John Boyden: A Celebration

Name: John Boyden: A Celebration
SKU: 809730124426
Availability: InStock

Price range: £12.49 through £19.50

Format

CDMP3 320KbpsFLAC 16-bit/44K

Label: Divine Art
Catalogue No: DDX 21244
EAN/UPC: 809730124426
Artists: Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge, John Lill, New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Composers: Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven
Release Date: March 2024
Genres: Chamber Music, Piano, Vocal/Choral
Periods: Classical, Romantic
Discs: 2
Total Playing Time: 123:45

By kind permission, dedicated to H.M. The Queen, Patron of the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra.

This album to be released in March celebrates the life and career of John Boyden, a pivotal figure in British music circles, not least for his founding of Classics for Pleasure, and later Enigma Records. Two key recordings from the original catalogues are presented for appraisal anew, together with a brand new recording of the ‘Trout’ Quintet, commissioned specially for this release and recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London, on 10 and 11 July, 2023. Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata is played by John Lill courtesy of Universal /Decca (successors to the Enigma catalogue), and Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin by Ian and Jennifer Partridge is licensed from Warner Music as current owners of the former EMI/Classics for Pleasure list.

Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“The Trout”) from this album is available as a digital ‘EP’ in high definition download here.

Track Listing

Disc 1

Schubert: Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (“Das Forellen/The Trout”)

I. Allegro vivace 13:37
II. Andante – Allegretto – Andante 6:35
III. Scherzo: Presto 4:06
IV. Theme and Variations (Andantino-Allegretto) 7:35
V. Allegro giusto 6:24

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (“Waldstein”)

I. Allegro con brio 10:17
II. Adagio molto 4:33
III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo 10:39

Total CD 1 61:00

Disc 2

Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin, D. 795

I. Das Wandern 2:28
II. Wohin? 1:54
II. Halt! 1:25
V. Danksagung an den Bach 2:16
V. Am Feierabend 2:22
VI. Der Neugierge 3:56
VII. Ungeduld 2:25
VIII. Morgengruss 4:28
IX. Des Müllers Blumen 3:18
X. Tränenregen 4:31
XI. Mein! 2:17
XII. Pause 4:55
XIII. Mit dem grünen Lautenbande 2:00
XIV. Der Jäger 1:04
XV. Eifersucht und Stolz 1:37
XVI. Die liebe Farbe 4:49
XVII. Die böse Farbe 1:50
XVIII. Trockne Blumen 3:50
XIX. Der Müller und der Bach 4:20
XX. Des Baches Wiegenlied 6:53

Total CD2 62:45

Reviews

“
Divine Art’s release is so full of revelations and Rückblick. But for those coming to these recordings for the first time, surely no one could possibly be disappointed. The overall quality remains a testament to John Boyden’s legacy. Divine Art offers one of the most interesting, carefully thought through re-releases of recent times.
”

Musical Opinion

“
Although the choice of repertoire – just Beethoven and Schubert – does no more than scratch the surface of his recorded achievements, the artists chosen – John Lil and lan and Jennifer Partridge – are twin marks of the quality of Boyden’s musicianship and abilities as a classical record producer.
” —Robert Matthew-Walker

The Classical Music Sentinel

“
So, in the end, the reasons for buying this would seem to be either in recognition of Boyden’s life, or possibly nostalgia for the reissue, but finally for the chance to sample some highly rated, but under the radar classics of the earlier Romantic era.
” —Ian Orbell