THE ANCIENT QUESTION Five Hebrew Love Songs (2001) A VOYAGE THROUGH JEWISH SONGS (b.1970) music, Hila Plitmann poetry t i. Temuná (A picture) [1.30] Five Yiddish Songs y ii. Kalá kalá (Light bride) [2.50] Trad. arr. Hila Plitmann (b.1973) u iii. Lárov (Mostly) [0.48] 1 i. Di Alte Kasche (The Ancient Question) [1.14] i iv. Éyze shéleg (What snow!) [2.09] 2 ii. A Fidler (The Fiddler) [1.04] o v. Rakút (Tenderness) [2.15] 3 iii. Unter A Kleyn Beymele (Under A Small Tree) [2.33] 4 iv. Du Sollst Nit Geyn (You Shall Go With No Other, Girl!) [1.22] Bridges of Love (2009) 5 v. Rozhinkes mit Mandlen (Raisins and Almonds) [2.37] Sharon Farber (b.1965) p i. For Wherever You Go I Will Go [8.13] I Never Saw Another Butterfly (1996) a ii. Once I Knew [7.34] Lori Laitman (b.1955) s iii. Wine of Love [4.15] 6 i. The Butterfly [5.50] 7 ii. Yes, That’s the Way Things Are [4.17] Total timings: [68.45] 8 iii. Birdsong [2.07] 9 iv. The Garden [2.20] 0 v. Man Proposes, God Disposes [0.40] q vi. The Old House [3.35]

HILA PLITMANN SOPRANO Tehilim (Psalms) (2001) Aharon Harlap (b.1941) CHRISTOPHER GLYNN PIANO w i. Psalm 122 “Samakhti Beomrim Li” (I was glad when they said to me) [4.22] THOMAS BOWES VIOLIN e ii. Psalm 113 “Halleluyah” (Praise the Lord) [2.39] ANDRES KALJUSTE VIOLA r iii. Psalm 43 “Shafteni Elohim” (Vindicate me, Lord) [4.35] www.signumrecords.com A VOYAGE THROUGH 6 - 0 I Never Saw Another Butterfly is a dear and admired colleague from Israel and are mini poems, a bit like haikus, with inner JEWISH SONGS Lori Laitman I have sung his compositions in the past, but rhyming, and are reminiscent of our relationship HILA PLITMANN this collection came to me out of the blue, exactly and romance. These have been a work of When putting together a programme for the at the time when I was searching for such a inspiration for me throughout the years, and I 1 - 5 Yiddish Songs recording, I was looking for a musical thread work. They are written for clarinet, piano and have recently continued writing poetry for my Trad. arr. Hila Plitmann to connect the repertoire and to create a voice and are based on three Psalms from the own songs that I hope to release one day. cohesive journey. I was searching the internet and Bible. They carry a sense of majestic celebration In the winter of 1997, I was preparing for my accidentally stumbled upon this cycle of pieces and a triumphant atmosphere. There’s an o - a Bridges of Love graduation recital from Juilliard and looking for by Lori Laitman, whose work I had not performed incredibly dramatic element in the music, as Sharon Farber a programme which was meaningful to me previously. I read the poetry, written by children well as Aharon’s awesome flair for combining personally. My Grandmother was born in Russia, who lived and died in the concentration camp Middle Eastern traditions with Western A couple of years ago I was asked by my dear and I am of Jewish descent. I wanted to find Terezin, and it struck me so deeply that I ordered classical music. friend Sharon Farber (a Los Angeles-based pieces I could connect with. Both my Grandmother the music. Lori originally composed for soprano composer who writes for both film and the concert and Mother loved Yiddish songs, and I would saxophone and voice, but later orchestrated r - i Five Hebrew Love Songs stage) to come and sing the soprano-version hear them sung throughout my childhood; for clarinet and voice. The combination of these Eric Whitacre music premiere of Bridges of Love in Los Angeles. I fell however I could only find the traditional folk two instruments creates a meaningful, poetic Hila Plitmann poetry in love with this magnificent work and was so arrangements, oftentimes with only the simple sound, infused with melancholic hope, longing thrilled at the chance to record it. This cycle melodic lines written out. Eric Whitacre (my and despair. The clarinet part is unbelievably The Five Hebrew Love Songs are very meaningful also conveys an uplifting and inspirational boyfriend at the time, now husband) suggested demanding – it requires an exquisite player to and personal. I felt that most of the cycles in message, and I found the first two poems written I make new arrangements of the pieces, and pull it off dramatically, and I find one needs to this disc carry a burden with them, a heaviness from the non-romantic feminine point of view to although I was reluctant at the beginning I muster quite a bit of courage to perform these and a sadness. I needed a bit of something be fascinating. For me, the pieces have a painfully churned out my first arrangement of pieces as they are written so elegantly and more uplifting, and these five songs were connection with Tehilim, as Sharon possesses these five songs in Yiddish for piano, clarinet economically that the players are very exposed. written about innocent, beautiful, and simple an uncanny gift of combining Middle Eastern and voice. The last song in the collection is one love. This was my first time writing poetry for taste with Western style using subtle and beautiful of the more well-known Yiddish songs out there. q - e Tehilim (Psalms) a musical composition, and I had no idea what melodic lines. I find an incredibly strong connection with the Aharon Harlap Eric wanted or what I would write; but with a simplicity and beauty of these songs. recital pending in Germany (with our friend and Hila Plittmann, 2011 Sometimes the universe delivers it’s sweetness superb violinist Friedemann Eichhorn) I ended and things simply fall into your lap. Aharon Harlap up spurting them out in an hour and a half. They

