NEW RELEASE INFORMATION

THE COMPLETE C.W. ORR SONGBOOK – VOLUME 2

MARK STONE, SIMON LEPPER, PIANO

CD RELEASE DATE: 20 August 2012

Stone Records is delighted to announce the concluding CD in a two-disc series that comprises the first ever complete recording of the songs of C.W. Orr (1893-1976) for voice and piano. This wonderful composer is one of the music world’s best-kept secrets, with whole chapters devoted to him in most books on English song, and yet so few of his songs recorded – until now.

Orr was renowned for his devotion to the poet A.E. Housman, and this second volume features some of his best Housman songs, as well as a selection of his settings of other poets. Of the disc’s 19 tracks, 14 are première recordings, including a new arrangement made for this disc. His influences, including Hugo Wolf, and Peter Warlock, have all left their mark on these wonderfully crafted and singularly beautiful songs. The disc’s booklet contains the full texts and extensive notes for each song.

Stone is critically acclaimed for his performances on stage and in concert, with recent and forthcoming debuts at , Oper Köln and Deutsche Oper, Berlin, as well as return visits to the Royal House, Covent Garden and Philadelphia Opera. In recital he has been described as "a baritone of extraordinary elegance and unforced expressiveness... versatile in his response to the varying stylistic demands” with Lepper being described as “one of the most gifted and enterprising accompanists of his generation”. Over these two volumes, Stone and Lepper have lovingly given a voice to this unsung hero of English song.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM “Baritone Mark Stone has it all: a terrific technique, theatrical presence and a voice guaranteed to tingle bits of your spine never tingled before.” “English love”, Classic FM magazine

“This is not a recital restricted to one vocal hue. Each song is looked at and receives relevant response from both singer and pianist... He introduces so much by way of nuance and colour to make this a very interesting and fulfilling programme, one which is well recorded.” “English love”, International record review

CONTINUES OVERLEAF

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Stone at Stone Records Ltd Tel: 07595 534350 Email: [email protected] NEW RELEASE INFORMATION

BIOGRAPHIES Mark Stone studied at King’s College, Cambridge and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition to his roles with Covent Garden, , ENO, WNO and , he has also performed for the opera houses of Philadelphia, Santa Fe, Toronto, Stockholm, Leipzig, , Montpellier, Tel Aviv and New Zealand. In concert he has appeared with the Berlin Rundfunk Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Galicia Symphony Orchestra, Oviedo Symphony Orchestra, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, LSO, Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Gabrieli Consort and the .

Simon Lepper read music at King’s College Cambridge and studied piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music. He won every major award for piano accompaniment including the Gerald Moore Award as well as the accompanist prizes in the Kathleen Ferrier and Royal Overseas League competitions. He has recently been appointed professor of piano accompaniment at the Royal College of Music, and is also the official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize. He has established himself as one of the UK’s leading piano accompanists, performing at venues and festivals internationally. www.stonerecords.co.uk

ENDS

Artists: Mark Stone (baritone) & Simon Lepper (piano) Disc: The complete C.W. Orr songbook – volume 2 Label: Stone Records Catalogue number/barcode: 5060192780192 Release date: 20 August 2012 Track Listing: 1. With rue my heart is laden* 2. This time of year 3. Oh, when I was in love with you* 4. Is my team ploughing* 5. On your midnight pallet lying* 6. Plucking the rushes* 7. Bahnhofstrasse 8. Requiem* 9. The time of roses* 10. Since thou, O fondest and truest* 11. Hymn before sleep* 12. While summer on is sleeping* 13. The lads in their hundreds* 14. The Isle of Portland 15. 1887* 16. In valleys green and still* 17. Into my heart an air that kills 18. Westward on the high-hilled plains* 19. Oh see how thick the goldcup flowers *première recording

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Stone at Stone Records Ltd Tel: 07595 534350 Email: [email protected]