SHOP NOW Our monthly ‘featured album’ for January 2019  is a superb orchestral concert by the Moores Symphony Orchestra of Houston Texas, conducted by Franz Krager. It includes works by Percy Grainger (arranged by Merlin Patterson), Peter Lieuwen, Robert Nelson, and Thomas Fortmann. Enjoy this superb album (CD or digital) half price during January! Grainger/Fortmann/Lieuwen/Nelson: Orchestral […]

Fortmann shares the rock musician’s fondness for a generally in-your-face rather than subtle approach and cheeringly, an unstoppable sense of momentum. His style is wildly eclectic … his music is an invigorating listen and may wear well. Players all make stylish and unflagging contributions.

Appealing music … . The playing level is high, the engagement strong: one can not require more.

[Fortmann’s] chamber music is of interest regardless of whether we knew his music before or not…. a very palpable sense of structure conjoined with an artist’s attention to emotive power. The performances are quite fine. Thomas Fortmann has a vivid, inventive soul. Bravo and encore!

The results [conductor Krager] obtains from his young people are remarkable, and serve all of these pieces very well. Highly recommended to anyone interested in new repertory.

This is an impressive collection of new music [and] one new transcription. The quality of the recording is superb and reveals all the light, shade and colour of these works. The liner-notes, written by the composers, are extremely helpful in giving a concise account of each work. [The orchestra] give an excellent and accomplished performance of all these varied works. I enjoyed every piece, but my discovery has to be Peter Lieuwen’s imaginative and very beautiful Astral Blue.

Fortmann’s strength as a composer comes out – his is certainly an unusual approach – and a somewhat refreshing one. A certain optimism and joy shines through. It’s worth hearing.

Divine Art Records continue with their fascinating explorations of the byways of music with this very well played and recorded CD. Soloist Andrzej Grabiec is outstanding. [An] uncommonly interesting programme.