Classical releases JUNE 9
DISTRIBUTED LABELS: ACCENT RECORDS, ACTES SUD, ALIA VOX, APARTE, BELVEDERE, KINGS COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, CHRISTOPHORUS, CSO RESOUND, EDITION CLASSICS, EVIDENCE CLASSIQUES, FRA MUSICA, GLOSSA, harmonia mundi, LA DOLCE VOLTA, LES ARTS FLORISSANTS, LSO LIVE, MARIINSKY, MIRARE, MYRIOS, NAÏVE, ONYX, PAN CLASSICS, PRAGA DIGITALS, RUBICON CLASSICS, SIGNUM CLASSICS, UNITED ARCHIVES, WIGMORE HALL LIVE
available June 9th 2017 RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
BARTOK: Complete String Quartets Heath Quartet
The string quartet was of central importance to Bartók throughout his career. His six quartets were written (between 1907 and 1939) at crucial turning points in the composer’s creative development. From the elegiac tone of Quartet no.1 (reflecting an unhappy love affair) to the sadness and wry parody of no.6, composed on the eve of World War II, by way of the mirror forms and atmospheric ‘night music’ of nos.4 and 5, they represent perhaps the biggest interpretative challenge in the genre alongside the Beethoven quartets. A challenge triumphantly met here by the Heath Quartet. Future plans include complete cycles of Jörg Widmann’s string quartets at Kilkenny Festival, Berlin’s Boulez Saal and Wigmore Hall, as well as numerous appearances at summer festivals in the United Kingdom and beyond. Their debut recording of Tippett’s string quartets (Wigmore Hall Live) received widespread acclaim and won the Gramophone Chamber Disk of the Year in 2016. A subsequent release on Harmonia Mundi of Tchaikovsky Quartets 1 & 3 was selected as Disk of the Week by both The Sunday Times and BBC Radio 3.
CD1: Label: harmonia mundi 1-3 String Quartet no.1 op.7 Sz.40, BB 52 I. Lento II. Allegretto. Introduzione III. Allegro vivace File Under: Classical/Chamber 4-7 String Quartet no.3 Sz.85, BB 93 I. Prima parte: Moderato II. Seconda parte: Allegro music III. Recapitulazione della prima parte: Moderato IV. Coda: Allegro molto Catalogue No: HMM90766163 8-12 String Quartet no.5 Sz.102, BB 110 I. Allegro II. Adagio molto III. Scherzo: Alla bulgarese IV. Andante V. Finale: Allegro vivace Barcode: 3149020766125 CD2: MID Price 1-3 String Quartet no.2 op.17 Sz.67, BB 75 I. Moderato II. Allegro molto capriccioso III. Lento Format: 2 CD 4-8 String Quartet no.4 Sz.91, BB 95 I. Allegro II. Prestissimo, con sordino III. Non troppo lento Packaging: digipack IV. Allegretto pizzicato V. Allegro molto 9-12 String Quartet no.6 Sz.114, BB 119 I. Mesto. Più mosso, pesante: Vivace II. Mesto. Marcia Heath Quartet: III. Mesto. Burletta: Moderato IV. Mesto Oliver Heath [violin] Cerys Jones [violin] “an unqualified triumph … as a former Tippett scholar I rejoiced at the gleaming new insights provided at every twist and Gary Pomeroy [viola] Christopher Murray [cello] turn of sustained arguments … an essential set for any true music lover.” The Strad, April 2016
“Russian interpreters have tended to dominate this repertoire in the catalogue, so it’s good to hear these outstanding young British musicians in still relatively neglected works...the Heath players pour out Tchaikovsky’s grief for his friend with a depth of tone and virtuosity – in the allegros – that matches the finest Russians on disc. A notable debut.” Sunday Times, 20th November 2016 RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
Purcell, Locke, Blow & Gibbons Henry Purcell - A Retrospective
Renowned period ensemble The English Concert and Harry Bicket are joined by two singers at the height of their powers, bright-voiced soprano Rosemary Joshua and the graceful mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, as they delve into the musical world in which Henry Purcell was immersed. Through the course of this concert, recorded live at Wigmore Hall, we explore the music of 17th-century England; from the irresistible Suite from 'The Tempest' by Matthew Locke to John Blow’s spritely Chaconne in G, crowned by beautifully crafted and luminous songs by Purcell himself.