- 4 - - 5 - From the composer 1 - 5 Yiddish Songs Trad. arr. Hila Plitmann Bridges of Love is a song cycle comprised of The second poem, ‘Once I Knew’ by Helen Keller, is Soprano, Clarinet, Piano three poems – all talk about love. Each of the a reminder of the power that love can bring to the poems reflects the different styles of the theme handicapped. I especially loved the following lines: 1 i. Di Alte Kasche of non-romantic love: love that is uncommon, (The Ancient Question) unconditional; love that is almost against all “But a little word from the fingers of another fell odds. These three poems are individual yet into my hands that clutched at emptiness, and Fregt di velt an alte kashe, The world asks the ancient question, universal in their meaning, and I believe that my heart leaped up with the rapture of living”. Tra-la tra-di-ri-di-rom? Tra-la tra-di-ri-di-rom? love, as music, can bridge the gaps of faith Enfert men tra-di-ri-di-rei-lom, One can answer tra-di-ri-di-reil-om, and religion and can heal us all. We all know the story of Helen Keller and her Oy, oy, tra-di-ri-di-rom. Oy, oy, tra-di-ri-di-rom. unbelievable strength and intelligence in the In az men vil, ken men oich zugen tra-i-dim. And if one wants he may also say tra-i-dim. The first poem, ‘For Wherever You Go, I Will face of nearly impossible odds. However, she Blabt doch vater di alte kasche, Still remains the ancient question, Go’, is taken from the book of Ruth, which has could only have achieved so much by knowing Tra-la tra-di-ri-di-rom? Tra-la tra-di-ri-di-rom? always fascinated me. It tells the story of love the kind fingers of her teacher, who opened up Chasidic Folk between two women – Ruth and Naomi (Ruth her dark, silent world by drawing letters into was Naomi’s daughter in law and she refused her hand. The poem expresses how one loving 2 ii. A Fidler to leave her when both Naomi’s and Ruth’s touch can take us all from darkness to light. (The Fiddler) husbands died). I find this story so beautiful – love that is truly devoted and honest, which For the last poem, ‘Wine of Love’, I chose a S’hot der tate fun yaridl My father went to market is rare. In terms of musical style, the viola universal theme, one that would speak to Mir gebracht a naye fidl, And brought me a new fiddle. represents Ruth, and as this is an ancient story, everyone. I believe that we are all connected, Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; I used it almost like a Middle Eastern instrument. and if we learn to love rather than respond Shpil ich didl, di, di. Play I: didl, di, di. The clarinet represents Naomi, the Jewish side, with hatred, this can only become a more positive and the two instruments begin the cycle with and beautiful world. Ch’halt dos kepl angeboygen, I hold my head bent to the side, imaginary dialogue between the two women, Un farglotst di beyde oygn And both my eyes glaze over leading to the main theme in 7/8 and ending Sharon Farber Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; with singing of the original motif. Shpil ich didl, di, di. Play I: didl, di, di.

