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Audiophile Sound

The world of contemporary Anglo-Saxon music boasts composers who have the prerogative of applying popular modes of the past and melodic inspiration. This is confirmed by this recording that stars one of the greatest British violinists, Madeleine Mitchell, who, in addition to being a very talented artist, is also as the title reads, a “violin muse”, in the sense that she collaborates with different composers, suggesting and commissioning new compositions.

And the works presented here, for violin and piano, two violins and violin concerto by authors such as David Matthews, Geoffrey Poole, Guto Puw, Judith Weir, Michael Berkeley, Michael Nyman and Sadie Harrison, are a perfect demonstration. The result is a sound landscape in which tradition and innovation are able to coexist, showing a cornucopia of expressiveness, of well-thought out research, never separated from a very high level of expression that is not ashamed to highlight lyricism and melodic development.

Mitchell, well supported by pianist Nigel Clayton, is able to mold to the needs of the various scores, as are the violinist Cerys Jones (in a delicious duet with Mitchell) and the orchestral team.
Artistic judgement: EXCEPTIONAL
Technical judgement: EXCELLENT- EXCEPTIONAL
Andrea Bedetti (Audiophile Sound)

—Andrea Bedetti

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine “This performance will stay with me for a long time; it is both exquisitely beautiful and inherently melancholic.” —Edward Breen, Gramophone on Haitham Haidar's #Zaytoun