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Presto News - 30th March 2009BIS and the Sibelius Edition |
 The new Sibelius Edition on Swedish record label BIS is quickly turning into one of the finest discographies of any composer ever made. In the past Philips were of course famous for their complete Mozart Edition, and DG for their Complete Beethoven Edition, but both of these notable achievements pale into the shadows when compared to the treatment that Sibelius is receiving from BIS.  Jean Sibelius The label BIS was founded by Robert von Bahr back in 1973 and ever since then it has been one of his dreams to record every note which the great composer wrote. Since the mid 1980s they have released a steady flow of recordings featuring everything from the most popular (such as symphonies and violin concerto) to the very rare, previously unrecorded gems. And in 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Sibelius's death, they began repackaging these into a new series of 13 volumes spread over 65 discs which, when complete, will contain the composer's complete output. The series, being drawn mainly but not exclusively from previously recorded material, has just past the halfway point – having recently reached Volume 7, and as we’ve just started a 25% off BIS special offer it seemed a good moment to mention it. I hold Robert von Bahr and his label in the highest regard. The sound quality of their recordings is consistently superb, and they only make recordings where they feel they have something new to say. As a result they generally steer clear of the major repertoire and concentrate on less well-known works and composers – people like Martinu, Nielsen, Leifs, Skalkottas and Holmboe for example. When they do go more mainstream it is normally with quite stunning results - Osmo Vänskä’s Beethoven cycle with Minnesota, and Suzuki’s ongoing Bach Cantata cycle being two of the more recent obvious examples. In matters of sound quality BIS have always been pushing the boundaries. Many of Neeme Järvi's Sibelius recordings for example released back in the 1980s came with a big red ‘WARNING’ notice on the front, and a explanation on the back that read: “Contrary to established practice this recording retains the staggering dynamics of the ORIGINAL performance. This may damage your loudspeakers, but given first-rate playback equipment you are guaranteed a truly remarkable musical and audio experience. Good luck” Although this seems at first somewhat over the top, I think too many recordings these days fall into the ‘mezzo-piano to mezzo forte only’ range, which of course is essential if you want to listen to it in the car or have it on in the background whilst doing something else. But if you want to sit down and listen to a work as you might hear it in the concert hall (and incidentally as the composer actually wrote it), ranging from the quietist barely audible pianissimo to the loudest almost ear-ringing fortissimo, then that is a completely different experience, and BIS is definitely the label for you. Browse BIS Special Offer:
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases30th March 2009 |
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. |
 Bach, J S: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 & 2 (New 2008 recording)Angela Hewitt (piano)Ten years ago Angela Hewitt recorded a version of The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I which dazzled the critical world and record-buying public. It was followed shortly afterwards by Book II which was similarly received. Now, fresh from her Bach World Tour - in which she performed the complete Well-Tempered Clavier from August 2007 until the end of October 2008 in 58 cities in 21 countries on six continents - Angela has made an entirely new recording of this most iconic of keyboard works. |
 Telemann: Brockes PassionRIAS Kammerchor & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René JacobsRené Jacobs has more than once proved himself an eloquent advocate for Telemann's vocal music, notably with his fine recording of his opera, Orpheus (harmonia mundi). Now, 18 years after Nicholas McGegan's long deleted version of the Brockes Passion (Hungaroton), comes another chance to become acquainted with this richly rewarding score whose text, with its highly charged emotional language, combines to create some startlingly vivid imagery. |
 Bach, J S: Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin, BWV1001-1006Viktoria Mullova (violin)“To hear Mullova play Bach is, simply, one of the greatest things you can experience”, wrote the London Guardian. ONYX now proudly announces Viktoria Mullova’s first complete recording of the Bach Sonatas & Partitas. Sure to be one of the major releases of 2009. |
 Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E flat major 'Symphony of the Thousand'London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Valery GergievRecorded at St Paul's Cathedral last July, this is the sixth title in Gergiev's mighty Mahler cycle. "two performances bringing Gergiev's Mahler cycle to a triumphant close. Gergiev caught the crucial moment of expectation to perfection. But in the end it was the shattering power of several hundred voices, an expanded orchestra and full cathedral organ that delivered the mightiest of Mahler's symphonies with the sonic splendour it demands." London Evening Standard |
 Contemporaries of Mozart - Georg Joseph (Abbé) VoglerLondon Mozart Players, Matthias BamertThe celebrated Contemporaries of Mozart series continues apace with the compositions of German composer George Joseph Vogler. The London Mozart Players, who celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2009, perform under the direction of Matthias Bamert. |
 Eccles - The Judgment of Paris & Three Mad SongsThe Early Opera Company, Christian CurnynChristian Curnyn, whose reputation continues to grow in the world of Baroque opera, here conducts the world premiere recording of Judgment of Paris performed by the award-winning Early Opera Company, along with a stellar cast of soloists. One of the earliest all-sung English operas, this one-act opera by John Eccles was composed in 1700 for a competition advertised in the London Gazette. |
 Music from the Chirk Castle Part-BooksThe Brabant Ensemble, Stephen RiceThis disc presents a selection of works from the Chirk Castle part-books, a fascinating collection of devotional music from the Tudor period that remained hidden in the castle library for three hundred years. The Chirk manuscripts contain works for unaccompanied voices as well as verse anthems and services, scored for solo voices, chorus and organ. This recording focuses on the unaccompanied items, presenting for the first time a selection of the ‘full’ services and anthems found in the manuscripts, including seven unique to the Chirk collection. |
 Rubinstein - Cello SonatasJirí Bárta (cello) & Hamish Milne (piano)Remembered today principally as one of the greatest of all nineteenth-century piano virtuosos, Rubinstein was also a celebrated composer in his day who produced a large number of works with an enviable ease and fluency. His two Cello Sonatas are recorded here by Czech cellist Jirí Bárta and Romantic specialist Hamish Milne on a thoroughly enjoyable new disc. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 28th March 2009 |
Building a Library - Fauré: String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121 |
 First ChoiceQuatuor Ebène |
Disc of the Week |
 Mozart - Sonatas for Fortepiano & ViolinPetra Müllejans (violin) & Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano) |
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