- 6 - - 7 - Rechtn fus faroys a bisl Right foot forward just a little Dort’n vu zi hot gevoynt And where she lived the other he would stay, Klap dem takt tsu mitn fisl, Pound the beat out with my foot, Sho’en opgezesn. Completely forgetting to eat. Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Shpil ich didl, di, di. Play I: didl, di, di. Unter a kleyn beymele... Under a small tree...

Kvelt un vundert zich di mame, Mother marvels and wonders to herself Shturem, vint’n, regen, shney, Storms, winds, rain, snow Kenst doch azoy gut di game. How very well I know the instrument. Keyn zach apgeshroken, Nothing frightened them, Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; Un di mame in der heym And mother waits at home Shpil ich didl, di, di. Play I: didl, di, di. Gevart hot mit a floken. With a stick for a beating. Hersh Wolowitz – music Zvi Hirsh Margulies (1888-1944) Shmuel Tsesler – poetry 4 iv. Du Sollst Nit Geyn 3 iii. Unter A Kleyn Beymele (You Shall Go With No Other, Girl!) (Under A Small Tree) Du zolst nit geyn mit kayn andere, Meydele! You shall go with no other, young maiden! Unter a kleyn beymele Under a small tree Du zolst nur geyn mit mir. You must only go about with me. Zitsen yinglech tsvey, Sit two young boys, Du zolst nit geyn tsu der mame in shtubele, You shall not go and see your mother in her room, Zey reydn fun a meydele They talk about a girl Nur kumen zolst du tsu mir! You must come only to me! Keyn zach kimert zey. and nothing else bothers them. Chasidic Folk

Dertselt eyner di nisimlech The first one tells of the miracles 5 v. Rozhinkes mit Mandlen Vos er hot gehat, That had befallen him. (Raisins and Almonds) Chapt der anderer a roys The other boy interrupts Dertselt es akurat. And finishes the tale. In dem beys hamikdash in a vinkl cheyder In the temple in a dark room, Zitst di almone bastisioyn aleyn. Sits the widow, Daughter of Zion, alone. Unter a kleyn beymele... Under a small tree... Ir benyochidl, yidele, vigt zi keseyder Her only son, her little one, she rocks Un zingt im tsum shlofn a lidele sheyn: And sings him to sleep with a pretty song: Er fleygt, zogt er, gantse teyg He’ll spend, says he, entire days Umgeyn nit gegesen, walking beneath her house,

- 8 - - 9 - Untern yidele’s vigele Under your cradle, little one, My poor old man with working gums, 9 iv. The Garden Shteyt a klurvays tsigele There stands a snow-white baby goat - Instead of soft rolls, lentil soup. Dos tsigele iz geforen handlen The baby goat is a peddler of fruit; My poor old graybeard! A little garden, Dos vet zayn dayn baruf This will be your work too - KOLEBA Fragrant and full of roses. Rozhinkes mit mandlen Trading in raisins and almonds. Miroslav Košek (1932-1944), The path is narrow Shlofzhe, yidele, shlof. And now sleep, my little one, sleep. Hanus Löwy (1931-1944), And a little boy walks along it. & Bachner (dates unknown) Abraham Goldfaden (1840-1908) A little boy, a sweet boy, 8 iii. Birdsong Like that growing blossom. When the blossom comes to bloom, 6 q He doesn’t know the world at all - I never saw another Butterfly The dandelions call to me The little boy will be no more. Lori Laitman And the white chestnut branches in the court. Who stays in his nest and doesn’t go out. Franta Bass (1930-1944) Soprano, Clarinet Only I never saw another butterfly. He doesn’t know what birds know best Nor what I want to sing about, 0 v. Man Proposes, God Disposes 6 i. The Buttefly That butterfly was the last one. That the world is full of loveliness. Butterflies don’t live in here, Who was helpless back in Prague, The last, the very last In the ghetto. When dewdrops sparkle in the grass And who was rich before, So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow. And earth’s aflood with morning light, Pavel Friedmann (1921-1944) He’s a poor soul here in Terezin, Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing A blackbird sings upon a bush His body’s bruised and sore. against a white stone. 7 ii. Yes, That’s The Way Things Are To greet the dawning after night. Then I know how fine it is to live. Who was toughened up before, Such, such a yellow In Terezin in the so-called park He’ll survive these days Is carried lightly ‘way up high. Hey, try to open up your heart A queer old granddad sits But who was used to servants It went away I’m sure because it wished to To beauty; go to the woods someday Somewhere there in the so-called park. Will sink into his grave. kiss the world good bye. He wears a beard down to his lap And weave a wreath of memory there. Then if the tears obscure your way KOLEBA And on his head, a little cap. Miroslav Košek, For seven weeks I’ve lived in here, You’ll know how wonderful it is to be alive. Hanus Löwy Penned up inside this ghetto. Hard crusts he crumbles in his gums, Anonymous & Bachner But I have found what I love here. He’s only got one single tooth.

