Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death

George London was the outstanding Amfortas,Wotan and Dutchman of the late 1950s and early '60s, but also belonged among those singers with a mature vocal technique and intelligent characterisation who were able to enthuse audiences in the concert hall without relying merely on their stage charisma (even though that was present in abundance). At the height of his career, which was cut short tragically, London gave a lieder recital at the Theater an der Wien. It was there that he had laid the foundations of his European career (and thus also of his later, triumphant return to his native North America). London began his recital with the Heine songs from Schubert's Schwanengesang, wandered in the footsteps of Feodor Chaliapin by singing Jacques Ibert's Iberian-influenced Don Quichotte and finally Modest Mussorgski's Songs and Dances of Death - tone paintings of archaic grandeur in which he was wholly in his element. In all three cycles, Erik Werba as accompanist completely lived up to his reputation as a modest, but equal partner. In addition to this live recording from Austrian Radio, ORFEO here offers as a bonus the five songs by Henri Duparc with which George London had ten years earlier made his lieder debut before a microphone, in Canada, the country of his birth.

Gerald Finley writes: “It is with great sense of pride that this disc becomes the 25th release of the Wigmore Live series, in a musical partnership I have enjoyed for many years with Julius Drake. Performing at the Wigmore is always a highlight of any career. The others in the series are distinguished performers I have admired for years and the performances are wonderful. The audiences at the Wigmore are always welcoming and knowledgeable, and this atmosphere is captured perfectly. Already a fine catalogue, I hope the Wigmore Live series continues its honour roll”

Critically praised for his performances both on stage and in concert, this recital of American and Russian song by Gerald Finley offers listeners the rare opportunity to hear one of today’s most in-demand baritones within the beautiful, intimate setting of the Wigmore Hall.

After a recital at Carnegie Hall in March, 2007, Finley was praised by New York Times critic Bernard Holland as having a "bass-baritone of easy luxury" and that his "sensibilities begin with the pre-eminence of words."

His recording of Stanford's Songs of the Sea and Songs of the Fleet with Richard Hickox and the BBC NOW for Chandos received the Editor's Choice Award at the 2006 Classic FM Gramophone Awards.

Press acclaim for Gerald Finley & Julius Drake at Wigmore Hall

“Gerald Finley is one of the few baritones before the public today with whom it's virtually impossible to find fault” Music OMH

“No other baritone can touch him for declamatory expressiveness” The Independent

“Finley and Drake paced them all tactfully, precisely mediating between relaxed storytelling and rapt introspection. Here was very fine singing of truly great songs” The Guardian

“For my money this inspired pianist is now the best in the business” New York Magazine

Solti came late in life to the music of Shostakovich, and in his introduction to the recording of the Thirteenth Symphony (reprinted in the booklet) explains the music's effect on him. These rare recordings have long been out of the catalogue, and are now issued as a 2CD set at super-budget price. Sergei Aleksashkin is the commanding bass in the Thirteenth and in the Mussorgsky songs, and Sir Anthony Hopkins intersperses Yevtushenko poems in this unique recording.

“I want my singing to have drama, to send a message, sometimes people cry when they hear me-this is what's important. I want people to love me or hate me because of the emotion of my singing” Ewa Podles

Wigmore Hall Live proudly presents an all-Russian and Polish recital by the enigmatic Ewa Podles, widely regarded as the world’s leading contralto and one of the true great singers of our time.

Recorded live at Wigmore Hall on 23 January 2008, this release marked Ewa Podles´ return to the Wigmore Hall stage after an absence of sixteen years.

With her unique, dramatic voice of staggering range, agility and amplitude, Ewa Podles gives the kind of towering performance that has come to be expected of an artist who has acquired cult status and a near-fanatical following within the operatic world.

In addition to her rigorous operatic calendar, which notably includes her highly-publicised return this year to the Metropolitan Opera Stage after twenty-four years, Podles´ is one of the most acclaimed recital and concert performers in the world.

Accompanying Podles´ is the distinguished Garrick Ohlsson, whose solo performance of Szymanowski’s Masques “was a mastery display of sustained and imaginative virtuosity, matching the singer’s” Opera Now

The great Russian bass Eugene Nesterenko sings Mussorgsky’s timeless song cycles. Possibly the greatest cycles for the bass voice ever composed, Nesterenko gives full blooded Russian performances. He is joined by pianist Vladimir Ktaninev.