Release Spotlight
Trumpet virtuoso Matilda Lloyd is a true master of her instrument.
Matilda's second album with Chandos, featuring Weinberg's Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Lee Reynolds, is out on November 8th.
'Resonance is a multi-faceted word with many different meanings, all of which are explored in this album of music for trumpet and orchestra.'
BBC Music Magazine
Fantastic news! Three Chandos albums have been selected for BBC Music Magazine's Disc of the Month.
Choral & Song Disc of the Month
Welcome Joy: A Celebration of Women's Voices receives a brilliant five star review. *****
"The 12 superb sopranos and altos of the Corvus Consort sing the complex, close-knit textures of these works with delicacy and pinpoint accuracy. Louise Thomson’s immaculate, virtuosic harp playing conjures scenes that take us from scented gardens to sun-baked landscapes and haunted moonlit forests. The vocal/instrumental balance is well-nigh perfect in Chandos’s clear, nuanced recording."
Chamber Disc of the Month
Schumann: Works for Oboe and Piano obtains ***** from Rebecca Franks.
"Played with such warmth and eloquence, the arrangements chosen here often feel as if they were tailor-made for the instrument, while the sensitive programming paints a loving portrait of the Schumann household."
Orchestral Disc of the Month
Adrian Sutton's Violin Concerto secures this month's spot as Orchestral Choice at BBC Music Magazine. *****
"A colourful selection of imaginative new works"
Download Service has closed
Chandos Records sincerely thanks our loyal digital download customers for their support over the last 20 years. Due to the continuous decline in the popularity of digital downloads, ‘The Classical Shop’ will be closed for all digital download services on 29th November.
Our website is now dedicated to exclusive news, special offers and information about Chandos label and artists:CD and SACD sales will continue as usual. We are excited for the next chapter!
RIP Benjamin Luxon
One of Britain’s finest international singers, Benjamin Luxon, died on the 25th July aged 87. Born in Redruth, Cornwall, Luxon began his career as a member of the English Opera Group, the company formed by Benjamin Britten for the performance of his own and other contemporary operas. Luxon became one of Britten’s key singers and the composer wrote the role of “Owen Wingrave” specifically for Luxon’s voice. Luxon became an important singer internationally, performing at the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Tanglewood, the Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Wiener Staatsoper, and the Metropolitan Opera. He went on to work with some of the most important conductors and orchestras and made over 100 recordings, including many for Chandos. Luxon was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1986 for his service to music.
RIP Sir Andrew Davis
We are saddened by the news that Sir Andrew Davis, the renowned British conductor, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 20, 2024, surrounded by family after a battle with leukaemia. Sir Andrew recorded exclusively for Chandos Records from his first album Elgar’s Crown of India in 2009, making almost 50 recordings and gathering countless accolades and awards in the process. We will miss a wonderful musician who imparted so much to all who worked with him in such a generous, self-deprecating and humble way. RIP Andrew.
Sir Andrew Davis's obituary
https://www.chandos.net/list/
Sinfonia of London win big at BBC Music Magazine Awards 2024
John Wilson and Sinfonia of London’s première recording of the complete original score of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! took home the Opera Award, while the same forces also scooped their fourth Orchestral Award with their album of works for strings by Vaughan Williams, Howells, Delius and Elgar. Described by the magazine’s reviewer as ‘a stunning benchmark for the digital generation’, this recording also went on to win the coveted Recording of the Year.
To say thank for all the BBCMM24 at checkout!
Pictured above from left, Francis Williams, Jonathan Allen, Rosenna East and Ralph Couzens.
This Thursday!
Good luck to Sinfonia of London and John Wilson ahead of this week's award ceremony! 'Music for Strings' and 'Oklahoma!' have been nominated in the Orchestral and Opera categories respectively.
Margaret Fingerhut appointed MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours
To celebrate pianist Margaret Fingerhut being recognised for services to music and charitable fundraising why not explore her brilliant back-catalogue.
Brian Pidgeon GRAMMY nominated for Producer of the Year!
Sinfonia of London's latest album 'Record of the Week' on Record Review!
The new release from Sinfonia of London and John Wilson, Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, was featured on BBC Radio 3's much-loved Saturday morning Record Review show (4/11). We're delighted to report that the new recording was picked as RECORD OF THE WEEK. The show remains available all month on-demand so don't worry if you missed it live, listen here!