- 10 - - 11 - q vi. The Old House Shesham alu shvatim shivteiya to which the tribes go up, Eidut leyisrael the tribes of the Lord, Deserted here, the old house Lehodot lesheim Adonai as was decreed for Israel, Stands in silence, asleep. to give thanks to the name of the Lord. The old house used to be so nice, Before, standing there, Ki shama yashvu khis’ot le mishpat There thrones for judgment were set, It was so nice. Kis’ot leveit David the thrones of the house of David. Now it is deserted. Rotting in silence – Sha’alu Shlom Yerushalayim Pray for the peace of ! What a waste of houses, Yishlayu ohavayikh “May they be secure who love you! What a waste of hours. Yehi shalom bekheileikh Peace be within your walls Franta Bass Shalva be’armenotayikh and security within your towers!” Lema’an akhai verei’ai For my brothers and companions’ sake Adabrana shalom bakh I will say, “Peace be within you!” Lema’an beit Adonai Eloheinu For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, w - r Tehilim (Psalms) Avaksha tov lach I will seek your good. Aharon Harlap Soprano, Clarinet, Piano e ii. Psalm 113 “Halleluyah” (Praise the Lord) w i. Psalm 122 “Samakhti Beomrim Li” (I was glad when they said to me) Halleluyah avdei Adonai Praise, O servants of the Lord, Halleluyah et sheim Adonai praise the name of the Lord! Samakhti beomrim li I was glad when they said to me, Beit Adonai neileikh “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Yehi sheim Adonai mevorakh Blessed be the name of the Lord Omdot hayu ragleinu Our feet have been standing Me’ata vead olam from this time forth and forevermore! Bisha’arayikh Yerushalayim within your gates, O Jerusalem! Mimizrakh shemesh ad meva’oh From the rising of the sun to its setting, Mehulal shem Adonai the name of the Lord is to be praised! Yerushalayim habnuya Jerusalem—built as a city Ram al kol goyim Adonai The Lord is high above all nations, Ke’ir shekhubra la yakhdav that is bound firmly together, Al hashamayim kvodo and his glory above the heavens!

- 12 - - 13 - Mi K’Adonai Eloheinu Who is like the Lord our God, Ve’avo el mizbakh Elohim Then I will go to the altar of God, Hamagbihi lashevet who is seated on high, El Eil simkhat gili to God my exceeding joy, Hamashpili lir’ot who looks far down Ve’odkha vekhinor and I will praise you with the lyre, Bashamayin uva’aretz on the heavens and the earth? Elohim Elohai O God, my God. Mekimi me’afar dal He raises the poor from the dust Me’ashpot yarim evyon and lifts the needy from the ash heap, Ma tishtokhakhi nafshi Why are you cast down, O my soul, Lehoshivi im nedivim to make them sit with princes, Uma tehemi alai and why are you in turmoil within me? Im nedivei amo with the princes of his people. Hokhili L’Eilohim ki od odenu Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, Yeshu’at panai V’Eilohai my salvation and my God. Moshivi akeret habayit He gives the barren woman a home, Eim habanim smeikha making her the joyous mother of children. t - o Five Hebrew Love Songs Halleluyah! Praise the Lord! Eric Whitacre music Hallelu et sheim Adonai Praise the name of the Lord. Hila Plitmann poetry Soprano, Violin, Piano r iii. Psalm 43 “Shafteni Elohim” (Vindicate me, Lord) t i. Temuná (A picture) Shafteini Elohim veriva rivi Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause Migoy lo khasid against an ungodly people, Temuná belibí charutá; Nodédet beyn ór A picture is engraved in my heart; Me’ish mirma ve’avla tefalteini from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! uveyn ófel: Min dmamá shekazó et guféch Moving between light and darkness: Ki ata Elohei mauzi For you are the God in whom I take refuge; kach otá, Us’aréch al paná’ich kach nófel. A sort of silence envelopes your body, Lama znakhtani why have you rejected me? And your hair falls upon your face just so. Lama kodeir ethaleikh Why do I go about mourning y ii. Kalá kalá Belakhatz oyev because of the oppression of the enemy? (Light bride)

