New Releases

CHAN 9768

This is the CD premiere of both Nabokov's ballet-oratorio Ode: Méditation sur la majesté de Dieu and his ballet Union Pacific.

Both Méditation sur la majesté de Dieu and Union Pacific show the composer at his best, with music that is immediately appealing in its melodic invention and colourful orchestration.

Polyansky is master of this repertoire, and has had many successes on Chandos in Russian repertoire – especially choral – for which he is most well-known.

Union Pacific was never published. In 1999 the Residentie Orchestra The Hague commissioned a printed and corrected score to be taken from the autograph which is now in the archives of the University of Texas in Austin.

Nicolas Nabokov and his music

REVIEWS

‘The outstanding performances on this disc make a convincing case for these obscure yet powerful works. The mighty male voices of the Russian State Symphonic Cappella are memorably impressive and finely balanced by the lucent lyricism of the women’s.’
BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 9824 (Glazunov – King of the Jews, etc.)

‘This performance from the Russian State Symphonic Cappella, under its founder [Polyansky], is stunningly atmospheric.’
BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 9564 (Schnittke – Requiem, etc.)

Falstaff


CHAN 3079(2)

Comic Opera in three acts. Libretto by Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV

Andrew Shore (baritone) Sir John Falstaff
Barry Banks (tenor) Fenton
Stuart Kale (tenor) Dr Caius
Richard Roberts (tenor) Bardolph
Clive Bayley (bass) Pistol
Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Mrs Alice Ford
Ashley Holland (baritone) Ford Alice’s husband
Susan Gritton (soprano) Nannetta their daughter
Rebecca de Pont Davies (mezzo-soprano) Mistress Quickly
Alice Coote(mezzo-soprano) Mrs Meg Page
English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Paul Daniel

This is the premiere recording sung in English of Verdi's supreme comedy, Falstaff, in Chandos' popular 'Opera in English' series. The translation is by Amanda Holden

The recording boasts a strong cast, supported by the theatrically idiomatic English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, under the baton of Paul Daniel, one of the most sought-after and admired opera conductors.

Boito’s brilliant libretto, with its direct Shakespearean heritage, is ideally suited for performance in English, with all the wonderful nuances of the text – so closely tied in with the music – fully appreciable.

This two-disc set is available at mid-price and includes a full libretto.

Verdi and his comedy Falstaff

Paul Daniel's interpretation of highlights from Boris Godunov on the Opera in English label had lavish praise heaped upon it:

‘Paul Daniel's command of the score is compelling, full of both fire and refinement.’
Opera Magazine

‘…the superb conducting of Paul Daniel.’
Classic FM Magazine

‘…Paul Daniel's vivid presentation of the orchestral score… is as subtly coloured and powerfully dramatic as one could wish.’
The Sunday Telegraph

PREVIOUS VERDI TITLES on Opera in English:
La traviata – CHAN 3023(2)
Rigoletto – CHAN 3030(2)
Otello – CHAN 3068(2)
Il trovatore – CHAN 3036(2)
Ernani – CHAN 3052(2)
Aida – CHAN 3074(2)
Verdi Celebration – CHAN 3067

PREVIOUS RELEASES with Paul Daniel conducting:
Boris Godunov (highlights) – CHAN 3007

Sergey Mikhaylovich Lyapunov
(Russia, 1859–1924)

Symphony No. 1, Op. 12
Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 38*
Polonaise, Op. 16
Howard Shelley (piano)*
BBC Philharmonic
Vassily Sinaisky

Lyapunov's lyrical and colourful music has received little attention from record companies, making these rarely performed and recorded works valuable additions to the catalogue.

This is the only available recording of these works in state-of-the-art digital sound.

Howard Shelley has made a speciality of Russian and Eastern European repertoire and has had great success on Chandos with his recordings.

Vassily Sinaisky is one of the new stars of the BBC Philharmonic, whose recordings of Russian music on Chandos are universally well received.

