Recordings of Lennox Berkeley's music
Kathleen Ferrier and Sir John Barbirolli
Format: CDLennox Berkeley had written Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila in 1947 for contralto and string orchestra, expressly for Ferrier. As it was his first solo vocal work, Berkeley consulted with Ferrier during its composition, recalling that ‘she put herself at the service of the music.’ She gave the first broadcast performance at the end of April 1948 with the Arnold Goldsbrough Orchestra, and this subsequent performance from November 1949 under Barbirolli reveals the insight of both artists with music of their British contemporaries, more so perhaps as Ferrier never recorded the work commercially. (Synopsis by Barbirolli Society)
- Four Poems of St. Teresa of Avila (op. 27)
Performed by the Hallé Orchestra, John Barbirolli (conductor) & Kathleen Ferrier (contralto)
Nocturnes
Format: Digital downloadSince the beginning of time, the night and its mysteries have inspired poets and musicians. Rupert Charlesworth, one of the UK’s most promising young tenors, is joined at the piano by Edwige Herchenroder for this recital that includes English songs, French melodies and Lieder, all about the nighttime. Ranging from the known (Schubert, Brahms, Fauré) to the lesser known (Bax, Finzi, Berkeley), Charlesworth and Herchenroder embark on this fascinating nocturnal promenade through diverse aesthetics, troubling atmospheres and profoundly contrasting emotions; their ode to the night. Includes no. 4. 'Eyes look into the well' and no. 5. 'Carry her over the water' from 'Five Poems' op. 53, and no. 5. 'Silver' from 'Five Poems' op. 26. (Synopsis by Pro Studio Masters)
- Five Songs (op. 26, Walter de la Mare)
- Five Poems (op. 53, W. H. Auden)
Performed by Rupert Charlesworth (tenor) & Edwige Herchenroder (piano)
Nowell sing we: Contemporary Carols, Volume 2
Format: Digital downloadFollowing on from the universal critical acclaim of their first album with Resonus (This Christmas Night - RES10113), the Choir of Worcester College, Oxford - under the direction of Stephen Farr - return with a second album of contemporary Christmas Carols.
Entitled Nowell sing we, this new selection contains works from a wide variety of celebrated composers including Gabriel Jackson, Peter Maxwell Davies, Lennox Berkeley, Colin Matthews, Francis Pott, Edmund Rubbra, Richard Rodney Bennett & Herbert Howells among many others, with no fewer than nine world premieres. Also featured throughout the programme are the seven O Antiphon Preludes for solo organ by Nico Muhly, performed here by Stephen Farr on the organ of Keble College, Oxford. (Synopsis by Resonus Classics)
- Sweet was the Song (op. 43 part 3)
Performed by the Worcester College Choir & Stephen Farr (conductor)
James Galway Collection: Lennox Berkeley Complete Works for Flute
Format: Digital download- Sonatina (op. 13)
- Concerto for Flute (op. 36)
- Sonata (op. 97)
Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lennox Berkeley (conductor), James Galway (flute) & Phillip Moll (piano)
British Piano Concertos
Format: CDA set of 'British Piano Concertos' compiled from the Lyrita catalogue is a very tempting proposition…[the] sound is consistently excellent, the notes are informative and at a budget price, it's an extremely attractive way of acquiring a lot of unusual repertoire. (Review by Record Review, March 2015)
- Concerto for Piano (op. 29)
Performed by the New Philharmonia Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite (conductor) & David Wilde (piano)
James Galway: the Man with the Golden Flute
Format: CDJames Galway is universally regarded as the supreme interpreter of classical flute repertoire, but his playing also crosses over into all musical genres. Now for the first time ever, in celebration of his 75 birthday, all of Sir James recordings for RCA Red Seal are being issued together in a single box set, The Complete RCA Album Collection. Born in Belfast, Galway studied in London and Paris and enjoyed a prestigious orchestral career in London before taking up the coveted position of principle flute with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan. Galway left Berlin to pursue a solo career that has made him one of the iconic musical figures of modern times. His recordings have sold over 30 million copies and have won numerous awards.
In a career spanning four decades, this collection features every important concerto and solo music piece composed for the flute including all Lennox Berkeley's flute works, Pachelbel's Canon, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusic, Clair de lune, Flight of the Bumblebee and much more. The box set also features traditional favorites from the Britain and America, including Danny Boy and Amazing Grace, great hits from Broadway and Hollywood, music by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Henry Mancini and Elton John, plus Christmas carols from all over the world. The beautifully designed box features a hardcover bound book and two performance DVDs including James Galway and the Chieftains in Ireland.
(Synopsis: Amazon)
- Sonatina (op. 13)
- Concerto for Flute (op. 36)
- Sonata (op. 97)
Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lennox Berkeley (conductor), James Galway (flute) & Phillip Moll (piano)
A Clarinet Collection
Format: Digital download- Three Pieces
Performed by Deborah de Graaff (clarinet)
More details of this album...
In the Bleak Midwinter
Format: CDLabel: Llanfair Singers
Release date: December 2013
Available from: Llanfair Singers, Knighton Email: graham.trew1@btinternet.com
- I Sing of a Maiden
Performed by the Llanfair Singers
The Merton Collection
Format: CDIn 2014, Merton College in Oxford celebrates its 750th year. Benjamin Nicholas and Peter Phillips' specially conceived programme journeys through three quarters of a millennium of choral repertoire. Not just a demonstration of this accomplished ensemble’s versatility, the recording also provides a bird's-eye view of some important moments in musical history, and features two composers - John Dunstaple and Lennox Berkeley - associated with the College as well as three works specially commissioned for the anniversary celebrations. The choir, a relatively recent addition to this illustrious college’s complement of treasures, gives stylish and committed performances in the famous acoustic of Merton’s chapel. The Berkeley work included is Veni sponsa Christi, the second of the Three Latin Motets, op. 83/1. (Synopsis by Delphian Records)
- Three Latin Motets (op. 83 part 1)
Performed by the Merton College Chapel Choir
Kyuhee Park Guitar Recital
Format: CDThe brilliant young guitarist Kyuhee Park, winner of the 2010 Agustín Barrios and 2012 Alhambra International Guitar competitions, has crafted a recital that focuses on a sequence of sonatas and a quartet of evocative character pieces. The three Scarlatti sonatas exude dance, lyricism and virtuosity respectively, whilst Anton Diabelli’s engaging Sonata in A, heard in Julian Bream’s arrangement, is one of the relatively few extended guitar works of the Classical period. Lennox Berkeley’s Sonatina is both elegant and complex. After Malats’ popular encore piece Serenata Española and Barrios’ sublime Un Sueño en la Floresta and Chopin-inspired Vals, the recital concludes with Lopez’s richly varied Impresiones y paisajes, inspired by Lorca’s first book. (Synopsis by Naxos)
- Sonatina (op. 52 part 1)
Performed by Kyuhee Park (guitar)