Eric Whitacre follows the Grammy-winning success of his debut Decca album, Light and Gold (2743209), with Water Night, a brand new album that features no less than seven World Premiere Recordings. Light and Gold was awarded 'Best Choral Performance' in February 2012 at the 54th Grammy Awards for Whitacre's first recording as both composer and conductor. This second disc for Decca juxtaposes music written as a young composer alongside brand new repertoire, both choral and orchestral, displaying the different influences and styles of Whitacre.

The Eric Whitacre Singers positively shimmer on these world premiere recordings of “Alleluia” and “Oculi Omnium”, two of the brand new works alongside one of the greats of his oeuvre, “Her Sacred Spirit Soars”. “Equus” is played by the full forces of the London Symphony Orchestra.

By way of contrast, “The River Cam” is a beautiful, pastoral piece that demonstrates Nevada-born Whitacre's absorption of the works of Elgar and Vaughan Williams during his time in the UK as a visiting Fellow at Cambridge University. It was written at the invitation of the distinguished cellist, Julian Lloyd Webber, to mark his 60th birthday in 2011, who also gives the performance here.

An unexpected gem of the album is a setting of Goodnight Moon, the multi-million selling American children's book by Margaret Wise Brown (Harper Collins). Written for soprano and strings, this tender piece is performed by Hila Plitmann, a Grammy-winning artist with great commitment to contemporary music.

The title track, “Water Night”, is one of Eric Whitacre's most performed works, heard on this album performed by the strings of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Julian Lloyd Webber (cello), Hila Plitman (soprano)
The Eric Whitacre Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Eric Whitacre

Composers

Whitacre, Eric (b.1970)

Works

Whitacre: Alleluia
Whitacre: Equus
Whitacre: Goodnight Moon
Whitacre: Her sacred spirit soars
Whitacre: Oculi Omnium
Whitacre: Sleep My Child
Whitacre: The River Cam
Whitacre: Water Night
Whitacre: When David Heard

Eric Whitacre (b. 1970), accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, is one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. His published works - of which “Sleep,” “Cloudburst,” “Lux Aurumque” and “Water Night” are among the most popular in the modern repertoire - have sold over a million copies worldwide. Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, Eric's cutting-edge musical, has won the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award and 10 Ovation Award nominations. In the US he is greeted with “rock star adulation” (New York Times) and his Virtual Choir projects have given him a worldwide following on YouTube, marking a new digital age for classical music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs). In 2010 he signed to Decca, and is published by Chester Music.

Light and Gold is a mixture of works from the Whitacre catalogue alongside three World Premiere recordings of new pieces, all of them freshly recorded for the occasion. It's the perfect gateway through which new listeners can experience the allure of Whitacre's music for the first time, while giving existing fans pristine new recordings of some of his most successful pieces, tailored by the composer himself. 'This album is the first time that I've ever conducted on record my interpretations of my own pieces,' Whitacre explains. 'The new pieces haven't been recorded before. Previous recordings of the older works have always been nice, but they've never been exactly what I was hoping they would be. That's the most interesting part for me; it's finally a chance to say it the way I'd like to say it.' The pieces on the disc are performed by the British chamber choir, Laudibus, alongside Whitacre's newly-created vocal group, the Eric Whitacre Singers.

Awards
Gramophone Magazine December 2010 Disc of the Month
Grammy Awards 54th Awards (2011) Best Choral Performance

Grace Davidson (soprano), Stephen Kennedy (baritone), Hila Plitmann (spoken Hebrew) & Christopher Glynn (piano)
The Eric Whitacre Singers, Laudibus, The King's Singers & Pavão Quartet, Eric Whitacre

Composers

Whitacre, Eric (b.1970)

Works

Whitacre: A Boy and a Girl
Whitacre: Five Hebrew Love Songs
Whitacre: Leonardo dreams of his flying machine
Whitacre: Lux aurumque
Whitacre: Nox Aurumque
Whitacre: Sleep
Whitacre: The Seal Lullaby
Whitacre: The Stolen Child
Whitacre: Three Songs of Faith
Whitacre: Water Night

This premiere recording of master percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie's new international ensemble offers a programme of fourteen improvised pieces that push the boundaries of spontaneous music-making. The group brings together musical traditions from four varied cultures (Scotland, Serbia, the United States and Denmark) but with a common goal: to create spontaneous music of great beauty and power which utilizes the basic formal elements of musical composition- melody, harmony, rhythm, and form.