Shlakh orkha va’amitkha Send out your light and your truth; Kalá kallá Light bride Heima yankhuni yeviuni let them lead me; Kulá shelí She is all mine, El har Kodshekha let them bring me to your holy hill U’vekalút And lightly Ve’el mishkenotekha and to your dwelling! Tishák hi lí! She will kiss me!

- 14 - - 15 - u iii. Lárov p - s Bridges of Love And death a consummation devoutly to be wished. (Mostly) Sharon Farber But, a little word from the fingers of another, Soprano, Clarinet, Viola, Piano Fell into my hands that clutched at emptiness, “Lárov,” amár gag la’shama’im, “Hamerchák “Mostly,” said the roof to the sky, And my heart leaped up with the rapture of living. shebeynéynu hu ad, Ach lifnéy zman alu “The distance between you and I is endlessness; p i. For Wherever You Go I Will Go I do not know the meaning of the darkness, lechán shna’im, Uveynéynu nish’ár But a while ago two came up here, But I have learned the overcoming of it. sentiméter echad.” and only one centimeter was left between us.” Entreat me not to leave you, From ‘Optimism: An Essay’, 1903 Or to turn back from following after you; by Hellen Keller (1880-1968) i iv. Éyze shéleg For wherever you go, I will go; (What snow!) And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; s iii. Wine of Love Your People shall be my people, Éyze shéleg! What snow! And your God my God. Go and wash off all hatred from your chest Kmo chalomót ktaním Like small dreams Where you die, I will die, Seven times with water. Noflím mehashamá’im. Falling from the sky. And there will I be buried. Then you can become our companion The Lord do so to me, and more also, Drinking from the wine of love. o v. Rakút If anything but death parts you and me. Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273) (Tenderness) “Ba’asher tamooti amoot vesham ekaver, Hu hayá malé rakút; He was full of tenderness; Ki hamavet yafrid beinech uveini.” Hi haytá kashá. She was very hard. Book of Ruth 1:16-17 Vechól kama shenistá lehisha’ér kach, And as much as she tried to stay thus, Pashút, uvli sibá tová, Simply, and with no good reason, a ii. Once I Knew Lakách otá el toch atzmó, He took her into himself, Veheníach And set her down Once I knew the depth where no hope was, Bamakóm hachí rach. in the softest, softest place. And darkness lay on the face of all things. Then love came and set my soul free. Once I fretted and beat myself against the wall that shut me in. My life was without past or future;

- 16 - - 17 - sings like the angel she portrays.” For her work BIOGRAPHIES in the show she received nominations for Best Actress in a Musical from the Los Angeles HILA PLITMANN Ovation Awards and The L.A. Ticketholder Awards. SOPRANO Hila has accumulated an impressive catalogue Grammy award-winning soprano Hila Plitmann In constant demand as a singer of new and of professional recordings, appearing on the is a glittering jewel on the international music contemporary music, Hila has appeared as Decca, Telarc, Naxos, CRI, Reference Recordings scene, known worldwide for her astonishing soloist in several world premieres, including and Disney labels. The Da Vinci Code soundtrack musicianship, light and beautiful voice, and Paul Revere’s Ride with the Atlanta Symphony, (Decca) was a worldwide bestseller, spending the ability to perform challenging new works. written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer several weeks on the Billboard charts. Both She regularly premieres works by today’s leading , Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Wing on Paul Revere’s Ride (Telarc), and The Da Vinci composers while maintaining a vibrant and Wing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Code received Grammy nominations, and in 2009 extraordinarily diverse professional life in film the baton of the composer, Mr. Tambourine Man Hila won the Grammy for ‘Best Classical Vocal music, musical theatre, and song writing. written by Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-winning Performance‘ for her work on the Naxos recording composer with the Minnesota of John Corigliano’s song cycle Mr. Tambourine Hila has worked with many leading conductors, Orchestra and Two Awakenings and a Double Man with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. including , Kurt Masur, Robert Lullaby, a song cycle written for her by Pulitzer Hila can also be heard on the soundtrack of the Spano, Marin Alsop, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Andrew Prize winner . film New York, I Love You. Litton, and Steven Sloane. She has appeared as a headliner with the , Hila premiered the role of Exstasis in Eric Born and raised in Jerusalem, Hila received both the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Whitacre’s groundbreaking electro-musical Paradise her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, with Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Lost: Shadows and Wings. Hila sang, acted, high honors, from the Juilliard School of Music, Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the National danced and fought in long martial arts battles and has been awarded the coveted Sony ES Prize Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, nightly for a seven week sold-out run, a tour-de for her outstanding contribution to the vocal the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New force performance that prompted Backstage arts. Hila currently lives in London with her Israeli Opera and numerous other orchestras West to call her, “brilliant, eliciting strong husband (composer, Eric Whitacre) and their son. and ensembles in the United States and abroad. empathy and singing gorgeously,” and Theatre She has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. © Marc Royce 2011 Mania to declare she “fights like a warrior and www.hilaplitmann.com