Matthew Locke: The Tempest (Incidental Music) 01 I. The First Musick: Introduction | 02 II. The First Musick: Galliard 03 III. The First Musick: Gavot 04 IV. The Second Musick: Saraband | 05 V. The Second Musick: Lilk Henry Purcell 06 If music be the food of love Z379b | 07 Draw near, you lovers Z462 08 Oh! the sweet delights of love from Dioclesian Label: Wigmore Hall Live Matthew Locke: The Tempest (Incidental Music) File Under: Classical/Secular 09 VI. The Second Musick: Curtain Tune | 10 VII. The Second Musick: The First Act Tune 'Rustick Air' Vocal music 11 VIII. The Second Act Tune 'Minoit' | 12 IX. The Second Musick: The Third Act Tune 'Corant' Catalogue No: WHLIVE0087 13 X. The Second Musick: The Fourth Act Tune 'A Martial Jigge' Barcode: 5065000924881 14 XII. The Second Musick: The Conclusion 'A Canon 4 in 2' MID Price Henry Purcell Format: 1 CD 15 Music for a while from Oedipus | 16 Oh! fair Cedaria hide those eyes Z402 17 My dearest, my fairest from Pausanias, the Betrayer of his Country Packaging: cristal 18 John Blow: Chaconne in G Rosemary Joshua, Henry Purcell Sarah Connolly, 19 O solitude, my sweetest choice Z406 | 20 Sweeter than roses from Pausanias, the Betrayer of his Country The English Concert, Christopher Gibbons: Fantasy-Suite in D minor Harry Bicket 21 Fantasy | 22 Allman | 23 Galliard Henry Purcell 24 One charming night from The Fairy Queen | 25 The plaint from The Fairy Queen 26 Love, thou art best from The Female Virtuosos | 27 Chaconne from The Fairy Queen 28 They shall be as happy as they're fair from The Fairy Queen RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
The Alehouse Sessions
Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene
'The Alehouse Sessions', curated and devised by Bjarte Eike, is an evolving insight into the music of the English 17th Century tavern. It shines light onto this tumultuous period through Purcell overtures, English sea shanties and Scandinavian folk songs, thrown in for good measure, brilliantly evoking the atmosphere of a raucous port pub in the 1690s. These sessions have already been hailed as "irresistible" [The Times], "superb" [The Scotsman] and "fabulously unrestrained" by The Guardian, "creating the effect of a late night jamming session", said BBC Music Magazine. "The signature of this project is the interaction on stage between the players and the audience...drawing its inspiration from the Shakespearian theatre where there was a direct communication between stage and hall", says Bjarte Eike. 'The 'Alehouse Sessions' will be on tour throughout 2017.
1 Wallom Green - from ”the English dancing master” 1651 (John Playford 1623-1686). Arr. BE 2 Curtain tune - from ”Timon of Athens” (Henry Purcell 1659-1695). Arr. BaS Label: Rubicon 3 Lead me - aria: Oh! Lead me to some peaceful gloom, (Purcell) + Italian Rant (EDM). Arr. BaS/BE File Under: Classical/Instrumental 4 Haul Away Joe - Trad. English sea shanty. Arr. BaS/TG, Lyrics: TG Catalogue No: RCD1017 5 Johnny Faa - Trad Scottish tune from 17th century. Arr. BE 6 The hole in the wall - Hornpipe from Abdelazer (Purcell). Arr. BaS/BE Barcode: 5065002149169 7 Virgin Queen set - Virgin Queen + Stingo + Bobbing Joe (EDM). Arr. BE/BaS NORMAL Price 8 Pass around the grog - Trad sea shanty. Arr. TG Format: 1 CD 9 Travel set - Springar fra Bjerkreim – Norwegian, Kat. Oggie from Scotland, Contillion – from Mestmachers collection of Packaging: digipack tunes, Norway, Første brudestyk´- wedding tune from Denmark, The Shaalds o’Foula – trad Shetland. Arr: BE/BaS, except Springar fra Bjerkreim: Helge Andreas Norbakken Arrangements: BE = Bjarte Eike 10 I drew my ship - I drew my ship into the harbour – trad English ballade from 19th Century. Arr. BE/BaS TG = Thomas Guthrie 11 Carolan’s Cup - Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Arr. BaS/BE BaS = Barokksolistene 12 The Canadian set - Trad Canadian Reels, aka 'La traversée' after the band Le Vent du Nord. Arr. BE EDM= Playford's English Dancing Master 13 Leave her Johnny - trad English sea shanty. Arr. & lyrics: TG Promotion via BBC Music Magazine & Gramophone online CONCERTS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGQZj_rU2Cc 10/06/2017 Salisbury Festival, Salisbury Arts Centre 12/06/2017 Bush Hall London 26/10/2017 University of Edinburgh 27/10/2017 St Andrews Voices Festival 29/10/2017 Shakespeare's Globe, Wanamaker Theatre RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