Evelyn Glennie (percussion), Jon Hemmersam (guitar), Szilárd Mezei (viola) & Michael Jefry Stevens (piano)

Composers

Glennie, Evelyn (b.1965)

Works

Glennie: Black Box Thinking
Glennie: Breath Of Validation
Glennie: Crystal Splash
Glennie: Flutter Gaze
Glennie: Grotesque Fantasy
Glennie: Iron Stars
Glennie: Rusty Locks
Glennie: Scissor Shower
Glennie: Silver Shore
Glennie: Steel-Ribbed Dance
Glennie: The Calling
Glennie: The Wake
Glennie: Unseen Fires
Glennie: Walk of Intensity

The debut album from countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński - born in Warsaw, trained at New York's Juilliard School, and 2016 winner of the Metropolitan Opera's prestigious National Council Auditions - Anima sacra features what are believed to be world premiere recordings of eight Baroque arias, notably by composers of the Neapolitan school. Orliński is partnered by Il pomo d'oro conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

Awards
Presto Editor's Choice October 2018
The Times Records of the Year 2018
Opus Klassik Awards 2019 Winner - Solo Vocal Recital (Opera)

Pursuing a musical career was no easy matter for women in the 19th century, but Louise Farrenc's character and determination resulted in her becoming a respected part of the European scene, and the first ever female senior professor of piano at the Paris Conservatoire. Farrenc's Second Symphony owes something to Mozartian models, with imaginative writing for winds and hints of Beethoven. The Third Symphony is notable for a richness of harmonic writing which, in its colour and lyricism, is reminiscent of Mendelssohn and Schumann.

Solistes Européens Luxembourg, Christoph König

Composers

Farrenc, Jeanne Louise (1804-75)

Works

Farrenc: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 35
Farrenc: Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 36

Kathryn Stott (piano), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)

Composers

Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Franck, César Auguste (1822-90)
Massenet, Jules Emile Frederic (1842-1912)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)

Works

Fauré: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13
Franck, C: Cello Sonata in A major
Franck, C: Violin Sonata in A major
Massenet: Meditation (from Thaïs)
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise, Op. 83

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott create a unique classical music experience with their new Sony Classical recording Songs from the Arc of Life available September 18, 2015. This all-new recording also celebrates thirty years of friendship and collaboration in concerts and recordings for Ma and Stott. The album includes pieces they have frequently performed but never recorded, as well as a handful of discoveries. Songs from the Arc of Life begins and ends with two, much-beloved settings of the traditional “Ave Maria,” opening with the soaring, radiant Bach/Gounod arrangement and closing with Schubert's more serene, contemplative version. In between is a remarkable spectrum of music that includes such enduring favorites as Brahms' “Lullaby,” Dvořák's “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” Elgar's “Salut d'amour,” Gade's “Jalousie” and Saint-Saëns' “The Swan,” as well as richly evocative works by Debussy, Delius, Fauré, Gershwin, Grieg, Kriesler, Messaien, Schumann, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. Ma and Stott also include a haunting piece by the contemporary composer Giovanni Sollima, a friend and colleague of both artists.

Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)

Works

Brahms: Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4 (Lullaby)
Debussy: Beau Soir
Delius: Romance for cello & piano
Dvořák: Songs My Mother Taught Me, Op. 55 No. 4
Elgar: Salut d'amour, Op. 12
Fauré: Après un rêve, Op. 7 No. 1
Fauré: Papillon, Op. 77
Gade, J: Tango Jalousie
Gershwin: Prelude No. 1
Gounod: Ave Maria
Grieg: Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34
Kreisler: La Gitana
Saint-Saëns: Le Cygne (from Le carnaval des animaux)
Schubert: Ave Maria, D839
Sibelius: Var det en dröm? Op. 37 No. 4 (J.J. Wecksell)
Sollima: Il bell'Antonio, Tema III
Tchaikovsky: Valse sentimentale, Op. 51 No. 6

Composers

Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Severac, Deodat de (1872-1921)
Vierne, Louis (1870-1937)

Works

Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11
Fauré: Messe basse
Fauré: Requiem, Op. 48
Severac: Tantum ergo
Vierne, L: Pièces de fantaisie, 1st suite, Op. 51
Vierne, L: Pièces de fantaisie, 1st suite, Op. 51: No. 2, Andantino

Marc Grauwels (flute/piccolo), with Joris Van den Hauwe (oboe)
Orchèstre symphonique de la Radio et Télévision Belge, André Vandernoot

Composers

Damaré, Eugene (1840-1919)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Moscheles, Ignaz (1794-1870)
Mouquet, Jules (1867-1946)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)
Saint-Saëns, Charles Camille (1835-1921)

Works

Damaré: Le merle blanc, Op. 161
Donizetti: Concertino in D major
Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16
Fauré: Fantaisie for flute & orchestra (or flute & piano), Op. 79
Fauré: Morceau de concours
Fauré: Sicilienne, Op. 78
Moscheles: Concertante in F major for flute, oboe & orchestra
Mouquet: La Flûte de Pan, Op. 15, for flute & orchestra: II. Pan et les Oiseaux
Mouquet: La Flûte de Pan, Op. 15, for flute & piano
Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera
Saint-Saëns: Tarantelle in A minor for flute, clarinet & piano/orchestra Op. 6

The piano brothers Arthur and Lucas Jussen undoubtedly no longer need an introduction. Since they put themselves in the spotlight, everything they do has turned into gold. It earned them the Edison Audience Award in 2011. Rightly so.
After CDs with works by Beethoven and Schubert, they now again prove their qualities with a wonderful CD full of French repertoire by Fauré (the beautiful 'Dolly'), Poulenc and Ravel, among others.

Composers

Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)
Poulenc, Francis (1899-1963)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)

Works

Gabriel Fauré: Dolly Suite, Op.56
Francis Poulenc: Mélancolie
Maurice Ravel: Jeux D'Eau

Thomas Allen (baritone), Sylvia McNair (soprano), John Birch (organ), William Bennett (flute)
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus, Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner

Composers

Fauré, Gabriel Urbain (1845-1924)

Works

Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11
Fauré: Fantaisie for flute & orchestra (or flute & piano), Op. 79
Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50
Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80
Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80 (suite)
Fauré: Requiem, Op. 48

Conductors

Guest, George
Marriner, Sir Neville

Groups & Artists

Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Allen, Thomas
Bennett, William
Choir of St John's College Cambridge
McNair, Sylvia
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

It's just that simple. He does not sing just because he has a beautiful, expressive voice. He does not sing just because it brings him success and house-rocking acclaim. Fernando Varela sings because that is who he is. He sings what he loves, whether it is a pop standard, an original song he had a hand in writing, or Puccini's noblest tenor aria “Nessun dorma.” The underlying truth - who he is and what he does, in everything he dreams and achieves - is what brings Fernando Varela to the center of a worldwide stage with the release of Vivere.

The high wire act of this powerhouse voice can wow all kinds of audiences, from the opera house to a small club. If most tenors live in one sphere and like to dabble in another, Fernando Varela wants to embrace them all and reinvent the possibilities.

He puts that dream on the line with Vivere.

On his new album, the classically trained tenor bridges the gap between immortal Puccini arias such as “Nessun Dorma” and catchy pop hits like Christina Perri's “A Thousand Years” (from the Twilight Saga).