- 18 - - 19 - CHRISTOPHER GLYNN Alberni Quartet and London Winds, and with choirs PIANO including Consortium and The Sixteen.

‘beauties and insights aplenty … a superb He was born in Leicester and read music at New accompanist’ College before studying the piano with John Streets The Times in France and Malcolm Martineau at the Royal Academy of Music. His many awards include the Christopher Glynn performs widely as pianist accompaniment prize in the 2001 and accompanist, working with many leading competition and the 2003 Gerald Moore award. singers, instrumentalists and chamber ensembles Chris made his debut at in 2001 in concerts, broadcasts and recordings throughout and has since performed there many times as Europe, North America and the Far East. well as in all the main UK concert halls and in major concert venues and festivals throughout He has accompanied singers including Sir the world. He has made recordings for labels , Matthew Best, Claire Booth, Susan including Signum, Hyperion, Decca, Erato and Bullock, Allan Clayton, Ronan Collett, Lucy Crowe, Coro and many studio recordings and live Neal Davies, Bernarda Fink, Sarah Fox, Michael broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. He George, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, , is a Professor at the Royal College of Music and Julie Kennard, Andrew Kennedy, Yvonne Kenny, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music; he Dame Felicity Lott, Christopher Maltman, Henk also works often with the Samling Foundation. Neven, Ian Partridge, Derek Lee Ragin, Joan Rodgers, Kate Royal, James Rutherford, Carolyn Future plans include a series of concerts entitled Sampson, Toby Spence, , Ailish Tynan, ‘The Songs of Ravel and his Circle’ at the Lillian Watson, Roderick Williams, Catherine Wyn Wigmore Hall and for the BBC, recording projects Rogers and many others. He has also performed for Hyperion, Decca and EMI and concerts with instrumentalists including Natalie Clein, throughout Europe and North America. Michael Collins, Nicholas Daniel, Daniel Hope and Jennifer Pike, with chamber groups In 2010 Chris became Artistic Director of the including the Elias Quartet, Fitzwilliam Quartet, Ryedale Music Festival. www.cglynn.com

- 20 - - 21 - JULIAN BLISS Julian has appeared on national television on CLARINET numerous occasions; at the Queen’s 80th birthday at the BBC Proms in front of a live Firmly established on the international concert audience and a television audience around scene Julian Bliss has already appeared as soloist the world in forty countries, in a three-part with a number of important orchestras including documentary about his life for Channel 4 the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Royal entitled ‘Gifted’, and he was among the Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, City distinguished artists invited to perform at of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Seattle the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Buckingham Palace on 1 June 2002. Orchestra of Wales, NHK Symphony, Munich Chamber, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Malaysian In 2007 Julian was invited by Conn Selmer to Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, and the design a range of affordable bearing his Bergen Philharmonic. name. The BLISS range of clarinets was recently launched world-wide and have received much In recital Julian has appeared at such prestigious praise. For more information about Julian and the venues as the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, the BLISS clarinets visit www.Julianbliss.com Louvre in Paris, Montpellier Festival, Jerusalem Music Festival, Bad Kissingen, Rheingau and Mecklenburg Festivals, where he was awarded the audience prize and is now a regular guest. He recently gave a very successful debut recital at the Lincoln Center in New York. As a prolific chamber musician, Julian has collaborated with artists such as , Steven Isserlis, Misha Maisky, Steven Kovacevich, Elena Bashkirova, , Simon Trpceski and Helen Grimaud. © Thomas Rabsch

