Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Naxos is marking the centenary of the death of Camille Saint-Saëns with this 3-disc boxed set of his symphonies. Previously released as individual albums, the cycle also includes a sequence of atmospheric and dramatic symphonic poems, including Phaéton and the ever-popular Danse macabre. Each release was critically admired, with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marc Soustrot, a noted French music specialist, sustaining their authoritative interpretations throughout. Vol. 1 (8.573138) received an ICMA nomination; Pizzicato noted the ‘electrifying energy [and] excellent sound’ of Vol. 2 (8.573139); and Vol. 3 (8.573140), an AllMusic.com Editor’s Choice, was also cited by MusicWeb International as ‘a fine disc, with excellent orchestral playing throughout, guided by sure-footed stylistic and structural direction from Soustrot.’ I need say no more. Naxos 8.503301 [3 Discs] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) Complete Symphonies Malmö Symphony Orchestra Marc Soustrot

This release will be of great interest to collectors since there are no competing audiovisual recordings of Gounod’s opera Mireille, and our recording has the additional edge of being available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. The work itself is unusual for its time. Gounod went against the grain of the prevailing taste for glamour and spectacle, spotlighting instead the lives of modest country people and their idyllic world. This performance is conducted by the eminent Marc Minkowski, who came to fame with his pioneering Baroque performances and recordings, but has since widened his repertoire to include operas of all periods. ‘Everything feels true to the opera’s pastoral spirit’ was how Gramophone judged this production, which marked the opera’s first appearance at the .

Naxos 2.110683-84 [DVD] NBD0126V [Blu-ray] Charles GOUNOD (1818–1893) Mireille Libretto by Michel Carré after the poem Mirèio by Frédéric Mistral Inva Mula, Soprano Charles Castronovo, Tenor Choeur et Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris Marc Minkowski, Conductor Nicolas Joel, Stage Director Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Here’s a riveting film that presents the drama, desire and turmoil of its protagonist’s inner life through dance, evocative cinematography and music. Written on Water is a 75-minute dance feature film about an artist whose happy and comfortable married life is upended when she unexpectedly falls in love with someone else. The production features the talents of Aurélie Dupont, former principal dancer and now director of the , Ballet Zurich principal dancer Alexander Jones, and choreographer, dancer, writer and director Pontus Lidberg, recipient of a 2019 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship. Lidberg has firmly established himself as a creative and visionary artist who merges dance and film, and whose productions have been hailed around the world. His film The Rain, for example, received numerous awards with The New York Times Naxos 2.110688 [DVD] noting that ‘memorably, The Rain illustrates what filmed dance can say that staged NBD0128V [Blu-ray] dance cannot.’ Written on Water A Dance Film by Pontus Lidberg Choreography and Direction by Pontus Lidberg Original Music by Stefan Levin Aurélie Dupont, Alexander Jones, Pontus Lidberg, Stina Ekblad and Leslie Caron, Principal Dancers Magnus Svensson, Piano

Naxos 8.574288 The Tippett Quartet is one of the world’s leading exponents of contemporary Krzysztof PENDERECKI chamber music, witness their previous acclaimed Naxos recordings of works by (1933–2020) Panufnik, Lutosławski and Gorecki. Their latest album has at its core Krzysztof Complete Music for String Penderecki’s string quartets that were written over a period of 56 years, and I Quartet have no doubt it will attract similar admiration. Penderecki died last year, and this String Trio recording will serve both as a tribute to the composer and an overview of his Tippett Quartet chamber works for strings. Commenting on the ensemble’s recording of Tippett’s Third and Fifth String Quartets (8.570497), Fanfare urged its readers to ‘Just buy it.’ I expect that recommendation to be widely repeated for this outstanding album. Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Naxos 8.660462-63 Johann Simon Mayr was one of the most significant operatic and vocal composers Johann Simon MAYR (1763–1845) resident in Italy before the rise of Rossini, and we are all indebted to conductor Elena Franz Hauk’s outstanding efforts to re-establish the composer’s output. His Libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola previous recordings of Mayr’s operas have all been well received, including that of Sung in Italian Telemaco (8.660388-89) ‘typical of Hauk’s Mayr interpretations, the music combines Various Soloists tonal beauty, incisive execution, and an ongoing sense of dramatic urgency.’ Simon Mayr Chorus (Fanfare) He now gives us a recording of Elena, an opera semiseria written for the Concerto de Bassus 1813–14 carnival season in Naples. Opera lovers will readily appreciate Mayr’s Franz Hauk, Conductor subtle accommodation of Neapolitan opera and Viennese Classicism. The series of choruses and recitatives that drive the action forward are interspersed with arias, romances and ensembles, while the score’s lyric richness alternates with moments of witty buffo colour.