The Alehouse Sessions
'The Alehouse Sessions', curated and devised by Bjarte Eike, is an evolving insight into the music of the English 17th Century tavern. It shines light onto this tumultuous period through Purcell overtures, English sea shanties and Scandinavian folk songs, thrown in for good measure, brilliantly evoking the atmosphere of a raucous port pub in the 1690s. These sessions have already been hailed as "irresistible" [The Times], "superb" [The Scotsman] and "fabulously unrestrained" by The Guardian, "creating the effect of a late night jamming session"said BBC Music Magazine. "The signature of this project is the interaction on stage between the players and the audience...drawing its inspiration from the Shakespearian theatre where there was a direct communication between stage and hall", says Bjarte Eike. 'The Alehouse Sessions' will be on tour throughout 2017.
1 Wallom Green - from ”the English dancing master” 1651 (John Playford 1623-1686). Arr. BE 2 Curtain tune - from ”Timon of Athens” (Henry Purcell 1659-1695). Arr. BaS 3 Lead me - aria: Oh! Lead me to some peaceful gloom, (Purcell) + Italian Rant (EDM). Arr. BaS/BE 4 Haul Away Joe - Trad. English sea shanty. Arr. BaS/TG, Lyrics: TG 5 Johnny Faa - Trad Scottish tune from 17th century. Arr. BE Label: Rubicon 6 The hole in the wall - Hornpipe from Abdelazer (Purcell). Arr. BaS/BE File Under: Classical/Instrumental 7 Virgin Queen set - Virgin Queen + Stingo + Bobbing Joe (EDM). Arr. BE/BaS Catalogue No: RLP1017 8 Pass around the grog - Trad sea shanty. Arr. TG Barcode: 5065002149916 9 Travel set - Springar fra Bjerkreim – Norwegian, Kat. Oggie from Scotland, Contillion – from Mestmachers collection of NORMAL Price tunes, Norway, Første brudestyk´- wedding tune from Denmark, The Shaalds o’Foula – trad Shetland. Format: 1 LP Arr: BE/BaS, except Springar fra Bjerkreim: Helge Andreas Norbakken 10 I drew my ship - I drew my ship into the harbour – trad English ballade from 19th Century. Arr. BE/BaS Packaging: Gatefold 11 Carolan’s Cup - Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Arr. BaS/BE Arrangements: BE = Bjarte Eike 12 The Canadian set - Trad Canadian Reels, aka 'La traversée' after the band Le Vent du Nord. Arr. BE TG = Thomas Guthrie 13 Leave her Johnny - trad English sea shanty. Arr. & lyrics: TG BaS = Barokksolistene EDM= Playford's English Dancing Master UK CONCERTS: 10/06/2017 Salisbury Festival, Salisbury Arts Centre Promotion via BBC Music Magazine & Gramophone online 12/06/2017 Bush Hall London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGQZj_rU2Cc 26/10/2017 University of Edinburgh 27/10/2017 St Andrews Voices Festival 29/10/2017 Shakespeare's Globe, Wanamaker Theatre RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
Occhi Turchini Songs from Calabria Pino de Vittorio Laboratorio '600
With 'Occhi Turchini' the inspiring singer, instrumentalist and actor Pino De Vittorio has returned to the recording studio, fixing his sights on the musical culture of the Italian region of Calabria. For this new recording for Glossa, Franco Pavan and his Laboratorio ’600 have been researching the rich, historical musical texture of the region, known as the 'toe' of the Italian 'boot'. Most recently, singer and ensemble worked together on the 'Siciliane' recording, also for the Spanish label. This new programme embraces traditional songs, examples of the adulteration of local language for comic effect in Baroque Neapolitan opera, and even a parody of the text for the Te Deum in the same Calabrian; but also reflections of Byzantine, Greek, Albanian and Arabic cultures which have permeated the region over the centuries. Pino De Vittorio, a veritable powerhouse of mood, is the ideal vocal interpreter for this multi- layered chequer-board of the region’s cultural history, with Pavan and his ensemble imparting colourful accompaniment for De Vittorio or spirited Label: Glossa solo playing in instrumental works such as the 'Tarantella ’nfuocata', 'La calabrisella', and especially