The world première recording of Widor’s second song-cycle, composed in 1902, together with
Vierne – Le Poème de l’Amour
A Sample of Vierne - Le Bateau Rose
Tournemire – Sagesse
A Sample of Tournemire - Solitude
Available directly from the author or through
Naxos and all good retailers. These recordings can be obtained at a generous discount - £5 for one, £9 for two, £12 for three...with free P&P in the UK - directly through this website!
Orchestra Nova conducted by George Vass; other artists involved include Louise Winter and Pippa Goss
Orchestra Nova conducted by George Vass; other artists involved include Kit Hesketh-Harvey (he of 'Kit and the Widow' fame...how appropriate!), Emma Brain Gabbot and Claire McCaldin.
Purcell The Fairy Queen –
Tovey The Bride of Dyonisus – Dyonisus and King Minos The Ulster Orchestra conducted by George Vass. Cast includes Sally Silver, Yvonne Fontaine and Robert Johnston.
Telarc CD-80645
Wagner Tristan und Isolde – Kurwenal (Act II only)
Conducted by Donald Runnicles with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and a cast that included Christine Brewer and John Treleavan. Recorded live, on three separate evenings, in London’s Barbican concert hall – one act per evening. For some reason, no-one had realised that Kurwenal also appeared in Act II - three words, four notes - and so a substitute was needed: There is no attribution of this (very brief) contribution on the CD itself!
The anguished cycle by Louis Vierne, perhaps summarises his attitude to love and life. The two symphonic songs are given here in their original voice and piano versions. The early Psyché Op.33 (1914)demonstrates the composer’s ardent, longing, whilst the Ballade du Désespéré Op.61 (1931) - almost the last work that Vierne was to compose - graphically depicts the composer's stoicism in the face of impending mortality.
Le Poème de l’Amour Op.48, Psyché Op.33*, Le Ballade du Désespéré Op.61*
Charles Tournemire, one of music’s most misunderstood composers, demonstrates his gift for melody. All but Sagesse are recorded here for the first time and only two of the mélodies were ever published. They are filled with a rare atmosphere and show a mastery of keyboard sonority and subtlety with an innate understanding of the voice— combined in songs of great beauty.
Sagesse Op.34, Poème Op.32*, Triptyque Op.39*, Trois Lieder Op.46*, Solitude* Op.25, Le Désir qui Palpite…*, Dialogue Sacrée Op.50* (with Claire Seaton, Soprano)
All bass roles.
