Comment:To say these song by Liszt are unknown is something of an understatement - they are simply not the style of music we associate with Liszt. There are some beautifuly songs here, sung extremely well by Benjamin Brecher. English translations included.
Reviews:"Brecher's experience in the bel canto repertory shows in the clean lines and clear diction…" Gramophone, March 2017.
Comment:Khojaly 613 is dedicated to the 613 people massacred in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly in February 1992. Premiered in 2016 this is the third version of Pierre Thilloy's work, the others being for chamber and instrumental groups.
Comment:Pierre De Manchicourt (c.1510-1564) grew up in Bethune, a French speaking part of Flanders. He sang in the cathedral in Arras, directed the choir in Tournai and worked for Charles V and Philip II. These are World Premiere recordings - discover!
Comment:An exciting sound adventure bookending Messiaen's wartime masterpiece, Quartet for the End of Time, with two contemporary works, both using electronics. Brilliant playing and wonderful SACD Surround Sound!
Comment:The Four Symphonies on this disc are inspired by an event, work of literature or, as in Symphony No. 9, Celestial Symphony", that of a score for a film on the life of Christ made in 1906 by Alice Guy. Great playing by the London Philharmonic.
Reviews:"The cinematic nature of these symphonies receives lavish treatment by Angus and the London Philharmonic, who illuminate every detail of these skilfully crafted scores. Harbach's music could hardly be better served." Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone, April 2017. "If you enjoy contemporary works with tunes, and do not require to be drawn into complex musical arguments, then you should investigate Barbara Harbach's well-crafted music." David Barker, Musicweb International, May 2017.
Comment:As the tanks rolled by Prague's Rudolfinum in the summer of 1968 these wonderful concertos were being recorded by Zuzana Ruzickova and Vaclav Neumann, two great Czech musicians. No period instruments, just feelings for the music and style!
Comment:A centenary tribute to Peter Hristoskov (1917-2006). From these recordings (some live) he is a considerable player and not uninteresting composer. He sounds great in Chausson, Brahms and Schumann. Pancho Vladigerov's Burlesque is as lush as Korngold!
Comment:There are some unusual sounds on this disc, which come from a quarter-tone accordion. It does sound a touch electronic, and is well integrated into these beautifully crafted pieces by Bulgarian composer Simeon Pironkoff - a first album of his music.
Comment:Juliana Hall is a composer of songs, with those on this album being World Premiere recordings. She is very alive to texts, all three sets using carefully selected words by Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and Marianne Moore. Texts in liner notes.
Comment:Sila are - Slawek Pezda, tenor saxophone, Kuba Dworak, bass and Max Olszewski, drums. The Flash is a short, sharp, hard hitting album of highly original tracks. It's the place where Hard Bop meets Heavy Rock. There's great playing and vivid sound!
