NEW RELEASE INFORMATION RONALD CORP: STRING, PAPER, WOOD REBECCA DE PONT DAVIES, MEZZO-SOPRANO ANDREW MARRINER, CLARINET MAGGINI STRING QUARTET JOHN TATTERSDILL, DOUBLE BASS CD RELEASE DATE: 25 February 2013 Stone Records is delighted to announce its fourth CD of music by Ronald Corp OBE. This disc is made up of three chamber works, all world-première recordings. Corp’s Third String Quartet is, unlike his earlier two quartets, not intended as programme music, and is simply beautiful music for its own sake. By complete contrast, the central piece is a setting of an adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. A thrilling mini psychological drama, this powerful piece grips the listener as the angst of the protagonist is played out. The final piece is a clarinet quintet written in honour of the 19th-century polymath Joseph Crawhall. The committed performances on this disc communicate Corp’s every intention in the varying demands of these diverse compositions. The booklet contains full notes by the composer, as well as illustrating some wood engravings by Joseph Crawhall. This is a wonderful example of an English composer writing engaging, lyric, dramatic music, that will appeal to a wide audience. CRITICAL ACCLAIM “The First Quartet, which draws its inspiration from the character and habitat of that noble bird the bustard, is, like its companion piece, well made and securely in an English tradition voiced with supple energy.” The Telegraph “Ronald Corp is Britain's most prolific choral conductor-composer, and with this work he breaks fascinating new ground. The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha transmitted orally before being written down 2,000 years ago. Set for small choir, it becomes a beguiling work, full of scrunchy dissonances but graceful to the ear.” The Independent “I would suggest that one of Corp's several strengths as a song writer is his ability to reinforce and amplify his chosen texts - to add value” International Record Review CONTINUES OVERLEAF MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Stone at Stone Records Ltd Tel: 07595 534350 Email: [email protected] NEW RELEASE INFORMATION BIOGRAPHIES Ronald Corp is one of the UK’s leading composers and conductors. He is the founder and artistic director of the New London Orchestra, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008 and is also musical director of the New London Children’s Choir, the London Chorus and the Highgate Choral Society. He works regularly with the BBC Singers and has also conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the RTE Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra. His list of compositions is extensive and includes choral, instrumental and orchestral works. His handbook The Choral Singer’s Companion has also been published in its third edition. The first recording of his songs The songs of Ronald Corp was released on Stone Records in 2010, followed by two discs of choral music: Dhammapada and Things I Didn’t Say. Rebecca de Pont Davies is one of the leading singer actors of her generation. Recent engagements include Geneviève in Pelléas et Mélisande at the Aalto Musiktheater in Essen, conducted by Stefan Soltesz, her first Klytemnestra for Opera North, Auntie in David Alden's award-winning production of Peter Grimes at ENO, Vlaamse Opera, and Opera de Oviedo, her debut in Germany as Mrs Sedley in a new production of Peter Grimes for Deutsche Oper am Rhein Dusseldorf, her first Herodias and Die Hexe for Theater Bielefeld, Beggar Woman Sweeney Todd, in a new production for Théâtre du Châtelet Paris, Aunt Kaye in the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage's Anna Nicole at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Bronka in Steinberg's The Passenger for ENO. Andrew Marriner became principal of the London Symphony Orchestra in 1986 following the footsteps of the late Jack Brymer. During his orchestral career he has also maintained his place on the worldwide solo concert platform alongside an active role in the field of chamber music. As a soloist Andrew has been a regular performer in the UK and abroad performing with Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Antonio Pappano, Andre Previn, Rostropovic, Michael Tilson Thomas, Valery Gergiev and Sir Neville Marriner. Andrew has also given world premieres of concertos written for him by Robin Holloway, Dominic Muldowney and John Tavener. The Maggini Quartet, formed in 1988, is one of the finest British string quartets. Its commitment to new music has led to important commissions including works by James MacMillan, Robert Simpson, Eleanor Alberga, Roxanna Panufnik and Ronald Corp. They appear in prestigious concert series at home and abroad and make regular broadcasts. Recent international visits have included Dubai, Switzerland and the Netherlands and they tour in Norway every summer. www.stonerecords.co.uk ENDS Artists: Rebecca de Pont Davies (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Marriner (clarinet), Maggini String Quartet, John Tattersdill (double bass) Disc: Ronald Corp: String, Paper, Wood Label: Stone Records Catalogue number/barcode: 5060192780246 Release date: 25 February 2013 Track Listing: 1. String Quartet No.3 - I. Allegro piacevole* 2. String Quartet No.3 - II. Cantilena and scherzo* 3. String Quartet No.3 - III. Allegro giocoso* 4. The Yellow Wallpaper - An ancestral hall for the summer* 5. The Yellow Wallpaper - We took the nursery at the top of the house* 6. The Yellow Wallpaper - I don’t know why I should write this* 7. The Yellow Wallpaper - It changes as the light changes* 8. The Yellow Wallpaper - The smell* 9. The Yellow Wallpaper - Only two more days to get this paper off* 10. Clarinet Quintet (‘Crawhall’) - I. Semplice - Allegro energico* 11. Clarinet Quintet (‘Crawhall’) - II. Andante* 12. Clarinet Quintet (‘Crawhall’) - III. Allegretto grazioso* 13. Clarinet Quintet (‘Crawhall’) - IV. Allegro vivace* *world-première recording MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Stone at Stone Records Ltd Tel: 07595 534350 Email: [email protected] .