ships English Traditional, Arr. David Willcocks 15 The Little Road to Bethlehem Michael Head 16 Ding Dong! Merrily on High French Traditional, Harm. Charles Wood 17 A New Year Carol Benjamin Britten 18 Blessed Jesu! Here We Stand Richard Popplewell 19 Ave Maria Igor Stravinksy 20 Adeste Fideles John Francis Wade 21 Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar Peter Cornelius 22 De Virgin Mary American Spiritual, Arr. Malcolm Sargent 23 The Holly and the Ivy John Gardner 24 A Spotless Rose Herbert Howells 25 Hark the Herald Angels Sing! Felix Mendelssohn, Descant David Willcocks 26 We Wish You a Merry Christmas English Traditional, Arr. Andrew Gant

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1, The Nutcracker Alexandra Dariescu Alexandra Dariescu makes her concerto recording debut on Signum with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Darrell Ang, pairing this with Mikhail Pletnev’s concert suite of arrangements from 'The Nutcracker'.

Alexandra Dariescu has garnered an impressive reputation for her outstanding solo recordings and concert performances, and was recently named as one of 30 pianists under 30 destined for a spectacular career in the International Piano Magazine.

Label: Signum Classics File Under: Classical/Orchestral Catalogue No: SIGCD441 Barcode: 635212044124 FULL Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: cristal Alexandra Dariescu Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Darrell Ang [conductor]

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Under The Shadow Carlos Mena David Tixier Jacques Beaud From the first piece, 'Shall I Sue', which introduces us to the aesthetic concept of the disc, to the sublime 'When I am laid in Earth', Dido's final lament, the unique voice of internationally renowned countertenor Carlos Mena enhances Jacques Beaud's arrangements. As a countertenor himself, Beaud lends his voice to the Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne conducted

by Michel Corboz and Daniel Reuss; and, as a bass player, he shares the stage with prestigious jazzmen. What Jacques Beaud offers here is a very personal approach to the encounter between free jazz, improvisation and classical music.

Carlos Mena captivates by the purity of his timbre and hypersensitive musicality, offering a performance in keeping with the concept of Purcell’s 'Dido and Aeneas', an opera halfway between the English masque and the Italian cantata, already considered a hybrid genre at the time.

Label: Mirare File Under: Classical/Secular Vocal music Catalogue No: MIR300 Barcode: 3760127223009 FULL PRICE Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack Carlos Mena [countertenor] Ghalmia Senouci [alto] Thomas Maeder [saxophones] Juan Munguía [bugle] David Tixier [piano] Olivier Magarotto, Salvatore Reitano [Hammond organs] Andi Pupato [percussions] Cyril Regamey, Francis Stoessel [drums] Jacques Beaud [bass, direction]

1/ Shall I Sue - JS Bach, Prélude to Cello Suite n° 2 BWV1008 Arr. Patrick Perrier & Jacques Beaud 2/ King Henry - traditional Corsican melody Arr. JB 3/ Never Come Back Again - Giovanni Legrenzi (1626-1690) Arr. J B & Salvatore Reitano 4/ A Prayer - Fauré Requiem 'Libera me' Op. 48 Arr. JB, SR, David Tixier 5/ When I am Laid in Earth - Purcell, Dido & Æneas Arr, JB 6/ 1080 Love - JS Bach, The Art of Fugue BWV1080 Arr. JB, SR 7/ Let Me Die Alone - Monteverdi, Lamento della Ninfa SV163 Arr. JB, SR 8/ White as Lilies - Schumann, Dichterliebe 'Ich will meine Seele tauchen' Arr. JB, DT 9/ Land Of Darkness - Porpora, Polifemo 'Alto Giove' Arr. JB, DT https://youtu.be/ItiL72imdsU [short teaser] https://youtu.be/U7lnpLNHnv8 [longer version]

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

MENDELSSOHN: Symphonies 4 & 5 WAGNER:Parsifal-Prelude to Act 1, Good Friday Music

NBC Symphony Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra Arturo Toscanini Toscanini is known as the greatest conductor of modern times, with 117 operas to his name - not just by Italian composers such as Verdi, Puccini or Giordano, but also by Wagner, Mussorgsky and Debussy. He furthermore conducted an eclectic range of 480 symphonies, which included 48 premieres. This compilation, to commemorate his 150th anniversary, reflects his distinctive blend of perfectionism and passion. recorded December 31, 1954 [tbc]

