Archive for Interview

Presto Classical Interviews Peter Sheppard Skærved on His Three Latest Recordings

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on
 28 July, 2020

Presto Classical interviews Peter Sheppard Skærved on three of his latest recordings across the Divine Art Recordings Group family of labels:

Violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved has championed contemporary and lesser-known music for much of his career; recently a triple-bill of albums came out that underscored this interest.

In the first, Skaerved explores the Klagenfurt Manuscript, a collection of anonymous Baroque solo works uncovered in a convent; the second sees him reinvent some neglected Schubert by re-presenting it in a way more suited to its “chamber-like” nature; and the third brings us right up to the present day with works from the contemporary composer Edward Cowie (b.1943).

Such an eclectic spread of recordings was a fascinating prospect, so I spoke to Peter about all of them!

See the complete interview now on PrestoMusic.com!

See the Recordings

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Intricate Web

Daniel Kepl Interviews Liz Johnson about her Intricate Web Recording

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on
 4 December, 2019

Critic Daniel Kepl interviews composer Dr. Liz Johnson about her Mètier release, Intricate Web:

Intricate Web: Music By Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is a British composer with a very special gift and distinctive style, definitely in the avant-garde mold yet not totally alien to ‘traditional-music’ lovers. ‘Intricate Web’ is not only the title of one of the quartets here (there are four numbered String Quartets and two other works for the quartet) but also accurately describes her compositional technique which is complex and detailed, requiring top class performers. It may also describe the way in which the pieces here have been assembled, splitting cello solos and vocal pieces between the quartets to create a web of fascinating sounds and textures.

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet is undoubtedly one of today’s most celebrated ensembles with a fine reputation in the world of new music. Cellist Heather Tuach plays solo in the breathtaking Cello Suite. Soprano Loré Lixenberg deals with the immense difficulty of the writing in the Jo Shapcott Settings and Ronald Woodley provides a magical performance on several clarinets. In all, a superb introduction to a major composer deserving wide recognition. Over 157 minutes of music!

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Daniel Kepl Interviews Composer and Clarinetist Helen Habershon

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on
 27 August, 2019

Found in Winter – Music by Helen Habershon

The music has been wonderfully arranged for small orchestra (most tracks) by John Lenehan and is unashamedly tuneful, though never simplistic; impressionistic and almost visual in its impact. This album follows two previous CDs which were Album of the Month and Album of the Week respectively on Classic FM.

Helen is principally a clarinettist with a distinguished international concert, radio and TV career; after a serious injury to both wrists, she turned to composition and has never looked back, though now once again able to perform – as she does on this album.

The performers on the album have all established themselves as leading lights; John Anderson is one of the most recorded oboists in the world and professor of oboe at the Royal College of Music; Andrew Fuller left the RPO to follow a very successful career in solo and chamber performances, and John Lenehan has appeared on over 70 albums including solo recordings for Sony, receiving many plaudits. The London Primavera was formed in 1986 and consists of the foremost chamber musicians in Britain. It has appeared at many international festivals, has made two TV series, and several recordings. Anthony Halstead has made over 50 CDs all around the world with leading ensembles and is one of Britain’s most sought-after and versatile conductors

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