This week we will be celebrating the upcoming launch of Oklahoma! from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London at The Savile Cub in Mayfair. This landmark album will be the first full recording of the original Rodgers & Hammerstein score, to commemorate this very special release we have produced a series of limited edition numbered vinlys available to pre-order now! Don't miss this historic album, out on Friday 15th September!
Gramophone Awards Shortlist 2023
We are delighted to have FOUR albums shortlisted for the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2023! See the shortlist here, including albums from Kaleidscope Chamber Collective, Arcadia Quartet, and Sinfonia of London.
Gramophone Editor's Choice: October
'Parry's compelling response to Shelley's lyrical drama is given a superb performance of real conviction, conduction by William Vann and with a line-up of starry soloists'
'Orchestra of the Year' nomination!
Our friends and collaborators BBC Philharmonic have been nominated for Orchestra of the Year at the Gramophone Awards 2023!
Tasmin Little
During a flourishing career as a soloist which has taken her to every continent in the world, Tasmin Little has performed with many of the world’s great orchestras, including among others the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Royal Philharmonic and London Symphony, and has worked with conductors including Masur, Ashkenazy, Järvi, Slatkin, Rostropovich, Mackerras, Rozhdestvensky and Menuhin. In 2006 she made her fourteenth appearance at the BBC Proms. She continues to champion seldom-performed repertoire, including Ligeti’s challenging Violin Concerto which brought her unanimous critical acclaim during her 2003 tour to Berlin, Salzburg, New York and Philadelphia with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle.
25% discount on selected titles!
“…These are first-rate performances to be enjoyed.”
“…These are first-rate performances to be enjoyed.”
“…Together, oboist and pianist present a highly satisfying disc with a delectable sensitivity. Between them Daniel and Drake perform with finesse as they make every phrase work to show off the Schumanns’ lyricism… The presentation of the program is flawless and appealing.”
“…Together, oboist and pianist present a highly satisfying disc with a delectable sensitivity. Between them Daniel and Drake perform with finesse as they make every phrase work to show off the Schumanns’ lyricism… The presentation of the program is flawless and appealing.”
Déjà Review: this review was first published in November 2002 and the recording is still available.
“… Throughout this diverse disc of music, the integrity of MacMillan’s inspiration shines through… the performances are as fine as one can imagine, captured in typically exciting, radiant and sonically wide-ranging Chandos sound. MacMillan fans will not wish to be without it, but I would urge anyone with an enquiring musical mind to give it a go. MacMillan’s music continues to offer much to discover.”
Déjà Review: this review was first published in November 2002 and the recording is still available.
“… Throughout this diverse disc of music, the integrity of MacMillan’s inspiration shines through… the performances are as fine as one can imagine, captured in typically exciting, radiant and sonically wide-ranging Chandos sound. MacMillan fans will not wish to be without it, but I would urge anyone with an enquiring musical mind to give it a go. MacMillan’s music continues to offer much to discover.”
“…Very high-quality interpretation, loving and careful recording technology, the production only gives hope that at least one more CD with the Walker-Baillieu duo will follow.”
“…Very high-quality interpretation, loving and careful recording technology, the production only gives hope that at least one more CD with the Walker-Baillieu duo will follow.”
“… his [Block] music teems with lyricism and is well worth this restoration not least because none of the music has been recorded before… All the works are beautifully performed and the recording has been splendidly balanced…”
“… his [Block] music teems with lyricism and is well worth this restoration not least because none of the music has been recorded before… All the works are beautifully performed and the recording has been splendidly balanced…”
“…the BBC Philharmonic under Ben Gernon marks the centenary of the birth of Gerard Schurmann with some of his innovative and dramatic scores –definitely modern in timbre but always accessible. The performances are top-notch…”
“…the BBC Philharmonic under Ben Gernon marks the centenary of the birth of Gerard Schurmann with some of his innovative and dramatic scores –definitely modern in timbre but always accessible. The performances are top-notch…”
“…The Violin Concerto is of sweet lyricism and spruce rhythms … Fenella Humphreys plays with warmth, to bring out the score’s rapture, and unstinting music-serving rapture …”
“…The Violin Concerto is of sweet lyricism and spruce rhythms … Fenella Humphreys plays with warmth, to bring out the score’s rapture, and unstinting music-serving rapture …”