New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-up - 17th March 2017
Following his acclaimed recording of Chopin's Études, pianist Jan Lisiecki turns to some of the composer's lesser known works for piano and orchestra. Pianist David Owen Norris explores songs by Sir Arthur Sullivan, with a fine line-up of young vocal talents, while opera highlights include the première recording of John Joubert's Jane Eyre and a new production of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera starring Piotr Beczala on DVD/Blu-ray. Collections celebrating the remarkable collaboration between composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and the 175th anniversary of the Wiener Philharmoniker are also included.
Chopin: Works for Piano & Orchestra
Jan Lisiecki (piano), NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Krzysztof Urbański
Jan Lisiecki’s release of both Chopin piano concertos in 2010 placed him on the map as a promising newcomer. Now, Jan has fulfilled his dream to record all remaining works by Chopin for piano and orchestra, recorded in the studio with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, conducted by the Polish conductor Krzysztof Urbański.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Masaaki Suzuki originally trained as an organist. Volume Two of his series is recorded on the organ of the chapel of the Kobe Shoin Women's University where the great majority of his cantata recordings with Bach Collegium Japan took place. Suzuki performs a symmetrical programme with the large-scale chorale partita, Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig BWV768 at its centre.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
This album from St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, augmented on four tracks by choristers from 49 cathedrals, celebrates 500 years of the best-loved cathedral music, from Tallis to Rutter, with Handel, Stanford, Mendelssohn, Parry and more.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Sullivan: Songs
Mary Bevan (soprano), Ben Johnson (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) & David Owen Norris (piano)
This recording gathers the finest young vocal talents in a programme of songs by Arthur Sullivan, many of them very rarely recorded. They are accompanied by pianist David Owen Norris. This album continues to celebrate the Shakespeare anniversary but also presents a wide variety of poets, drawing on texts from a vast range of sources.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Joubert: Jane Eyre
April Fredrick (Jane Eyre), David Stout (Rochester), Mark Milhofer (St John Rivers/Mr Mason), Gwion Thomas (Mr Brocklehurst), Clare McCaldin (Mrs. Fairfax/Hannah), English Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Woods
With this new release SOMM pays an affectionate tribute to John Joubert, who is 90 this month. It also adds a veritable gem to the operatic catalogue: the world première of his 2-Act Opera Jane Eyre, recorded live during a concert performance at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham on 25th October last year.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
This collection commemorates forty-three extraordinary years of collaboration and friendship between Steven Spielberg and John Williams, including seventy-five minutes of new arrangements recorded specifically for this release and a bonus DVD, The Adventure Continues, a 22-minute conversation between Spielberg and Williams, filmed in October 2016.
Available Format: 3 CDs + DVD Video
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (DVD)
Piotr Beczala (Riccardo), George Petean (Renato), Anja Harteros (Amelia), Okka von der Damerau (Ulrica), Sofia Fomina (Oscar), Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Zubin Mehta
Munich’s new production of Un ballo in maschera has received much critical acclaim. In director Johannes Erath’s conception, this historically-based tale of illicit love, conspiracy and betrayal unfolds in a surrealistic, shadowy setting transformed by lighting and projections.
Available Format: DVD Video
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (Blu-ray)
Piotr Beczala (Riccardo), George Petean (Renato), Anja Harteros (Amelia), Okka von der Damerau (Ulrica), Sofia Fomina (Oscar), Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Zubin Mehta
Munich’s new production of Un ballo in maschera has received much critical acclaim. In director Johannes Erath’s conception, this historically-based tale of illicit love, conspiracy and betrayal unfolds in a surrealistic, shadowy setting transformed by lighting and projections.
Available Format: Blu-ray
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
