Bruckner: Ave Maria

Daniel Taylor is one of the world’s most sought after countertenors in the world and appears on over 100 recordings. Having made his debut at Glyndebourne, he followed it by participating in Jonathan Miller’s production of Handel’s Rodelinda.

In this latest release from Canadian label Analekta, Daniel performs a disc of ‘Ave Maria’s’ written by Caccini, Schubert, Byrd, von Bingen, Monteverdi and others, so provides a definitive disc of this repertoire performed by a world class singer.

This recording is compiled from Armonico Consort's 'Naked Byrd' programme, featuring music by composers who wore their hearts on their sleeves and whose art saw their emotions laid bare, in an atmospheric concert where magical musical moments are intertwined with sublime passages of plainchant and violin improvisation.

The Armonico Consort is, at its heart, a highly talented vocal ensemble that stages a wide variety of concerts.The quality of the performances they stage is reflected in the praise they have recently received:

"Superb!" The Times

"A Beautiful Sound" BBC Radio 3

"Quite Stunning" Classic FM

"With the perfectly formed consort, it was an evening to savour" Emma Kirkby

The Vienna Boys Choir is the most famous and best known boys’ choir in the world and can look back on a history spanning more than 500 years. On this double CD the choir presents a varied programme of music with a Christmas slant, including works from the Italian Renaissance, German Romantic, and English classical modern music.

Many eminent composers (e.g. Gluck, Mozart and Bruckner) made music with the Vienna Boys Choir, and Franz Schubert was himself a member of the choir. Today there are about 100 boys in the choir, making up four concert choirs. These choirs give about 300 concerts each year worldwide. Their repertoire extends from the Middle Ages up to the present day, from classical choral music to popular and film music.

A spectacular recording of repertoire based around the works of Anton Bruckner is featured on this hybrid SACD. It has been recorded by a high-class horn ensemble accompanied by a fine pipe organ in a church located in outer Prague. On this unusual collection Radek Baborak, one of the most talented horn players in the world, leads his eight-strong horn ensemble, the Czech Horn Chorus, in arrangements, mostly by Milos Bok, of music by Bruckner.

Radek Baborak is one of the most talented horn players of his generation. He is a former principal of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the winner of many international awards. As a soloist he is a frequent guest of leading orchestras and works with many of the world’s best conductors. His repertoire comprises of horn works from the baroque period until the present.

The second in the new series from Regent charting a musical journey through the church’s year at well-loved cathedrals.

The Choir of Winchester Cathedral is regarded as one of the world’s finest choirs.

This journey in music features music appropriate to the main seasons of the church’s year, including first recordings of two works by Donald Sweeney, and the original version of John Rutter’s ‘Winchester Te Deum’ written for the Choir of Winchester Cathedral.

Features both the boy and girl choristers and men of the choir.

The Fairhaven Singers' new disc features a selection of transcendent choral works dedicated to the Virgin Mary, under the direction of Ralph Woodward, and produced by John Rutter. The largely meditative programme of Ave Maria settings spanning four centuries also features Brahms’ radiant Marienlieder and offers a distillation of joy and purity – the perfect tonic. Highlights include the premiere recording of Bob Chilcott's Ave Maria, and diverse choral treasures to suit all tastes, performed with warmth and sparkle.

Norbert Balatsch, conductor and chorus master, began his career as a baritone in the chorus of the Vienna State Opera. He eventually became the chorus master at that house and for many years was the chorus master of the Bayreuth Festival. He has prepared choirs for numerous recordings, two of which have won Grammy Awards. He is currently the chorus master of the Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

A definitive collection of settings of the ancient Prayer to Mary, beautifully sung by the boys and men’s choir of the London Oratory School Schola.

A compendium of different styles showing how composers across the ages have approached setting these most famous words.

Settings ranging from the fifteenth century to the present day.

The Schola has quickly established itself as a leading boys’ choir, singing a large and varied repertoire, encompassing sacred and secular works from early to contemporary music. It performs regularly with the major London orchestras and national opera companies, has made numerous film soundtracks, (the boys are the voices behind the double platinum award winning soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).