Works
Patrick Hamilton, Mark Masri, Adam Crossley: Vivere
Fernando Varela, Martin Fliegenschmidt, Christian Neander: Gloria
Christina Perri, David Hodges: A Thousand Years
Stephen Aiello: I Believe In You
Fernando Varela, Henrik Roger, Martin Craft: Shine
Steve Diamond, Dan Muckala, Clifton Murray: If We Fall
Fernando Varela, Martin Fliegenschmidt, Christian Neander: Ti amo per sempre
Eric Carmen: All By Myself
Patrick Hamilton: No Longer On My Own
Stephan Moccio, Mark Masri, Fernando Varela: You'll See My Face
Marco Marinangelli, Savan Kotecha, Chris Mann: Cuore
John Ewbank: Verità
Puccini: Nessun dorma (from Turandot)

This recording brings together two of today's finest British organist/composers and includes specially commissioned works. Jeremy Filsell's music is rooted in a long liturgical tradition and ranges from a poignant Epitaph to a Te Deum which recreates the spirit of William Walton's glorious piece for the 1953 Coronation.

David Briggs's Pange lingua portrays the wonders of the Holy Communion in music, and his dramatic and grandiose Messe pour Saint-Sulpice also has moments of quiet, emotional profundity. The Vasari Singers' Great British Anthems (8572504) has been described as “essential listening” (Gramophone).

Jeremy Filsell and David Briggs (organ)
Vasari Singers, Jeremy Backhouse

Composers

Briggs, David J (b.1962)
Filsell, Jeremy (b.1964)

Works

Briggs: Messe pour Saint-Sulpice
Briggs: Organ Improvisation on Tantum Ergo
Briggs: Pange lingua
Filsell: Epitaph (Here shadow lie)
Filsell: If God build not the house
Filsell: Jublilate (Windsor Service)
Filsell: Magnificat (Windsor Service)
Filsell: Nunc Dimittis (Windsor Service)
Filsell: Te Deum (Windsor Service)
Filsell: The Transfiguration
Filsell: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day

Rolf Lislevand and Concerto Stella Matutina first worked on a project in 2011, which would result in a prosperous collaboration in concert series and now, the release of their first CD together. The album is a mix of baroque and jazz as well as improvised passages with music arranged for the 12 people orchestra by Andrea Falconieri, Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and Vincenzo Albrici. Bringing the elements of baroque and jazz together and developing a new kind of music by optimizing the instruments of Early Music and giving each instrument section its moment on the recording was the goal of this release. With this intimate and wel lmixed recording, the musicians did not aim to create crossover music or fit into any other genre but rather generate a sound that is a symbiosis of different musical elements.

Concerto Stella Matutina, Rolf Lislevand

Awards
Opus Klassik Awards 2019 Winner - Classical Without Borders

Composers

Foscarini, Giovanni Paolo (1600-47)
Frescobaldi, Girolamo (1583-1643)
Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759)
Vejvanovsky, Pavel Josef (1640-93)
Works

Foscarini: Pass'e mezzo e passacalli
Foscarini: Tastegiata detta la Feretti
Frescobaldi: Aria di Passacaglia
Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine (from Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV74)
Vejvanovsky: Intrada

The new album by two-time ECHO-Award winner Gábor Boldoczki presents virtuosic, contemporary trumpet concertos by composers from Armenia (Arutiunian, Khachaturian, Penderecki [Polish by birth but with Armenian roots]) and Turkey (Fazil Say). The album includes 2 World Premiere Recordings: Say's Trumpet Concerto, Op 31 - written for and dedicated to Boldoczki in 2010 and Penderecki's Concertino per tromba e orchestra - written for and dedicated to Boldoczki in 2015, being his first independent piece for this instrument. At Boldoczki's invitation, the Hungarian composer Péter Erdélyi has arranged Khachaturian's piano miniature 'A little song' for trumpet and orchestra.

Awards
ECHO Klassik Awards 2017 Winner
International Classical Music Awards 2017 Winner - Contemporary

Gabir Boldoczki (trumpet)
Sinfonietta Cracovia, Jurek Dybal