Naxos 8.555229 I’m pleased to introduce this release of music by Richard Addinsell (1904–1977) Richard ADDINSELL (1904–1977) that represents the first volume in a new Naxos British Light Music series. British Light Music, Vol. 1 Addinsell was one of Britain’s leading composers for stage and screen, and this Goodbye Mr. Chips selection distinguishes itself by representing every area of his achievement. It The Prince and the Showgirl includes the theme from his first international film success, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Philip Martin and and the overture from Tom Brown’s Schooldays, which contains some of his finest Roderick Elms, Pianos music. The Smokey Mountains is an evocative ‘concerto’ in three movements, while BBC Concert Orchestra The Isle of Apples reflects his importance as a composer of music for radio plays. Kenneth Alwyn, Conductor Authoritative interpretations of this repertoire are guaranteed when in the hands of conductor Kenneth Alwyn, who died last December, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. This is an ideal album for people keen to lighten up during these challenging times. Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Naxos World NXW76101-2 I’d like to give people this further reminder of our unique Folk Music of China Folk Music of China, Vol. 14 edition. It now reaches Vol. 14 of a twenty album series exploring China’s rich and Songs of the Tibetan Plateau, diverse musical heritage. This latest album’s compilation features folk songs of the Monba and Lhoba Peoples Tibet Autonomous Region, near the border with India, specifically from the farming Various Artists communities of the Monba and Lhoba peoples. Celebratory love songs of the former and the ritual Jia yi jia and Bai li songs of the latter are played on a range of traditional instruments such as the Da beng vertical flute, jaw harps and double- tube flutes.

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s renowned choreography is brilliantly illustrated in this audiovisual treat. When The Financial Times observed that ‘De Keersmaeker has found her perfect musical source’, the reference was to tJ. S. Bach’s six concerti grossi, The Brandenburg Concertos, which deploy Baroque orchestral instruments in widely contrasting and often audacious combinations. De Keersmaeker deploys sixteen dancers against this backdrop with her inimitable style, approaching the music as if it were a ready-made score for a dance piece. The result is a masterful reflection of Bach’s polyphonic genius. The concertos are played live by the Baroque ensemble B’Rock, conducted by violinist Amandine Beyer.

BelAir Classiques BAC197 [DVD] BAC497 [Blu-ray] Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) The Six Brandenburg Concertos Choreography by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker ROSAS Dance Company B’Rock Orchestra Amandine Beyer Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

BelAir Classiques BAC184 [DVD] This highly engaging documentary takes us well and truly behind the scenes in its Un Opéra pour un Empire recounting of the construction of the , the building commissioned Building the Paris Opera House by Napoleon III to house the Paris Opera. The Palais Garnier is the symbol A film by Patrick Cabouat par excellence of the Second Empire, a construction set apart by its technical Written with Stéphane and artistic ambition. The product of fifteen years’ work on a massive scale, it Landowks was the fruit of the obsessive drive of the then-unknown but visionary young Various Artists architect Charles Garnier. Through previously unpublished archives, historical reconstructions and accounts by historians, this is a perfect introduction to the history of an extraordinary theatre which has hosted countless celebrated artists, from to Rudolf Nureyev.

Capriccio C5443 The Capriccio label is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Alexander ZEMLINSKY Zemlinsky in grand style. Aside from their 6-disc anniversary boxed set (see (1871–1942) below), they are presenting important re-releases of two of his operas. The Der König Kandaules first isDer König Kandaules in a newly remastered edition of the work’s first (‘King Candaules’) performance in 1996 at the Hamburg Staatsoper. The live recording features a fine Nina Warren, Soprano cast of singers in the leading roles, with Gerd Albrecht conducting the Hamburg James O’ Neal, Tenor Philharmonic State Orchestra. Gramophone declared it an occasion ‘of outstanding Monte Pederson, Baritone importance. The performance is a fine one... Albrecht is perfectly at home in Mariusz Kwiecien, Baritone this sort of music.’ Also of note is the fact that the work’s unfinished score was Klaus Häger, Bass reconstructed and the instrumentation completed for the occasion by Anthony Hamburg Philharmonic State Beaumont, the English musicologist and Zemlinsky biographer. Orchestra Gerd Albrecht, Conductor Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Capriccio C5440 It was no less a figure than Mahler who recognised Zemlinsky’s talent as a Alexander ZEMLINSKY composer and, as the recently appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera, he (1871–1942) was determined to assist him in building a career. He advised him to make some Es war einmal alterations to both the music and libretto of his fairy-tale opera Es war einmal, and (‘Once Upon A Time’) subsequently conducted the premiere of the work in 1900. The musical director Eva Johansson, Soprano for the legendary first recording of the opera, made in 1987, was the distinguished Kurt Westi, Tenor conductor Hans Graf. The New York Times found the performance by the all-Danish Per Arne Wahlgren, Baritone line-up of artists ‘immediately charming’, and we can all enjoy its charm anew in Aage Haugland, Bass this newly remastered edition of that premiere performance. The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Hans Graf