the 'Canzona a File Under: Classical/Secular morto', played on the harp by Flora Papadopoulos. Pavan, as well as playing theorbo and the Calabrian chitarra batente, Vocal music also acts – through his booklet essay – as guide across this rugged, isolated, but immensely rich cultural terrain. Catalogue No: GCDP33002 01 Occhi turchini | 02 La scillitana | 03 Frasca | 04 La fija du marinaru | 05 Tarantella ‘nfuocata Barcode: 8424562230026 06 Si parti la Madona | 07 A spuntunera | 08 Xaccara calabrese, spagnuola NORMAL Price 09 Arietta grica | 10 Matajola | 11 Te deum de’ calabresi | 12 Canzona a morto Format: 1 CD 13 Sonata dopo la canzone | 14 Amicu, hai vintu | 15 La calabrisella | 16 Capiddi di sita Packaging: digipack 17 Veni sonne di la mntagnella | 18 Romaica calabreisa | 19 Kopile moj kopile
Pino de Vittorio [voice, chitarra battente & ALSO AVAILABLE: percussion] Laboratorio '600: GCDP33001 Siciliane: The Songs of an Island Fabio Accurso [lute] “Wow, what a voice… a disciplined natural voice with an experienced actor’s dedication to the projection of words and Elisa La Marca [lute & theorbo] meaning, and boy, can he put a song across. And bang in tune, I might add… these Sicilian traditional songs are simply Flora Papadopoulos [harp] wonderful… its astonishing good” Early Music Review, August 2013 Franco Pavan [theorbo, chitarra battente & direction] RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
Siècle
A century of French music for cello is the focus of a fascinating programme from Leonard Elschenbroich. The two cello concertos on this album, composed 100 years apart frame Debussy’s late cello sonata, Ravel’s 'Habanera' and movement 5 of Messiaen’s 'Quartet for the End of Time'. These compositions span years of the Franco-Prussian War, the First and Second World wars, and into the 1970s: a whole distant world. Former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, Leonard Elschenbroich’s debut CD for Onyx Classics of Sonatas by Rachmaninov and Shostakovich was released in 2013 and received 5-star reviews from The Telegraph, Guardian as well as Editor’s Choice in Gramophone. His second disc was released in 2014 and featured Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto No 2 with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Litton. A third disc included works by, and his personal tribute to, Schnittke. Future releases will include concertos by Saint-Saens and Dutilleux with the BBC Scottish Symphony. He plays a cello made by Matteo Goffriller “Leonard Rose” (Venice, 1693), on private loan.
Also available on ONYX: ONYX4116 Rachmaninov & Shostakovich Cello Sonatas "young cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and Ukrainian-born pianist Alexie Grynyuk breathe virile new life into the Label: Onyx Classics music...rarely with such tingling sensation that its dramatic trajectory has been charted with such consummate File Under: Classical/Orchestral perception...or that its heart has been so intuitively struck" Gramophone Catalogue No: ONYX4173 "there’s no mistaking the intensity and commitment that Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk bring to it, and the Barcode: 880040417323 closing pages, which look unflinchingly towards extinction, are unnerving in the extreme. Its companion piece, radically NORMAL Price different, is Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata, in which Grynyuk’s energy and Elschenbroich’s sense of poetry are joyously to Format: 1 CD the fore. Exceptional." The Guardian Packaging: cristal ONYX4122 Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No.2, Prokofiev Cello Sonata “Never has this often underestimated work [the Prokofiev Sonata] seemed more rich in incident and so eloquently Leonard Elschenbroich [cello] expressive.” BBC Music Magazine, February 2015 ***** BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra ONYX4180 Schnittke – Musica Nostalgica John Wilson*, Stefan Blunier** [conductors] "from the brilliant attitudinal extremes of the Sonata No 1 (with its blazing whirlwind of a scherzo, played with venomous Alexei Grynyuk*** [piano] energy) and the charm of Suite in the Old Style, to the elegiac timelessness of the Madrigal In Memoriam Oleg Kagan.