Lyapunov and his music

REVIEWS

‘…played with brilliance and flair by Howard Shelley.’
Classic FM Magazine on CHAN 9727 (Balakirev)

‘The BBC Philharmonic and Sinaisky catch the music's flavour and drama brilliantly; the delicate scoring, with deft woodwind highlights, is etched sparkling imagination.’
The Daily Telegraph on CHAN 9727 (Balakirev)

‘Simply one of the most gorgeously magnificent Szymanowski offerings ever.’
Fanfare on CHAN 9478 (Szymanowski)

Howard Shelley
Dohnányi – Piano Concerto No. 1 etc. – CHAN 9649
Balakirev – Piano Concerto etc. – CHAN 9727
Hummel – Piano Concerto in A flat major etc. – CHAN 9558
Hummel – Piano Concertos in F major & A major – CHAN 9886
Hummel – Piano Concerto in E major etc. – CHAN 9687

Vassily Sinaisky
and the BBC Philharmonic
Lyadov – Orchestral Works – CHAN 9911
Schreker – Orchestral Works – CHAN 9797

CHAN 9984

This disc follows on from Richard Hickox’s triumph at the 2001 Gramophone Awards where his account of the original version of Vaughan Williams’s London Symphony (CHAN 9902) was made 'Record of the Year’. It has since become a bestseller. Recently it has been nominated for two Grammys, including the prestigious 'Classical album of the year' award.

The Six Choral Songs – to be Sung in Time of War and the Mass in G minor are both highly appropriate companion pieces for the apocalyptic Fourth Symphony – a relatively violent work which seems to anticipate World War II. Of course, the composer's conception of the work is personal and complicated, and explored in the sleeve notes by leading VW authority Michael Kennedy.

Richard Hickox is regarded as one of the leading Vaughan Williams conductors. Apart from his award-winning London Symphony, he has also made acclaimed accounts for Chandos of such works as the Fifth Symphony, A Cotswold Romance (CHAN 9646), The Pilgrim’s Progress (CHAN 9625(2)) and Sir John in Love (CHAN 9928(2)).

Notes about the music on this disc

REVIEWS

‘Hickox and the LSO respond with an unquenchable spirit, generous flexibility and tender affection that suit VW's admirably ambitious inspiration to a T, and Chandos' sound is big and bold to match. Quite simply, an essential purchase for anyone remotely interested in British music.’
Gramophone on CHAN 9902 (A London Symphony, etc.)

‘Hickox’s interpretation and the LSO's playing are outstanding.’
The Sunday Telegraph on CHAN 9902 (A London Symphony, etc.)

‘…one of the best Fifths I have heard.’
Classic FM Magazine on CHAN 9666 (Symphony No. 5, etc.)

Alexander Zemlinsky
(Austria, 1871–1942)

CHAMBER MUSIC FOR STRINGS
String Quartet No. 1, Op. 4
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 15
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 13
String Quartet No. 4 (Suite), Op. 25
Two Movemnets for String Quartet
"Maiblumen blühten überall"
for Soprano and String Sextet

CHAN 9772(2)

Chandos explores the chamber music for strings by the neglected, late-romantic composer, Zemlinsky.

The String Quartets are highly attractive works. The First is reminiscent of Brahms, though the later ones are very much in the composer's own style, with some demanding pages for the players, especially in the Fourth.

This is the only available recording of ‘Maiblumen blühten überall’ and the Two Movements for String Quartet, making this set an especially important addition to the catalogue.

The internationally famous Schoenberg Quartet has already released a major and acclaimed set of Schoenberg's chamber music on Chandos.

The works on this disc span nearly forty years of Zemlinsky's output

The Schoenberg Quartet's recent release of Schoenberg's complete works for strings (CHAN 9939(5)) was received with great enthusiasm:

‘…played with such obvious dedication – and, what's more unusual, with such apparent ease.’
The Independent

‘…this is music they [the Schoenberg Quartet] care about with a passion, and their performances convey that belief in ample measure. However well you think you know this fascinating and often inspiring music, do acquire this set.’
Gramophone

A Birthday Hansel

Annette Betanski (soprano)
Susan Miron (harp)

with
Jacques Zoon (flute)
James Sommerville (horn)
Catherine French (violin)
Burton Fine (viola)
Martha Babcock (cello)

This CD comprises an eclectic collection of songs for voice, harp and additional solo instruments and includes music by Benjamin Britten, Edmund Rubbra, Manuel de Falla, Camille Saint-Saëns, Gaetano Donizetti, Maurice Ravel, Marcel Tournier, Carl Reissiger and Louis Spohr

The repertoire, which spans the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, has all been chosen on the basis of its melodic appeal.

Enthusiasts of rare repertoire will be interested in items by Caplet (something of a cult composer), Rubbra and Reissiger, their haunting writing contrasting with the more simple charm of the numbers by Donizetti and Saint-Saëns. Ravel's Five Popular Greek Songs and de Falla's Psyche are other works of great appeal here.