Label: Praga Digitals File Under: Classical/Orchestral Catalogue No: DSD350128 Barcode: 3149028086720 FULL Price Format: 1 SACD Packaging: cristal NBC Symphony Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra Arturo Toscanini

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

GLAZUNOV: Symphonies No. 4 & 5 The Seasons Op. 67 [excerpts]

Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra Yevgeny Mravinsky A tribute to Alexander Glazunov who turned post-Tchaikovsky Russian musicians into true professionals. He was a composer emeritus and helped raise the profile of classical symphonies and ballet music before and after the mighty Group of Five. Mravinsky insisted on performing pieces by this incredibly selfless pedagogue which slip into the category of Romanticism, although he preferred the 'banned' compositions of his students such as the 'obstreporous' young Stravinsky or the 'insufferably pretentious' Prokofiev.

1-4 Symphony No. 5 in B flat major Op. 55 Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad, live September 28 1968 5-7 Symphony No. 4 in E flat Op. 48 Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad, 2nd March 1948 8-14 The Seasons, ballet music, Op. 67 Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad, 28th September 1969, during a ballet festival

Label: Praga Digitals File Under: Classical/Orchestral Catalogue No: DSD350129 Barcode: 3149028086829 FULL Price Format: 1 SACD Packaging: cristal Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra Yevgeny Mravinsky

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Svjatoslav Richter: Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky

Richter's creative flair lifts hitherto neglected pieces by Tchaikovsky to the level of Mussorgsky's mighty 'Pictures' in recordings from Moscow to New York.

A Russian pianist known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire, Richter is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century and his approach resulted in some of the most distinctive and individual performances of the piano repertoire ever recorded. In later life he took to playing at very short notice in small, most often darkened halls, with only a small lamp lighting the score. Richter said that this setting helped the audience focus on the music being performed, rather than the performer's grimaces and gestures.

1-15 MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition, Prague 14 November 1956 16-19 TCHAIKOVSKY: Grand Piano Sonata Op. 37 in G, Moscow 6 December 1954 20-23 The Seasons Op. 37b pieces for piano [excerpts], New York 25 October 1960

Label: Praga Digitals File Under: Classical/Instrumental Catalogue No: DSD350076 Barcode: 3149028026023 FULL Price Format: 1 SACD Packaging: cristal Svjatoslav Richter [piano]

The Guardian ran this piece last year on what would have been his 100th birthday: https://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2015/mar/18/10-of-the-best-essential-richter-recordings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3azkJP_vkN8

RELEASE DATE 21ST OCTOBER 2016

Poèmes Irène Duval Pierre-Yves Hodique Everything in this programme is based on a a poem: Poulenc's homage to Garcia Lorca, the wonderful evocation of the beautiful Arethusa who turns into a fountain; Chausson's 'Poème' on Turgenev's 'Song of Triumphant Love'; the subtle charm of Fauré. As a bonus even Goethe's famous 'Erlkönig' is here.

Violinist Irène Duval was born in 1992 to a French father and Korean mother, and has been praised as an artist of great talent (Deutsche Freie Presse) and for the infinite delicacy (Le Populaire du centre) and astonishing virtuosity (Revelation Classiques, Prades) of her playing.Irène plays a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin of 1850, a copy of the Sancy Stradivarius, which is on loan to her by a private sponsor. This is her debut recording.

Label: Mirare File Under: Classical/Instrumental Catalogue No: MIR312 Barcode: 3760127223122 FULL PRICE Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack Irène Duval [violin] Pierre-Yves Hodique [piano]

1-3 Francis POULENC: Violin Sonata 4 Karol SZYMANOWSKI: La Fontaine d’ Arethuse [extract from Mythes] Op. 306 5 Ernest CHAUSSON: Poème 6-9 Gabriel Fauré: Violin Sonata Op. 13 10 Heinrich Wilhelm ERNST: Grand Caprice on ‘Le Roi des Aulnes’ by Franz Schubert Op. 26 Here's her playing Ernst's arrangement of Schubert's Erlkönig: http://www.ireneduval.com/media.php?numvideo=1