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Presto News - 20th October 2008Sir Peter Moores |
 It will come as a surprise to many that, arguably, one of the most important people in opera over the last thirty years is not a singer, conductor or director, but simply a very generous man who has a deep love for (and knowledge of) opera. Sir Peter Moores' philanthropic work began in his twenties when he gave financial help to a number of young artists in the crucial, early stages of their careers, several of whom - Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Colin Davis and the late Sir Geraint Evans amongst them – went on to became leaders in their field.  Sir Peter Moores He is now 76 and the support for talented young singers still goes on, the likes of Alice Coote, Toby Spence and Simon Keenlyside being just a few of the illustrious current generation. This you would have thought would have been enough, but not for Sir Peter Moores for, in addition to this support of young singers, his foundation has also enabled nearly one hundred opera recordings to be made in addition to many discs of recitals and highlights. Recording opera in English translation developed from Peter Moores' determination that Reginald Goodall's 'English' Ring cycle in London in the early 1970s should be recorded 'live' for posterity. This was followed by many others recorded both live and in the studio and the collection which now numbers over 50 operas is found on Chandos's Opera in English series. Now I have to admit that I (like I imagine many others) have some reservations about recording opera in English, for while in theory it is a lot easier to understand an opera when sung in your native language, in practice it is very hard to hear the words. But quite apart from the language debate, some of the recordings have been so outstanding that they’ve been first choices anyway. Already this year for example we’ve had that very famous ‘lost’ Goodall Mastersinger, and out next week is a brand new recording of Richard Strauss’s Salome under Sir Charles Mackerras with leading dramatic soprano Susan Bullock in the title role. The Peter Moores Foundation also collaborates on many recordings with Opera Rara, a specialist label founded by the late Patric Schmid, devoted to the exploration, restoration and recording of the lost operatic heritage of the 19th century. Opera Rara's recordings have brought forgotten musical treasures to life, making them widely available to the public for the first time. I’m always amazed by how many of these largely unknown operas we sell, and their latest release (Bellini’s La straniera) is no exception. I’m pleased to say that it, along with the majority of the Opera Rara catalogue, is included in our current box set special offer so if you fancy exploring a few rarities it is a good time to do it. Sir Peter Moores's commitment and generosity to music, and above all opera, was marked last month with the ‘Special Achievement Award’ at this year’s Gramophone Awards. He has given so much to both musicians and music lovers and it is very satisfying to know that, through all the recordings he has enabled, music lovers, some not even born, will still be reaping the benefits in years to come.
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.jpg) Wagner: Die Meistersinger von NürnbergMargaret Curphey (soprano), Ann Robson (mezzo-soprano), Alberto Remedios (tenor), Gregory Dempsey (tenor), Norman Bailey (bass-baritone), Noel Mangin (bass), Derek Hammond Stroud (baritone) & Stafford Dean (bass) Sadlers Wells Chorus & Sadlers Wells Opera Orchestra, Reginald Goodall |
.jpg) Strauss, R: SalomeSusan Bullock (soprano), Sally Burgess (mezzo), John Graham Hall (tenor) & John Wegner (baritone), Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras |
 Bellini: La stranieraPatrizia Ciofi is Alaida (The stranger) with Mark Stone (Il barone di Valdeburgo), Darío Schmunck (Arturo), Enkelejda Shokas (Isoletta), Graeme Broadbent (Il Priore), Roland Wood (Il signore di Montolino) and Aled Hall (Osburgo), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir and The London Philharmonic Orchestra, David Parry |
Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases20th October 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. |
 René Pape - Gods, Kings and DemonsRené Pape (bass), Staatsopernchor Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden, Sebastian WeigleRene Pape’s solo debut for DG gives an overview of the roles that have made his career plus a few rarities.. Accompanied by the Dresden Staatskapelle under Sebastian Weigle, Pape performs his signature piece: King Mark’s monologue from Tristan und Isolde, as well as arias from Gounod’s Faust (the role of Méphistophélès), Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov and wonderful arias of the rarely performed Demon (Rubinstein) among others. "René Pape is an artist who thrills his audiences with charisma, intelligence and a one-in-a-million voice." Opera News |
 Pierre Boulez conducts Berg & MozartMitsuko Uchida (piano) & Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre BoulezVienna's eighteenth- and twentieth-century musical worlds meet: Pierre Boulez leads one of the world's finest pianists (Mitsuko Uchida) in Berg's Kammerkonzert and conducts Mozart's exquisite chamber work for wind, the Gran Partita. Uchida and Boulez's previous collaboration, of piano works by Schoenberg, Berg and Webern, won both a Gramophone Award. |
 Bach & Telemann - FlorilegiumLucy Crowe (soprano), FlorilegiumMusic of the two great composers Telemann and Bach, combined on this recording with the musicians of Florilegium. The two composers’ paths crossed in Leipzig; yet the different directions their lives would take was evident from early on: for Telemann the new galant style, for Bach the perfecting of his contrapunctal skills. A lovely disc here beautifully illustrates the differences including the stunning Lucy Crowe in Cantata BWV209. |
 Maurizio Pollini - Chopin RecitalMaurizio Pollini (piano)The Italian genius Maurizio Pollini again turns his attention to Chopin re-recording the famous Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 35 (recorded in 1984 and released in 1986) and the Ballade no. 2 in F (recorded and released in 1999), and adding the Mazurkas op. 33, Waltzes op. 34 and Impromptu no. 2 in F sharp major, op. 36. He approaches the works slightly more freely than he did last time but with the same extraordinary musicality and technical command. |
 Helène Grimaud - Bach vs Bach TranscribedHelène Grimaud (piano)Once again, charismatic Hélène Grimaud presents an album with an individual concept. Bach vs. Bach Transcribed brings together original keyboard works by the master with works by Bach arranged (transcribed) for the piano by pianist-composers of later generations: Busoni, Liszt, Rachmaninov. This is the first time that Hélène Grimaud has recorded Bach – a challenge for any musician. |
 Nathan Berg - Lieder RecitalNathan Berg (bass baritone) & Julius Drake (piano)Nathan Berg is already well known to audiences from his many recordings in operas, cantatas, masses and symphonies working with conductors such as Rene Jacob, William Christie and Robert Shaw. For his debut solo disc on ATMA Nathan Berg has selected a programme covering more than a century of romantic German lieder, including some of the best-loved songs of the genre by Schumann, Brahms, Strauss and Schubert. |
 Buxtehude - Organ Works 3 (Opera Omnia VIII)Ton Koopman (The Wilde/Schnitger organ (1599/1682) St. Jacobi Kirche, Lüdingworth, Germany)This is the eighth release in a series of recordings which is presenting the complete works of the highly influential 17th century composer Dieterich Buxtehude, and the third volume devoted to his organ works. The cycle is being produced by one of the world’s foremost experts in early music performance, the Dutch keyboard player and musical director Ton Koopman, who as president of the International Dieterich Buxtehude Society is considered to be the leading authority on his music. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 18th October 2008 |
Building a Library - J.S. Bach: Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1002, 1004 and 1006 |
 First Choice(The Complete Partitas and Sonatas)Rachel Podger (violin) |
Disc of the Week |
 Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minorTonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman |
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