RICHARD BLACKFORD: Songs of Nadia Anjuman

RICHARD BLACKFORD: Songs of Nadia Anjuman

Britten SinfoniaElizabeth Watts soprano NIMBUS ALLIANCE   NI 6444 This is an extraordinary set of songs by Richard Blackford to poems by Nadia Anjuman (1980-2005). Originally written in Dari, they have been most skilfully translated into English, and the texts...
RAVEL, BERKELEY & POUNDS

RAVEL, BERKELEY & POUNDS

Sinfonia of LondonJohn Wilson conductor CHANDOS CHSA 5324 An odd sort of programme? Well, no. The link is that Berkeley received informal lessons from Ravel and Pounds from Berkeley, so the subtitle of the notes is ‘mentors and pupils’, and the pupils manifestly...
CHRISTOPHER BROWN: 24 Preludes and Fugues

CHRISTOPHER BROWN: 24 Preludes and Fugues

Nathan Williamson piano Lyrita SRCD.2431 (3 CDs) It is a brave composer who chooses to write a set of preludes and fugues in all the major and minor keys as, consciously, or subconsciously, instant comparison with the sets by JS Bach and Shostakovich will occur. Just...
IVOR GURNEY: Piano Sonatas

IVOR GURNEY: Piano Sonatas

Piano Sonatas nos. 1 and 3 – Piano Sonata no. 2 (II Adagio) – Five Preludes – Autumn George Rowley piano NAXOS 8.574479 Gurney’s piano music has been slow to emerge on CD. Alan Gravill’s 1990 disc for Gamut (his only commercial issue before his untimely death)...
DREAMS DESIRES DESOLATION: English Song

DREAMS DESIRES DESOLATION: English Song

Trevor Alexander baritone Peter Crockford piano Divine art ddx 21114 Let us start with the positives. This is a generous recital of 21 songs composed by English composers, largely in the first half of the 20th century, and includes some outstanding examples like...
RONALD STEVENSON and Friends

RONALD STEVENSON and Friends

Lesley-Jane Rogers sopranoJohn Turner recorder Prima Facie PFCD202 Lightly scored for mainly solos and duets, this disc is perfect for a quiet evening in front of a log fire when peace prevails and the listening required is not too demanding. Ronald Stevenson’s music...