Dutilleux: Cello Concerto ‘Tout un monde The disc ends with Elsenbroich’s own Shards of Alfred Schnittke, a consummately written reflection on the composer.” lontain’* The Scotsman, 31st January 2017 Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No.1** Messiaen: ‘Louange’ from Quartet for the end of Promotion on BBC Music Magazine website Time*** Debussy: Cello Sonata*** Ravel: Habanera*** RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
BACH: Motets BWV225-230 La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken
The debate surrounding Bach's vocal scoring has mostly focused on the cantatas and Passions. The evidence for Joshua Rifkin's hypothesis of single voices is found among the sources of these works. Bach's motets have featured rather less in the debate. La Petite Bande and Sigiswald Kuijken present on their recording ,from the early 1990s, something between the 'authentic' early performance style and a general choral sound, with 3 voices per part.
1 Komm, Jesu, komm BWV 229 9:19 double choir, instruments & basso continuo 2 Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir BWV 228 8:17 double choir, string instruments & basso continuo 3 Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden BWV 230 6:03 choir, string instruments & basso continuo Label: Accent Records 4 Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf BWV 226 8:12 soloists, double choir, instruments & basso continuo File Under: Classical/Choral 5 Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227 21:12 Catalogue No: ACC24331 soloists, 5 part choir, string instruments & basso continuo Barcode: 4015023243316 6 Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 225 12:51 MID Price soloists, double choir, instruments & basso continuo Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack soloists: soprano: Greta De Reyghere, Katelijne Van Laethem alto: Martin van der Zeyst [1, 2], Sytse Buwalda [4, 5] tenor: Hans Hermann Jansen baritone: Johannes-Christoph Happel La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
MOZART: Flute Quartets
Mozart’s four flute quartets date from the 1770s and 1780s. Those in D (K285) and G (K285a) are probably products of a Mannheim commission, while the C major (K285b) and A major (K298) Quartets belong to the early to mid-1780s when Mozart was in Vienna. Mozart’s flute quartets are central to the classical flute repertoire. The fact that Mozart held the instrument in rather low regard did not stop him from writing some of his loveliest music for it. The composer’s characteristic charm, wit, beauty and elegance are in evidence throughout. The present recording with Barthold Kuijken dates March 1982 and is regarded as one the most beautiful interpretations of these works.
1-3 Quartet in D major KV285 4-5 Quartet in G major KV285a 6-7 Quartet in C major KV285b 8-10 Quartet in A major KV298 Label: Accent Records File Under: Classical/Chamber music Catalogue No: ACC24329 Barcode: 4015023243293 MID Price Format: 1 CD Packaging: digipack
Barthold Kuijken [transverse flute] Sigiswald Kuijken [violin] Lucy van Dael [viola] Wieland Kuijken [cello] RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
FRANCK: Complete Organ Works
The œuvre of César Franck (1822-1890) is certainly the most outstanding and touching in the 19th-century French organ repertory. It consists of twelve large-scale works whose fame is now universal. In the recording made by Georges Kisselhoff on the Cavaillé-Coll organ of Luçon Cathedral in 1975, the timbres and textures of these pieces acquire an exceptionally attractive dimension. At the time, this complete set confirmed the extraordinary musical maturity of André Isoir.