- 22 - - 23 - THOMAS BOWES Bowes joined the LPO in 1985 and a year later VIOLIN the Academy of St Martins. In 1987 he gave his London recital debut and between 1988 Thomas’s recent recording of Walton and Barber and 1992 was the founding leader of the concertos (SIGCD238) has been enthusiastically Maggini Quartet. Invited to become the leader received: “Bowes yields to none of the Walton’s great of the London Mozart Players, he made a interpreters - Heifetz (the dedicatee), Menuhin, BBC Proms debut with them and Jane Glover Francescatti, Chung, …” (Sunday Times). in 1991. Still in demand as a guest leader, he has also concert-mastered many film scores. Bowes has spent many years developing an unusually deep and expressive musical Forming the duo “Double Exposure” with personality. He has played the Elgar concerto in Eleanor Alberga, the Duo toured regularly and the USA and Germany as well as in the UK, extensively in the USA until 2000. They made and with the Britten concerto he made a German a ground breaking trip to China as well as debut in 2003. Bowes has excelled with the broadcasting and concertising in the UK. A Szymanowski concertos, making a specially New York recital at Carnegie in 2000 was recorded broadcast of No.2 for the BBC Proms extensively and tellingly reviewed by Paul in 1998. Griffiths in the New York Times.

An enthusiastic champion of contemporary In 2003 Bowes became the Artistic Director of music he gave the world premiere of John the Langvad Jamboree in Metcalf’s concerto “Paradise Haunts…” in Denmark and more recently with Eleanor Alberga 1999 and recorded the work for Signum Classics founded the chamber music festival Arcadia (SIGCD103). In 2001 he premiered the concerto in north Herefordshire. of Eleanor Alberga with the SCO and Joseph Swensen to a flourish of rave reviews. Plans for He plays a 1659 Nicolo Amati violin. a second Alberga concerto and recordings of both are taking shape. www.thomasbowes.com © Keith Saunders

- 24 - - 25 - ANDRES KALJUSTE VIOLA

Estonian violinist and violist Andres Kaljuste ‘Belgrade Strings’, Vanemuise Symhony enjoys a rich musical life both in his homeland Orchestra and he made his debut at Berlin’s and abroad. Hailed in the press as “a soloist Konzerthaus in 2010 with Cappella Academica, with a great sense of character”, Kaljuste is an playing the Brahms violin concerto. Since artist passionately dedicated to communication 2007, Andres has been artist in residence at through music of diverse styles and genres. the Nargen Festival in his native Estonia, where his main emphasis lies in chamber music – the After studies at ‘Lilla Akademien’, Stockholm form of music-making he enjoys most. He with Nina Balabina and with Prof. Ulf Wallin at frequently appears with pianist Sophia the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and Rahman – a partnership that has taken them Hochschule für Musik ‘Hanns Eisler’ Berlin, on tour for concerts and masterclasses in Kaljuste became a member of the Academy China, Russia and Estonia. of Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Before completing his studies in Germany, Andres Kaljuste’s native music has found an ever- © Kaupo Kikkas worked at the ‘Lilla Akademien’, recognized as increasing place in his repertoire. Estonian one of the top music schools in Scandinavia, as composers Timo Steiner and Elo Masing have a teacher of violin and viola. He was also dedicated works to him and he has often worked conductor of the school’s string orchestras together with Arvo Pärt, whose music he has Recorded at Wyastone Leys Concert Hall, Monmouthshire, P 2011 The copyright in this recording is owned by Signum Records Ltd. © 2011 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. and coach for a wide variety of ensembles. He premièred and recorded. UK from 18-20 November 2010. Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Producer and Editor - Nicholas Parker now pursues a busy freelance career which has Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. taken him to China, Japan and many European Andres Kaljuste plays on a Florian Leonhard Recording Engineer - Mike Hatch Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, festivals within in the past year. “Gasparo da Salò” 2007 viola. Cover Image - © Marc Royce or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or Design and Artwork - Woven Design otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. www.wovendesign.co.uk Kaljuste has appeared as a soloist with SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Verona Philharmonic, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, www.signumrecords.com

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