Signum
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Graham Lack's Conceit is far and away the finest piece here musically, setting a Mervyn Peake poem with genuine harmonic imagination. —
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The ensemble is unbeatable. The six King's Singers blend superbly, yet each becomes distinctive and expressive in their prominent moments...Charivari Agréable in turn play as if singing, breathing... —
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A pupil of Nathan Milstein, Hideko Udagawa retains the Master's nobility and warmth throughout a programme of Rachmaninov transcriptions centred on Mikhailovsky's skilful adaptation of the Cello... —
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Parapraxis
Sigyn Birkeland (bassoon)
Ensemble 96 & Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra, Ingo Ernst Reihl
Sigyn Birkeland has put together an intriguing programme of modern bassoon pieces. Stephen Frost's "Parapraxis" blends Latin and English lyrics, sung by a restrained choir as the bassoon probes... —
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The Complete Songs of Francis Poulenc Volume 2
with Malcolm Martineau (piano), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Felicity Lott (soprano), Robert Murray (tenor), Lorna Anderson (soprano), Lisa Milne (soprano), Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone)
These singers have come up with some of the most absorbing recorded experiences of a composer who, for all his unmistakable voice, had an extraordinarily broad range of expression and poetic... —
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Songs of Cricket
with Chris Hatt and Alexander L’Estrange (pianos), Guest Artists: Richard Stilgoe, Eliza Lumley, Rory Bremner & Tim Rice
Cantabile – The London Quartet
Brilliant moments – a droll psalm-chant recitation of the "rules" and an ingenious Pärt-style setting of a pleasingly circular explanation of the game ("Cricket Tea Towel") – show just what... —
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Hakim plays Hakim 3
Organ of St Martin's Church, Dudelange
Naji Hakim (Stahlhuth-Jann Organ of St Martin's Church, Dudelange)
Organ music doesn’t get more contemporary than these invigorating and provocative pieces by the Lebanese-born Naji Hakim. Also, few in his field are moer sought after as composer, performer... —
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Thomas Ades: In Seven Days
Nicolas Hodges (piano), Tal Rosner & Sophie Clements (visuals) & Thomas Adès & Rolf Hind (pianos)
It is hard to imagine a closer collaboration...There are moments of calm, but much of this music captures an intense beauty through finely wrought ideas...As well as making for a compelling... —
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The Ancient Question: a voyage through Jewish Songs
Hila Plitmann (soprano), Julian Bliss (clarinet), Christopher Glynn (piano), Thomas Bowes (violin) & Andres Kaljuste (viola)
Plitmann's selection is carefully chosen for maximum variety of expression and instrumentation. All the featured composers write in a highly accessible style retaining a strong adherence to... —
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Vaughan-Williams: The Lark Ascending & Violin Concerto
Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin)
Orchestra of the Swan, David Curtis
By today's turbo-charged standards the firepower of Waley-Cohen's playing is not huge, and the range of light and shade a little contained; but her sense of line and capacity to make things... —
