Archive for vocal

New choral and vocal works from Lydia Kakabadse

Lydia Kakabadse, composer of the “instantly enjoyable” 2016 choral album ‘Cantica Sacra’, will soon record new choral and vocal works for her album entitled Ithaka. The name, Ithaka (a track from her choral work Odyssey), is symbolic of a person’s journey through life – a journey whose destination is the richness of wisdom, knowledge and experience.

The album includes two choral works which were commissioned: I Remember (for children’s choir with piano and violin) was commissioned by Forest Preparatory School for the Bellevue Education Northern Music Festival 2016; Odyssey (for SATB and harp) was commissioned by the Hellenic Institute at Royal Holloway University of London in celebration of the Hellenic Institute’s 25th anniversary in 2018. Odyssey, which symbolizes a musical journey through centuries of Greek history, culture and literature, includes both sacred and secular works, some of which are sung in Greek. Texts have been taken from a selection of Greek poetry representing successive eras, starting with Homer (around 800 BC) to Modern Hellenism.

The recording of Odyssey and I Remember by The Choir of Royal Holloway will take place in February 2019 at All Hallows’ Church, Gospel Oak, London.

The vocal works are for mezzo-soprano (or alto) with piano accompaniment, to be performed by Clare McCaldin and Paul Turner. They have been set to texts mainly from nineteenth century poets and include a diverse variety of themes. The style of music ranges from the recitativo of the Baroque era to minimalism. The songs will be recorded in March 2019 at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London.

American Art Song album from Métier

Irish mezzo-soprano Aylish Kerrigan is following up her two recent Métier albums with one devoted to the vocal works of Charles Ives and Henry Cowell.  In many ways the two (though not at all alike) share the distinction of being exceptionally individual in their writing. Ms Kerrigan, who is accompanied by pianist Vladimir Valdivia, has spent several years honing her individual approach to these unusual and often eccentric pieces to bring out their essence, making them personal statements from composer and singer to listener. The album also includes two short piano solo works by Cowell, and two with flute or piccolo obbligato (supplied by William Dowdall).

The release will be scheduled for late spring 2018. Meanwhile, Ms Kerrigan is now busy recording her next project – a vocal album devoted to Kurt Weill, the composer who in live performance is most identified with the singer.

Ms Kerrigan’s repertoire ranges from Irish Ballads, German Lieder and Theatre Music to a wide range of contemporary compositions. She is a renowned vocal pedagogue and gives concerts, master classes and lectures world-wide. Her one-woman Broadway shows have won her acclaim in Paris, Dublin, New York and Berlin.