“When you go into a church and see those great metal pipes gleaming in the shadows, and then imagine one man making all of that work, you really want to be that man yourself. You have to admit that the organ is an instrument you get attached to.” Born in Saint-Dizier, north-eastern France, in 1935, André Isoir studied music at the Ecole César Franck, where Edouard Souberbielle was his organ professor and Germaine Mounier taught him piano. He died in 2016 on his 81st birthday. Isoir Label: La Dolce Volta leaves a significant recorded legacy, including a comprehensive survey of the organ works of Nicolas de Grigny, an acclaimed César Franck series, on the organ of Luçon Cathedral, and the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the NHK File Under: Classical/Instrumental Symphony Orchestra Tokyo. But it is as an interpreter of the works of JS Bach that he will be primarily remembered: his Catalogue No: LDV1768 recordings on the Calliope label (recently reissued on La dolce volta) are widely regarded as some of the finest Barcode: 3770001902296 interpretations of these works on disc, winning numerous prestigious awards including the ‘Choc de l’année’ prize in 2 FOR 1 Price 2000 and many ‘Grands Prix du Disque’ throughout the 1970s and 80s. Format: 2 CD Packaging: digipack Fantaisie in A major, M35, Fantaisie in C major, Op.16, Prière, Op.20, Cantabile, M36, Grande Pièce Symphonique in F sharp minor, Op. 17, Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18 André Isoir [organ] Trois Chorals pour grand orgue, M. 38-40, Pièce héroïque, M37, Final in B flat, Op. 21 RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
GRIGNY: Complete Organ Works Messe pour orgue, Les cinq hymnes André Isoir
Composed of a Mass and five Hymns, the 'Livre d’Orgue' of Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703), published in 1699, is one of the high points of the French Classical organ literature. The collection is remarkable for the density of its style, which combines learned counterpoint with a bold and sumptuous harmonic language. It is hardly surprising that Bach himself personally copied out this work by the Reims-born composer, thus conferring on him a distinction unique in the entire French organ school. André Isoir’s version, recorded by Georges Kisselhoff in 1972, offers the ideal introduction to Grigny’s world.
“When you go into a church and see those great metal pipes gleaming in the shadows, and then imagine one man making all of that work, you really want to be that man yourself. You have to admit that the organ is an instrument you get attached to.” Born in Saint-Dizier, north-eastern France, in 1935, André Isoir studied music at the Ecole César Franck, where Edouard Label: La Dolce Volta Souberbielle was his organ professor and Germaine Mounier taught him piano. He died in 2016 on his 81st birthday. Isoir File Under: Classical/Instrumental leaves a significant recorded legacy, including a comprehensive survey of the organ works of Nicolas de Grigny, an Catalogue No: LDV1490 acclaimed César Franck series, on the organ of Luçon Cathedral, and the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo. But it is as an interpreter of the works of JS Bach that he will be primarily remembered: his Barcode: 3770001902319 recordings on the Calliope label (recently reissued on La dolce volta) are widely regarded as some of the finest 2 FOR 1 Price interpretations of these works on disc, winning numerous prestigious awards including the ‘Choc de l’année’ prize in Format: 2 CD 2000 and many ‘Grands Prix du Disque’ throughout the 1970s and 80s. Packaging: digipack
André Isoir [organ] RELEASE DATE 9TH JUNE 2017
COUPERIN: Complete Organ Works Messe à l'usages des Couvents, Messe à l'usages des Paroisses André Isoir
François Couperin (1668-1733) was only 22 when he published his ‘Organ Pieces consisting of two Masses’. Although this was destined to remain his sole contribution to the organ repertory, its enchanting freshness, sensibility and maturity make it one of the masterpieces of that corpus. André Isoir’s interpretation of the 'Messe des paroisses' and 'Messe pour les couvents' charms and surprises the listener with its free approach to ornamentation. This complete recording, engineered by Georges Kisselhoff in 1973, is an indispensable landmark in the golden age of the French organ.
“When you go into a church and see those great metal pipes gleaming in the shadows, and then imagine one man making all of that work, you really want to be that man yourself. You have to admit that the organ is an instrument you get attached to.” Born in Saint-Dizier, north-eastern France, in 1935, André Isoir studied music at the Ecole César Franck, where Edouard Souberbielle was his organ professor and Germaine Mounier taught him piano. He died in 2016 on his 81st birthday. Isoir Label: La Dolce Volta leaves a significant recorded legacy, including a comprehensive survey of the organ works of Nicolas de Grigny, an File Under: Classical/Instrumental acclaimed César Franck series, on the organ of Luçon Cathedral, and the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the NHK Catalogue No: LDV1478 Symphony Orchestra Tokyo. But it is as an interpreter of the works of JS Bach that he will be primarily remembered: his recordings on the Calliope label (recently reissued on La dolce volta) are widely regarded as some of the finest Barcode: 3770001902326 interpretations of these works on disc, winning numerous prestigious awards including the ‘Choc de l’année’ prize in 2 FOR 1 Price 2000 and many ‘Grands Prix du Disque’ throughout the 1970s and 80s. Format: 2 CD Packaging: digipack
André Isoir [organ]