Notes about the music on this disc

Ernest Bloch
(Switzerland, 1880–1959)

Visions and Propehcies

Margaret Fingerhut (piano)

There are few recordings of Bloch's piano music available in the current catalogue, and this new one will be of interest to all those who enjoy unusual piano repertoire.

Margaret Fingerhut has performed in Europe, the US, Scandinavia, Israel, Turkey, India and Africa and has played with many of the UK's top orchestras. A regular BBC Radio recitalist, she also appears on television. She has had a long and distinguished career with Chandos, specialising in rare repertoire, and always receiving excellent reviews. A number of her discs have been selected as Gramophone magazine's Critic's Choice and two of her Bax recordings were nominated for Gramophone Awards.

Bloch and his piano music

Margaret Fingerhut is a highly respected soloist:

‘…this is a performance of great resource, variety of nuance and authority which I cannot imagine being bettered…’
Gramophone on CHAN 8765 (Dukas)

‘Margaret Fingerhut… plays with fire and intelligence.’
American Record Guide on CHAN 9818 (Leighton)

‘No praise can be too great for the palpable dedication and sensitivity of these performances…’
Gramophone on CHAN 9602 (Bax – chamber works)

‘Margaret Fingerhut is the deftest and most sympathetic of soloists…’
Gramophone on CHAN 9715 (Bax – Concertante for Piano etc.)

Hector Berlioz
(France, 1803–1869)

Rob Roy (Intrata di Rob-Roy Macgregor)
King Lear, Op. 4
Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9
Overture to ‘Béatrice et Bénédict’
Le Corsaire, Op. 21

Scottish National Orchestra
Sir Alexander Gibson

There are surprisingly few digital recordings of Berlioz’s overtures available, and many will welcome these much admired readings back to the catalogue.

Gibson includes two of Berlioz’s least-known overtures, Rob Roy and King Lear, both colourful and distinctive works which effectively contrast with the famous Le Carnaval romain and dashing Le Corsaire.

The recordings were made during Gibson's most creative and productive period with the Scottish National Orchestra, whose playing is here matched by a particularly rich and resonant Chandos sound.

Berlioz's Overtures

REVIEWS

‘This is music-making with plenty of character, unflagging gusto, and a forthright sensibility…’
Fanfare

‘Gibson and the SNO at their most dashingly committed.’
The Penguin Complete Guide

SELECTED PREVIOUS RELEASES from the Scottish National Orchestra under Sir Alexander Gibson
Elgar – overtures – CHAN 8309
Scottish overtures – CHAN 8379

Aram Il’yich Khachaturian
(Armenia, 1903–1978)

Violin Concerto in D minor (1940)
Lydia Mordkovitch (violin)
Scottish National Orchestra
Neeme Järvi

Cello Concerto
Raphael Wallfisch (cello)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Bryden Thomson

This disc couples two of Khachaturian's best concertos, vibrantly colourful and tuneful works, in performances which have few digital rivals.

Each concerto met with superb critical acclaim on its initial release – Lydia Mordkovitch (who won a Gramophone Award for her recording on Chandos of Shostakovich Violin Concertos (CHAN 8820)) is one of the most famous violinists today, renowned for her passionate Russian energy.

Raphael Wallfisch is equally admired, as his impressive discography and tour schedules testify.

About Khachaturian and his music

Both soloists received high praise for these performances:

‘Lydia Mordkovich… plays with real abandon and fire.’
The Penguin Complete Guide

‘Raphael Wallfisch plays superbly, achieving a near-miraculous pizzicato espressivo in the opening and closing pages of the first movement… Wallfisch gives it his all – eloquence, range of colour, fine control of the long phrase. It makes very enjoyable listening.’
Gramophone

‘This disc is an absolute winner… Wallfisch and Thomson turn in a reading of fiery intensity… I cannot overemphasize the importance of this issue. The sound is spectacular, the music well worth attention, and the performances are all that can be asked.’
Fanfare

SELECTED PREVIOUS RELEASES from Raphael Wallfisch
Finzi/Leighton – cello concertos – CHAN 9949
Dvorák/Dohnányi – cello concertos – CHAN 8662

SELECTED PREVIOUS RELEASES from Lydia Mordkovitch
Britten/Veale – violin concertos – CHAN 9910
Prokofiev – violin concertos – CHAN 8709