Capriccio C7360 [6 Discs] When Zemlinsky died in 1942, there was no telling if or when posthumous Alexander ZEMLINSKY recognition of his work would take place. Although he was widely admired, not (1871–1942) least by Mahler and Schoenberg, his output had to resist political and stylistic Anniversary Edition challenges and survive the context of two World Wars and Nazi rule. I’m happy Lyric Symphony • Sinfonietta to be able to say that Zemlinsky is once again counted a great composer whose Symphony No. 1 • Symphonic works stand comparison with those of his famous contemporaries. This special Songs 6-disc boxed set marking the 150th anniversary of Zemlinsky’s birth wonderfully Frühlingsbegräbnis reflects the wide spectrum of his output, from opera excerpts (other than from Maeterlinck-Songs those mentioned above) to intensely colourful symphonic music, not least a Opera Highlights ‘luminous performance of Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony [which] is a revelation... Various Artists Eschenbach makes the Orchestre de Paris sound like a world-class ensemble, and he is aided immeasurably by the impeccable vocalism of Matthias Goerne and Christine Schäfer.’ (Fanfare) Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Opus Arte OA1233BD [DVD] I can thoroughly recommend this release that showcases the immense artistry OABD7224BD [Blu-ray] of ballet star Roberto Bolle. The set of three films feature him first as Aminta The Art of Roberto Bolle alongside Darcey Bussell in the title role of Frederick Ashton’s elegant and opulent Roberto Bollet, Principal dancer Sylvia. It’s a wonderful production from The Royal Ballet with displays of virtuosity, The Royal Ballet invention and classical beauty, in which ‘Bolle displays some soaring elevation.’ (The Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company Stage) Taking the tragic role of Quasimodo in Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris, Bolle dances opposite Natalia Osipova as Esmeralda in this first of two productions. The second is a Gala des Étoiles, in which Bolle plays a central role in the stunning programme of ballet excerpts, described as ‘a dazzling night of dance, a grand ‘Gala of stars’ indeed’ by the Sydney Arts Guide.

Lovers of Shakespeare will be immediately attracted to this exciting production of one of the Bard’s rarities. King John contains ‘endless thrilling fights, spellbinding moments of reflection and devastating outpourings of grief ... the production tingles with a tangible sense of spontaneity.’ (The Guardian) John is King of England following the death of his brother, Richard the Lionheart. Threatened from all sides by Europe, English noblemen and even his own family, King John will stop at nothing to keep hold of his crown. Shakespeare’s rarely performed tale of a nation in turmoil carries a contemporary resonance in this vivid new production by director Eleanor Rhode.

Opus Arte OA1324D [DVD] William SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616) King John Royal Shakespeare Company Eleanor Rhode, Stage Director Naxos Priority Releases June 2021

Orfeo C210201 Opera fans certainly won’t want to miss this debut album from the young and (1797–1848) immensely talented Israeli-born coloratura soprano Hila Fahima. A regular favourite Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) at leading European opera houses, including the and Deutsche Opera Arias Oper Berlin, her programme comprises arias from Donizetti and Verdi operas in Hila Fahima, Soprano a mix of familiar favourites and rediscovered treasures. She presents Lucia’s Mad ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Scene from Donizetti’s , for example, alongside an aria from his Orchestra little-known Emilia di Liverpool. Fahima will be performing the role of Gilda in Verdi’s Michele Gamba at this year’s Bregenz Festival; this release enables a preview of what’s in store with the inclusion of her Act 2 Scene et Aria Gualtier Maldè!...Caro nome. The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra is directed by Michele Gamba, a familiar name following his performances in all the major European opera houses.