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Presto News - 15th September 2008Vernon Handley |
 With the death of Vernon Handley (who died last Wednesday aged 77), classical music has lost one of its finest conductors, a master of his craft and a tireless champion of British music. Indeed, Tod (as he was known to his friends) devoted most of his life to British repertoire and it is thanks to him that many of us have had the opportunity to get to know the works of Bliss, Finzi, Howells, Rubbra and Bridge. Of Handley’s 160 recordings, over 90 were of British music, including 87 works which had not been recorded before. His discography includes all the symphonies of Bax, Vaughan Williams, Stanford, Arnold and Robert Simpson, all the major works of Elgar and the whole of Moeran’s orchestral music.  Vernon Handley After studying double bass at the Guildhall School of Music, he managed to make friends with Sir Adrian Boult and soon became his assistant. As a result, Tod learned restraint, and that the conductor's gestures should be only for the orchestra, not the public. Indeed Tod's podium behaviour was even less demonstrative than that of the great Sir Adrian. Some people have commented that this lack of showmanship (combined with his devotion to unfashionable repertoire) impeded the advancement of his career, and it is certainly true that he never landed a really top job. However, his utterly reliable technique, combined with his profound musical insight and warm personality (not to mention his wit) meant that he enjoyed long-lasting and affectionate relationships with orchestras throughout the world, and his large and impressive discography bear witness to that. Although he did of course conduct other music as well, his real forte was that span of English music from Stanford through to Walton and beyond, where he brought unmatched passion, lyricism and sheer truth to it. We shall not forget him, because he has left us with so many marvellous recordings of the music he did best. If you want to explore his recordings further we have a complete Vernon Handley discography here. I should also mention that - by sheer co-incidence - we’ve just started a special offer on the Lyrita label, on which he made many of his potentially more interesting recordings. There are some real gems in here, such as a recording of the Finzi Cello Concerto from 1979 featuring Yo-Yo Ma as soloist making his first ever recording. You can view all the Lyrita Vernon Handley discs here.
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases15th September 2008 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Britten: Billy BuddNathan Gunn, Ian Bostridge, Gidon Saks, Neal Davies, Jonathan Lemalu & Matthew Rose, London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Daniel HardingAfter the award-winning recording of Britten’s Turn of the Screw, released on Virgin Classics in 2002, Daniel Harding and Ian Bostridge meet again around Britten in his great masterpiece, Billy Budd. This new recording is a new asset to the label, which has planned a complete Britten opera cycle. |
 Mozart - Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 22Jonathan Biss (piano), Orpheus Chamber OrchestraThe young, articulate and passionate American pianist, Jonathan Biss returns with his much anticipated disc of Mozart’s Piano Concerti Nos. 21 and 22. At only 27, he has already established a flourishing international career, both in recital and orchestral performances, and this disc promises much. |
 Bryn Terfel - First LoveBryn TerfelBryn Terfel returns with his stunning new album 'First Love - Songs from the British Isles' which explores the whole of Britain with 16 beautiful songs providing an incredible musical journey. Includes The Turtle Dove (England); Loch Lomond (Scotland); Cariad cyntaf (Wales) ;and Molly Malone (Ireland) - all of which were performed at the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday night. |
 LamentiLe Concert Astrée, Emmanuelle HaimEmmanuelle Haim follows her 2006 recording of Monteverdi’s Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda with an unusual and inventive programme on the theme of the Lamento, the literary and dramatic form that found its seventeenth-century musical archetype in Monteverdi’s celebrated Lamento d’Arianna. |
 Brahms - Piano WorksLibor Novacek (piano)“The Sonata is among Brahms's least-recorded piano works, and though there are excellent versions available from, among others, Katchen and Richter… I feel Novacek may have set a new benchmark here, while his Op. 76 stands out strongly from other accounts. Altogether an impressive release.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2008 ***** |
 Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D MinorOrchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, Yannick Nézet-SéguinYannick Nézet-Séguin is an international phenomenon. In August 2008 he makes his debut at the Salzburg Festival conducting Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” and the Mozart C minor Mass. In September he takes over as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, replacing Valery Gergiev. The same month he assumes the role of Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic. ATMA released Nézet-Séguin’s recording of the Bruckner Symphony 7 last year and Symphony No. 8 will be recorded in 2009. |
 6 new DVD taken live from the Metropolitan OperaSix recent live opera performances from the Metropolitan Opera – Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Verdi's Macbeth, Tan Dun's The First Emperor, Puccini's La bohème and Manon Lescaut, and Britten's Peter Grimes. |
 Bizet: CarmenJonas Kaufmann, Anna Caterina Antonacci, The Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Antonio PappanoWith Anna Caterina Antonacci and Jonas Kaufmann bringing rare erotic intensity to the drama of Carmen and Don Jose, this new Royal Opera production is a darkly passionate reading of one of the world's favourite operas. Under the baton of Music Director Antonio Pappano, Bizet's irresistible score drives the tragedy forward - powering a landmark staging of a musical masterpiece. Jonas Kaufmann smoulders as Don Jose in this acclaimed production recorded at the Royal Opera House, London in 2007. |
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