Nov 21, 2021 | CD reviews
Complete Symphonies and Dances National Symphony Orchestra of IrelandQueensland Symphony OrchestraAndrew Penny conductor Naxos: 8.506041 (6 discs) In the early nineties record companies began to invest in recordings of music by Sir Malcolm Arnold. No fewer than three...
Nov 19, 2021 | CD reviews
Brodsky String QuartetAnd various other performers JOHN PURSER JWP040 John Purser’s latest personal release presents eight of his compositions dating from 1966 to 2013, though not in chronological order on the CD. Listed below are the 18 performers (including the four...
Nov 17, 2021 | CD reviews
Retrospect OperaSimon Butteriss baritoneStephen Higgins piano RETROSPECT OPERA RO0008 Everyone who has attended the Last Night of the Proms, or watched it on television, will be familiar with ‘that lovely cello tune’ from Sir Henry Wood’s Fantasia on...
Oct 22, 2021 | CD reviews
RTÉ Chamber Choir and Sinfonietta Kenneth Alwyn conductor NAXOS 8.555223 I’ve always had a soft spot for Luna Park, largely because – although I have of course I’ve never seen it – the scenario is quite daft. You can think of it as an English...
Oct 21, 2021 | CD reviews
Peter Fisher violinMargaret Fingerhut piano SOMM CD0640 Arnold’s first wife Sheila was a violinist and so it is no surprise to find that his violin writing seems tailor-made for the instrument. The Violin Sonata No 1 dates from 1947 and yet even here, in a work from...
Oct 21, 2021 | CD reviews
Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital ChelseaWilliam Vann directorJoshua Ryan organ ALBION RECORDS ALBCD050 The booklet accompanying this CD begins with an in-depth history of The Oxford Book of Carols. Percy Dearmer, Martin Shaw and most importantly Ralph Vaughan...
