IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto / Apollon musagète / etc James Ehnes (vioin) / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 23/Feb/2024 ] "…James Ehnes gives a performance of unobtrusive elegance … Ehnes's intonation is, as ever, second to none." Gramophone |
WILLIAM WALTON
Walton: Viola Concerto / Partita for Orchestra / Sonata for String Orchestra James Ehnes (viola) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/May/2018 ] In this third volume of Edward Gardner's Walton series with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, James Ehnes leaves his violin to tackle the taxing soloist role in the Viola Concerto. In a recent Strad interview, Ehnes confesses: 'This is a piece I have loved... |
ALBAN BERG
Berg: Violin Concerto / Three Pieces for Orchestra James Ehnes (violin) / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Andrew Davis (conductor) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 30/Sep/2022 ] "His mellow tone is ideally captured on the recording, as is his readiness to play the role of accompanist when the main melodic line lies in the orchestra." Five Stars BBC Music - Concerto Choice Dec 2022 |
BELA BARTOK
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Two Rhapsodies / Dance Suite James Ehnes (violin) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Jan/2018 ] "A fierce, lucid account of Bartók's last great masterpiece, Concerto for Orchestra...The Bergen orchestra sounds wonderfully alive to Bartók's rhythmic exactitudes" The Observer |
CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: Symphony No.4 / Violin Concerto James Ehnes (violin) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 12/May/2023 ] Nielsen's epic Violin Concerto was premièred in Copenhagen in February 1912, by the violinist Peder Møller. Nominally the work is structured in two movements; each opens with a slow section and moves to a faster one. |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 James Ehnes (violin) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 7/Oct/2013 ] "The Bergen Philharmonic offers the most polished playing, driven by Järvi at often faster than usual tempos...when it matters Järvi abandons his brisk manner for an understated yet manifest sensitivity to Tchaikovsky's poignant lyricism." BBC Music |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Harold en Italie / Reverie et Caprice, Op. 8 / etc James Ehnes (violin & viola) / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/May/2015 ] The virtuosic and nine-times Juno-winning Canadian James Ehnes is centre stage in a new recording of orchestral works by Berlioz, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. This recording follows an extraordinarily rare... |
LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: Orchestral Works Vol 1 [Incls 'Sinfonietta'] Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "Janácek is a superb composer who retains his popularity when many of his contemporaries have faded from the scene. I found the disc a worthwhile listen... wonderfully performed." (AudAud Jan 2016) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano / director); Karin Egardt (oboe); Kevin Spagnolo (clarinet); Mikael Lindström (bassoon); Terése Larsson (horn) [ Chandos SACD / 3 Hybrid SACD - released 4/Sep/2020 ] Following his acclaimed recording of sonatas by contemporaries of Beethoven, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet further celebrates the great composer's anniversary year with this set of the complete Piano Concertos. |
CHARLES IVES
Ives: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 [ Incls Symphony No. 3 'The Camp Meeting'] Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ CHANDOS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Mar/2017 ] "This is one of the finest recordings - perhaps the best - of all the many I have heard of Ives." Recording of the Month MusicWeb |
STRAVINSKY
Works for piano and orchestra Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) / São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Feb/2015 ] "So is this scintillating new album from Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, the French pianist who always leaves the listener refreshed." (The Times) |
SIBELIUS
Violin Concerto / Finlandia, Op. 26 / Karelia Suite, Op. 11 / etc Jennifer Pike (violin) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Mar/2014 ] Jean Sibelius is perhaps best known for his seven great symphonies but there is also a large body of music for the concert hall, the theatre, and the salon, some of which is explored on this release. The Violin Concerto in D minor, Sibelius's only... |
ALFVEN / BINGHAM / GJEILO / MAHLER / STANFORD etc
Like To The Lark Jennifer Pike (violin), Maria Forsström (mezzo-soprano), The Swedish Chamber Choir, Simon Phipps [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] The Swedish Chamber Choir makes its debut on Chandos with this fascinating programme of works for choir, choir and solo voice, and for choir and violin. The founder and conductor, Simon Phipps, leads the choir in unaccompanied works by Swedish and... |
FELIX & FANNY MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn, (Felix & Fanny): Vom Himmel hoch, MWV A 22 / Gartenlieder, Op.3 / Die erste Walpurgisnacht, Op.60, MWV D 3 Julia Doyle (soprano) Mark Le Brocq (tenor) Ashley Riches (baritone) / Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players, David Temple [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 23/Feb/2024 ] "There's a wonderful breadth to the sound caught in St Jude-on-the-Hill in Hampstead Garden Suburb by the Chandos team. This new recording is surely the new benchmark." Gramophone |
WILLIAM WALTON
Walton: Christopher Columbus (A Musical Journey) Julian Glover, Jamie Glover (speakers) / Caroline Carragher (sop) / Jean Rigby (mezzo) / Tom Randle (ten) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 6/Apr/2005 ] This exciting release is conducted by Richard Hickox, the recipient of numerous accolades for previous recordings of Walton's music, and features father and son actors Julian and Jamie Glover |
EDVARD GRIEG
Grieg: Bergliot / Symphonic Dances / etc Juni Dahr (reader) Mari Eriksmoen (soprano) Astrid Nordstad (mezzo) / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 23/Feb/2024 ] "What [Grieg] does with folk material is so enchanting that, in this beautiful incarnation with the Bergen players delivering so freshly and responding so well to Gardner's rhythmic drive in the livelier sequences, you'll be compelled throughout" BBC |
MOZART / PUCCINI / GOUNOD / DVORAK / etc
Silver Voice: Opera Arias played by Flute and Orchestra Katherine Bryan (flute) / Orchestra of Opera North, Bramwell Tovey [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Jan/2018 ] With her first Chandos recording, the scintillating flautist Katherine Bryan explores the relationship between her instrument and the human voice by providing a new take on some of the world's most famous opera arias, from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro... |
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
A Sousa Celebration Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 28/Apr/2017 ] "Looking for something foot-tapping and beguiling, and with a fund of tunes? This Chandos Sousa release could be the answer." Classical Source |
RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - The Mines of Sulphur (Complete Opera) Kristopher Irmiter (bass-baritone) Beth Clayton (mezzo-soprano) Brandon Jovanovich (tenor) James Maddalena (baritone) / Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2005 ] Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's Gothic opera The Mines of Sulphur is reminiscent of suspense thrillers from Edgar Allan Poe to Alfred Hitchcock. Love, longing, and dark as well as light comedy abound in this macabre tale of greed and retribution set in... |
WALKER / Lili BOULANGER / PRICE / BRITTEN / DEBUSSY / FAURE / TAKEMITSU / etc
Path to the Moon Laura van der Heijden (cello) Jâms Coleman (piano) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 15/Mar/2024 ] "[Walker's Cello Sonata] a tautly argued piece that's a real discovery, persuasively played here...also a performance of Britten's Sonata that vividly captures its sense of dialogue and a many-coloured one of the 1915 Sonata by Debussy." Guardian |